Deal Announced: September 24, 2001
Web Posted: September 25, 2001
VeriSign, Inc. today announced its agreement to acquire Illuminet Holdings, Inc., the leading independent provider of telecommunications network and signaling services, in an all-stock transaction valued approximately at $1.2 billion at signing. Fenwick & West LLP represented VeriSign in the transaction.
Leading Fenwick's transaction team were corporate partners Jeff Vetter and Doug Cogen, and intellectual property partner Lisa Kenkel. Firm Chair Gordon Davidson advised on the transaction, partner Scott Spector assisted with employee benefits issues, and review of tax matters was provided by partner Ron Schrotenboer. The transaction team consisted of corporate associates John Park, Andrew Schultheis, Emil Bova, Patricio Garavito and John Shields, IP associates Craig McDougall, Diana Lock, Devin Gensch, Jennifer Fahey and Rochelle Levy, and employee benefits associates Thomas Kim, Darci Winvick, Mona Clee and Liza Uzelac. All attorneys are based in F&W's Palo Alto headquarters other than Cogen and Park, who are based in the Firm's San Francisco office.
Leading VeriSign's legal team is Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Jim Ulam. Illuminet was represented by Kansas City-based Blackwell Sanders Peper & Martin LLP.
Press inquiries regarding Fenwick & West's representation in this matter should be addressed to Doug Cogen, 415.875.2409; or Jeff Vetter, 650.335.7631.
VeriSign press release: http://corporate.verisign.com/news/2001/pr_20010924.html