John Kaercher, P.C.
Overview
John Kaercher is a mergers & acquisitions and private equity partner in the Austin office of Kirkland & Ellis LLP. John provides ongoing representation to corporate clients on complex transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, SPACs, private equity and public and private securities offerings, with a particular focus on the technology, media, telecommunications and energy sectors (including oil and gas, power, renewables, and the energy transition).
John forms long-lasting relationships with his clients and is routinely called upon to lead complicated transactions on expedited timelines. In addition, John frequents the speaker circuits, regularly participating on panels or providing insights on topical matters.
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland, John's representative transactions have included:
- Representation of North Hudson Resources Partners and its affiliated funds in the $402 million purchase of LOGOS Resources II LLC, an operator of oil and gas assets in the San Juan Basin, from affiliates of ArcLight Capital Partners.
- Representation of Atrium Hospitality in its business combination with Alpine Acquisition Corp., a publicly traded SPAC.
- Representation of Blackstone, a leading alternative investment manager, in its transformative partnership with Hipgnosis Song Management to deliver c.$1 billion to acquire and manage song catalogues, with follow-on catalogue purchases from iconic artists including Kenny Chesney and Leonard Cohen.
- Representation of Thoma Bravo in connection with:
- its strategic growth investment in Circle Cardiovascular Imaging Inc.
- Riskonnect’s growth investment by TA Associates
- the sale of a majority stake in Nintex to TPG Capital
- Representation of Diversified Energy Company (LSE:DEC) in the closing of a sustainability-linked asset backed securitization (ABS) of certain Barnett Shale assets in North Texas
- Representation of RedTeam Software, LLC, a construction management software provider, on its acquisition of PASKR Inc., a cloud-based construction management solution
- Representation of JettyCove Holdings in multiple growth-equity investments across various industries
- Representation of Willoughby Capital in multiple growth-equity investments across various industries
- Representation of Avenue Capital and Echo Energy in their divestiture of certain oil and gas mineral interests to Brigham Minerals
- Representation of L&F Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: LNFA), a special purpose acquisition company, in its $1.4 billion business combination that will result in a combined ZeroFox, Inc., an enterprise software-as-a-service (Saas) leader in external cybersecurity, and ID Experts Solutions, a leading digital privacy protection and data breach response services company, becoming a publicly traded company.
- Representation of Diversified Energy Company PLC (LSE: DEC) in its acquisition of certain upstream assets, field infrastructure, equipment and facilities within the company's Central Region from Tapstone Energy Holdings, LLC and its related party KL CHK SPV, LLC
- Representation of HGGC in connection with:
- the sale of a controlling interest in Beauty Industry Group
- the pending investment of $1.2 billion by third party investors in Integrity Marketing Group
- Representation of Cleanhill Partners on its partnership with CleanJoule LLC, a leading producer of full-performance sustainable aviation fuels
- Representation of Black Rifle Coffee Company in connection with its business combination with SilverBox Engaged Merger Corp.
- Representation of Mosaik Equity Partners in connection with its sale of Payveris to Paymentus Holdings
- Representation of Vegvisir Capital in connection with its acquisition of Royal Alliances, a software-enabled mail services company
- Representation of Mountain Valley Pipeline in connection with its agreement to purchase Verified Emissions Reductions from affiliates of NextEra Energy
Prior to joining Kirkland, John’s representative transactions included:
Technology/Media/Telecommunications
- Representation of technology/media/telecommunications-related clients, including Liberty Media Corporation, Liberty Latin America Ltd., Qurate Retail Inc., Barnes & Noble, Inc., ESO Solutions, Inc., AffiniPay Holdings, LLC, JettyCove Holdings, LLC, Toshiba Corporation, WellSky Corporation, Wolters Kluwer, DXC Technology, Dell Technologies, in multiple domestic and cross-border buy- and sell-side M&A transactions of $10 billion
- Representation of AffiniPay in $580 million sale to TA Associates
- Representation of ESO Solutions in connection with its sale to Vista Equity Partners
- Representation of ESO Solutions in connection with its acquisitions of certain assets from Conduent
- Representation of ESO Solutions in connection with its acquisition of DICORP
- Representation of RedTeam Software, a portfolio company of JettyCove Holdings, in connection with its acquisition of Fieldlens
- Representation of SHUAA Capital psc. in connection with the acquisition of Anghami by Vistas Merger Acquisition Company, Inc.
- Representation of the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Barnes & Noble, Inc. in its pending acquisition by Elliott Advisors (UK)
- Representation of NASCAR Holdings in its pending acquisition of International Speedway Corporation
- Representation of Liberty Latin American in its cross-border acquisition of Telefonica’s Costa Rica business
- Representation of Liberty Latin America in its cross-border acquisition of United Telecommunication Systems NV (Curacao)
- Representation of Starz in its $4.4 billion merger with Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.
- Representation of SLM Corporation in its spin-off of Navient Corporation
- Representation of Liberty Media Corporation in primary and secondary offerings totaling $2.3 billion
- Representation of placement agents and initial purchasers in 144A equity offerings totaling $500 million
- Representation of institutional investors and placement agents in PIPE offering totaling $200 million
Energy and Energy Transition
- Representation of energy-focused clients, including Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation, Colonial Pipeline Company, Riverstone Holdings, LLC, The Energy & Minerals Group, Equitrans Midstream Corporation, EQT Corporation, EQM Midstream Partners, Jones Energy, American Resource Development, Hyridge Energy and WhiteWater Midstream, in connection with M&A transactions and joint ventures of $17 billion
- Representation of Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation in multiple upstream oil and gas acquisitions
- Representation of Colonial Pipeline Company in connection with acquisitions representing their entry into the Terminals business as a new vertical
- Representation of industrial manufacturers and distributors in M&A transactions totaling $500 million
- Representation of multiple buyers and sellers, in acquisitions and dispositions pursuant to section 363 of the bankruptcy code
- Representation of Equitrans Midstream Corporation in connection with its spin-off from EQT Corporation
- Representation of NYSE-listed oil and gas company in $376 million financing through a combination of an underwritten public offering, a registered direct offering and a private placement of senior notes
- Representation of NYSE-listed oil and gas company in $140 million financing involving concurrent offerings of common stock and convertible preferred stock
- Representation of NYSE-listed midstream MLP in its $282 million initial public offering
- Representation of various underwriters in initial public offerings totaling $1.0 billion
General Investments
- Representation of energy- and tech-focused private equity firms in investments and joint ventures totaling $3.5 billion
- Representation of management teams in private equity financings totaling $2.0 billion
- Representation of energy-focused private equity firm in co-investments totaling $2.0 billion
- Representation of institutional investors in investments totaling $1 billion to funds managed by Och-Ziff
- Representation of multiple life sciences and technology companies in early and late stage venture capital financings and general corporate matters
- Representation of a venture capital fund in several early and late stage venture capital financings
- Representation of a clean energy company issuer in multiple convertible and senior notes offerings
Prior Experience
More
Thought Leadership
Seminars
Panelist, "Lightning in a Box: Energy Storage," Hart Energy's 2022 Energy Transition Capital Conference, May 2022
Recognition
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- Texas
Education
- University of Virginia School of LawJ.D.2011
- University of Texas at AustinB.A.with Honors2007