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Edward W. Wellman Jr.

Retired
Charlotte | 704.372.9000

Ward Wellman had more than 30 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions. He regularly handled up to 20 separate transactions annually, large and small, representing both public and private companies, as well as private equity and other investor groups. Mr. Wellman’s industry experience included the retail sector, with particular emphasis on automobile dealerships. He also had extensive experience in the manufacturing and distribution sectors (building products, office products, biotechnology and highly engineered industrial products), and in the service sector (contract lighting services, food distribution services and funeral services).

Mr. Wellman also had significant maritime law experience, having represented U.S. regulated ocean shipping companies, primarily in the purchase, sale and financing of containerships and related equipment.

Representative Experience

Mr. Wellman’s representative transactional experience includes:

  • Representation of a New York Stock Exchange-listed automotive dealership group in more than 100 transactions involving the purchase and sale of over 200 dealerships, including the acquisition of another publicly held dealership group
  • Representation of the U.S. subsidiary of a German industrial company in the acquisition of a contract lighting services business
  • Representation of a domestic corporation in the private acquisition of paper mills and more than two million acres of related timberlands
  • Representation of a private equity group in leveraged buyouts of various manufacturing and distribution companies
  • Representation of owners of privately held industrial glove manufacturing companies in the sale of their assets and businesses to a foreign multinational buyer
  • Represented a New York Stock Exchange-listed diversified manufacturing company in the acquisition of one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of vending machines
  • Representation of a Pennsylvania based company engaged in the manufacture and distribution of specialty wire mesh products in a series of acquisitions in Canada and the United States
  • Representation of a United States flag ocean shipping company and its stockholders in the sale of the company to a British-owned ocean shipping company

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Honors & Awards

  • Woodward/White's The Best Lawyers in America in Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions, 2005-2015; Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, 2012-2015; Venture Capital Law, 2013-2015
  • North Carolina Super Lawyers in Mergers & Acquisitions, 2006-2016, Securities & Corporate Finance, 2006-2013
  • Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite" in Corporate Counsel, 2005 and Business Law, 2006-2007 & 2009
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ in Business Law; Mergers, Acquisitions & Joint Ventures; Corporate; Venture Capital & Emerging Companies
  • Fulbright Scholar – Bordeaux, France (1967-1968)