BETH BERG (formerly Peev) has over 18 years of experience advising public and privately held companies and boards of directors with respect to public and private mergers and acquisitions, spinoffs, corporate governance and SEC disclosure matters. In addition, Beth has an active practice advising companies in connection with shareholder activism, proxy contests and unsolicited tender offers/takeover defense.
Beth was named to the 2020 “Notable Women in Law” by Crain’s Chicago Business. She has also been recognized nationally for her work in shareholder activism. In January 2021, The Dealmaker Quarterly selected her on its annual “Top Women in Dealmaking” list.
Some notable contested engagements include representing:
- Blucora, Inc. in connection with the proxy contest launched by Ancora Catalyst Institutional, LP;
- MiMedx Group, Inc. in connection with concomitant proxy contests launched by each of Prescience Point and Parker Petit;
- Elaine Wynn in connection with her proxy contest against Wynn Resorts Limited;
- HomeStreet, Inc. in connection with the proxy contest launched by Roaring Blue Lion Capital, L.P.;
- United Continental Holdings, Inc. in connection with the proxy contest launched by Altimeter Capital Management, LP and PAR Capital Management, Inc.;
- Carbonite, Inc. in its successful defense against an unsolicited tender offer by j2 Global, Inc. and related proxy contests;
- BIOLASE, Inc. in connection with two proxy contests;
- Commercial Metals Company in its successful defense against a $1.7 billion hostile tender offer and proxy contest launched by Carl Icahn;
- TomoTherapy Incorporated in connection with the proxy contest launched by Avalon Portfolio, LLC; and
- Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. in connection with an unsolicited tender offer and subsequent negotiated $3.4 billion acquisition by Roche Holding Ltd.
Some notable M&A engagements include representing:
- Multi-Color Corporation in its sale to an affiliate of Platinum Equity LLC for approximately $2.5 billion;
- Yum! Brands, Inc. in its $10.2 billion spinoff of Yum China Holdings, Inc.;
- CBOE Holdings, Inc. (n/k/a Cboe Global Markets, Inc.) in its $3.2 billion acquisition of Bats Global Markets, Inc.;
- The special committee of the board of directors of Blue Bird Corporation in connection with the committee’s evaluation of a going-private transaction proposed by Blue Bird’s controlling stockholder, American Securities LLC;
- Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. in its sale to a JAB Holding Company-led investor group for approximately $13.9 billion;
- NiSource, Inc. in its spinoff of Columbia Pipeline Group, Inc.;
- Beam Inc. in its sale to Suntory Holdings Limited for approximately $16 billion;
- Tellabs, Inc. in its sale to Marlin Equity Partners for a total of approximately $891 million; and
- Fortune Brands, Inc. (n/k/a Beam Suntory Inc.) in its spinoff of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. and in its sale of its Cobra golf brand and related assets to PUMA AG.