Jim Altenbach focuses his practice on corporate matters. He has developed particular experience in the media industry, handling many of the nation's television and radio acquisitions, sales, and roll-ups. Jim has guided technology clients through their start-up, venture capital transactions, mergers, acquisitions and initial public offerings. He has bought or sold more than 200 television and radio stations in transactions over the last several years, and has also bought or sold numerous digital advertising agencies. Jim also represents several leveraged buyout funds in their media-related investments. He works closely with clients and their investment bankers structuring creative acquisitions and financing vehicles for unique transactions. Jim is experienced in issues dealing with corporate governance, stockholder agreements, registration rights and related matters.
Areas of Concentration
· Corporate finance and securities
· Corporate
· Media and technology
· Mergers, acquisitions and divestitures
· Venture capital
Significant Representations
· Represented Legendary Pictures, LLC in connection with its equity and debt financing. As part of the initial financing, mezzanine lenders committed to providing $85 million of debt financing and equity investors committed to providing up to $152 million of equity to Legendary Pictures, LLC.
· Represented Kelso & Company and Endurance Business Media Holdings, LLC in its acquisition of Home & Land.
· Represented HowStuffWorks and HSW International in a Section 351 merger and asset contribution with Intac International, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed company. The transaction resulted in HSW International becoming a Nasdaq-listed company. In connection with the transaction, a private investment of up to $49 million was made into HSW International.
· Represented Legendary Pictures in its $600 million financing with Dresdner Bank and restructuring of its mezzanine financing with Abry, Falcon Partners, DB Zwrin, Deutsche Bank, AIG and others. The transaction enabled Legend to extend its co-production film deal with Warner Bros. until 2012.
· Represented entrepreneur and rock star Sammy Hagar in his agreement to sell 80 percent interest in Cabo Wabo Tequila to Gruppo Campari for $80 million (U.S.). Sammy Hagar and his partner Marco Monroy continue to own 20 percent of Cabo Wabo.
· Represented Kelso and Ellis Communications Group, LLC in an $87.5 million credit facility from Deustche Bank related to the financing of the acquisition of KDOC, an Orange County, CA television station.
· Represented iXL Enterprises Inc. in stock-for-stock merger of equals with Scient Corporation.
· Represented numerous buyers and sellers of television broadcasting properties including Act III Broadcasting, Ellis Communications, Petracom Broadcasting, Inc., Communications Corporation of America and Grapevine Communications, Inc. in purchase and sale of more than 100 television stations, including all financing activities related to these matters.
· Represented iXL Enterprises, Inc. in four separate rounds of venture capital financing leading to the representation of iXL Enterprises, Inc. in its initial public offering in June 1999, and a follow-up offering in October 1999.
· Represented iXL Enterprises, Inc. in the acquisition of 34 separate companies over an 18-month period.
· Represented numerous buyers and sellers of trade publications in the purchase, sale and financing of publishing properties, including Cygnus Business Media Holdings, Inc. in its organization, equity financing, debt financing and initial acquisition of 50 trade magazines.
· Represented several venture capital companies in their investments in Internet businesses.
Professional & Community Involvement
· Member, American Bar Association
· Member, Atlanta Bar Association
· Member, National Association of Television Programming Executives (NATPE)
Awards & Recognition
· Selected, Super Lawyers magazine and Georgia Super Lawyers magazine (2007-2012)
· Listed, "Georgia's Legal Elite," Georgia Trend (2008-2009)
· Rated, AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5
Articles, Publications, & Lectures
· Co-Author, "Broadcast Clues: Legal Issues in Acquisitions of Television Stations," The Atlanta Lawyer, Third Issue, 1991