Mary Stokes focuses her practice on organizations involved in the investment management industry, including mutual funds, other registered investment companies, hedge funds and investment advisors. Ms. Stokes assists clients with regard to:
· registration, regulation, and governance of investment companies
· creation and organization of private investment funds and hedge funds
· public and private offerings
· SEC filings, statements, exemptive applications, and disclosure reports
Representative Matters
· Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund (NYSE: AOD), the largest closed-end fund IPO in U.S. equity markets' history, and the New York Stock Exchange's (NYSE) sixth largest IPO ever. The transaction was valued at $4.04 billion
· Alpine Woods Capital Investors, LLC in the successful pricing of its first closed-end fund offering. The fund, named the Global Dynamic Dividend Fund, trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol AGD. The transaction was valued at $476 million
· Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund (NYSE: AWP), in a $2.1 billion IPO for a closed-end real estate securities fund
· Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund (AMEX: CFP) in its initial public offering. The transaction was valued at $140 million
Community Service & Affiliations
Ms. Stokes is a member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Clinic for the Disabled.
Events
SUB-ADVISER AND SERVICE PROVIDER FORUM: PRACTICAL ADVICE AND GUIDANCE
[Event]
Blank Rome LLP
22nd Floor Boardroom, The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Ave., New York, NY
June 7, 2011
Thomas R. Westle and Mary K. Stokes
Publications
SEC ADOPTS FINAL RULES REGARDING INVESTMENT ADVISER REGISTRATION
[Article]
VC Experts
August 2, 2011
Melissa Palat Murawsky, Mary K. Stokes and Thomas R. Westle
SEC ADOPTS FINAL RULES REGARDING INVESTMENT ADVISER REGISTRATION
[Alert]
Corporate and Securities Update
June 2011 (No. 2)
Melissa Palat Murawsky, Mary K. Stokes and Thomas R. Westle
Cases and Deals
LADENBURG THALMANN & CO. UNDERWRITES $46.5M IPO FOR NEXT INNOVATION
[Deal]
May 3, 2011
Thomas R. Westle, Brad L. Shiffman and Mary K. Stokes
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., the sole bookrunning manager of $46.5 million initial public offering of NeXt Innovation Corp.
LADENBURG THALMANN UNDERWRITES $36.5M IPO FOR OXFORD LANE CAPITAL
[Deal]
January 25, 2011
Thomas R. Westle, Brad L. Shiffman and Mary K. Stokes
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., Inc, the sole bookrunning manager of the $36.5M initial public offering of Oxford Lane Capital Corp.
CORNERSTONE TOTAL RETURN FUND IN A $7M OFFERING
[Deal]
December 10, 2010
Thomas R. Westle and Mary K. Stokes
Cornerstone Total Return Fund, Inc. in a $7 million offering to existing shareholders of rights exercisable for common stock.
CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC VALUE FUND IN A $12M OFFERING
[Deal]
December 10, 2010
Thomas R. Westle and Mary K. Stokes
Cornerstone Strategic Value Fund in a $12 million offering to existing shareholders.
LADENBURG THALMANN & CO., INC. UNDERWRITES $18 MILLION IPO FOR FULL CIRCLE CAPITAL CORPORATION
[Deal]
September 8, 2010
Thomas R. Westle, Brad L. Shiffman, Mary K. Stokes, Daniel R. Blickman and Ethan M. Seer
Blank Rome represented the underwriters, Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., as the sole book running manager for Full Circle Capital Corporation's initial public offering of 2,000,000 shares for gross proceeds of $18 million.
MERION CAPITAL CLOSES NEW FUND
[Deal]
July 2010
Gary R. Goldenberg, Louis M. Rappaport, Richard J. McMahon, Mary K. Stokes and Cory G. Jacobs
Merion Capital in the closing of a new fund.
FUND FORMATION PROVIDES CAPITAL TO UNDERWRITING SYNDICATES
[Deal]
September 2009
Mary K. Stokes
Formation of a New York-based private investment fund organized to provide capital to underwriting syndicates internationally for an undisclosed amount.
REGISTRATION FOR GLOBAL REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS FUND
[Deal]
September 2009
Thomas R. Westle and Mary K. Stokes
Registration for Global Real Estate Investments Fund being sold as an interval fund by the Fund's affiliated broker dealer Ascent Real Estate Securities, LLC.
COMMERCIAL FINANCE FUND FORMATION
[Deal]
March 2009
Michael J. Medveckus, Daniel R. Blickman and Mary K. Stokes
Formation of a New York-based commercial finance opportunity fund for an undisclosed amount.
METROPOLITAN EQUITY PARTNERS INVESTS IN BALLISTA SECURITIES LLC
[Deal]
June 30, 2008
Louis M. Rappaport, Cory G. Jacobs and Mary K. Stokes
Blank Rome advised Metropolitan Equity Partners in its recent investment in Ballista Securities LLC.
CORNERSTONE PROGRESSIVE RETURN FUND CLOSES INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING
[Deal]
September 10, 2007
Thomas R. Westle, Emanuel J. Adler, Lawrence R. Wiseman, Joseph T. Gulant and Mary K. Stokes
Cornerstone Progressive Return Fund in the closing of its public offering, attracted approximately $140 million.
BIGGEST CLOSED-END REAL ESTATE IPO IN U.S. EQUITY MARKET'S HISTORY
[Deal]
April 26, 2007
Thomas R. Westle, Emanuel J. Adler, Lawrence R. Wiseman, Joseph T. Gulant, Mary K. Stokes and Rustin I. Paul
Alpine Global Premier Properties Fund raised $2.0 billion through its common share offering.
BIGGEST CLOSED-END FUND IPO IN U.S. EQUITY MARKETS' HISTORY
[Deal]
January 26, 2007
Thomas R. Westle, Lawrence R. Wiseman, Emanuel J. Adler, Joseph T. Gulant, Mary K. Stokes and Rustin I. Paul
Alpine Total Dynamic Dividend Fund raised $4.04 billion through its common share offering.
ALPINE GLOBAL DYNAMIC DIVIDEND FUND ATTRACTS $476 MILLION
[Deal]
July 26, 2006
Emanuel J. Adler, Mary K. Stokes and Thomas R. Westle
Third largest closed-end fund IPO of 2006.
COMPANY SOLD FOR $600 MILLION AND MANAGEMENT TEAM STAYS IN PLACE
[Deal]
January 11, 2005
Steven Dubow, Michael C. Greenbaum, James R. Staiger and Mary K. Stokes
Client establishes stand-alone segment within Roper Industries and continues marketing their solid brand.