International law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP represented The Berger Group, Inc., a global engineering, architectural and construction firm headquartered in Morristown, N.J., in a $100 million financing involving a recapitalization and the creation of an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Financing of the deal, which closed June 26, 2012, was provided by JP Morgan Chase of New York.
Greenberg Traurig’s team for The Berger Group, led by shareholders Bruce March and Marc Baluda of the firm’sCorporate and Securities practice, included managing shareholder Philip Sellinger and shareholder Tom Duignan of theNew Jersey office; shareholders Brandon Feingold and Jeff Kahn of the Palm Beach office; shareholders Harry Friedmanand Jonathan Malkin and associate Reggie Zachariah of the Ft. Lauderdale office; shareholder Zarifa Brown Reynolds of the New York office; and shareholder Kelly Terribile of the Delaware office.
Greenberg Traurig’s work on this cross-border deal involved The Berger Group’s office locations in more than 30 countries. The firm provided counsel in the areas of finance, stock redemption and sales, tax, employee benefits and matters related to the formation of the ESOP. The firm also advised in the areas of employee incentives and compensation planning.
“The company’s recapitalization was made extremely efficient through the ESOP structure and will result in significantly improved tax planning opportunities post-transaction,” said Baluda. “It was a pleasure to see our client successfully implement this innovative structure.”
The Berger Group of Companies, which has more than 6,000 employees worldwide, is a multidisciplinary global engineering firm, providing diverse leadership across industry sectors, service lines and geographies.
Comprising more than 350 lawyers in more than 30 offices, Greenberg Traurig’s Corporate and Securities/M&A Practice provides advice and services to companies and entrepreneurs throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
