Michael Davis
Advises U.S. and global companies on strategic M&A matters. Advises private equity sponsors on a full range of transactions and portfolio company matters.
Michael is a member of our Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity practices. He advises leading U.S. and multinational corporations on a wide variety of strategic M&A transactions and advises private equity sponsors on a full range of transactions and portfolio company matters.
He has deep experience in many types of corporate transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, investments, joint ventures and collaborations, spinoffs and restructurings. Michael also regularly provides defensive and corporate governance advice to his clients and is experienced at advising special committees on sensitive matters.
Michael was named one of “Hollywood’s Top Dealmakers of 2022” by the Hollywood Reporter.
Experience highlights
Selected Representations
- Silicon Valley Bridge Bank strategic and regulatory advice
- Baker Hughes combination with GE oil and gas business
- H.J. Heinz $28 billion acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital
- Bertelsmann acquisition of full ownership of Penguin Random House
- Bertelsmann $2.175 billion acquisition of Simon & Schuster
- Warner Chilcott $8.5 billion acquisition by Actavis
- Anacor $5.2 billion acquisition by Pfizer
- Traton $3.7 billion acquisition of Navistar International
- ABB $2.6 billion acquisition of GE Industrial Solutions
- RTL Group $1.17 billion sale of SpotX to Magnite
- Kyocera $1.03 billion acquisition of remaining AVX shares
- Charles River Laboratories $875 million acquisition of Cognate
- Bristol Myers Squibb acquisition of Forbius
- Industrial Media acquisition by Sony Pictures Television
- Pon sale of its flow control businesses to MiddleGround Capital
- European Biotech Acquisition $200 million combination with Oculis
Private Equity Representations
- ICM Partners, a Crestview Partners portfolio company, on its acquisition by Creative Artists Agency
- Lightyear Capital and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan on the acquisition of Lendmark Financial Services and Allworth Financial
- Lightyear Capital, including investments in Augeo FI, Cerity Partners, Datalot, eCommission, Engage PEO, Lighthouse and Ygrene Energy Fund and sales of Therapy Brands, Clarion Partners, Ridgeworth, Schellman & Company and Wealth Enhancement Group
- Crestview Partners, including investments in ICM Partners, Arxis Capital, The Gersh Agency, Key Safety Systems, Protect My Car, Select Energy, Silver Creek, NYDJ, ValueOptions, and Voya Insurance and Annuity
- Metalmark Partners, including investments in Innovetive Petcare, Kissner Milling Company, NSC, Morgenesis, US Salt and Williams Bio-Energy, and sale of WorldStrides and Kissner
- Bain Capital and consortium on Bain Capital and ADIA’s acquisition of Merchants Fleet
Credentials
Recognition
Hollywood Reporter – “Hollywood’s Top Dealmakers of 2022”
IFLR1000 – M&A, United States
LMG Life Sciences – Mergers & Acquisitions, United States
Education
- first-class honours
- University Medal
Professional history
- Partner, 2007-present
- Davis Polk since 1999
- London office, 2003-2004
- Associate, Mallesons Stephen Jaques, 1998
Qualifications and admissions
- State of New York