Chang-Do Gong

Partner, New York

Biography

Chang-Do Gong has been listed as a “Leading Individual” for M&A in the United States in Euromoney’s Banking Finance and Transactional Expert Guide.

Overview

Chang-Do is a partner in the White & Case's Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate Group, a global practice focusing on effective deal execution and optimized efficiency for clients across a variety of large and complex transactions.

Chang-Do represents national and international clients on public and private M&A transactions, helping them realize their strategic and investment-related goals. His experience extends across several industries, including the technology, media and telecommunications (TMT), retail, energy and life sciences sectors.

Chang-Do was the sole recipient of Lexology's "Client Choice Award" for New York M&A in 2020. He also was listed as a leading individual for M&A in the United States by Euromoney in 2022.

Bars and Courts
New York
Education
JD
Northwestern University School of Law
MA
Political Science
Yonsei University
Graduate School of International Studies
BA
Political Science
Yonsei University
Languages
English
Korean

Experience

Calpine Corporation in its US$17 billion acquisition by Energy Capital Partners, an energy-focused private equity firm, and a consortium of investors including Access Industries and Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board.

Medlmmune, Inc. in its US$15.2 billion acquisition by AstraZeneca plc.

Zimmer Holdings, Inc. in its US$14 billion acquisition of Biomet, Inc.; US$3.4 billion unsolicited acquisition of Centerpulse AG and InCentive Capital AG; and US$1.1 billion acquisition of LDR Holding Corporation.

Omnicare, Inc. in its US$12.7 billion acquisition by CVS Health, as well as Omnicare's prior US$1.8 billion unsolicited acquisition of NeighborCare Inc. and US$460 million unsolicited acquisition of NCS HealthCare, Inc.

IFM Investors in the acquisition by the IFM Global Infrastructure Fund of Buckeye Partners, L.P. (NYSE:BPL), a publicly traded master limited partnership which owns and operates a diversified global network of pipeline assets and midstream logistics solutions, in a take private transaction with a US$10.3 billion enterprise value and US$6.5 billion equity value. The transaction was named "Private Equity Deal of the Year (Over US$10 billion)" by M&A Advisor (2020).

Avast plc, the FTSE 100 global leader in digital security and privacy, in its US$9.2 billion merger with NortonLifeLock. Both companies operate in the cybersecurity space and the combined entity should be market-leading.

A consortium composed of Brookfield Infrastructure, its institutional partners and GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, on the US$8.4 billion acquisition of Genesee & Wyoming Inc., a freight railroad owner and operator based in the United States. This transaction was named "Private Equity Deal of the Year" by IFLR (2020).

LifePoint Health, Inc. in its US$5.6 billion merger with RCCH HealthCare Partners.

Sony Corporation of America in its US$4.9 billion acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. with a consortium of acquirors; US$2.2 billion acquisition of EMI Music Publishing with a consortium of acquirors; acquisition of the 50% interest in Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC held by the Estate of Michael Jackson; and US$2.3 billion acquisition of the equity interests in DH Publishing, L.P. (the parent entity of EMI Music Publishing) held by a group of investors led by Mubadala Investment Company.

The Walt Disney Company in its US$4.0 billion acquisition of Marvel Entertainment, Inc.

SES Holdings Pte. Ltd., a developer and manufacturer of high-performance hybrid lithium-metal rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, in its US$3.6 billion business combination with Ivanhoe Capital Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: IVAN), a SPAC focused on electrification of society and industry.

Roark Capital Group and its portfolio company Arby's Restaurant Group, in Arby's US$2.9 billion acquisition of Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.

Inspire Brands, Inc., a portfolio company of Roark Capital Group, in its US$2.3 billion acquisition of Sonic Corp.

CVC Capital Partners in its US$1.8 billion acquisition of ConvergeOne Holdings, Inc. The transaction was named "M&A Deal of the Year (Over US$1 billion)" and "Information Technology Deal of the Year (Over US$1 billion)" by M&A Advisor (2020).

Alimentation Couche-Tard in its US$1.9 billion unsolicited cash tender offer for Casey's General Stores, Inc.

CNET Networks, Inc. in its US$1.8 billion acquisition by CBS Corporation.

King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in its US$1.6 billion unsolicited acquisition of Alpharma Inc.

An affiliate of Morgan Stanley Infrastructure in its US$1.3 billion acquisition of SpecialtyCare, Inc., a leading national platform with an established network for providing outsourced clinical services to hospital operating rooms and provider of perfusion, intraoperative neuromonitoring and surgical services.

Altria Group, Inc. in its US$1.2 billion sale by its subsidiary, UST LLC, of its Ste. Michelle Wine Estates business to Sycamore Partners Management, L.P.

Roivant Sciences in its US$1.1 billion equity financing from SoftBank Vision Fund and several private M&A transactions and joint ventures.

Avast Software, an industry-leading maker of security software, in its US$1.3 billion acquisition of AVG Technologies N.V.

Suzhou Dongshan Precision Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in its US$610 million acquisition of Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc.

Qatar Investment Authority in its US$550 million acquisition of a minority investment in Oryx Midstream Services from an affiliate of Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners.

Sony Corporation of America, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation, in its US$400 million investment in Bilibili Inc., a China-based provider of online entertainment services.

The Talbots, Inc. in its US$369 million acquisition by Sycamore Partners.

Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX) in its US$350 million acquisition of the Seprafilm adhesion barrier device and related assets from Sanofi S.A. (NASDAQ: SNY).

Advance Stores Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (a leading automotive aftermarket parts provider), in its acquisition of the DieHard brand from Transform Holdco LLC.

Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Inc. in its acquisition of Seven Seas Water Corp., AquaVenture Holdings Inc. and AquaVenture Holdings Curacao N.V. from AI Aqua (Luxembourg) S.a.r.l, a company owned by Advent International Corporation.

Altria Group, Inc. in its acquisition through a wholly-owned subsidiary of the e-vapor business of Green Smoke, Inc. and its affiliates.

The Special Committee of Cellular Biomedicine Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBMG) in its sale to a consortium comprised of certain members of CBMG management, shareholders and financial sponsors.

Awards and Recognition

Leading Dealmakers in America, Lawdragon 500 2024

Leading Individual for M&A, Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America, 2022

Leading Individual for M&A in the United States, Euromoney, 2022

Client Choice Award for New York M&A, Lexology 2020