By Mesirow Financial is pleased to announce that the firm's Investment Banking group has been named the winner of The M&A Advisor's M&A Deal of the Year award for the second year in a row. Mesirow Financial Investment Banking won the 2013 M&A Deal of the Year in the $100mm to $200mm category for its role as the financial advisor to Wausau Paper Corp. ("Wausau") in the sale of its specialty paper business to Expera Specialty Solutions, LLC ("Expera"), a newly formed company sponsored by KPS Capital Partners, LP. The transaction included the acquisition of Packaging Dynamics' Thilmany Papers business unit by Expera.
Winners were announced at the 12th Annual M&A Advisor Awards Gala on Tuesday, December 17th at the New York Athletic Club. Award winners were selected by an independent panel of 23 judges from more than 400 nominations representing more than 850 companies, honoring top performers of the year for creativity, resourcefulness and perseverance in the transaction process.
Wausau, a Wisconsin-based producer of away-from-home towel and tissue products, enhanced shareholder value through the divestiture of its non-core specialty paper business, and further developed its strategy of focusing resources to become a pure-play tissue business. Mesirow Financial served as the exclusive financial advisor to Wausau throughout the process providing the Board of Directors with a strategic alternatives assessment and advised on the divestiture of Wausau's specialty paper business.
"It is an honor to be recognized for our work to combine two best-in-class specialty paper businesses in the sale of Wausau's specialty paper business to Expera. Our deep industry experience and strong relationships with financial sponsors allowed us to pair Wausau's specialty paper business with an experienced partner that is committed to growth in the specialty paper industry," said Rocky Pontikes.
The Mesirow Financial team was led by Rocky Pontikes, managing director, and included Adam Oakley and Andrew Suen.
The gala is the premier celebration of the year for the industry's leading dealmakers. The 12th Annual Awards Gala was held in conjunction with the 2013 M&A Advisor Summit that featured over 350 of the industry's leading M&A professionals participating in exclusive interactive forums led by over 50 M&A, restructuring, media, academic and political stalwarts.
About The M&A Advisor
Since 1998, The M&A Advisor has been presenting, recognizing the achievement of and facilitating connections between the world's leading mergers and acquisitions, financing and turnaround professionals with a comprehensive range of services including M&A SUMMITS; M&A AWARDS; M&A CONNECTS TM; M&A ALERTS TM, M&A LINKS TM MandA.TV and M&A MARKET INTEL TM. Visit maadvisor.com to learn more.
About Mesirow Financial Investment Banking
Mesirow Financial Investment Banking focuses exclusively on middle-market transactions and serves established middle-market companies and large corporations, both public and private, in merger and acquisition advisory, debt advisory, restructuring and special situations, fairness and solvency opinions, board of directors advisory and special committee representation. Our practice combines rich industry knowledge and long-standing relationships with expert advisory services in the middle market, and our full range of services allows us to serve clients at any the stage of their business.
About Mesirow Financial
Mesirow Financial is a diversified financial services firm headquartered in Chicago. Founded in 1937, it is an independent, employee-owned firm with approximately 1,200 employees globally. With expertise in Investment Management, Global Markets, Insurance Services and Consulting, Mesirow Financial strives to meet the financial needs of institutions, public sector entities, corporations and individuals. For more information about Mesirow Financial, visit mesirowfinancial.com.
Mesirow Financial
Syreeta Harris, 312.595.8106
saharris@mesirowfinancial.com
