Overview
Matt VanWasshnova concentrates his practice on representing public and private companies in a broad range of corporate and securities law matters.
Matt’s practice has a particular emphasis on complex domestic and cross-border business transactions, including leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, equity and debt financing transactions, recapitalizations, executive employment and equity incentive arrangements, and joint ventures. Matt executes these transactions on behalf of public companies, advising boards of directors, board committees and management; and on behalf of private equity funds, family offices, independent sponsors and their respective portfolio companies, advising a host of involved parties.
Matt also regularly counsels public and private companies on corporate governance issues, fiduciary duty matters (both generally and in the M&A context), compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws, and, as applicable, compliance with stock exchange listing standards.
In addition to his client work, Matt has worked on variety of special projects and served on various firm committees related to, among other matters, diversity and inclusion, business development and information technology.
Services
Practice Areas
Industries
Experience
Representative Matters
Private Equity
- Advised a Michigan-based private equity client and its portfolio companies with general corporate and commercial matters and over 70 acquisitions, recapitalizations, and divestitures
- Advised Utah-based private equity client with the sale of a Washington-based aerospace supplier to a Fortune 100 company
- Assisted Washington-based private equity client with its $75 million acquisition of a California-based wholesale food business
Capital Markets and Public Company Matters
- Served in an SEC counsel capacity to NASDAQ-listed Tier 1 automotive supplier, assisting the company with various governance and securities matters, including a $175 million shelf registration statement and a $41.25 million underwritten public offering
- Represented NASDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company in connection with a reverse merger with a privately held pharmaceutical company
- Represented NASDAQ-listed developer and manufacturer of thermal management technologies with various governance and transaction-related matters, including several acquisitions and the sale of its industrial test chamber business
- Represented NASDAQ-listed media company with acquisitions and sales of online businesses
- Represented NYSE-listed Tier 1 automotive supplier with a $145 million acquisition of a telematics company
- Advised NASDAQ-listed company on several strategic acquisitions and various governance and securities matters, including U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, a $200 million Rule 144A offering of senior notes, an A/B exchange offer, and the implementation of a stockholder rights plan
- Assisted NYSE-listed company with a $175 million underwritten public offering and various SEC filings
- Counseled privately held company on a $275 million Rule 144A offering of senior notes Assisted board of directors of NASDAQ-listed company in connection with hostile takeover bid
- Represented the special committee of the board of directors of a company in connection with the sale of the company to a Canadian-based public company
Debt Financing and Restructuring
- Assisted Michigan-based private equity client with:
- $110 million secured revolving credit facility and term loan
- $16 million mezzanine financing for a national security alarm provider
- $50 million secured revolving credit facility and term loan
- $13 million mezzanine financing for a national medical alert company
- Represented Michigan-based private equity client with several financing transactions
- Represented TSX-listed Canadian public company with:
- $12 million secured ABL revolver
- $8 million revolving term loan
- $2 million cash flow term loan
Prior Experience
- Denso International America, Inc., Business Operations and Planning, Senior Analyst
- University of Michigan, Office of the General Counsel, Law Student Clerk
- Judge Patrick J. Duggan, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Judicial Extern
Clerkships
- Judge Paul D. Borman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Law Clerk
Credentials
Education
- cum laude; Order of the Coif
- Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, Associate Editor and Note Editor
- Economics and Political Science
- Order of Omega and Mortar Board Honor Societies
Admissions
- Michigan
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
Recognition
Awards
- Michigan Super Lawyers, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2013-2018
Professional & Community Involvement
American Bar Association
- Business Law Section
State Bar of Michigan
- Business Law Section
Association for Corporate Growth, Detroit Chapter
826michigan
- Board Chair (2018-present)
- Board of Directors (2016-present)