Joel T.May

Partner

Atlanta + 1.404.581.8967

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Joel May is a corporate lawyer with more than 17 years of experience. He has recently represented clients in more than $20 billion of domestic and international corporate financing transactions in the manufacturing, consumer products, chemical products, real estate, e-commerce, telecommunications, and information management industries. These matters have included public equity and debt offerings, Rule 144A high yield offerings, private capital raisings, reorganizations, restructurings, recapitalizations, and other M&A transactions as well as counseling public companies and their boards of directors on a broad range of corporate governance and compliance matters. Joel is the administrative partner for the Atlanta Office and also serves as the office's hiring partner.

Joel joined the Atlanta Office in 2012 after spending the first part of his career in Jones Day's Chicago Office. His notable clients include AGNC Investment Corp., Asbury Automotive Group, Axiall Corporation, Birch Communications, Digital Management, Exide Technologies, Flowers Foods, HD Supply, Kraft Heinz Company, Milliken & Company, Newell Brands, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Rayonier, Randstad Holdings, Roper Technologies, and Southern Company.

Joel has been recognized as a leading lawyer by The Legal 500 United States. He is a member of the American Bar Association and the State Bar of Georgia.

Joel is a member of the board of directors for Make-A-Wish Georgia.

Experience

  • Newell Brands completes $500 million public notes offeringJones Day represented Newell Brands Inc. in connection with a public offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 4.875% Notes due 2025.
  • Nutrien completes US$1.5 billion public offering of Senior NotesJones Day represented Nutrien Ltd., the world's largest provider of crop inputs and services, in connection with a public offering of US$1.5 billion of Senior Notes, consisting of (i) US$500 million aggregate principal amount of 1.900% Senior Notes due 2023, (ii) US$500 million aggregate principal amount of 2.950% Senior Notes due 2030, and (iii) US$500 million aggregate principal amount of 3.950% Senior Notes due 2050.
  • HanesBrands completes $700 million Senior Notes offeringJones Day represented HanesBrands Inc., a leading marketer of everyday basic innerwear and activewear apparel in the Americas, Europe, Australia, and Asia-Pacific, in connection with a private offering of $700 million aggregate principal amount of 5.375% Senior Notes due 2025.
  • Asbury Automotive completes $1.125 billion offering of Senior NotesJones Day represented Asbury Automotive Group, Inc., one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., in connection with its private offering of $1.125 billion of Senior Notes, consisting of $525 million of 4.50% Senior Notes due March 2028 and $600 million of 4.75% Senior Notes due March 2030.
  • PGT Innovations acquires NewSouth Window SolutionsJones Day advised PGT Innovations, Inc., a national leader in premium windows and doors, including impact-resistant products, in connection with its $92 million cash acquisition of NewSouth Window Solutions, subject to adjustments.
  • Asbury Automotive Group attempts acquisition of Park Place dealerships for $1 billionJones Day advised Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: ABG), one of the largest automotive retail and service companies in the U.S., in its attempted acquisition of Park Place Dealerships, one of the country's largest and most prominent luxury dealer groups, for $1 billion in an all-cash transaction, excluding vehicle inventory.
  • $700 million purchase of 49.9% interest in Big River Steel by United States Steel CorporationJones Day advised KM BRS, LLC (a subsidiary of Koch Minerals, LLC), a preferred equity holder of Big River Steel, in the $700 million purchase of a 49.9% interest in Big River Steel by United States Steel Corporation, with a call option to acquire the remaining 50.1% within the next four years.
  • HD Supply Holdings to separate into two industry-leading public companiesJones Day is advising HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: HDS) in its demerger.
  • Newell Brands completes tender offers for $700 million of outstanding debt securitiesJones Day represented Newell Brands Inc. in connection with its concurrent cash tender offers for $700 million aggregate principal amount of certain of its outstanding debt securities, including any and all of its 3.900% Notes due 2025 and 4.000% Notes due 2024 and a waterfall offer for its 3.850% Notes due 2023, 4.000% Notes due 2022, and 4.200% Notes due 2026.
  • Roper Technologies completes $1.2 billion public offering of Senior NotesJones Day represented Roper Technologies, Inc., a diversified technology company, in connection with its underwritten public offering of $1.2 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.350% Senior Notes due 2024 and 2.950% Senior Notes due 2029.
  • Koch Disruptive Technologies leads investment in Ibotta at $1 billion valuationJones Day advised Koch Disruptive Technologies ("KDT"), an investment firm dedicated to investing in emerging high-growth technologies across a range of industries, on its investment in Ibotta, Inc., the leading mobile rewards platform in the United States.
  • Exide Technologies completes $1.1 billion comprehensive new financing and recapitalizationJones Day represented Exide Technologies, a global leader in stored energy solutions for the automotive and industrial markets, in connection with a comprehensive new financing and recapitalization transaction.
  • Koch participates in $1.5 billion investment in InforJones Day is advising Koch Equity Development (KED), the acquisition and investment subsidiary of Koch Industries, Inc., in connection with an investment of $1.5 billion in Infor by KED and Golden Gate Capital.
  • Newell Brands sells Process Solutions to One Rock Capital Partners, LLC for $500 millionJones Day advised Newell Brands Inc. in the sale of its Process Solutions business to One Rock Capital Partners, LLC for $500 million in cash.
  • Roper Technologies acquires Foundry for £410 million (US$543.4 million)Jones Day advised Roper Technologies, Inc. in its acquisition of Foundry in an all-cash transaction valued at £410 million (US$543.4 million).
  • Nutrien completes $1.5 billion public offering of Senior NotesJones Day represented Nutrien Ltd., the world's largest provider of crop inputs and services, in connection with its public offering of US$1.5 billion of Senior Notes, consisting of (i) US$750 million aggregate principal amount of 4.200% Senior Notes due 2029 and (ii) US$750 million aggregate principal amount of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2049.
  • Newell Brands completes tender offers for $1.629 billion of outstanding debt securitiesJones Day represented Newell Brands Inc. in connection with its concurrent cash tender offers for any and all of its 3.150% Notes due 2021 and up to $1.625 billion in aggregate principal amount, less the aggregate principal amount of 3.150% Notes due 2021 purchased, of certain of its other outstanding debt securities.
  • Southern Company sells certain Florida assets to NextEra Energy for $6.5 billionJones Day advised Southern Company in three separate transactions for the sale of several of its Florida assets – Gulf Power Company, Florida City Gas, and the entities holding Southern Power’s interest in Plant Oleander and Plant Stanton – to NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) for an aggregate purchase price of $6.5 billion, including total equity value of approximately $5.1 billion.
  • Newell Brands sells Pure Fishing to Sycamore Partners for $1.3 billionJones Day advised Newell Brands Inc. in the sale of its Pure Fishing business to Sycamore Partners for approximately $1.3 billion in cash.
  • Flowers Foods acquires Canyon Bakehouse for $205 millionJones Day advised Flowers Foods, Inc. in its $205 million acquisition (including a performance-based contingent payment of $5 million) of Canyon Bakehouse, LLC, a privately held, gluten-free baking company based in Johnstown, Colorado.
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    April 2020 White Paper

    COVID-19-Related Disclosure Considerations for Upcoming Periodic SEC Reporting

    March 2020 Commentaries

    Governor Kemp Issues Executive Order Permitting Virtual Shareholder Meetings for Georgia Corporations

    March 2020 Commentaries

    SEC Guidance for Conducting Annual Meetings in Light of COVID-19 and Related Considerations

    February 2020 Commentaries

    SEC Proposes Amendments to Modernize and Enhance Financial Disclosures

    December 2019 Alerts

    NYSE Proposes Updated Rule Change to Permit Capital Raising in Direct Listings

    December 2019 Alerts

    SEC Rejects Initial NYSE Proposal on Capital Raising in Direct Listings

    December 2019 Commentaries

    NYSE Proposes a Capital-Raising Option in Direct Listings

    November 2019 Commentaries

    SEC Proposes Updates to Shareholder Proposal Rules and Proxy Voting Advice Regime

    September 2019 Commentaries

    SEC Proposes to Modernize Certain Disclosures Under Regulation S-K

    July 2019 Commentaries

    SEC Explores Ways to Simplify, Harmonize, and Improve the Framework For Exempt Offerings
    View All

    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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