Frank M. Placenti

Selected Transactions Experience

• Representing Avnet, Inc. in its acquisition of Bell Microproducts, Inc, a US$3 billion public company with worldwide operations.
• Representing Avnet, Inc. in its acquisition of various companies in China and Japan.
• Representing Living Independently Group, Inc. in its sale to the Healthcare Division of General Electric Corporation.
• Representing Tickets.com in connection with its sale to the Internet subsidiary of Major League Baseball.
• Representing a special board committee of Ben & Jerry’s, Inc. in the company’s US$300 million sale to Unilever.
• Representing Viad Corp. in its public tender offer and acquisition of Moneygram, Inc.
• Representing Viad Corp. in its sale of Dobbs Catering to SAir Group in a transaction valued at approximately US$1 billion and in various other acquisitions and dispositions over a 25 year period..
• Representing Universal Technical Institute, Inc. in its IPO and subsequent securities regulation and corporate governance matters.
• Representing 13 of the original investors in the formation and franchise acquisition of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
• Representing an Arizona-based grocery store chain in its IPO, subsequent debt offerings and acquisition of multiple grocery store chains in adjoining states.
• Representing various private equity firms in connection with the acquisition and disposition of portfolio companies.
• Representing a special committee of the board of a mutual fund company in connection with its sale in a stock-and-cash transaction valued at more than US$250 million.
• Representing America West Airlines in connection with numerous financing and other transactions and an SEC investigation accompanying its corporate bankruptcy.
• Representing Del E. Webb in the sale of its affiliated public real estate investment trust (REIT).
• Representing a NYSE-traded pharmaceuticals corporation in connection with two public equity offerings as well as the acquisitions of several product lines from major pharmaceuticals companies.
• Representing the audit committee of a major Phoenix-based transportation company in connection with its investigation of financial whistleblower allegations.
• Investigating a NYSE-listed broker-dealer in connection with alleged insider trading activities and its eventual sale.
• Representing a financial services holding company in connection with various joint venture transactions and an SEC investigation relating to a financial restatement.
• Representing Del E. Webb Real Estate Investment Trust in matters relating to an activist shareholder including a contested shareholders meeting.
• Representing the independent members of the Board of Ben & Jerrys in various governance matters and the eventual sale of the company Unilever, Inc.
• Representing the Board of AMERCO (parent of U-Haul International, Inc.) in a shareholder dispute and contested takeover effort.
• Representing major home builder in its unsolicited bid for an NYSE traded home builder.
• Representing a private equity firm in various unsolicited (and contested) bids for public companies.
• Numerous Board training and Board self-evaluation engagements.

Selected Investigative Experience

• Representing the audit committee of a US public company based in China in a year-long investigation of suspected financial irregularities.
• Representing the audit committee of a national trucking company in connection with a whistleblower investigation of alleged financial irregularities.
• Representing the Board of Directors of a private equity-backed company in connection with an investigation of systematic embezzlement and other misconduct by the company’s CEO.
• Representing a major US-based airline in connection with the investigation of a bribery, extortion and kickback scheme involving the construction of a hanger and training facility.