William J.Axtman (Bill)

Of Counsel

Pittsburgh + 1.412.394.9538

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Bill Axtman advises clients on business transactions, with a focus for more than 20 years on domestic and cross-border M&A, divestitures, and joint ventures for multinational companies. He also represents clients in connection with private equity and venture capital investments, significant leasing and licensing transactions, and other complex commercial arrangements.

Bill works with clients in a variety of industries, including specialty manufacturing, aerospace, health care, and energy and mining. He provides advice on a range of issues, including corporate governance and regulatory compliance.

Bill recently represented Wabtec Corporation in a merger with GE Transportation, valued at $11.1 billion. He advised Alcoa Corporation on the recently announced sale of its hazardous waste business. Bill also represented Allegheny Technologies Incorporated, a global manufacturer of advanced specialty metals, on joint venture transactions with each of GE Aviation and the Tsingshan Group and advised a large, multinational client on dozens of aircraft lease transactions.

Prior to joining Jones Day in 2015, Bill served as practice group coordinator for the M&A group of a large international law firm. During this time he represented United Technologies Corporation on numerous acquisitions and divestitures related to its building and industrial systems and aerospace businesses, ATI on the sale of its tungsten materials business, and Alcoa (now Arconic Corp.) on the sale of a foreign-based joint venture.

Bill serves as an adjunct professor at Duquesne University School of Law and on the board of Propel Schools (former president). He represents a number of nonprofit organizations on a pro bono basis and is a graduate of the Leadership Pittsburgh Class of 2016.

Experience

  • Alcoa sold Gum Springs, Arkansas, facility to Veolia for $250 millionJones Day advised Alcoa Corporation (NYSE: AA), a global leader in bauxite, alumina, and aluminum products, on the $250 million sale of its Gum Springs, Arkansas, waste treatment facility to Veolia ES Technical Solutions.
  • Alcoa transfers Afobaka Hydroelectric Works to Republic of SurinameJones Day advised Alcoa Corporation in the transfer of the Afobaka Hydroelectric Works to the Republic of Suriname.
  • Wabtec and GE Transportation merge in $11.1 billion transactionJones Day advised Wabtec Corporation in a Reverse Morris Trust merger with GE Transportation, valued at $11.1 billion.
  • Curavi acquires TripleCareJones Day advised University of Pittsburgh Medical Center ("UPMC) and Curavi, in the acquisition by subsidiary Curavi of TripleCare, a Long Island City, New York-based provider of telemedicine solutions for the post-acute, long-term care industry, including skilled nursing facilities.
  • Black Box sells IT unit for $75 million to Arlington Capital PartnersJones Day advised Black Box Corporation in the $75 million sale of its federal government IT services business (the "Federal Business") to Arlington Capital Partners.
  • Allegheny Technologies and Tsingshan form innovative stainless steel joint ventureJones Day advised Allegheny Technologies (ATI), a global manufacturer of advanced specialty materials, in connection with the formation of a 50/50 joint venture with an affiliate of Tsingshan Group.
  • Shiseido Americas sells its RéVive Skincare brand to affiliate of Tengram Capital PartnersJones Day advised Shiseido Americas Corporation, a subsidiary of Shiseido Co., Ltd., a leading global cosmetics company, in connection with the sale of its RéVive Skincare brand to an affiliate of Tengram Capital Partners.
  • Allegheny Technologies and GE Aviation announce meltless titanium joint ventureJones Day advised Allegheny Technologies Incorporated in its joint venture with GE Aviation for the development of a new meltless titanium alloy powder manufacturing technology.
  • Shiseido Americas acquires Gurwitch ProductsJones Day advised Shiseido Americas Corporation ("Shiseido Americas"), a subsidiary of Shiseido Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Stock Exchange, First Section: 4911), a leading global cosmetics company, in connection with the acquisition of Gurwitch Products, LLC ("Gurwitch") from Alticor, Inc.
  • Jennmar enters into acquisitions and divestitures agreement with DYWIDAG Systems InternationalJones Day advised Jennmar in its agreements to conduct a series of international acquisitions and divestitures with DYWIDAG Systems International ("DSI").
  • Bridgestone attempts $947 million all-cash tender offer for Pep BoysJones Day represented Bridgestone Americas, Inc. in its proposed acquisition, through its wholly owned subsidiary Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC ("BSRO"), of The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack, in an all-cash tender offer of $947 million.
  • II-VI Incorporated negotiates cloud services agreement with OracleJones Day assisted II-VI Incorporated in negotiating a cloud services agreement with Oracle to host client's human resources IT platform.
  • Rosebud Mining purchases CONSOL Energy's 49 percent interest in Western Allegheny Energy (WAE) joint ventureJones Day advised Rosebud Mining Company in its purchase from CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE: CNX) of CONSOL's 49 percent interest in the Western Allegheny Energy (WAE) joint venture between the two companies.

    • The following represents experience acquired prior to joining Jones Day.

    Represented specialty metals maker, Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI), in connection with the cross-border sale of its tungsten materials business to Kennametal (NYSE: KMT) for approximately $605 million. ATI's tungsten materials business had approximately 1,175 employees operating through 14 facilities globally and produced tungsten powder, tungsten heavy alloys, tungsten carbide materials, and carbide cutting tools.

    Served as outside counsel on acquisitions and divestitures for several divisions of United Technologies Corporation, a diversified Fortune 50 company, that provides a broad range of high-technology products and support services to the building systems and aerospace industries. Represented the company in connection with numerous acquisitions and divestitures over a multiyear period.

    Represented Alcoa, a global leader in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing, in the sale of its ownership stake in a Jamaican-based bauxite mining and alumina refining joint venture.

    Represented a global Fortune 500 company in the paints, chemicals, and specialty materials industry in its acquisition of a privately owned specialty coatings company supplying structural primers and military topcoats to the North American aviation industry.

    Represented a large, diversified public company client with its stock divestiture to a private equity buyer of a subsidiary company that designs and manufactures specialty products for the aerospace and defense industry.

    Represented a client that manufactures specialty equipment in connection with its asset acquisition of a rough, semi-finish and finish machine shop business that supplies mission critical parts to the oil field, midstream oil and gas, petrochemical, and related industries.

    Represented an emerging growth company that manufactures and distributes innovative child products in a minority investment by a venture capital firm.

    Represented a private retail apparel chain in the Northeast in the sale of a controlling interest to a private equity investment group.

    Represented an emerging life sciences company in connection with the sale and exclusive worldwide license of its drug development program to a major biopharmaceutical company for payments of up to $345 million.

    Represented a drug and alcohol rehabilitation company in the sale of a controlling interest to a private equity firm.

    Represented a venture capital investor in connection with its initial and follow-on investments in an online media company.

    Assisted a private equity investor in its acquisition of a private yacht manufacturing company.

    Represented a Fortune 100 company in the banking and financial services industry in connection with the stock acquisition of a reverse mortgage business.

    Represented a global Fortune 500 company in the paints, chemicals, and specialty materials industry in connection with a cross-border asset acquisition of a chemical coatings business.

    Represented a public company provider of post-secondary education in its $3.4 billion going private acquisition led by private equity sponsors.

    Represented a public utility in connection with Rule 144A offering of $450 million of senior notes.

    Represented an education company in its initial public offering of common stock and debt tender offer.

    Represented an energy company in connection with Rule 144A offering of $600 million of notes.

    Represented a Fortune 500 company in connection with Rule 144A offering of $300 million of convertible debentures and with subsequent convertible debt-for-convertible debt exchange offer.

    Served as U.S. counsel to client in the lead production industry in a €600 million PIK loan offering.

    Represented a major integrated steel producer in concurrent registered and municipal debt exchange offers.

    View All

    January 23, 2020 Firm Hosted

    Jones Day's 2020 Speaker Series: Carve-Out Transactions

    Speaking Engagements

    • Spring 2019
      Adjunct Professor, Duquesne University School of Law, Negotiations Course
    • Spring 2018
      Duquesne Law School Teach Negotiation Skills Course
    • July 18, 2017
      Transactional Practice Boot Camp
    • May 10, 2016
      Transactional Practice Boot Camp
    • December 15, 2015
      Appreciating Reps, Warranties and Indemnities in the M&A and Commercial Practice

    Speaking Engagements Prior to Jones Day

     
    Served as guest lecturer at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law on corporate law matters.
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

    Taught annual merger and acquisition seminar and numerous CLE sponsored presentations.
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania


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