Choate represented Windjammer Capital Investors and portfolio company S.T. Specialty Foods in a full-circle success story—from Windjammer's initial acquisition of S.T. Specialty in December '08 through a $195 million sale to TreeHouse Foods just over 18 months later.  Windjammer provided the capital and strategic guidance that allowed S.T. Specialty to expand its operational capabilities and meet increased demand for its private label products driven in part by the economic downturn.  The company's leading market position combined with its ability to deliver growth caught the eye of food manufacturing giant TreeHouse Foods, who made the unsolicited purchase offer.

Choate represented iPay Technologies in its $300 million sale to Jack Henry & Associates—the company’s largest acquisition to date.  iPay continued to expand its services after a key recapitalization in 2006, in which Choate represented investors Spectrum Equity and Bain Capital, and this growth caught the attention of iPay’s then-customer Jack Henry.  Jack Henry, a leading provider of computer systems and debit processing services, was impressed by iPay’s broad reach and high-quality offerings and saw the acquisition as an excellent opportunity to gain more prominence in the electronic payments industry.

Choate represented Intervale Capital, a private equity client of the firm focused on investments in middle-market oilfield services companies, in connection with its acquisition of Allied Oil & Gas Services.  The acquisition, a transformative event for Allied, will permit it to further expand its operations and solidify its position as a leading provider of cementing and acidizing services to customers in the Mid-Continent and Marcellus Shale regions, and to further develop and expand upon its already impressive customer base of exploration and production companies.

Choate represented OneSource in its sale to Sonepar USA, part of Sonepar Group–a global player in electrical equipment distribution.  OneSource, a portfolio company of client Heritage Partners, is the premier electrical products distribution company in Southern California.  This transaction will strengthen Sonepar’s position in the California market and promote the company’s role as a leader in the region.  It will also allow OneSource, which has already experienced rapid growth and expanded to encompass 13 locations, to further accelerate its growth and provide added value to its customer base.

Choate represented client Riverside Partners in its acquisition of a majority interest in ITC Global, an international provider of satellite communications services to businesses operating in harsh conditions, including the mining, energy and maritime industries.  This acquisition will facilitate the expansion of ITC Global's role in the satellite industry with additional product offerings and coverage areas and enhanced service.

Choate handled the leveraged acquisition by client Tech Valley Communications of segTel, operator of a major Northeast fiber optic network.  Tech Valley Communications, a portfolio company of client Riverside Partners, is a leading provider of voice, data, high speed Internet and collocation services in upstate New York.  This merger will allow the businesses to play a larger role in the market, providing more extensive services that encompass a broader coverage area.

Choate represented Rotex Global in its $240 million sale to Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI), a diversified holding company with operating subsidiaries in the industrial process equipment and death care industries.  Rotex Global, a portfolio company of client Windjammer Capital Investors, is a global leader in the development of screening equipment and technology for process industries.  This addition of Rotex Global to Hillenbrand’s Process Equipment Group significantly expanded Hillenbrand’s capabilities in industrial equipment and manufacturing and represented a very successful exit for Windjammer. 

Choate represented Dotomi, Inc., a provider of technological marketing solutions, in its $300 million cash and stock merger into ValueClick, Inc., a public company that is one of the world's largest integrated online marketing companies.  This merger combines ValueClick’s digital marketing services with Dotomi’s expertise and relationships with major retail brands, allowing them to provide an improved experience for digital marketers.

Choate represented Spectrum Equity Investors and Trident Capital in the acquisition of the healthcare software business HealthMEDX, the number one US-based provider of software for long term care, home care and rehabilitation.  This acquisition will allow HealthMEDX to further expand in the rapidly growing area of long term care.