Manatt Wins M&A Advisor Deal of the Year Awards for RIA Envia, Inc. Transaction
NEW YORK - December 13, 2007 - Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP announced today that the firm received three awards at the 6th Annual Middle Market Awards Gala hosted by the M&A Advisor at the Hudson Theatre in New York City. The firm received the awards for its representation of RIA Envia, Inc., in its sale to Euronet Worldwide, Inc., in a transaction valued at $510 million.
Most noteworthy, the firm received the esteemed "Deal of the Year" award for the RIA Envia, Inc. transaction, the highest honor bestowed for any transaction at the Gala. In addition, the firm received the "International/Cross Border Deal of the Year Above $100 Million" and "Consumer Services Deal of the Year" awards in connection with the RIA transaction.
Mark Kelson, corporate transactional partner at Manatt, led the Ria Envia, Inc. team. Partners Ben D. Orlanski and David M. Grinberg also represented RIA Envia, Inc. in the transaction.
"The RIA transaction was both rewarding and challenging, and represents a significant achievement for our corporate practice and our firm," said Mr. Kelson. "At the time of the transaction, RIA was the third largest money transfer company and the largest privately held global money transfer company, and the transaction has had a substantial and positive impact on the markets served by RIA both domestically and overseas."
"We are all extremely proud of the fine work Mark, Ben and David did for RIA Envia, Inc. in this transaction," said Gordon M. Bava, Chair of Manatt’s Business, Finance and Tax Division. "They represented RIA in connection with the negotiation of this complex and high profile transaction, which involved the coordination of legal issues in 82 countries and several U.S. states."
Two other Manatt deals made the M&A Advisor Awards finals. Jamba Juice Company’s merger with Services Acquisition Corp. International was a finalist in the "Retailing Deal of the Year" category, a transaction in which Manatt partner Richard J. Maire represented Jamba Juice. In addition, Kinecta Federal Credit Union’s acquisition of Navicert Financial, Inc. dba Nix Check Cashing competed in the "Financial Services Deal of the Year/Below $100M" category. Mr. Grinberg represented the buyer in the transaction.
M&A Advisor Awards are judged by a panel of independent experts, including representatives from the ranks of private equity firms, law firms, consultants, turnaround managers and business school deans.
About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, provides legal and consulting services to a global client base from offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento, California; New York City and Albany, New York; and Washington, D.C. Manatt includes Manatt Health Solutions, a healthcare policy and strategic business advisory group, and ManattJones Global Strategies, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary that develops and implements strategies to expand client businesses and facilitate their effective competition in global markets. For more information, visit www.manatt.com, www.manatthealthsolutions.com, and www.manattjones.com.