Joel T. May

Partner

Atlanta + 1.404.581.8967

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Joel May is co-chair of the Firm's corporate governance area, with more than 23 years of experience representing clients and their boards of directors in a broad range of financing and corporate transactions, as well as corporate governance, shareholder activism, proxy fights, and securities compliance matters. Joel has represented clients in domestic and international financing and corporate transactions in the manufacturing, consumer products, chemical products, real estate, e-commerce, telecommunications, and information management industries; these transactions include public equity and debt offerings; initial public offerings (IPOs); special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) and private investment in public equity (PIPE) transactions; Rule 144A high yield offerings; reorganizations, restructurings, and recapitalizations; and other M&A transactions.

Joel joined the Atlanta Office in 2012 after spending the first part of his career in Jones Day's Chicago Office. He currently serves as the administrative partner for Atlanta.

Joel's notable clients include Aaron's, Allison Transmission, Asbury Automotive Group, Bespoke Capital Acquisition Corp., Bunge Ltd., Corpay, ExxonMobil, Flowers Foods, HanesBrands, Helios Technologies, Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings, Milliken, Newell Brands, Nutrien, P&G, PureCycle Technologies, Rayonier, Roper Technologies, Southern Company, Vintage Wine Estates, and VSE Corporation.

Recognized as a leading lawyer by The Legal 500 United States, Joel is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia.

He serves on the board of directors of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and Make-A-Wish® Georgia.

Experience

  • PureCycle Technologies issues shares of Series B Preferred StockJones Day represented PureCycle Technologies, Inc. in connection with the establishment, issuance, and sale of 300,000 shares of Series B Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, which pay dividends, in cash or in-kind, at 7%, with an initial issuance price of $1,000 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $300 million.
  • Newell Brands completes $1.25 billion Senior Notes offeringJones Day represented Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: NWL) in connection with a Rule 144A and Regulation S offering of $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 8.500% Senior Notes due 2028.
  • Corpay agrees to $300 million minority investment by Mastercard in its cross-border businessJones Day represented Corpay, Inc. (NYSE: CPAY) in connection with a $300 million minority investment by Mastercard in Corpay’s cross-border business.
  • Innventure enters into securities purchase agreement with YA II PN, Ltd.Jones Day represented Innventure, Inc. (the "Company") in connection with its entry into a securities purchase agreement with YA II PN, Ltd., providing for the issuance and sale by the Company of up to $30 million of Convertible Debentures in a private placement.
  • Logility enters into acquisition agreement with ApteanJones Day advised Logility Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ: LGTY) in the acquisition by Aptean, Inc., a private equity-backed enterprise software company, for $14.30 per share in cash, or an enterprise value of approximately $490 million.
  • VSE Corporation sells its Wheeler Fleet Solutions businessJones Day advised VSE Corporation (NASDAQ: VSEC), a leading provider of aftermarket distribution and repair services, in the sale of its Fleet business segment, Wheeler Fleet Solutions, Co., to One Equity Partners for up to $230 million in total consideration.
  • Bunge sells its European margarines and spreads business to VandemoorteleJones Day is advising Bunge (NYSE: BG), a leading global agribusiness and food company, in connection with the sale of its European margarines and spreads business to Vandemoortele, a family-owned group with a strong presence in margarines and plant-based oils and fats.
  • Nutrien completes $1 billion Senior Notes offeringJones Day represented Nutrien Ltd. in connection with a public offering of $1 billion of Senior Notes, consisting of (i) $400 million aggregate principal amount of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2027 and (ii) $600 million aggregate principal amount of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2032.
  • HanesBrands obtains $2.25 billion in senior secured credit facilitiesJones Day represented HanesBrands Inc., a global leader in iconic apparel brands, in connection with its new upsized $1.1 billion senior secured term loan B facility, $750 million senior secured revolving credit facility, and $400 million senior secured term loan A facility.
  • Vintage Wine Estates confirms chapter 11 plan of liquidation following sale of substantially all assetsJones Day represented Vintage Wine Estates, Inc. and 11 of its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively, the "Debtors") in their chapter 11 cases in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware (the "Chapter 11 Cases").
  • Flowers Foods acquires Simple MillsJones Day advised Flowers Foods, Inc. in the $795 million acquisition of Simple Mills, Inc., a leading provider of gluten-free baking mixes, crackers, cookies, and snack bars made with almond and veggie flours.
  • Asbury Automotive Group to acquire the Herb Chambers CompaniesJones Day is advising Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the United States, in its definitive agreement to acquire various automotive dealerships owned by The Herb Chambers Companies for approximately $1.34 billion in cash.
  • Flowers Foods completes $800 million public offering of Senior NotesJones Day represented Flowers Foods, Inc., one of the largest producers of packaged bakery foods in the United States, in connection with its underwritten public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.750% Senior Notes due 2035 and $300 million aggregate principal amount of 6.200% Senior Notes due 2055.
  • PureCycle Technologies completes $33 million PIPE financingJones Day represented PureCycle Technologies, Inc. in connection with the issuance and sale of 4,091,293 shares of Common Stock for the purchase price of $33 million.
  • VSE acquires Kellstrom Aerospace Group and completes $172.5 million public offering of Common StockJones Day advised VSE Corporation, a leading provider of aftermarket distribution and repair services, in the $200 million acquisition of Kellstrom Aerospace Group, Inc., a portfolio company of AE Industrial Partners, LP and a diversified global distributor and service provider supporting the commercial aerospace engine aftermarket.
  • Corpay acquires GPS Capital MarketsJones Day advised Corpay, Inc. in the acquisition of GPS Capital Markets, LLC and its subsidiaries, a group that provides business-to-business cross-border and treasury management solutions, in Corpay’s third largest deal ever.
  • Newell Brands completes $1.25 billion public offering of Senior NotesJones Day represented Newell Brands Inc. in connection with a public offering of $1.25 billion of Notes, consisting of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 6.375% Senior Notes due 2030 and $500 million aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes due 2032.
  • The Aaron's Company agrees to be acquired by IQVenturesJones Day advised The Aaron's Company, Inc. in the acquisition and take private of Aaron’s by IQVentures Holdings, LLC, a leading fintech organization, for $10.10 per share in cash, or an enterprise value of approximately $504 million.
  • Innventure enters agreement with Learn CWJones Day advised Innventure LLC in its business combination with Learn CW Investment Corporation, a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company (NYSE: “LCW”) sponsored by CWAM LC Sponsor LLC, an affiliate of Learn Capital and Commonwealth Asset Management.
  • HanesBrands sells Champion business to Authentic Brand Group for $1.2 billionJones Day provided corporate governance, financing, and executive compensation advice to HanesBrands regarding the sale of the intellectual property and certain operating assets of the Company's global Champion business to Authentic Brands Group for $1.2 billion.
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    January 23 - December 11, 2025 Firm Hosted

    2025 Public Company Speaker Series

    June 2025 Commentary

    Texas Enacts New Law to Regulate Proxy Advisory Firms

    March 2025 Alert

    Delaware Restores Balance and Provides Greater Certainty for Fiduciaries and Stockholders Alike

    February 2025 Commentary

    SEC Revises Guidance Affecting Shareholder Activism Under SLB No. 14M and C&DIs

    January 23 - December 10, 2024 Firm Hosted

    2024 Public Company Speaker Series

    September 2024 Alert

    SEC Settles Charges with Keurig Over ESG Disclosures

    September 2024 Reprint

    Under Pressure – Rethinking Board Practices (Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance)

    July 2024 Commentary

    Under Pressure—Rethinking Board Practices

    April 2024 Commentary

    Match.com's Divorce: Delaware Supreme Court Decides Standard of Review for Controlling Stockholder Transactions

    January 17 - December 12, 2023 Firm Hosted

    Public Company Speaker Series
    View All

    January 23 - December 11, 2025 Firm Hosted

    2025 Public Company Speaker Series

    January 23 - December 10, 2024 Firm Hosted

    2024 Public Company Speaker Series

    January 17 - December 12, 2023 Firm Hosted

    Public Company Speaker Series

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • December 1, 2016
      Jones Day/EY - Emerging Risks in Financial Reporting and Disclosures
    • October 27, 2016
      Georgia Bas Association / 35th Annual Business Law Institute - What Keeps In-House Law Departments Up At Night
    • January 7, 2016
      Jones Day Atlanta Hosts Diversity Meet & Greet
    • November 9, 2015
      Atlanta Bar Association / Scrutinizing Executive Compensation - The SEC's New Clawback and Pay Ratio Rules
    • March 23, 2012
      Introduction to the Resale of Restricted and Control Securities, ICLE Basic Securities Law Program

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