Kenneth S. Mantel

Kenneth S. Mantel advises investors in potential activist situations and represents corporate clients in securities, transactional and general business matters.

Part of Olshan’s Activist & Equity Investment Practice Group, Ken advises investment funds regarding their equity investments in public companies, including Schedule 13D and Form 13F filings, corporate governance, potential activist situations and proxy contests. His significant representations include successful activist campaigns for Elliott Management and Starboard Value.

Ken regularly advises public companies on securities laws, SEC reporting and corporate governance. He also represents corporate clients across a broad spectrum of transactional and general business matters, ranging from M&A to equity and debt financings to key business partnerships and commercial contracts.

Ken has been named a New York “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers magazine each year since 2014.

Activist & Equity Investment Representations

• Elliott Management
  • Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (agreement to appoint a mutually agreeable director)
  • American Capital (entry into agreements to support acquisition by Ares Capital)
  • Arconic Inc. (settlement reached to nominate 3 directors at annual meeting; all 3 elected by shareholders)
  • CDK Global, Inc. (settlement reached for 2 independent directors identified by Elliott)
  • Commvault Systems, Inc. (settlement reached for 2 board seats)
  • QEP Resources, Inc. (agreement to announce strategic initiatives and present board declassification proposal to stockholders)
  • Sempra Energy (agreement to appoint 2 mutually agreed independent directors)
• Starboard Value
  • Cars.com Inc. (settlement reached for 3 board seats)
  • DSP Group (settlement reached to add 2 independent directors to board)
  • Forest City Realty Trust, Inc. (settlement reached for 5 board seats)
  • Tessera Technologies (settlement reached to nominate 6 directors at the Annual Meeting; all 6 elected by shareholders)
• Broadfin Capital @ BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc. (agreements reached for 3 board seats and for equity financing led by Broadfin)
• City of London Investment Management Company @ China Fund, Inc. (agreement to search for new investment manager and form committee with City of London to resolve outstanding matters)
• Land & Buildings @ QTS Realty Trust Inc. (withhold campaign against 2 directors)
• Snow Park Capital @ Monogram Residential Trust, Inc. (settlement reached for an observer to the board)

Corporate Matters

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Represented Alleghany Corporation, a multinational holding company with a core position in property and casualty reinsurance and insurance, in a series of acquisitions of controlling interests in privately held companies.
• Represented Remark Holdings, Inc., a technology company, in a series of acquisitions in the digital media space.
• Represented Novation Companies, Inc. in its acquisition of a healthcare staffing company as part of its chapter 11 reorganization process.
• Represented Landry’s, Inc. in its in its acquisition of B.R. Guest Holdings
• Represented Ness Technologies, Inc., a global provider of information technology solutions and services, in its merger with an affiliate of a private equity investment fund.
• Represented New Century Equity Holdings Corp. in its acquisition of a fashion model management company and affiliated entities.

Financings

• Represented Remark Holdings, Inc. in numerous equity and debt financings, including private placements, public offerings, equity lines and credit facilities.
• Represented Alleghany Corporation in a $300 million public offering of senior notes and in equity and debt financings for portfolio companies.
• Represented GAMCO Investors in equity and debt self-tender offers.
• Represented CorMedix Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing therapeutic products for the treatment of cardiorenal disease, in its initial public offering. 

Press Releases