Samir K. Patel

GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC) (the Company), a leading global health and wellness brand, has announced that the Company, certain of its North American entities, certain of its secured lenders, and key stakeholders have reached an agreement to pursue a dual-path process that will allow the Company to restructure its balance sheet and accelerate its business strategy through Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Latham & Watkins LLP represents GNC in the process with a team led by restructuring partners Richard Levy and Caroline Reckler in Chicago and counsel Andrew Ambruoso in New York, with associates Jeffery Mispagel, Brett Newman, Asif Attarwala, Jonathan Weichselbaum, Jonathan Gordon, Lauren Sun, Julia Waterhous, and MacLane Taggart, and restructuring attorney Alicia Davis. Advice was also provided on finance matters by New York partner Michele Penzer and New York counsel Jonathan Wry, with associates Alex Harris and Louis Quagliato; on corporate matters by New York partners Marc Jaffe and Erika Weinberg, Chicago partners Bradley Faris and Jason Morelli, and New York counsel Jason Ewart, with associates Owen Alexander, Samir Patel, Simon Cooke, Laura Harper, Henna Jalal, and Daniel Grill; on real estate matters by Chicago partner Robert Buday, with associates Sarah Barr and Katherine Friedli; on tax matters by Chicago partner Joseph Kronsnoble, with associate Chris Ohlgart; on benefits and compensation matters by Chicago partner Robin Struve; and on CFIUS matters by Washington, D.C. partner Steven Croley.~~

Jun 24

1 min

Willkie represented Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) on the sale of Huge, a leading experience design and technology business, to AEA Investors. On December 5, Huge announced that it was acquired by AEA and will be combined with AEA's portfolio company Hero Digital, forming one of the largest independent experience transformation businesses in the world. Willkie previously advised Interpublic Group, a global provider of marketing solutions, on numerous transactions, including its $2.3 billion acquisition of data marketing company Acxiom Marketing Solutions in 2018. The Willkie team was led by partners Danielle Scalzo and Samir Patel.

Dec 8

1 min

Willkie is representing longstanding client Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG) in its acquisition by Omnicom (NYSE: OMC) in a stock-for-stock transaction that would create a premier marketing and sales company. On December 9, Omnicom and The Interpublic Group announced that they have signed a definitive agreement pursuant to which Omnicom will acquire Interpublic in a stock-for-stock transaction.  The combined company is expected to bring together a deep bench of marketing talent and broad and innovative services and products, underpinned by an advanced sales and marketing platform, to position the new entity for continued growth in a new era of marketing. Under the terms of the agreement, Interpublic shareholders will receive 0.344 Omnicom shares for each share of Interpublic common stock they own. Following the close of the transaction, Omnicom shareholders will own 60.6% of the combined company and Interpublic shareholders will own 39.4%, on a fully diluted basis. The transaction is expected to generate annual cost synergies of $750 million. The stock-for-stock transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to Omnicom and Interpublic shareholder approvals, required regulatory approvals, and other customary conditions. The combined company will retain the Omnicom name and trade under the OMC ticker symbol on the New York Stock Exchange. Omnicom and Interpublic Group had a combined 2023 revenue of $25.6 billion. Willkie previously advised Interpublic Group, a global provider of marketing solutions, on numerous transactions, including its sale of Huge to AEA investors on December 5, and its $2.3 billion acquisition of data marketing company Acxiom Marketing Solutions in 2018. The Willkie team is led by partners Danielle Scalzo and Laura Acker and included partners Samir Patel and Jordan Messinger.

Dec 9

1 min

Willkie advised Avista Capital Partners and its portfolio company Solmetex, LLC, a leading provider of dental waterline products and dental isolation solutions, on Solmetex’s acquisition of Impladent Ltd., a provider of bone graft products and resorbable membranes used in tooth extraction procedures. Announced on June 5, the combination creates a diversified dental company with a strong portfolio of leading products across dental waterline treatment, modern dental isolation, and regenerative biomaterials. Avista Capital Partners is a leading New York-based private equity firm with over $8 billion invested in more than 40 growth-oriented healthcare businesses globally. The Willkie team was led by partner Dvir Oren and included associates Samir Patel and Uri Jurist.

Jun 8

1 min

Willkie advised Franklin Resources, Inc., a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton, on its agreement to acquire Putnam Investments from Great-West Lifeco, Inc. for approximately $925 million and its broader strategic partnership with Power Corporation of Canada and Great-West. Power Corporation of Canada together with its subsidiaries including Great-West and IGM Financial are leaders in the global insurance, retirement, asset management and wealth management sectors and have collective assets under management and/or administration of approximately $2.1 trillion. As a foundation of its strategic partnership with Power Corporation of Canada and Great-West announced on May 31, Franklin Templeton entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Putnam Investments, a global asset management firm with approximately $136 billion in AUM, from Great-West for approximately $925 million of primarily equity consideration. Great-West will become a long-term strategic shareholder in Franklin Resources with an approximate 6.2% stake. Franklin Resources, Inc. is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 155 countries. Power Corporation is an international management and holding company that focuses on financial services in North America, Europe and Asia. Great-West Lifeco, a member of the Power Corporation group of companies, is an international financial services holding company with interests in life insurance, health insurance, retirement and investment services, asset management and reinsurance businesses. Willkie previously advised Franklin Templeton in numerous transactions, including its acquisitions of Alcentra and Lexington Partners in 2022 and its acquisition of Legg Mason in 2020. The Willkie team was led by partners David Boston and Danielle Scalzo and included partners Jordan Messinger, Justin Browder and Christopher Peters and associate Samir Patel.

Jun 1

1 min