Seth A. Milligan

Seth A. Milligan is a corporate attorney based in Holland & Knight's Stamford office. Mr. Milligan focuses his practice on private equity and mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Mr. Milligan regularly represents private equity funds, their portfolio companies and other private and public companies in middle-market M&A – including leveraged buyout transactions, platform acquisitions, add-on acquisitions, dispositions, co-investments and complex carve-outs – in deals ranging in value from under $50 million to more than $1 billion.

Mr. Milligan serves clients across diverse industries, with particular knowledge and experience in the consumer products (CPG) industry, especially the food and beverage sector, including alcoholic beverages. Mr. Milligan advises clients in a wide variety of corporate, commercial real estate, financing and other business transactions, including dividend recapitalizations and joint venture formations. Mr. Milligan also regularly negotiates commercial agreements including food and beverage contract manufacturing agreements, licensing agreements, distribution agreements, and supply, logistics and warehousing agreements.

Mr. Milligan is a trusted business partner who helps clients achieve their transactional goals and objectives. Commentators in the Chambers USA 2024 guide noted that he is a "bright, diligent and responsive" lawyer and is "very practical in his problem-solving approach."

Mr. Milligan's representative matters include:

• representation of Hometown Food Company in its $600 million acquisition of the Chef Boyardee® brand from Conagra Brands Inc. (NYSE: CAG)
• representation of Brynwood Partners in its sale of Harvest Hill Beverage Company to Castillo Hermanos and Centerview Capital
• representation of a private equity sponsor in multiple complex GP-led secondary and restructuring transactions
• representation of an operator of special education schools providing mental health and educational services in its sale to a portfolio company of a private equity fund
• representation of Hometown Food Company in its acquisition of Birch Benders from Sovos Brands Inc.
• representation of a portfolio company of a large family office in its acquisition of a leading manufacturer of temperature sensor equipment
• representation of Celsius Holdings (Nasdaq: CELH) in connection with a $549.75 million preferred stock investment by PepsiCo Inc. (Nasdaq: PEP) and negotiation with PepsiCo Inc. of a long-term distribution deal
• representation of a private equity-backed beverage company in its acquisition of an organic lemonade brand
• representation of Brynwood Partners in its acquisition of De Wafelbakkers from The Oklahoma Publishing Company, a subsidiary of The Anschutz Corp.
• representation of a portfolio company of a large family office in its acquisition of a provider of advanced automation solutions for the life sciences and industrial markets
• representation of Brynwood Partners in its formation of Buitoni Food Company and acquisition of the North American Buitoni® business from Nestlé USA Inc.
• representation of a food manufacturer in the sale of a former manufacturing facility and assets to three separate buyers
• representation of a professional services company specializing in business process automation and data analytics in an investment from a private equity fund
• representation of a portfolio company of a large family office in its acquisition of a contract manufacturer specializing in clean room injection molding of plastic components for the medical and biotechnology industries
• representation of Hometown Food Company in its acquisition of the Arrowhead Mills and SunSpire brands from The Hain Celestial Group Inc.
• representation of a private investment company in its acquisition of a controlling interest in an ice cream manufacturer
• representation of Hometown Food Company in its $375 million acquisition of a portfolio of brands from The J.M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM)
• representation of an eyewear company in the sale of a significant minority stake to a private equity fund
• representation of Cold Spring Brewing Company in its add-on acquisition of Carolina Beverage Group LLC from SunTx Capital Partners
• representation of multiple private equity funds in the sale of their investments in a family dining restaurant chain with more than 90 locations
• representation of Brynwood Partners in its acquisition of Cold Spring Brewing Company
• representation of High Ridge Brands in its $415 million sale to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice
• representation of Prospect Capital Corporation (NASDAQ: PSEC) in its $328 million sale of its interests in Harbortouch Payments LLC to Searchlight Capital Partners
• representation of Brynwood Partners in its acquisition of Sunny Delight Beverages Co. from J.W. Childs Associates
• representation of Compass Diversified Holdings (NYSE: CODI) in the $412.5 million disposition of CamelBak Products LLC to Vista Outdoor Inc.
• representation of Harvest Hill Beverage Company in its acquisition of American Beverage Corporation
• representation of a large pharmacy services provider for long-term care and post-acute facilities in multiple acquisitions of institutional pharmacies
• representation of Brynwood Partners in its sale of DeMet's Candy Company for $221 million to Yildiz Holdings A.S., owner of the Godiva® chocolate brand
• representation of Energy Equity Partners LP in its sale of Clearfield Energy L.P., a 125-year-old crude oil, condensate and water services company with operations in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia, to Crosstex Energy L.P. and Crosstex Energy Inc.
• representation of Brynwood Partners in its sale of Balance Bar Company to NBTY Inc., a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group