July 27, 2026
–Blog Post
The Org Chart Was Wrong: Entity Classification, Tax Due Diligence and Who Pays When an International Deal Springs a Leak
LexisNexis

Sullivan represented Horizon Beverage Group Inc., one of New England’s premier alcohol distributors, in its sale to Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, the world’s preeminent distributor of beverage alcohol. The acquisition marks an exciting expansion for Southern Glazer’s, adding Massachusetts and Rhode Island as the 46th and 47th markets in its U.S. footprint, alongside operations in Canada and the Caribbean.
“We are grateful to Horizon’s employees, customers, and partners for so many years of success, and this transition represents an even brighter future for all,” said Bob Epstein, CEO/President at Horizon. “We’re confident that Southern Glazer’s strength and scale will not only support a smooth integration, but also create new opportunities for growth and success.”
“We’re committed to maintaining the exceptional service that Horizon is known for while bringing the added benefits of being part of the Southern Glazer’s family,” added Jim Rubenstein, CEO/Treasurer at Horizon. “This partnership ensures stability and growth for all stakeholders and strengthens our ability to deliver value across the board.”
Lewis N. Segall, Charles E. Chambers Jr., Ida J. Vanto, Sharon G. Leifer, Steven M. Cunningham, Jr. and Christopher C. Curtis
Sullivan represented Wonder Media Network (WMN), a female-founded, audio-first creative studio based in New York City, in its sale to Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company. "WMN’s mission is so tightly aligned with that of Acast - bringing important and changemaking stories to the world," said WMN CEO Jenny Kaplan. "Together, we will allow both creators and advertisers to reach new audiences, build successful businesses, and shape the future of audio."
Lewis N. Segall, Joel R. Carpenter, Amy E. Sheridan, Erika L. Todd, Johanna Colpritt and Nathan Kosik-Desmond
Sullivan represented Novomatic digital division Greentube in its acquisition of San Francisco-based Present Creative. Novomatic, an international gambling company, has announced its intention to expand into the U.S., and Sullivan serves as M&A deal counsel. Greentube’s acquisition of Present Creative, Greentube’s first US acquisition, was completed in November 2022. The acquisition will see Greentube further expand its presence in the U.S., where it has made significant inroads over the last 12 months, with the supplier bolstering its local product offering.
Benjamin J. Armour and Johanna Colpritt
The environmental technology company, Nederman Holding AB, represented by Sullivan, recently acquired a leading industrial air filtration company RoboVent, significantly strengthening its North American position by becoming the number one player within the U.S. weld fume extraction segment. Sullivan has provided acquisition advice to Nederman since 2017. Sullivan’s Environment & Natural Resources group handled preparation of environmental provisions of the purchase agreement and disclosure schedules and advised as to regulatory compliance at the target company.
Michael J. Student, Avinash R. Rao, Amy E. Sheridan, Erika L. Todd, Douglas S. Stransky and Ida J. Vanto
Sullivan represented Admiral Metals who was acquired by Reliance Steel & Aluminium Co. (NYSE: RS). “Admiral Metals has built a strong reputation in the metals industry for providing specialty products, high levels of customer service and next-day delivery,” commented Jim Hoffman, Chief Executive Officer of Reliance. “We believe this acquisition will enable Admiral Metals to leverage Reliance’s scale in order to capitalize on further growth opportunities while maintaining its strong brand recognition. We are excited to welcome Admiral Metals to the Reliance Family of Companies, our 70th acquisition since our 1994 IPO.”
Lewis N. Segall, Victor N. Baltera and Sharon G. Leifer
Sullivan represented Masy Systems Inc. ("Masy" or "Masy BioServices"), a preferred provider of cGMP Biostorage and pharma support services, in the sale of its Masy to Alcami Corporation, a leading pharmaceutical and biotech contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO).
Lewis N. Segall and Steven M. Cunningham, Jr.
In November 2021, Sullivan together with its clients Merger & Acquisition Services, Inc., and International Transportation Marine Office, LLC (ITMA) received the Cross-Border Deal of the Year ($50 to $100 million) Award, at the 20th Annual M&A Advisor Awards in New York City. The award was given for the sale of ITMA to MS Amlin Underwriting Limited, a UK company. Don Kaitz retained his role as chairman of Arizona-headquartered ITMA, and the business continued to be led by Eric Kaitz, Chief Executive Officer. Earlier in 2021, Douglas Stransky and Michael Student, along with Merger & Acquisition Services Inc., advised ITMA and the Kaitzes.
Partner and head of Sullivan's International Tax Group, Douglas Stransky, commented, "We are thrilled to receive this honor and be together in-person with our clients and friends, Merger & Acquisition Services, Inc. and Don and Eric Kaitz, and proud to have collaborated with them on this sale."
Douglas S. Stransky and Michael J. Student
Any contractual commitment involves risk, but for bonuses and commission plans, wage and tax laws multiply that risk through statutory penalties and, in some cases, automatic multiple damages. A carefully designed compensation plan encourages strong performance while protecting against an expensive surprise. Automatic Penalties for Wage Violations If the description of an incentive compensation plan arrangement does not match what the business intended, or it was drafted casually or was not reviewed
(Originally distributed via Access Newswire on September 3, 2026.) New York, NY – Sullivan & Worcester is expanding its international capital markets platform with a focused initiative to help Japanese companies evaluate and pursue opportunities to access U.S. investors and capital markets. As part of that initiative the firm will serve as a Gold Sponsor of the Japan Go IPO Summit, taking place on September 16, 2026, in Tokyo. Hosted by
Geoffrey Wynne will moderate a panel discussion "Structuring commodity trade finance deals in 2026 and beyond" at the second 2026 Sullivan and Trade Treasury Payments’ (TTP) co-hosted Trade and Commodity Finance Breakfast Club, to be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 from 08.30 – 10.00 am at The Lansdowne Club in London. For the first time, the average commodity finance deal has crossed the $1 billion mark. Despite turbulence in the supply
On August 14, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved proposed rule changes by the New York Stock Exchange LLC (NYSE) and NYSE American LLC (NYSE American) to adopt a new continued listing requirement imposing a minimum trading price of $0.25 per share. This approval follows the SEC’s recent approval of Nasdaq’s new $5 million Market Value of Listed Securities continued listing requirement and reflects a broader trend by the
Douglas S. Stransky, partner and leader of the Tax Practice Group, has published the second post in his series for the LexisNexis blog, examining the U.S. tax consequences that surface when a cross-border joint venture ends. Using a hypothetical 50/50 venture between a U.S. manufacturer and a German strategic investing through a U.S. corporate blocker, the post explains how the Section 704(c) method choice buried in boilerplate moves real money between
When people hear “litigation,” they usually think about trials, dramatic cross-examinations and disputes beyond repair. They do not typically think about prevention. Yet one of the most valuable things a litigator can do is help avoid litigation altogether. At first glance, the concept may seem counterintuitive. Why would litigators want to reduce litigation? The answer is straightforward: it’s often in the best interest of their clients. While litigation is sometimes necessary, it
Sullivan represented BridgeAthletic, a leading strength and conditioning software platform, in its acquisition by VALD, a global provider of human performance technology. The acquisition brings together BridgeAthletic's program design and athlete management platform with VALD's objective measurement technology and performance data capabilities, creating a more comprehensive and connected platform for coaches and performance professionals. The transaction follows VALD's recent acquisition of GymAware and expands its capabilities across the full performance lifecycle,
Boston, MA – Sullivan & Worcester has been shortlisted for the International Tax Review (ITR) Americas Tax Awards 2026 for Massachusetts Tax Firm of the Year. Nominees will be recognized and winners will be announced at the ITR Americas Tax Awards gala on October 29, 2026, in New York. The annual ITR Americas Tax Awards celebrate the most accomplished and distinguished tax and transfer pricing teams across 35 jurisdictions worldwide. In
Sullivan will serve as one of the sponsors of the FACC-NY Strategic Forum 2026, taking place on September 10th at Scandinavia House in New York. The forum brings together leaders from business, technology, public policy and innovation to explore how Finnish companies are building competitive advantage and succeeding in the U.S. market. Michael Student, Mike Palmisciano and Joonas Aho will attend the event, which will feature discussions on leadership, innovation, public-private
Alexandra Wannop will moderate a virtual panel discussion hosted by the Real Estate Bar Association for Massachusetts (REBA) Title Insurance & National Affairs Section on September 15, 2026. The webinar will address key differences in clearing title to registered land compared with recorded land, including practical considerations for identifying and resolving title issues early in a transaction. The panel will also discuss common scenarios requiring Land Court approval and provide practical
Any contractual commitment involves risk, but for bonuses and commission plans, wage and tax laws multiply that risk through statutory penalties and, in some cases, automatic multiple damages. A carefully designed compensation plan encourages strong performance while protecting against an expensive surprise. Automatic Penalties for Wage Violations If the description of an incentive compensation plan arrangement does not match what the business intended, or it was drafted casually or was not reviewed
(Originally distributed via Access Newswire on September 3, 2026.) New York, NY – Sullivan & Worcester is expanding its international capital markets platform with a focused initiative to help Japanese companies evaluate and pursue opportunities to access U.S. investors and capital markets. As part of that initiative the firm will serve as a Gold Sponsor of the Japan Go IPO Summit, taking place on September 16, 2026, in Tokyo. Hosted by
Geoffrey Wynne will moderate a panel discussion "Structuring commodity trade finance deals in 2026 and beyond" at the second 2026 Sullivan and Trade Treasury Payments’ (TTP) co-hosted Trade and Commodity Finance Breakfast Club, to be held on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 from 08.30 – 10.00 am at The Lansdowne Club in London. For the first time, the average commodity finance deal has crossed the $1 billion mark. Despite turbulence in the supply
On August 14, 2026, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved proposed rule changes by the New York Stock Exchange LLC (NYSE) and NYSE American LLC (NYSE American) to adopt a new continued listing requirement imposing a minimum trading price of $0.25 per share. This approval follows the SEC’s recent approval of Nasdaq’s new $5 million Market Value of Listed Securities continued listing requirement and reflects a broader trend by the
Douglas S. Stransky, partner and leader of the Tax Practice Group, has published the second post in his series for the LexisNexis blog, examining the U.S. tax consequences that surface when a cross-border joint venture ends. Using a hypothetical 50/50 venture between a U.S. manufacturer and a German strategic investing through a U.S. corporate blocker, the post explains how the Section 704(c) method choice buried in boilerplate moves real money between
When people hear “litigation,” they usually think about trials, dramatic cross-examinations and disputes beyond repair. They do not typically think about prevention. Yet one of the most valuable things a litigator can do is help avoid litigation altogether. At first glance, the concept may seem counterintuitive. Why would litigators want to reduce litigation? The answer is straightforward: it’s often in the best interest of their clients. While litigation is sometimes necessary, it