In the News

Haynes and Boone Assists Fossil in Acquisition of Skagen Designs

A team of Haynes and Boone, LLP attorneys assisted in the just-completed acquisition of Skagen Designs, Ltd. and certain of its international affiliates for $231.7 million in cash, which includes a working capital adjustment of approximately $6.7 million, and 150,000 shares of Fossil, Inc. common stock.

Randy S. Hyne, Fossil’s vice president and general counsel, led the transaction, assisted by a Haynes and Boone deal team that included Dallas partners Tom Harris and Garrett A. DeVries, and associates David J. Colletti Jr. and Mark J. Robinson Jr. >>

Haynes and Boone Attorneys Widely Recognized by Texas Super Lawyers

DALLAS – Ninety-three Haynes and Boone, LLP attorneys were recognized in 2011 by Texas Super Lawyers. >>

Haynes and Boone Advises in American Eagle Spin-off

DALLAS – Haynes and Boone, LLP client American Airlines has moved closer to spinning off its American Eagle regional carrier as a separate company.

In a Securities and Exchange Commission filing prepared with the advice of a team of firm attorneys, AMR Corp. detailed terms of the transaction for shareholders and said it expects the deal to close by the end of 2011. >>

The American Lawyer: Haynes and Boone Flies on American Eagle Airline Spin-Off

Haynes and Boone is advising American Airlines parent AMR Corporation on the proposed spin-off of regional carrier American Eagle as the company aims to raise cash. AMR lost $286 million in the second quarter because of rising fuel costs. >>

Haynes and Boone Assists TransAtlantic Petroleum with Offering

Haynes and Boone, LLP represented TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. in its recently completed common shares offering. TransAtlantic Petroleum sold 30,357,143 common shares in a registered direct offering at a purchase price of $2.80 per share, raising gross proceeds of $85.0 million. >>



Garrett A. DeVries

Partner

Dallas


2323 Victory Avenue
Suite 700
Dallas, Texas 75219
T +1 214.651.5614
F +1 214.200.0428

Areas of Practice

Education

  • J.D., University of Chicago, 1994
  • B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology, 1991, with highest honors

Bar Admissions

  • Texas

Garrett DeVries focuses his practice on corporate securities, mergers, acquisitions and OTC equity derivatives transactions and has completed transactions and represented clients in matters including:

  • Initial public offerings and underwritten equity and debt offerings.
  • Rule 144A debt placements and exchange offers.
  • Private equity and debt financings for both publicly and privately held companies.
  • Mergers and stock and asset acquisitions and dispositions for both publicly and privately held companies.
  • OTC equity derivative transactions, including collars and forward sales.
  • Reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and conducting annual and special stockholder meetings.
  • Reporting financial restatements and internal control deficiencies.
  • Complying with corporate governance regulations, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and SRO listing standards.
  • Venture capital financings.

Garrett represented Aviall, Inc. in connection with its $1.6 Billion acquisition by The Boeing Company and represented ClubCorp, Inc. in connection with its $1.8 Billion acquisition by KSL Capital Partners.

 

Professional Activities

  • Garrett is involved in ABA Negotiated Acquisitions Committee task forces on revisions to the ABA Model Stock Purchase Agreement.  He is also involved in the ABA Federal Regulation of Securities Committee.

Selected Speeches and Articles

  • "Preparing Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting"
  • "Learning from Others' Mistakes: How to Avoid a Reg. FD Enforcement Action"
  • "Earnouts in Business Acquisitions: A Practical Solution or a Trap for the Unwary?"
  • "U.S. Small Cap Issuer Audit Committee Financial Expert Survey"

Honors

  • "Texas Super Lawyer" (Texas Monthly, 2004-2011)
  • Dallas Business Journal 2007 M&A Award for Aviall-Boeing transaction
  • Dallas Business Journal 2007 M&A Award Finalist for ClubCorp transaction

Selected Representative Experience


Acquisition of Skagen Designs, Ltd.
Assisted Fossil, Inc. in its agreement to acquire Skagen Designs, Ltd. and certain of its international affiliates for approximately $232 million in cash and 150,000 shares of Fossil common stock. The acquisition closed April 2, 2012.

Represented SWS Group, Inc. in Connection with the S-3 Shelf Registration
Represented SWS Group, Inc. in connection with the S-3 shelf registration of 17,391,304 shares of common stock.

Represented TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd. in Registered Direct Offering
Successfully represented TransAtlantic Petroleum Ltd., an oil and gas exploration and production company, in the public offering of 30.4 million common shares, raising gross proceeds of approximately $85 million.

Regulation S Offering and Regulation D Placement
Represented TransAtlantic in a Regulation S offering outside the U.S. and concurrent Regulation D private placement inside the U.S. of an aggregate of 49 million common shares, raising gross proceeds of approximately $108.6 million.

Regulation S Offering and Regulation D Placement
Represented TransAtlantic in a Regulation S offering outside the U.S. and concurrent Regulation D private placement inside the U.S. of an aggregate of 98.4 million common shares, raising gross proceeds of approximately $143.1 million.

Merger with the Boeing Company and Aviall
Haynes and Boone represented Aviall Inc. in the company’s $2.05 billion merger with the Boeing Company. The deal represented the largest purchase for Boeing in a decade. As the world's largest independent provider of new aerospace parts and related aftermarket services, Aviall is a leading solutions provider of aftermarket supply-chain management services for the aerospace, defense and marine industries.

SWS Group, Inc. in its Acquisition of M.L. Stern & Co, LLC
Represented SWS Group, Inc. in its purchase of stock in M.L. Stern & Co, LLC, a California-based brokerage and asset management company, from Pacific Life Insurance Company.

Purchase Agreement among Smith Asset Management Group, L.P., AMF-SAMG Finance LLC, Asset Management Finance Corporation
Represented Smith Asset Management in the sale of stock to Asset Management Finance Corporation and AMF-SAMG Finance LLC.

ClubCorp, Inc. in its $1.8 Billion Sale to KSL Capital Partners, an affiliate of KKR
Represented ClubCorp in its $1.8 billion sale to KSL Capital Partners (an affiliate of KKR). ClubCorp is the leading operator of golf courses and country clubs in the world.

Dean Foods Co. in Numerous Acquisitions of Various Dairy Assets
Represents Dean Foods Co. in numerous acquisitions of various dairy assets.

Highland Capital Management Bid to Acquire Delphi Corporation
Represented Highland Capital Management LP in its $4.7 billion bid to acquire Delphi Corp. Highland, as Delphi Corp.'s then-second-largest shareholder, offered its plan to recapitalize the auto parts giant to top an earlier offer of $3.4 billion made by an investment group led by Appaloosa Management and Cerberus Capital Management L.P. Extensive negotiations were held between Highland and Delphi, with Delphi ultimately proceeding with Appaloosa/Cerberus.

$325 Million Sale of the Pinehurst Resort and Country Club
Represented ClubCorp in the sale The Pinehurst Resort and Country Club to certain members of the Dedman family, owners of about 70 percent of ClubCorp, in a $325 million transaction.

Memberships

  • American Bar Association
  • State Bar of Texas
  • Dallas Bar Association

Online Publications

03/30/2010 - Board of Directors Guide 2010
The current difficult business environment poses many challenges to boards of directors. This outline is intended to assist board members in understanding the proper role and functioning of the board in the new political and regulatory environment in which we live.

03/03/2010 - Guide to SEC Reporting Changes (Revised)
Since the start of 2009, there have been material changes to the form and content of periodic reports and proxy statements. This memorandum outlines the changes in the federal securities laws and New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules since January 2009 that impact the form and content of 2009 Forms 10-K and 2010 proxy statements for domestic issuers subject to Regulation S-K.

02/12/2009 - SEC Mandates Interactive Data Financial Reporting
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued rules that will require most public companies to file financial statements with the SEC in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL). Interactive data in XBRL format permits users of financial information to automatically download financial data directly into documents and analytical tools.

02/03/2009 - Legislation Requiring Investment Fund Registration Introduced in the U.S. Senate
On January 29, 2009, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Carl Levin (D-Michigan) introduced the Hedge Fund Transparency Act of 2009 (the “Act”) in the United States Senate with the stated purpose of imposing more extensive regulatory oversight of hedge funds. However, the bill is not limited to hedge funds; it generally would apply to, and dramatically impact, all private funds (including private equity and venture capital funds) that rely on an exemption from registration under Section 3(c)(1) or Section 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Company Act”).1

12/07/2007 - Dallas Business Journal M&A Award 2007: Best Contribution by a Law Firm
Reprinted with permission from the Dallas Business Journal © 2007

Outline of Issues in Preparing Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

U.S. Small Cap Audit Committee Financial Expert Study