IAN HELMUTH is a partner in the firm’s Chicago office practicing in the Corporate group, with a principal focus on mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions. He advises public and private companies, private equity funds, and other investors in all aspects of mergers and acquisitions and related transactions, including portfolio company acquisitions and dispositions, add-ons, minority investments, public company mergers and tender offers, carve-outs, joint ventures, and general corporate matters.
Partner
Ian Helmuth
- M&A
- Private Equity
Experience
- Representative Matters
- Pro Bono
Ian’s experience includes representing:
- Aon plc (NYSE: AON), in its sale of Healthy Paws, a U.S.-based managing general agent specializing in pet insurance, to Chubb
- HighVista Strategies, an alternative asset manager investing in private and public markets, in its acquisition of the US$4 billion U.S. private markets business of Abrdn Inc.
- TowerBrook Capital Partners in various transactions, including its investment in Battea Class Action Services LLC and its sale of Orchid Underwriters Agency, LLC (Orchid Insurance), to Brown & Brown, Inc. and the related carve out and disposition of certain affiliated businesses
- 22C Capital in various transactions, including its investments in ZoomInfo and Definitive Healthcare
- RedBird Capital Partners and its affiliated funds and portfolio companies in various transactions
- Synchrony Financial (NYSE: SYF) in its acquisition of Ally Financial Inc.’s point-of-sale financing business, including US$2.2 billion of loan receivables
- nCino, Inc. (NASDAQ: NCNO) in various acquisitions and related matters, including its acquisition of SimpleNexus in a stock and cash transaction valued at approximately US$1.2 billion
- ATTN: and its founders in its acquisition by Candle Media
- MML Capital in its strategic “GP Stake” investments from Capital Constellation (advised by Wafra) and Investcorp Strategic Capital Group
- ManpowerGroup Inc. (NYSE: MAN) in its US$925 million acquisition of ettain group
- ServiceTitan, a leading software provider for the trades, in its acquisition of Aspire Software, a landscaping business management software provider
- Arthur J. Gallagher (NYSE: AJG) in various acquisitions and dispositions, including its US$3.57 billion acquisition of certain Willis Towers Watson reinsurance, specialty, and retail brokerage operations (terminated), and subsequent acquisition of Willis Re for US$3.25 billion
- Ohio National in its strategic transaction with Constellation Insurance Holdings, involving Ohio National’s sponsored demutualization, providing for Constellation to fund cash payments or policy benefits in the amount of US$500 million
- Athene Holding Ltd in its combination common share exchange with, and US$1.55 billion sale of common shares to, Apollo Global Management, and the related elimination of Athene’s multi-class share structure
- Volkswagen AG in its co-investment with Ford Motor Company in autonomous vehicle technology company, Argo AI, valuing Argo at US$7.1 billion
- Western & Southern Financial Group in its US$1.55 billion acquisition of Gerber Life Insurance Company from Nestle S.A.
- GTCR LLC and its affiliated funds and portfolio companies in various transactions, including:
- The acquisition of Paya, Inc. (formerly Sage Payment Solutions, Inc.), a leading provider of payment processing and merchant acquiring solutions, from The Sage Group plc (LSE: SGE), and related transactions*
- The acquisition of RevSpring, Inc., a leading provider of multi-channel billing and communications solutions to the healthcare and financial services industries, and related transactions*
- Various acquisitions and divestitures by its portfolio company, Global Traffic Network, Inc.*
- The US$446.5 million acquisition by tender offer of Vocus, Inc. (NASDAQ: VOCS) and certain restructuring transactions related thereto*
- The provision of equity financing in connection with Zayo Group’s US$2.2 billion acquisition of AboveNet*
- Werner Worldwide Holding Company, an international manufacturer and distributor of access products, fall protection equipment, secure storage systems and light duty construction equipment, in its sale to funds advised by Triton Partners*
- Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) in its acquisition of Claris Injectables Limited, a global generic pharmaceutical company based in Ahmedabad, India, for total consideration of approximately US$625 million, and related transactions*
- LogMeIn, Inc. (NASDAQ: LOGM) in its US$1.8 billion merger with GetGo, Inc., a subsidiary of Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS), in a tax-free Reverse Morris Trust transaction*
- Lane Industries Incorporated, a privately owned infrastructure construction company, in its US$406 million sale to Salini Impregilo S.p.A (BIT: SAL)*
- Orbitz Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: OWW) in its US$1.6 billion merger with a subsidiary of Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE)*
- The Vistria Group, LLC, and certain of its portfolio companies in acquisitions of private companies and assets in the for-profit education space*
- Koch Industries, Inc. and its affiliates in various transactions, including:
- Georgia-Pacific LLC in its US$1.5 billion acquisition of Buckeye Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BKI)*
- Flint Hills Resources, LLC, in connection with its acquisition of various bioenergy/ethanol production plants in Nebraska and Iowa*
- In connection with Koch Industries’ US$240 million non-voting preferred stock investment in the Weiss family’s take-private of American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM)*
*Transactions handled prior to joining Sidley
Ian has also regularly advised non-profit organizations on a pro bono basis, including Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity and LEARN Charter School Network.
News & Insights
Credentials
Admissions & Certifications
- Illinois
Education
- University of Michigan Law School, J.D., 2011 (magna cum laude)
- University of Missouri, B.S., 2008 (magna cum laude)