Media Mentions
2011
“The Best of 2011: Most Likely to Succeed”
Legal Bisnow, December 23, 2011
Thomas Conaghan was featured for his role on McDermott’s 40-person team that worked on the acquisition by a group led by Fila Korea of the Acushnet golf business and its Titleist and Footjoy brands. The transaction was the largest acquisition ever of a global brand by a Korean company, and was singled out by this publication as one of the top deals of the year.
“Market Slump Bodes Ill for Year-End IPOs”
MarketWatch, November 21, 2011
Thomas Conaghan, observing that several recent IPO issues declined on their debuts, said that “another deal’s bad fortune leaves a bad taste in the market for further new issuance. Everyone wants to be pricing in a good environment, and a good environment is when every other IPO is trading up.”
“Analysis: Groupon IPO to Test Nascent Private Stock Markets”
Reuters, November 1, 2011
Thomas Conaghan said that even if traders lose money on new private stock exchanges that allow transactions in shares of companies (like Groupon) before they go public, the losses “may present the true validation for the legitimacy of these secondary markets.” As Mr. Conaghan noted, “Real investors in healthy markets know it is not ‘all up all the time.’ I suspect that even those who may incur losses on Groupon will not give up on secondary markets.”
“McDermott Successfully Advises WABCO Holdings”
Asia Chronicles, July 22, 2011
Pierre Brochet and Lee Khvat (London), John Hammond, Neal White and Daniel Zucker (Chicago), and Thomas Conaghan (Washington, DC) were members of a multi-office McDermott team that represented global technology leader WABCO Holdings in negotiating a $400 million credit facility for itself and subsidiaries in Belgium, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Pierre Brochet, Thomas P. Conaghan, John P. Hammond, Lee Khvat, Neal J. White, Daniel N. Zucker, Corporate
“$1.23 Billion Golf Buy”
Legal Bisnow, June 6, 2011
Thomas Conaghan called getting the deal signed for the Fila Korea/Mirae Asset Private Equity purchase of the Titleist and Footjoy golf equipment lines a “three month sprint” during which he was “lucky if I got six hours” of sleep a night given the 13-hour US-Korea time difference. Mr. Conaghan said the deal was more than a business transaction, it was front page news in Korea. The article noted that Joel Grosberg managed the transaction’s US and foreign antitrust approvals, Daphne Trotter led the environmental review of the global manufacturing facilities involved, James Riedy led the international tax structuring team, and more than 40 McDermott timekeepers were involved overall.
Thomas P. Conaghan, Joel R. Grosberg, James A. Riedy PC, Daphne W. Trotter, Antitrust & Competition, Corporate, OSHA, MSHA & Catastrophe Response, Tax
“Golf’s Journey to the East”
New York Times, June 5, 2011
Thomas Conaghan, one of four McDermott lawyers who represented Fila Korea in acquiring the Titleist and Footjoy golf equipment businesses of Fortune Brands, called the deal “a transformative transaction” that “portends much more rapid growth for golf in Asia. If you saw the Korean newspaper headlines, you saw that it was very big news there.”
“Fila Buys Fortune’s Golf Biz”
Mergers & Acquisitions/Mergers Unleashed, May 20, 2011
David Goldman, Paul Kim and Thomas Conaghan led the McDermott M&A and Korean practice team that advised Fila Korea and Mirae Asset Private Equity in purchasing the Acushnet Company golf segment of Fortune Brands. The boards of the selling and two acquiring companies have approved the deal, which is expected to close during the summer.
Thomas P. Conaghan, C. David Goldman, Paul J. Kim, Corporate
“Chadbourne, McDermott Tee Up $1.2 Billion Golf Equipment Deal”
AmLaw Daily, May 20, 2011
David Goldman, Paul Kim and Thomas Conaghan were noted as the Firm’s partners in advising Fila Korea and Mirae Asset Private Equity in their purchase of the Fortune Brands golf equipment business, which includes Titleist golf balls and clubs, and Footjoy shoes and gloves. McDermott has represented Fila Korea since 2006.
Thomas P. Conaghan, C. David Goldman, Paul J. Kim, Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions
“Fortune Brands Golf Unit Sold for $1.2B”
Deal Pipeline, May 20, 2011
David Goldman, Paul Kim and Thomas Conaghan led the McDermott team that represented Fila Korea and Mirae Asset Private Equity in purchasing the Acushnet Co. golf equipment business of Fortune Brands. Acushnet Co. has some of the top brands in golf, including Titleist and Footjoy. In finalizing the successful transaction, Fila Korea as advised by the Firm reportedly beat out several private equity firms and another leading golf equipment maker.
Thomas P. Conaghan, C. David Goldman, Paul J. Kim, Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions
2009
Thomas Conaghan was cited by the co-chair of Gunster Yoakley & Stewart’s securities and corporate governance practice, in a November 17 Law360 interview, as a lawyer outside of his own firm who had particularly impressed him. “Tom was an excellent lawyer, able to grasp the nuances of a complex deal,” he said of Mr. Conaghan. “I learned from him to be pragmatic and not waste time on inconsequential issues.”
Thomas Conaghan was quoted in a September 14 Dow Jones News Service story (also carried by MarketWatch) that discussed the increased pressures on corporate compensation committee members by activists who allege excessive executive pay. One compensation practice that activists may target is the practice of granting big stock option awards each year to executives who already own substantial stakes in a company. “Comp committees may think more before doing that,” Mr. Conaghan said.
2007
Thomas Conaghan was mentioned on August 14 in Lexpert Magazine as being an integral part of the transaction team that assisted Calpine Canada Resources Company (CCRC) with the sale of their holdings to Lehman Brothers.
Tom Conaghan was quoted by MarketWatch on April 18 regarding the interrupted BlackBerry service.
2006
Tom Conaghan was quoted in the January 9 issue of Investment Dealers' Digest regarding the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's proposed amendments to the "best-price rule" in M&A tender offers.
Thomas Conaghan was quoted in the January 1 issue of National Real Estate Investor regarding the shrinking number of REITs in the United States and how they are trying to get attention.
