Joshua W. Thompson

Sidley represented SunOpta, Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL) (TSX:SOY) in the disposition of certain assets of its frozen fruit operations to Canadian-based frozen food manufacturer, Nature’s Touch. The transaction, valued at US$141 million, included the sale of SunOpta’s primary assets of its frozen fruit business, including its facilities in Edwardsville, Kansas and Jacona, Mexico, and a significant quantity of frozen fruit inventory. SunOpta is a U.S.-based manufacturer of natural, organic, and specialty food products, and the sale finalizes its portfolio optimization that began in 2020. The Sidley team was led by Alexis A. Cooper (M&A and Private Equity), and includes Brian J. Fahrney, Thomas E. Johnson, David Meehan, Reed M. Kreger, and Scott A. Gregus (M&A and Private Equity); Joshua W. Thompson, Shayona Dhanak, and Jin Cho (Global Finance); James W. Lowe, Edward W. Sharon, and Jason C. Semmes (Antitrust/Competition); Lauren A. Gallagher and P.C. Wang (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Maureen F. Gorsen (Environmental); Elizabeth K. McCloy and Will Otter (Real Estate); Suresh T. Advani and Mitchell Li (Tax); and Anna Remis, Paul Kariyawasam, and Natalie T. Crawford (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions).~~Sidley represented SunOpta, Inc. (NASDAQ:STKL) (TSX:SOY) in the disposition of certain assets of its frozen fruit operations to Canadian-based frozen food manufacturer, Nature’s Touch. The transaction, valued at US$141 million, included the sale of SunOpta’s primary assets of its frozen fruit business, including its facilities in Edwardsville, Kansas and Jacona, Mexico, and a significant quantity of frozen fruit inventory. SunOpta is a U.S.-based manufacturer of natural, organic, and specialty food products, and the sale finalizes its portfolio optimization that began in 2020. The Sidley team was led by Alexis A. Cooper (M&A and Private Equity), and includes Brian J. Fahrney, Thomas E. Johnson, David Meehan, Reed M. Kreger, and Scott A. Gregus (M&A and Private Equity); Joshua W. Thompson, Shayona Dhanak, and Jin Cho (Global Finance); James W. Lowe, Edward W. Sharon, and Jason C. Semmes (Antitrust/Competition); Lauren A. Gallagher and P.C. Wang (Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation); Maureen F. Gorsen (Environmental); Elizabeth K. McCloy and Will Otter (Real Estate); Suresh T. Advani and Mitchell Li (Tax); and Anna Remis, Paul Kariyawasam, and Natalie T. Crawford (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions).

Oct 17

2 min

Sidley represented Orion Resource Partners LP (“Orion”) in connection with the formation of the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium (“Orion CMC”), a mission-driven investment platform designed to support the United States, its allied and partner nations in developing secure, responsible, and resilient critical mineral supply chains underpinning future economic growth and national security. Orion CMC was established with an initial capital commitment of US$1.8 billion through a partnership between Orion, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (“DFC”), and a global sovereign investor focused on critical infrastructure and global supply chains. The consortium will bring together leading metals and mining investors and operators to invest in and develop critical minerals assets, prioritize near-term producing projects, and build diversified supply chains that address demand from advanced manufacturing, data centers, artificial intelligence, and other strategic sectors. This is a first-of-its-kind debt and equity platform transaction with the U.S. government. The Sidley team was led by Jennifer A. Spiegel, Joshua W. Thompson and Noam M. Waltuch, and included Ellen Murphy (Investment Funds); Ashtyn M. Hemendinger and Bill Turnbull III (Global Finance); and Christian D. Barraza (Tax). Read DFC’s press release here.

Feb 27

1 min

Sidley represented Raymond James on its joint venture with Eldridge Industries, called Raymond James Private Credit, to provide private credit solutions to sponsor-backed portfolio companies. This new joint venture brings together the sector expertise and origination of Raymond James’ investment banking platform, as well as Raymond James Bank’s lending expertise and Eldridge Industries’ asset management and capital markets expertise. The Sidley team was led by Joshua W. Thompson (Global Finance), Christopher Barbuto (M&A), Michael Lewis (Regulatory), and Shen Mei Bolton (Global Finance), with assistance from Adrian Zhang (M&A), Matthew Katz (Regulatory), and E. Kyle Barnett (IP Litigation).~~Sidley represented Raymond James on its joint venture with Eldridge Industries, called Raymond James Private Credit, to provide private credit solutions to sponsor-backed portfolio companies. This new joint venture brings together the sector expertise and origination of Raymond James’ investment banking platform, as well as Raymond James Bank’s lending expertise and Eldridge Industries’ asset management and capital markets expertise. The Sidley team was led by Joshua W. Thompson (Global Finance), Christopher Barbuto (M&A), Michael Lewis (Regulatory), and Shen Mei Bolton (Global Finance), with assistance from Adrian Zhang (M&A), Matthew Katz (Regulatory), and E. Kyle Barnett (IP Litigation).

May 22

1 min

Stonepeak’s agreement to provide a US$200 million strategic growth investment to TeleGuam Holdings, LLC has been shortlisted in the “Digital Infrastructure Mid-Market Deal” category at the TMT M&A Awards USA 2024, hosted by TMT Finance. The annual TMT M&A USA Awards “celebrate the year’s landmark deals in digital infrastructure.” Sidley represented Stonepeak in the agreement. The Sidley team was led by partner Tim Chandler (Energy and Infrastructure), with special assistance from partner Angela T. Richards (Tax), partner Jeremy B. Pettit (Energy and Infrastructure), managing associate Courtney N. Luster, and associate Molly Homann (both M&A). Additional assistance was provided by various Sidley team members, including counsel Marc A. Korman (Transportation), managing associate Alvin Wang (Tax), partner Joshua W. Thompson, senior managing associate Hiroko Ito, associate Scott Dawson (all Global Finance), partner Teresa L. Reuter (Labor, Employment and Immigration), partner Eric M. Winwood, managing associate Sarah K. Recktenwald (both Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation), partner Robert S. Velevis, associate Nick Greenberg (both Commercial Litigation and Disputes), partner Heather M. Palmer, associate Greta T. Carlson (both Environmental), managing associate Paul Kariyawasam (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions), counsel Ash Nagdev, and associate Sasha Hondagneu-Messner (both Privacy and Cybersecurity). Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in New York on September 26, 2024.~~Stonepeak’s agreement to provide a US$200 million strategic growth investment to TeleGuam Holdings, LLC has been shortlisted in the “Digital Infrastructure Mid-Market Deal” category at the TMT M&A Awards USA 2024, hosted by TMT Finance. The annual TMT M&A USA Awards “celebrate the year’s landmark deals in digital infrastructure.” Sidley represented Stonepeak in the agreement. The Sidley team was led by partner Tim Chandler (Energy and Infrastructure), with special assistance from partner Angela T. Richards (Tax), partner Jeremy B. Pettit (Energy and Infrastructure), managing associate Courtney N. Luster, and associate Molly Homann (both M&A). Additional assistance was provided by various Sidley team members, including counsel Marc A. Korman (Transportation), managing associate Alvin Wang (Tax), partner Joshua W. Thompson, senior managing associate Hiroko Ito, associate Scott Dawson (all Global Finance), partner Teresa L. Reuter (Labor, Employment and Immigration), partner Eric M. Winwood, managing associate Sarah K. Recktenwald (both Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation), partner Robert S. Velevis, associate Nick Greenberg (both Commercial Litigation and Disputes), partner Heather M. Palmer, associate Greta T. Carlson (both Environmental), managing associate Paul Kariyawasam (Technology and Life Sciences Transactions), counsel Ash Nagdev, and associate Sasha Hondagneu-Messner (both Privacy and Cybersecurity). Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in New York on September 26, 2024.

Aug 9

2 min

Sidley represented KKR Capital Markets LLC and KKR Corporate Lending LLC on the US$1.6 billion financing transaction for Heartland Dental, LLC to refinance certain of its existing debt. The Sidley team was led by Joshua W. Thompson (Global Finance), with assistance from Shen Mei Bolton, John Jiang, and Scott Dawson (Global Finance).~~Sidley represented KKR Capital Markets LLC and KKR Corporate Lending LLC on the US$1.6 billion financing transaction for Heartland Dental, LLC to refinance certain of its existing debt. The Sidley team was led by Joshua W. Thompson (Global Finance), with assistance from Shen Mei Bolton, John Jiang, and Scott Dawson (Global Finance).

May 22

1 min