Meitar’s private equity practice encompasses formation of private equity, venture capital and hedge funds, investments in private equity funds, acquisitions of private equity portfolios and limited partnership interests, as well as representation of funds in their M&A and investment transactions.
We have acted on the fund formation side for a large number of private equity, venture capital and hybrid funds, using both standard and innovative fund structures. We also regularly advise investors, including sponsors and anchor investors, with respect to the terms of their investments in these funds. In this context we have represented many of Israel’s largest and most active institutional investors-pension funds, provident funds, insurance companies and banks - in their international investments in alternative asset classes. Our team’s expertise and experience in the full spectrum of transactional, securities, tax and regulatory issues that arise in these transactions allow us to serve our clients’ needs under one roof, while cooperating with foreign counsel when necessary. We also regularly provide guidance to foreign private equity and venture capital funds that have considered establishing a presence in the Israeli market.
Meitar advises private equity and institutional clients in their direct investments in and acquisitions of operating companies and assets. We also assist our clients in structuring these transactions to facilitate obtaining adequate leverage for the success of the transaction.
Representative experience:
- Acquisition of a controlling interest stake by L.M. Partners L.P. (an affiliate of Viola Partners) and Ofer Hi-Tech in Lumenis, an Israeli public company formerly traded on NASDAQ and a leading provider of laser machines for various medical and aesthetic purposes, in the framework of a $150 million private placement and a related bank debt restructuring.
- Acquisition of Paradigm Geophysical by Fox Paine, a US private equity fund.
- Portfolio Purchase of a publicly traded venture capital fund, Mofet Technology Fund, by a US secondary fund.
- Acquisition of ExLibris, a library-software company, by Francisco Partners, a US private equity fund.
- Representation of Gazit Globe in $100 million investment in real-estate fund in India.
- PIPE investments in three Israeli companies, listed on NASDAQ and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) by a US-based hedge fund.
- Acquisition of Leumi PIA Trust Management Company (mutual funds activity) by Harel Insurance Investments from Bank Leumi LeIsrael, for NIS 565 million.
- Acquisition of Leumi Provident Fund activity by Harel Insurance Investments from Bank Leumi LeIsrael for NIS 575 million.
- Formation of Viola Private Equity Fund, a technology-oriented private equity fund.
- Formation of Harbor Opportunity Fund, an opportunity fund focusing on the purchase of debt instruments in the US real estate market.
- Formation of Harbor Debt Fund, a loan origination fund focusing on loan origination in the US real estate market.
- Formation of Israel Infrastructure Fund, a private equity fund focusing on Israeli infrastructure and fixed-income investments.
- Formation of Magma Communications Fund I and II, a venture capital fund focusing on communications.
- Formation of Plenus Mezzanine, a fund focusing on mezzanine debt financing in the Israeli market.
- Formation of Zoticon Bioventures, a private equity fund focusing on advanced pharmaceutical and biotech projects.
- Investments in over 100 private equity, venture capital and hedge funds throughout the world.
