Sidley Deal Honored at D CEO Mergers & Acquisitions Awards

Avantax’s US$1.2 billion take-private sale to Cetera won “Deal of the Year” in the $1 Billion + category at D CEO’s Mergers & Acquisitions Awards 2024. Sidley represented Avantax, Inc. (NASDAQ:AVTA), a leader in tax-focused financial planning and wealth management, in its acquisition by Aretec Group, Inc., d/b/a Cetera Holdings, the holding company of Cetera, a financial adviser Wealth Hub. Under the terms of the agreement, holders of Avantax common stock received US$26.00 in cash per share, without interest and subject to required withholding taxes. The all-cash transaction closed in November 2023. The Sidley deal team was led by M&A partners Beth E. Berg and Scott R. Williams.

Additionally, Bill Howell, a partner in Sidley’s Dallas office, was a finalist for “Attorney of the Year” at D CEO’s Mergers & Acquisitions Awards 2024. The annual Mergers & Acquisitions Awards, now in their 11th year, honor the “top acquisitions, dispositions, and other financial transactions in North Texas in 2023 - and the dealmakers who made them happen.”