Aaron T. Slavens
Partner
Aaron T. Slavens
+1.305.789.7561
Overview
Aaron T. Slavens serves as the co-head of Holland & Knight’s Private Equity practice in the Miami office. Mr. Slavens is a corporate attorney who represents both public and private companies, including private equity funds and strategic investors. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, including public and private acquisitions, dispositions, co-investments, joint ventures and other general corporate matters.
In addition, Mr. Slavens represents both insureds and underwriters in connection with transactional risk products, including the issuance of representations and warranties insurance policies.
Representative Experience
- Represented Madison River Capital, a private equity firm, in its recapitalization of JDC Power Systems Inc., an electrical systems integrator specializing in mission-critical power distribution and control solutions for data centers
- Represented Ness Digital Engineering, a global full-life cycle digital services transformation company and a portfolio company of KKR & Co. Inc., in its add-on acquisition of Intricity, a leading provider of data strategy, governance modernization and monetization solutions
- Represented Radwell International, a leading specialty distributor of critical power components and portfolio company of CVC Capital Partners and Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P., in connection with numerous acquisitions
- Represented CLEAResult, North America’s largest energy efficiency and energy sustainability services provider and a portfolio company of TPG Growth Partners, in its add-on acquisition of Energetics, a leading energy sustainability consultancy serving government, utility, institutional and commercial clients across the U.S.
- Represented FirstCall Mechanical Group, a SkyKnight Capital L.P. portfolio company, in multiple acquisitions of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) maintenance, repair and replacement services companies
- Represented Audax Private Equity and its portfolio company Fastener Distribution Holdings in numerous acquisitions of aerospace supply chain and hardware and components distribution businesses
- Represented Alliance Ground International, a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity and Greenbriar Equity Group, in numerous airport services and ground handler businesses
- Represented SkyKnight Capital in connection with its investment in 1) AeroCare Holdings, a provider of home healthcare solutions focused on patients with chronic respiratory conditions; 2) IMA Financial Group, a top independent insurance broker in the United States, specializing in commercial P&C insurance and employee benefits; 3) NearU Services, a leading home services platform for essential maintenance, repair and replacement services; 4) GoodVets, a modern, single-brand veterinary care platform; 5) DOCS Dermatology, one of the largest dermatology management platforms in the U.S., with over 80 clinics and more than 1,300 employees; 6) Pearl Street Dental Management LLC, a dental practice management company that works with top-performing dentists in Texas and Oklahoma; 7) Ampirical Solutions, a leading provider of engineering services and software for the power end-market; and 8) WhiteWater Express Car Wash, a leading express car wash platform
- Represented Botanica Landscaping and Garden Industries, a Florida-based full-service landscape contractor, in its sale to Mariani Premier Group, one of the nation's largest landscaping platforms and a portfolio company of CI Capital Partners
- Represented a business providing car wash consultancy services in the sale of substantially all of its assets
- Represented LMC Landscape Partners, a leading provider of professional landscape management services and a portfolio company of Trivest Partners, in its add-on acquisition of Cutters Edge Total Landscape Solutions, a leader in the commercial landscaping industry
- Represented Sunshine Life & Health Advisors, a Florida-based field marketing organization focused on healthcare insurance, and its majority shareholders, in its partnership with Alliant Insurance Services Inc., one of the nation's leading distributors of diversified insurance products and services
- Represented Trivest Partners, a private equity firm, in its sale of PeopleShare, Inc., a leading temporary staffing firm throughout the Eastern United States, to PROMAN, a family-owned leading staffing firm for the light industrial and construction industries
- Represented LionLight Express Holdings LLC in connection with acquisition of eight car washes
- Represented a leading express car wash chain based in Richmond, Virginia, in its sale to a private equity fund
- Represented MKH Capital Partners in the sale of its express car wash platform Clean Streak Ventures LLC to Mister Car Wash, Inc. for $390 million
- Represented MKH Capital Partners in connection with the acquisition of a multi-unit franchisee of European Wax Center
- Represented Boyne Capital and its portfolio company Pilot Power Group in connection with an acquisition of a company focused on energy consultation
- Represented Greenbriar Equity Group, L.P. and its portfolio company Electrical Source Holdings, a leading specialty distributor of critical power components, in connection with numerous acquisitions
- Represented Kaltroco, a private investment company, in connection with its investment in EspriGas, a medical and industrial gas company that uses a network business model to manage a gas supply chain
- Represented PeopleShare Inc., a Trivest portfolio company, in numerous acquisitions
- Represented W Schonbek LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of WAC, in the acquisition of the assets of Swarovski Lighting, Ltd.
- Represented Qualitest, a Bridgepoint portfolio company, in its acquisition of Olenick & Associates, a leader in software quality engineering with over 250 consultants and four global locations
- Represented the owners of a general sales and services agent with respect to cargo sales for airlines in connection with the sale of the company
- Represented Montague Street Private Partners in its acquisition of a court-reporting business
- Represented the founder of Lamark Media Group, LLC, a digital marketing and advertising company, in connection with a growth equity investment by Trivest Growth Investment Fund
- Represented a South Florida based post-acute care provider of infusion care, nursing and durable medical equipment services to patients at home in the sale to a private equity fund
- Represented ipDatatel, LLC, a leading provider of cellular and Internet-based smart alarm devices for home security, in connection with its simultaneous combination with Resolution Products, a company that provides wireless technologies to alarm dealers and installers, and sale to an affiliate of ABS Capital Partners Inc.
- Represented Generation Partners in its 1) investment in ZirMed Inc., a health information and management company, providing healthcare organizations with cloud-based financial and clinical performance management solutions; 2) purchase of Captivate Network, an IP-enabled digital place-based media network with more than 10,000 screens across more than 1,000 commercial office buildings in the U.S. and Canada; 3) purchase of ReCept Holdings Inc., a provider of specialty pharmacy services, and subsequent add-on acquisitions of other specialty pharmacies; 4) Donuts.co, a leading domain name registry; 5) sale of its portfolio company Agility Recovery Solutions Holdings Inc., a national leader in disaster recovery and business continuity solutions to LLR Partners; 6) acquisition of Westox Labs, a clinical toxicology laboratory; and 7) investment in PayActiv, the largest provider of employment-based holistic financial wellness services
- Represented Todd Wagner and his affiliate, Chideo, in connection with the formation of Charity Network and the acquisitions of Charitybuzz and Prizeo, two online celebrity-based charitable fundraising platforms and Global Philanthropy Group, LLC, a provider of consulting services to philanthropic and charitable organizations
- Represented Academic Work X Group, an affiliate of Academic Work, one of the largest education, consulting and placement companies in Sweden, in connection with an investment in Wycode Academy which offers in-person computer programming classes
- Represented MasTec Inc. and its affiliates in a number of acquisitions, including 1) WesTower Communications Inc., a telecommunications services firm focusing on construction and maintenance of communications infrastructure, for $199 million; 2) Pacer Construction Holdings Corporation, a leading contractor in Western Canada focusing on infrastructure construction supporting the oil and gas production and processing, mining and transportation industries; 3) Speed Wire Inc., a provider of a broad range of technology deployment services to leading companies operating in the information technology, telecom, security, wireless and automation industries; 4) Dynis LLC, a telecommunication services firm and provider of a comprehensive suite of network planning, construction and implementation services to telecommunication, utility and enterprise customers in both the commercial and government sectors; 5) Big Country Energy, a U.S. and Canadian business specializing in the construction and maintenance of oil and gas pipelines and related facilities for $103 million; 6) Bottom Line Services LLC, a company specializing in oil and gas pipeline and plant construction, from Howard Energy Partners; 7) Halsted Communications Ltd. an install-to-the-home contractor; 8) sale of DirectStar TV LLC to Red Ventures; and 9) Lamertec, a national turn-key general construction and construction management firm with a unique expertise in steel building design and construction
- Represented Pine Tree Equity in a number of its investments, including 1) Jewelry Repair Enterprises Inc., the leading national franchisor of jewelry and watch repair centers; 2) the sale of its portfolio company, Celtic Capital Corporation, an asset-based lending business, to Pacific Western Bank; 3) the reacquisition of Celtic Capital Corporation, a provider of asset-based financing, from Pacific West Bank and 4) House Advantage, a provider of loyalty management software solutions for the casino and gaming industry
- Represented Providence Apparel in its acquisition of Gerber Childrenswear LLC, a leading marketer of infant and children's apparel and related products from Sun Capital Partners
- Represented Gerber Childrenswear in its acquisition of Triboro Quilt Mfg. Corp – a leading marketer of newborn and infant bedding, layette, bath and safe sleep products.
- Represented the acquirer of Boxercraft Incorporated. Boxercraft, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading supplier of quality specialty apparel including spiritwear and licensed collegiate apparel. The company's mission is to build group spirit and pride by providing fun and unique spiritwear and cutting edge products to the youth, high school and collegiate markets
- Represented Sol Bonan and Eliezer Elbaz, as the sellers of A.B. Property Services, Inc. (dba Happy Floors), a company engaged in the sale, marketing and distribution of flooring materials to Linsalata Capital Partners Fund VI, L.P.
- Represented HostForWeb Inc., a webhosting company and provider of domain registrations, and its affiliates in a number of strategic acquisitions
- Represented Ship Supply of Florida Inc. and its affiliates, global suppliers of high-quality goods and services to the maritime industry, including military vessels, cruise lines and other commercial vessels, in its sale to H.I.G. Capital
- Represented of Park One of Florida LLC, a valet parking company, and its owners in the sale of the business to Lanier Parking, a portfolio company of Antarctica Capital and Highbridge
- Representation of MGSCOMM, LLC, a Miami-based advertising and marketing firm, in the sale of assets to PCH Communications (an investment vehicle for PCH Holdings Group, LLC). Simultaneously, PCH acquired two other advertising and marketing businesses in order to combine them all
- Represented Ideiasnet, a Brazilian venture capital firm, in its sale of Bolsa de Mulher, a leading women's Internet group in Brazil, to Batanga Media, one of the largest independent digital content and social media companies in Latin America and Hispanic communities around the world
- Represented Ideiasnet's portfolio company, PadTec, a global manufacturer and solutions provider of turnkey optical solutions, in its investment in ClariPhy Communications
- Represented employee benefits company Moroni Fantin LLC in its sale of assets to The Segal Group
- Represented the owners of North Star Seafood, a leading distributor of premium fresh and frozen seafood products, in their sale to Trivest Partners
- Represented Miami Research Associates, a multitherapeutic provider of clinical research services for drug development, to QPS LLC, a worldwide provider of preclinical and clinical research services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients
- Represented Fortissimo Capital, an Israeli private equity firm, in its sale of Advanced Answers on Demand Holdings, a company providing integrated software and technology solutions for healthcare providers, to Primus Capital
- Represented Sabra Interactive Inc., a co-founder of 1st Merchant Funding, a leading provider of merchant cash advances to small and medium-sized businesses, in the redemption of 1st Merchant's other co-founder
- Represented Rupari Food Services Inc., a leading supplier of pre-cooked, ready-to-eat pork ribs and other barbecue products, in its sale to Wind Point Partners
- Represented aerospace and aircraft repair company Aerosync Engineering & Consulting in its acquisition of Dixie Air Parts
- Represented Irving Place Capital in the acquisition of Alpha Packaging Holdings Inc., a leading blow molder of plastic bottles and jars for the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and personal care markets; additionally, represented Alpha Packaging in a related add-on acquisition of Progressive Plastics
- Represented GTCR in the $828 million acquisition of Protection One, Inc., a market-leading provider of electronic security services through a tender offer and subsequent merger
- Represented BC Partners in a number of investments, including 1) the acquisition of ATI Holding Company, a for-profit provider of post-secondary education throughout the U.S., from a consortium led by The Riverside Company; and 2) its $350 million convertible preferred stock investment in Office Depot Inc.
- Represented Deutsche Bank and Goldman Sachs as financial advisors to The Stanley Works in connection with its $4.5 billion merger with Black & Decker
- Represented Hubbell Incorporated, an international electrical and electronic product manufacturer, in its $360 million acquisition of FCI Americas Inc. from FCI S.A., a leading manufacturer of electronic connectors and portfolio company of Bain Capital LLC; additionally, represented Hubbell Incorporated in numerous other strategic acquisitions and dispositions related to the electrical and electronic product manufacturing industry
- Represented One Equity Partners in the acquisition of Precision Gear Holdings LLC, a leading supplier of machinery and equipment to the wind power, aerospace, aviation, oil and mining industries, from First Atlantic Capital Ltd.
- Represented Energy Capital Partners in its $1.34 billion acquisition of Northeast Utilities' competitive generation assets in Connecticut and Massachusetts
- Represented Eli Lilly and Company in the acquisition of Alnara Pharmaceuticals Inc., a privately held biotechnology company developing protein therapeutics for the treatment of metabolic diseases
- Represented Goss International, a printing equipment supplier owned by a consortium led by MatlinPatterson Global Opportunities Partners, in a sale of shares to Shanghai Electric (Group) Corporation, a Chinese utility and equipment manufacturing conglomerate
- Represented Liberty Global Inc., the leading international cable operator, in the $4 billion sale of its stake in Japanese cable TV operator Jupiter Telecommunications Co. Ltd. to KDDI Corp., Japan's second largest wireless services provider
- Represented Unity Media S.C.A, which is owned by a consortium of private equity firms led by BC Partners and Apollo Global Management, in its $5.2 billion sale of Unitymedia GmbH, Germany's second largest cable operator to Liberty Global Inc.
- Represented Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. in the purchase of $300 million senior secured notes and 40 million warrants issued by Eastman Kodak Company
- Represented a consortium including Cinven, Apax Partners and The Carlyle Group in the sale of MediMedia USA Inc., a specialty healthcare communications, publishing and medical education company, to Vestar Capital Partners
- Represented the independent directors of Doral Financial Corporation, the holding company of Doral Bank, in its leveraged recapitalization and sale of a 90 percent interest to a financial consortium led by Bear Stearns Merchant Bank
- Represented AMC Entertainment Inc., the country's second largest movie theater chain, in its merger with Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corporation, the country's third largest movie theater chain; represented AMC Entertainment Inc. in its subsequent reorganization and recapitalization, including shareholder arrangements among J.P. Morgan Partners, Apollo Management, The Carlyle Group, Bain Capital Partners and Spectrum Equity Investors
- Represented Mueller Water Products Inc., a leader in the North American water infrastructure industry, in connection with its conversion of its outstanding shares of Series B Common Stock into shares of its Series A Common Stock
Credentials
Education
- University of Pennsylvania Law School, J.D.
- University of Pennsylvania, Certificate, Business Economics and Public Policy, Wharton School of Business
- University of Florida, B.S.B.A., Finance, Minor in Economics, high honors
Bar Admissions/Licenses
- Florida
- New York
Memberships
- Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Board of Directors
- Humane Society of Greater Miami, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
Honors & Awards
- The Legal 500 USA, M&A/Corporate and Commercial – Private Equity Buyouts: Middle-Market (up to $500M), 2024
- The Best Lawyers in America guide, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, 2020, 2021, 2025; Mergers and Acquisitions Law, 2021-2025; Corporate Law, 2025
- Chambers USA – America's Leading Business Lawyers guide, Corporate/M&A & Private Equity (South), 2021-2023
- Consumer Discretionary Deal of the Year, 18th Annual M&A Advisor Award
- Global M&A Network's Top 50 Rising Star Dealmakers, 2018
