Alain Dermarkar

Alain Dermarkar

Partner

Alain is US Co-Head of Private Equity and Private Equity Sector Lead – US. He focuses on U.S. and international mergers and acquisitions and other strategic transactions, including minority investments and joint ventures.

Alain’s private equity and strategic clients operate and invest in various industries including technology, manufacturing, aerospace/defense, environmental, construction, healthcare, consumer products, energy and real estate.

Alain has completed more than US$250 billion of transactions for public and private U.S., European and Asian companies and private equity firms.

Alain also counsels clients on capital raising transactions, corporate governance, and takeover preparedness, and has advised on numerous special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) related transactions.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • J.F. Lehman in multiple transactions, including its US$1.2 billion take-private of Heritage-Crystal Clean Inc., its acquisition and subsequent sale of Lone Star Disposal, and its acquisition of Narda-MITEQ. 
  • New Mountain Capital in multiple transactions by portfolio companies, including acquisitions and divestitures for Aegion Corp., 3E, Profile Products, Cumming Group and Zep.
  • Great Elm Group, Inc. in multiple transactions including the US$80 million sale of a majority equity interest in Great Elm Healthcare, LLC to QHM Holdings Inc. and the sale of a majority interest of Forest Investments, Inc. to affiliates of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • Hitachi, Ltd. in its US$9.5 billion acquisition of GlobalLogic Inc.  
  • Granite Construction Inc. in multiple acquisitions and divestitures, including its divestiture of its Inliner business to Inland Pipe Rehabilitation and its US$536 million acquisition of Layne Christensen.
  • Teradyne, Inc. in multiple transactions, including its acquisition of Energid and its investment in Technoprobe S.p.A. along with a sale to Technoprobe of its Device Interface Solutions Business.
  • SAP in the US$12.5 billion sale of Qualtrics International, Inc. to Silver Lake. 
  • Hitachi, Ltd. in its acquisition of GlobalLogic Inc. for an enterprise value of US$9.5 billion.
  • Ardagh Group in its US$8.5 billion transaction with Gores Holdings V, a Nasdaq-listed SPAC, involving its metal packaging business.
  • Microvast, Inc. in its US$3 billion business combination with Tuscan Holdings Corp., a Nasdaq-listed SPAC, and $57.5 million bridge financing notes offering with affiliates of Luxor Capital Partner.
  • NRC Group’s (a public company majority-owned by J.F. Lehman & Company) US$750 million transaction with Hennessy Capital Acquisition Corp. III, a Nasdaq-listed SPAC, and subsequent US$966 million acquisition by US Ecology.
  • Evolute Capital, LLC in multiple transactions, including its acquisition of eGroup Holding Company, a recognized leader in differentiated Data Center, Cloud, Hybrid Cloud, and Managed Service, and its acquisition of Signature Utility Services, LLC, a provider of helicopter services for railroad planning, vegetation and hazard mitigation, and construction as well as eGroup Holding Company, LLC, a portfolio company of Evolute Capital, in its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Enabling Technologies Corp. 
  • Connell Limited Partnership in multiple transactions, including its sale of Anchor Danly and AWC Manufacturing to Hidden Harbor Capital Partners, its sale of Wabash Alloys to Aleris International, its acquisition of Dayton Progress from Federal Signal and subsequent sale of Dayton Progress to Misumi Group, and its acquisition of SencorpWhite.
  • Alturus Capital in its acquisition of Physicians Rehab Solution, LLC.
  • Strike Capital in its attempted sale to a SPAC.
  • Community Counseling Service Co. (CCS Fundraising), the world’s leading fundraising consulting firm for non-profits, with respect to a strategic investment by ABRY Partners.
  • Road Ventures in various investments (and secondary investments) in Alto Experience, Inc., a premium subscription based ride share company.
  • Citrix Systems’ US$2.25 billion acquisition of Wrike, Inc.
  • ExcelFin Acquisition Corp. in an agreement to combine with Baird Medical Investment Holdings Limited in a transaction that will result in Baird Medical, a medical technology company, based Guangzhou, China, going public on Nasdaq under the ticker XFIN.
  • Aeries Technology, as a subsidiary of Aark Singapore Pte. Ltd, in Aark Singapore’s combination with Worldwide Webb Acquisition Corp.
  • Volta Inc. in its acquisition by Shell USA, Inc.
  • TV Ammo, Inc. in its US$1.21 billion business combination with Breeze Holdings Acquisition Corp., a SPAC.
  • Reynolds American in connection with its US$49 billion acquisition by British American Tobacco, US$5 billion sale to JT Group of the international rights to the Natural American Spirit brand name, and US $27.4 billion acquisition of Lorillard and related US$7.1 billion asset divestiture to an Imperial Tobacco affiliate.
  • Newell Rubbermaid in its US$16 billion acquisition of Jarden Corporation.
  • Tokyo Electron in multiple transactions, including its attempted US$29 billion merger-of-equals with Applied Materials Inc.
  • Oncor Electric Delivery Company in connection with Sempra Energy’s US$18.8 billion enterprise value acquisition of Energy Future Holdings Corp., Oncor’s majority owner.
  • Futura Title & Escrow in its sale to an investment affiliate of Seidler Equity Partners.
  • Capital Southwest in its tax-free spin-off of CSW Industries.
  • Mother Lode Holding Co. in its US$300 million acquisition by First American Financial Corporation.
  • Investcorp Europe Acquisition Corp I in its proposed business combination with OpSec Group, a UK-based global leader in brand protection solutions and intellectual property management.

Speaking Engagements

  • “Primer on SPACs”, December 2020
  • Panelist, “IPO Alternatives: What You Should Know About SPACs and Direct Listings”, Austin Finance Leadership Summit, November 2020

Awards

  • Recognized as a leading lawyer for Corporate/M&A in Texas, Chambers USA, 2020-2023 
  • “Most Effective Dealmakers”, Texas Lawyer, 2022
  • “Client Service All-Star”, The BTI Consulting Group, 2020-2023
  • “Rising Star”, Texas Super Lawyers, 2015-2018 
  • “Emerging Leaders Award”, M&A Advisor, 2016
  • “Best Lawyers in Dallas”, D Magazine, 2018

Qualifications

Admissions

Texas, 2011
Massachusetts, 2006

Academic

B.S., Business Administration and Management, Boston University, 2000

J.D., Law, Georgetown University, 2006

M.B.A., Business Administration, Georgetown University, 2006

Languages

French
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.