News

Whiteford Represents the Investor Group in Its Acquisition of S.P. Richards’ Core U.S. Operations from Genuine Parts Company

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to have represented the Investor Group in its purchase of the core U.S. operations of S.P. Richards Company from Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC).  GPC is a publicly traded global service organization, and the Investor Group is comprised of well-respected industry professionals who partnered to acquire S.P. Richards' core U.S. operations.  A leading national business products wholesaler, S.P. Richards distributes more than 98,000 products to 9,000 resellers and distributors throughout the U.S from a network of 44 locations.  Its core U.S. operations offer products and services in four primary product categories, including general office products, technology products and accessories, office furniture and JanSan and safety supplies, to national and independent business products resellers and janitorial supply distributors. The multi-disciplinary team of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston attorneys advising on the transaction included John Selbach, Katja Hill, Grant Grayson, Betsy Davis, Frank Jones, Mary Claire Chesshire, Tom Coulter, Kimberly Min, Shane Smith, Peter Davis, Clarke Bonney, Will MacIlwaine, Dwight Hopewell, Julian Pedini, Steve Luttrell, Ryan Stoker, Patrick Houston and Ryan Starks. 
 
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston’s mergers and acquisitions team is comprised of attorneys with extensive experience in small, middle-market, and large transactions, both domestic and cross-border. We have represented sellers/targets, purchasers, VC/PE and other equity investors, and brokers, advisors and other intermediaries in all types of M&A transactions, including equity and asset acquisitions, product line/divisional divestitures, tender offers, leveraged buy-outs, proxy/control contests, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Our transaction experience includes a wide array of business sectors, including government contracting and defense; waste services; metal fabrication; construction and engineering; commercial cleaning and sweeping services; software, internet, e-commerce, technology; banking and finance; apparel and textiles; energy; food and consumer products; healthcare; insurance and reinsurance; logistics and transportation; manufacturing; distribution; pharmaceuticals; real estate redevelopment; restaurant and hospitality; and supermarkets, retailing and supply chain. Our M&A attorneys routinely draw on the experience of numerous other practices at the firm, including tax, securities, technology and IP, employment/ERISA, antitrust, bankruptcy and restructuring, environmental, real estate, international law and litigation, as well as our many industry-specific practice groups.

Whiteford, Taylor & Preston’s national real estate practice is sought out by owners, developers, borrowers and tenants in connection with the acquisition, financing, development and leasing of a broad array of commercial real estate projects across industry sectors. Our teams advise investors, developers, landlords and tenants in connection with their investments and interests in commercial, retail, multifamily, and industrial properties. Our real estate attorneys are integrated with our tax, environmental, bankruptcy and litigation teams, as well as a variety of industry-specific practice groups to provide our clients with the expertise they need to meet their business objectives. Tapping our depth of experience across our geographic footprint and complimentary practices brings specialized expertise and local knowledge to our clients’ commercial real estate transactions. Our team’s work for participants on all sides of commercial real estate transactions provides us with valuable perspective that allows us to implement creative solutions in deals both simple and complex.