DLA Piper advises Act II Global Acquisition Corp. in combination with Flavors Holdings Inc. subsidiaries Merisant Company and MAFCO Worldwide LLC

DLA Piper represented Act II Global Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: ACTT) in a business combination with Flavors Holdings Inc. subsidiaries Merisant Company, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of zero and low-calorie sugar substitutes, and MAFCO Worldwide LLC, the world’s leading manufacturer of natural licorice products. Following the closing of the transaction, Act II will change its name to Whole Earth Brands and continue to be listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. It is anticipated that, following the closing of the transaction, the company will have an anticipated initial enterprise value of $575 million.

“We were pleased to have the opportunity to advise Act II on this new venture, which showcases our deep understanding of the food and beverage industry and our ability to provide sector-specific transactional guidance to industry-leading brands,” said Christopher Giordano, co-chair of DLA Piper’s New York Corporate practice, who led the firm’s deal team.

Along with Giordano (New York), the DLA Piper team included partners Jamie Knox, Jon Venick, Drew Young, Jeff Salinger, Paolo Morante (all of New York), William Bartow (Philadelphia), Rita Patel (Washington, DC), Cathryn Le Regulski (Northern Virginia), Maggie Craig and Stefanie Fogel (both of Boston); and associates Stephen Alicanti, Kira Mineroff, Carina Meleca, Peter Phillips and Andrew Wolfe (all of New York), Mary Claire Blythe (Baltimore), Amie Aldana (Los Angeles) and Priya Narahari (Philadelphia).

With more than 1,000 corporate lawyers globally, DLA Piper helps clients execute complex cross-border transactions seamlessly while supporting clients across all stages of development. The firm has been rated number one in global M&A volume for nine consecutive years, according to Mergermarket.

DLA Piper’s global platform, on-the-ground presence in local markets and dedicated cross-disciplinary focus on the food and beverage industry enables the firm to advise and partner with companies operating in this sector, helping them adapt to an increasingly competitive environment and navigate an ever more complex array of industry-specific regulatory requirements.