Many of the world’s most recognizable and respected consumer brands rely on us for legal counsel.

Our clients include leaders in food and beverage, apparel, cosmetics, consumer electronics, luxury goods and sporting equipment, as well as premier retailers. We are also sought out by investors, lenders and financial advisers to the consumer and retail sectors.

Clients rely on us in matters including securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, IP strategy and litigation, privacy and data protection, employee benefits and equity compensation, and tax planning.

Over the period since 2015, Davis Polk ranks first in global consumer products and retail M&A by cumulative deal value, with over $800 billion in representations, according to Refinitiv. Over that time, we have more than 30% of global market share in these transactions.

Our clients in consumer products and retail include Dean Foods, Dufry, Ferrero, Heineken, L Brands, Natura, Reckitt Benckiser, Reynolds Consumer Group, Tyson Foods and VF.

EQUITY OFFERINGS

• Michael Kors Holdings ($3.8 billion). We advised the joint bookrunners on a $1.1 billion IPO of ordinary shares of Michael Kors Holdings, a global luxury lifestyle brand. We also advised the underwriters on a $1.2 billion and a $1.175 billion SEC-registered offerings of ordinary shares of Michael Kors Holdings.
• Prada ($2.5 billion). We advised Prada, one of the world’s most prestigious fashion and luxury goods groups, on its Rule 144A/Regulation S IPO and Hong Kong Stock Exchange listing of ordinary shares. This was the largest Hong Kong IPO in 2011.
• Arcos Dorados Holdings ($2.4 billion). We advised Arcos Dorados Holdings, the world’s largest McDonald’s franchisee and the largest quick service restaurant chain in Latin America and the Caribbean, on its $1.4 billion SEC-registered IPO of Class A shares. This was the largest IPO by a Latin American issuer in 2011. We also advised Acros Dorados on a $1 billion follow-on offering of common stock.
• PANDORA ($2 billion). We advised PANDORA, a Danish designer, manufacturer, marketer and distributor of hand-finished and modern jewelry, on its Rule 144A/Regulation S IPO of common stock. This is the largest Danish IPO since 1994 and the second-largest IPO in Western Europe this year.
• Coty ($1 billion). We advised the joint bookrunners on the IPO of common stock of Coty, a global, pure play beauty company with a portfolio of well-known fragrances, color cosmetics and skin & body care products.

DEBT

• CVS Caremark ($2.75 billion). We advised CVS Caremark, together with its subsidiaries, the largest pharmacy healthcare provider in the United States, on a $1.5 billion and a $1.25 billion SEC-registered offerings of senior notes.
• H. J. Heinz ($1.6 billion). We advised the underwriters on $300 million SEC-registered offering of notes of H. J. Heinz, a global manufacturer and marketer of an extensive line of food products. We also advised H.J. Heinz on multiple offerings of senior notes in the aggregate of $1.3 billion.
• L Brands (formerly known as Limited Brands and The Limited) ($1.5 billion). We advised L Brands, an international specialty retailer, on two separate $1 billion SEC-registered offerings of high-yield notes. We also advised L Brands on a previous $500 million Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of high-yield senior notes.
• Spectrum Brands ($1.25 billion). We advised the initial purchasers on a $300 million and previous $750 million and $200 million Rule144A/Regulation S offerings of high-yield senior secured notes by Spectrum Brands, a global branded consumer products company, following its emergence from bankruptcy.
• Best Buy ($1 billion). We advised the lead managers on a SEC-registered offering of notes by Best Buy, a multinational retailer of consumer electronics, home office products, entertainment software, appliances and related services.
• Nike ($1 billion). We advised the underwriters on a SEC-registered offering of notes by NIKE, a designer, marketer and distributor of athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities.
• Tesco ($1 billion). We advised the joint bookrunners on a $1 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of senior notes by Tesco, United Kingdom’s largest food retailer.
• Dufry Finance ($500 million). We advised Dufry Finance SCA, a subsidiary of Dufry AG, a global travel retailer based in Switzerland, on a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of debut dollar-denominated high-yield senior notes.

• Gillette. We advised Gillette on its $57 billion acquisition by Procter & Gamble.
• ConAgra Foods. We advised ConAgra Foods on its $6.8 billion acquisition of Ralcorp.
• CVS Caremark. We advised CVS Caremark on its:
  • $25 billion merger, forming the largest pharmacy services provider in the United States
  • $9.6 billion acquisition with SUPERVALU and Cerberus of Albertsons
  • $2.9 billion contested acquisition of Longs Drug Stores, a retail drug store
  • $2.2 billion acquisition from J.C. Penney of 1,260 Eckerd drugstores and Eckerd’s pharmacy benefit management business
  • $1.3 billion acquisition of the Medicare Part D business of Universal American, a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan sponsor
  • Acquisition of Drogaria Onofre, one of Brazil’s largest retailers of healthcare and personal care products, in its first-ever international acquisition
• LVMH. We have advised LVMH on a final settlement of all disputes and lawsuits with Hermès in connection with the acquisition by LVMH of 15% of the share capital of Hermès
• Tyson Foods. We advised Tyson Foods on its:
  • $8.55 billion acquisition of all the outstanding shares of Hillshire Brands
  • $575 million sale of its poultry businesses in Mexico and Brazil to JBS
• VF. We advised VF, a branded lifestyle apparel company, on its:
  • $2 billion acquisition of The Timberland Company
  • $586 million acquisition of Nautica
  • $396 million acquisition of Vans
  • $350 million sale of its intimate apparel unit to Fruit of the Loom
  • $161 million acquisition of the Splendid and Ella Moss women's contemporary sportswear brands
  • $110 million acquisition of Seven For All Mankind
  • Acquisition of Lucy Activewear
• H.J. Heinz. We advised H.J. Heinz on its:
  • $28 billion acquisition by a consortium comprised of Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital – the largest transaction ever in the food industry
  • $735 million sale of its Weight Watchers classes business
  • $165 million acquisition of Foodstar, a soy sauces company
• L Brands. We advised L Brands on its:
  • $628 million acquisition of La Senza
  • $548 million sale of a majority interest in its Express brand to affiliates of Golden Gate Capital
  • $300 million acquisition of Galyan’s Trading Company
  • $125 million transfer of a 75% majority interest in its Limited Stores business to affiliates of Sun Capital Partners
  • Sale to Sycamore Partners of a controlling 51% interest in Mast Global Fashions
• Maidenform Brands. We advised Maidenform Brands on its $575 million acquisition by Hanesbrands.