We represented Arcline Investment Management, a growth-oriented private equity firm with approximately $8.9 billion in capital under management, in its bid and subsequent public pursuit (via a “topping bid” of approximately $1.8 billion) to buy CIRCOR International (NYSE: CIR), a maker of flow control products and services for the industrial, aerospace and defense markets. The topping bid was submitted in an effort to have Arcline’s offer be accepted by CIRCOR’s board of directors as a “superior proposal” to a rival offer and pending merger agreement with KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE: KKR), a leading global investment firm.
The team was led by Bass, Berry & Sims members Ryan Thomas (chair of the firm’s Private Equity Team), Scott Bell and Ryan Hoffman, and included corporate attorneys Whitney Burnley and John Keny.
“Bass, Berry & Sims was proud to represent Arcline Investment Management in its bid to buy Circor International. We have been fortunate to represent Arcline in numerous buy-side transactions in the defense, aerospace, and industrial technology industries, and appreciate the trust they placed in us to represent them in their high profile bid against KKR.” said Thomas.
The topping bid proposal and pursuit by Arcline Investment Management was highlighted in several media outlets including:
- “Arcline makes bid to acquire industrial valve maker CIRCOR for $57 per share,” PE Hub (June 28, 2023)
- “Industrial Strength: KKR and Arcline Go to War for Pump and Valve Maker Circor,” Bloomberg (June 28, 2023)
- “Arcline Tops KKR’s $1.7B Deal For Circor In Surprise Bid,” Law360 (June 28, 2023)
- “KKR Assails Private-Equity Firm’s Competing Bid for Circor,”Wall Street Journal (June 28, 2023)