Robert J. Hicks

Bob serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee and Managing Partner of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP. Together with his core team of seasoned transactional attorneys, Bob focuses his practice on complex business and commercial transactions, private equity and venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions, structured financings, business advisory services, and structural tax matters. He serves as outside counsel for the largest private equity fund in Indiana, along with several other substantial and successful businesses.

Note:  Bob, together with his core team of approximately 15 full-time professionals, serves as counsel on approximately $5 billion or more of merger and acquisition transactions a year. The following is a sampling of transactions over the last five years.

2024 Representative Transactions:

• Lead counsel to one of the largest renewable energy developers (together with its related platform) in the U.S. in connection with its $440 million strategic equity capital raise.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a branded consumer foods manufacturer.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in platform acquisition of a business engaged in the operation of chiropractic clinics and wellness centers.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a leading cabinet door manufacturer.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on investment of roofing-related construction services.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in follow-on acquisition of a leading provider of IOT services in Latin America.

2023 Representative Transactions:

• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a leading aluminum mold making company.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in platform acquisition of a leading provider of tooling and injection molding services.
• Counsel to seller of hydraulic repair and remanufacturing business to private equity-backed portfolio company.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in platform acquisition of a manufacturer of precision lawn and garden products.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a full service professional investigation and information services firm.
• Counsel to leading renewable energy company in the capitalization and structuring of a joint venture arrangement for the development, construction, operation, and management of multiple renewable energy projects throughout the United States.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a leading medical billing company.

2022 Representative Transactions:

• Counsel to private energy company in connection with its international capital raise and joint venture for the development and construction of various projects.
• Special counsel to Duke Realty Corporation (NYSE: DKR) in connection with its $23 billion acquisition by Prologis, Inc. (NYSE: PLD).
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with platform acquisition of a leading IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) franchisor and add-on acquisition of its largest franchisee.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with platform acquisition of Canadian e-learning company.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of leadership development and training business.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with the divestiture of a Canadian portfolio company engaged in the business of providing cloud-based software for telematics applications.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a leading risk management, investigative, and security business.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with platform acquisition of domestic specialty food distributor.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with the divestiture of a portfolio company engaged in the business of providing medical equipment, including beds, oxygen systems, wheelchairs, bath safety products, and other related devices.
• Counsel to leading provider of sales and marketing services in connection with private equity sponsored recapitalization.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on acquisition of a leading provider of information technology and cybersecurity services to the defense and intelligence communities.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a full-service private investigations company.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a company engaged in the business of providing personal protective equipment.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with equity investment in a leading provider of AI-driven data intelligence solutions for corporate leaders in sales and human resources.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with platform acquisition of a cloud-based analytics and compliance software provider.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a company engaged in the provision of intraoperative neuromonitoring services for spinal, cranial, and other surgical procedures.

2021 Representative Transactions:

• Counsel to leading renewable energy company in raising $500 million in private structured capital and related joint venture.
• Counsel to private equity fund in connection with platform acquisition of a cloud-based analytics and compliance software company.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with follow-on acquisition of a company engaged in the business of providing durable and home health equipment to hospice and home health providers.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with platform acquisition of a domestic manufacturer of specialty interior building products and components.
• Counsel to private equity fund in connection with divestiture of a portfolio company engaged in the business of manufacturing and distributing air filters and related products for home HVAC systems.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with the divestiture of a Canadian portfolio company engaged in the business of distributing specialty produce.
• Counsel to leading national healthcare technology company in private equity-led capital raise and recapitalization.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with a follow-on acquisition of a company engaged in intraoperative neuromonitoring and neurological diagnosis services.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with follow-on investment of a Canadian company engaged in translation services for businesses, governments, museums, financial institutions, and others.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company engaged in telematics in connection with a $400 million sale to U.S. public company.
• Counsel to private equity fund in connection with platform acquisition of a provider of secure and customized communications technologies.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor portfolio company in connection with a follow-on investment of a medical equipment supplier.

2020 Representative Transactions:

• Counsel to leading renewable energy company in entering into a $500 million joint venture arrangement for the development, construction, operation, and management of multiple renewable energy projects throughout the United States.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on acquisition of a company engaged in the manufacturing of personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with platform acquisition of a provider of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring services.
• Counsel to public company in divestiture of business unit to public company acquirer.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with platform acquisition of a commercial and residential roofing installation and repair company.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on investment of a Canadian distributor of certified organic fruits and vegetables.
• Counsel to private equity fund in connection with platform acquisition of a provider of personal protective equipment (PPE) for the healthcare industry.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on investment of a company engaged in the business of developing artificial intelligence technology.

2019 Representative Transactions:

• Counsel to private equity fund in connection with platform acquisition of a Canadian specialty translation business.
• Counsel to private equity fund in connection with platform acquisition of a provider of software and consulting solutions to regional banks, community banks and credit unions.
• Counsel to private equity fund in connection with the divestiture of a portfolio company engaged in the business of loss prevention and retail analytics.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on investment of a Canadian wholesale distributor of produce and other food products.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on investment of a Canadian company engaged in the distribution of specialty produce.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on investment of a Lithuanian company that provides fleet management solutions, including hardware and software suites for light vehicles, trucks, heavy machinery and agricultural equipment.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with a platform acquisition of a leading provider of durable medical equipment for use in hospice care.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with a platform acquisition of a leading provider of private investigation services to the insurance industry.
• Counsel to leading clinic-based autism therapy business, and its management team, in private equity-backed divestiture.?

2018 Representative Transactions:

• Structured, advised and served as counsel for the selling party in a “reverse dutch auction” buyout transaction for the leading independent solar energy developer in the U.S., together with the arrangement of a capital and finance raise of approximately $375MM.
• Counsel to U.S. leading medical billing and revenue cycle management company in connection with its recapitalization and minority shareholder buyout.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on investment of a software development business that provides software and services for grants management and disaster recovery programs.
• Counsel to leading online provider of business formation and related services to strategic acquirer in the U.S.
• Counsel to U.K. company in connection with the sale to a U.S. public company of a U.S. subsidiary engaged in the business of supplying plumbing, lighting and building products to the manufactured housing, RV and industrial sectors.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with a platform acquisition of a Canadian company engaged in the business of importing, packaging, selling and distributing a wide range of produce throughout Canada.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with a platform acquisition of a Canadian company which provides services for tracking, monitoring, protecting and controlling remote assets and workers.
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with platform acquisition of a designer and manufacturer of branded, patented, and rugged protective cases for mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with the divestiture of a portfolio company engaged in the business of providing engineered de-sanding solutions to high pressure oil and gas wells.
• Counsel to private equity fund portfolio company in connection with a follow-on investment of a software development company focused on emergency grants management.
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with the divestiture of a portfolio company engaged in the business of providing mobile air and water treatment solutions customized to meet the compliance of specific environmental issues.?
• Counsel to private equity funds in connection with a platform acquisition of a manufacturer and distributor of bath, skin, home, and cleaning products.?
• Counsel to private equity sponsor in connection with a platform acquisition of a provider of merchandising solutions for the beverage industry.