Hahn Loeser Partner John Paul Lucci served as lead M&A counsel in the sale of Ohio Eagle Distributing to Heidelberg Distributing, a company owned by Redwood Holdings. As a Chambers® ranked Mergers & Acquisitions practice, the full-service capabilities of Hahn Loeser included contributions from Christopher R. Butler (IP), Douglas C. Carlson (Tax, HSR), Jeffrey M. Folkman (ERISA, Tax), John D. Gast (Trusts and Estates), Stanley R. Gorom III (Real Estate), Ann E. Knuth (Labor), C. Dan Miller (M&A), Joshuah C. Miller (Trusts and Estates), Kyle T. Mordew (Trusts and Estates), Gretchen Nine-Bunnell (Paralegal), James P. Oliver (M&A), Ethan J. Peters (IP) and Jonathan C. Wolnik (Tax, HSR).
Privately owned Ohio Eagle Distributing, a distributor of high quality domestic, imported and craft beers, serviced 18 counties across western Ohio. The company annually sold more than seven million cases of beer and offered a selection of more than 600 beer and non-alcoholic brands. Lucci and his team supervised and directed the Hart Scott Rodino Act (HSR) filing, negotiations with multiple unions and provided counsel on complex tax and benefit matters.
“I have done a total of 80 beer business acquisitions in my 52 years owning beer distributorships from Michigan to New York to North Carolina to Florida to Ohio, but this one sale of a valuable asset was the most complicated of all my other deals,” stated Col. John W. Saputo, owner of Ohio Eagle. “This sale was to a private equity buyer that required first class legal representation due to the nuances of the sale of two large warehouses, the WARN Act, the HSR federal requirements, and difficulties in dealing with three different labor unions. Hahn Loeser, led by the steady and knowledgeable hand of John Paul Lucci and his totally meticulous paralegal Gretchen Nine-Bunnell and their stable of skilled attorneys in real estate and labor law made the five months of negotiations painless and thorough,” he said.
Hahn Loeser’s Chambers USA-recognized M&A team combines in-depth industry knowledge with a practical, results-driven approach to help clients navigate the complexities of mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions. Working with entrepreneurs, founders, and closely held, private businesses or private equity, independent deal sponsors and strategic buyers, we deliver strategic advice tailored to each transaction’s unique needs and complexities. From due diligence and negotiation to structuring and post-closing matters, Hahn Loeser’s M&A lawyers are dedicated to achieving optimal outcomes for clients in fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
