White & Case Lands Two Biggies
May 14, 2007, The Deal/Daily Deal

The Deal published a special highlight on John Reiss, the co-head of White & Case's Mergers & Acquisitions practice.  In addition to signing multiple M&A deals in a mere few weeks, Reiss led the teams representing Royal Ahold and SSAB in deals each valued at more than $7 billion.

In the first deal, White & Case represented Royal Ahold, an international group of quality supermarkets, in their sale of US Foodservice to a private equity consortium consisting of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co L.P. and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Fund VII, L.P.  The total deal value was over $7.1 billion.  White & Case had previously represented Royal Ahold in their 1996 purchase of Stop & Shop Co., their 2000 purchase of US Foodservice and the recent purchase of Alliant Foodservice, Inc.

The second deal was White & Case's first representation for Swedish steel manufacturer SSAB Svenskt Stål AB, which purchased Ipsco, Inc, a competing steel manufacturer, for $7.7 billion.  Mats Sacklen, a partner in White & Case's London office and Swedish native, recommended the New York team of White & Case lawyers to SSAB, whom delivered satisfying results.