Investment Funds
Investment Funds
The Investment Funds Team at Bass, Berry & Sims is experienced in counseling a wide range of private equity funds and other investment vehicles, and has an extensive background working with Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) funds, Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) funds, independent sponsors, and first time fund managers. We routinely represent lower middle-market sponsors across all aspects of an investment fund's life cycle – from formation, fundraising and capitalization, through the fund's investment period and related operations to, ultimately, the fund's dissolution and wind down. We also regularly work with the fund's principals to establish the general partner and investment manager entities and assist them with the related tax planning and governance issues.
As one of few practices nationwide representing both SBIC and RBIC funds, the team counsels these funds throughout the licensing process and in post-licensing regulatory and compliance matters. We are experienced in counseling these private investment funds when making investments in qualifying small and rural businesses in compliance with the rules and regulations of the federal agencies that administer these programs: the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), respectively. Bass, Berry & Sims is also a sponsor for the Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), an association of senior investment professionals focused on the lower middle-market and advocacy for policies promoting domestic investment in small businesses.
Additionally, the team regularly counsels family offices, endowments, pension funds, insurance companies and other institutional investors that serve as anchor investors in blind pool funds, provide capital to support independent sponsors, or make co-investments along with financial sponsors. Relatedly, the team has an active secondaries practice, working with institutional investors that provide liquidity, additional capital and a longer investment term for existing investments in a sponsor's portfolio.
Finally, the team works with independent sponsors to raise capital and structure the investment documents in support of the independent sponsor’s investments.
Bass, Berry & Sims' Investment Fund Practice Group counsels clients in:
- Structuring the fund and related investment vehicles
- Developing the internal governance structure and economics of the fund sponsor team
- Drafting and negotiating governance documents
- Preparing offering materials, including private placement memoranda and subscription documentation
- Negotiating with anchor and strategic investors
- Federal and state compliance with securities and other related laws, as well as registration for investment advisors
- Regulatory compliance and filings
- Preparing and reviewing various agreements with outside providers
- Guiding fund management and other operational decisions
Bass, Berry & Sims Investment Funds team is supported by the firm's Private Equity Team, which counsels investors and portfolio companies in structuring complex private equity acquisitions and financings.
The Investment Funds Team at Bass, Berry & Sims is experienced in counseling a wide range of private equity funds and other investment vehicles, and has an extensive background working with Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) funds, Rural Business Investment Company (RBIC) funds, independent sponsors, and first time fund managers. We routinely represent lower middle-market sponsors across all aspects of an investment fund's life cycle – from formation, fundraising and capitalization, through the fund's investment period and related operations to, ultimately, the fund's dissolution and wind down. We also regularly work with the fund's principals to establish the general partner and investment manager entities and assist them with the related tax planning and governance issues.
As one of few practices nationwide representing both SBIC and RBIC funds, the team counsels these funds throughout the licensing process and in post-licensing regulatory and compliance matters. We are experienced in counseling these private investment funds when making investments in qualifying small and rural businesses in compliance with the rules and regulations of the federal agencies that administer these programs: the Small Business Administration (SBA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), respectively. Bass, Berry & Sims is also a sponsor for the Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), an association of senior investment professionals focused on the lower middle-market and advocacy for policies promoting domestic investment in small businesses.
Additionally, the team regularly counsels family offices, endowments, pension funds, insurance companies and other institutional investors that serve as anchor investors in blind pool funds, provide capital to support independent sponsors, or make co-investments along with financial sponsors. Relatedly, the team has an active secondaries practice, working with institutional investors that provide liquidity, additional capital and a longer investment term for existing investments in a sponsor's portfolio.
Finally, the team works with independent sponsors to raise capital and structure the investment documents in support of the independent sponsor’s investments.
Bass, Berry & Sims' Investment Fund Practice Group counsels clients in:
- Structuring the fund and related investment vehicles
- Developing the internal governance structure and economics of the fund sponsor team
- Drafting and negotiating governance documents
- Preparing offering materials, including private placement memoranda and subscription documentation
- Negotiating with anchor and strategic investors
- Federal and state compliance with securities and other related laws, as well as registration for investment advisors
- Regulatory compliance and filings
- Preparing and reviewing various agreements with outside providers
- Guiding fund management and other operational decisions
Bass, Berry & Sims Investment Funds team is supported by the firm's Private Equity Team, which counsels investors and portfolio companies in structuring complex private equity acquisitions and financings.
Experience
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We represented HF Capital LLC, a single-family investment office, as lead investor in an independent sponsor deal with Blue Ridge...
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We represented Ballast Point Ventures, a late venture and early growth equity investor in its closing of a GP-led continuation...
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We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Brown Robin Partners’ current fund.
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We represented Groups360, a leading platform for booking group travel, in its $35,000,000 investment from Zigg Capital, Blackstone Innovations Investments,...
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We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Frist Cressey Ventures’ current fund.
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We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Nashville Capital Network’s current fund.
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We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Resolute Capital Partners’ current fund. We...
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We represented a large private equity owned REIT and certain of its affiliates in connection with a $172,000,000 subscription and...
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We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of River Cities Capital’s current fund.
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We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Tecum Capital Partners’ current fund. We...
Experience
-
We represented HF Capital LLC, a single-family investment office, as lead investor in an independent sponsor deal with Blue Ridge...
-
We represented Ballast Point Ventures, a late venture and early growth equity investor in its closing of a GP-led continuation...
-
We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Brown Robin Partners’ current fund.
-
We represented Groups360, a leading platform for booking group travel, in its $35,000,000 investment from Zigg Capital, Blackstone Innovations Investments,...
-
We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Frist Cressey Ventures’ current fund.
-
We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Nashville Capital Network’s current fund.
-
We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Resolute Capital Partners’ current fund. We...
-
We represented a large private equity owned REIT and certain of its affiliates in connection with a $172,000,000 subscription and...
-
We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of River Cities Capital’s current fund.
-
We served as fund formation counsel for the formation, capitalization, closing and operation of Tecum Capital Partners’ current fund. We...
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.
Professionals
Name | Phone | |
---|---|---|
Dixon Babb Associate |
(615) 742-7829 | dixon.babb@bassberry.com |
Bryan P. Bylica Member |
(615) 742-7863 | bryan.bylica@bassberry.com |
Christopher J. Climo Associate |
(615) 742-7741 | christopher.climo@bassberry.com |
Katie Day Member |
(615) 742-7891 | kday@bassberry.com |
John L. Fuller Member |
(615) 742-7921 | jfuller@bassberry.com |
B. Riney Green Member |
(615) 742-7866 | rgreen@bassberry.com |
Nova D. Harb Counsel |
(615) 742-6206 | nova.harb@bassberry.com |
David W. Harper, Jr. Member |
(615) 742-7785 | dharper@bassberry.com |
Danny H. Harris Associate |
(615) 742-7789 | Danny.Harris@bassberry.com |
Michael J. Holley Member |
(615) 742-7809 | mholley@bassberry.com |
Philip Kassel Associate |
(615) 742-6217 | phil.kassel@bassberry.com |
R. Davis Mello Member |
(615) 742-6551 | dmello@bassberry.com |
Scott W. Reid Member |
(865) 521-2037 | scott.reid@bassberry.com |
Ethan Rode Associate |
(615) 742-6203 | Ethan.Rode@bassberry.com |
Ryan D. Thomas Member |
(615) 742-7765 | rthomas@bassberry.com |
Publications
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May 13, 2024 | Crowdfund Insider
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April 4, 2024 | Middle Market Growth
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January 31, 2024 | Firm Publication
Upcoming Events
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March 11-12, 2025 | Nashville, TennesseeSmall Business Investor Alliance
Past Events
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October 27-29, 2024 | Palm Beach, FloridaSmall Business Investor Alliance
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May 29-30, 2024 | Chicago, IllinoisSmall Business Investor Alliance
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May 14, 2024 | Nashville, TennesseeSmall Business Investor Alliance
Media Mentions & Firm News
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June 12, 2024 | Firm News
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December 20, 2023 | Corporate Compliance Insights
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December 19, 2022 | Law360 Pulse
Publications
-
May 13, 2024 | Crowdfund Insider
-
April 4, 2024 | Middle Market Growth
-
January 31, 2024 | Firm Publication
Past Events
-
October 27-29, 2024 | Palm Beach, FloridaSmall Business Investor Alliance
-
May 29-30, 2024 | Chicago, IllinoisSmall Business Investor Alliance
-
May 14, 2024 | Nashville, TennesseeSmall Business Investor Alliance
Media Mentions & Firm News
-
June 12, 2024 | Firm News
-
December 20, 2023 | Corporate Compliance Insights
-
December 19, 2022 | Law360 Pulse
Contact
Notice
Visiting, or interacting with, this website does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. Although we are always interested in hearing from visitors to our website, we cannot accept representation on a new matter from either existing clients or new clients until we know that we do not have a conflict of interest that would prevent us from doing so. Therefore, please do not send us any information about any new matter that may involve a potential legal representation until we have confirmed that a conflict of interest does not exist and we have expressly agreed in writing to the representation. Until there is such an agreement, we will not be deemed to have given you any advice, any information you send may not be deemed privileged and confidential, and we may be able to represent adverse parties.