Matthew J. Guanci Jr.

Partner

  • Overview

    Biography

    Matt Guanci is co-chair of the firm’s Business Transactions Group. He has more than 20 years of experience advising middle-market companies and their sponsors and investors. His clients include public and private companies, private equity funds, mezzanine funds, small business investment companies (SBICs), venture capital funds and family offices. Matt has a diverse practice representing clients in a broad range of transactions and industries. Over the past five years, he has led more than 75 transactions of various sizes with an aggregate transaction value of more than $2 billion.  

    Private Equity and Debt

    Matt represents private equity and debt funds, and their sponsors and portfolio companies, in connection with domestic and cross-border transactions in the middle market, including mergers and acquisitions, growth equity and debt investments, including senior, second-lien and mezzanine financings, leveraged buyouts, restructurings and recapitalizations. He recently represented a growth capital fund in connection with its debt and equity investments in a SaaS provider of commercial property operations solutions, a payment processing software company and a provider of automated medications management solutions. He also recently represented a group of private equity funds in their leveraged acquisition, and subsequent sale, of a regional parcel delivery company.  

    Mergers and Acquisitions

    Matt regularly represents buyers and sellers in complex mergers, acquisitions, dispositions and joint ventures. On these transactions, he generally leads a team of lawyers with various specialties, including tax, intellectual property, ERISA, employment, real estate and environmental. He recently led the firm’s representation of a portfolio company of a UK-based private equity fund in its acquisition of the assets of a remote lodging services and workforce accommodations business in the oil, gas and construction industries. Matt has also represented a family-owned, global science and technology company in more than a dozen transactions, including its acquisition of a manufacturer of mission critical spacecraft mechanisms, and its acquisition, and subsequent sale, of a custom manufacturer of specialty chemical products.  

    Venture Capital and Emerging Companies

    Matt represents start-up, emerging and fast growth companies, and their investors. He has advised founders, venture funds and venture-backed companies on formation matters, seed round financings, early and later stage preferred stock financings, venture debt financings, public offerings, acquisitions and exit transactions. He also regularly provides advice on the legal and business issues faced by these companies throughout their growth cycle, including corporate governance, equity incentive plans and employment and compensation matters.  

    Before joining Robinson+Cole in 2002, Matt worked for several years in the Corporate Department of an international law firm in Boston, where he advised venture funds and public and private technology companies on venture capital transactions, mergers and acquisitions and securities matters. Prior to and during law school, he worked for several years at an investment management firm.

    Matt is on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Chapter of the Association for Corporation Growth (ACG). He is also an active member of the Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA) and regularly attends SBIA-sponsored events around the country.  
     

  • Experience
    • Experience

      Experience

      • Represented a family office in connection with its preferred equity and debt investments in a manufacturer of innovative fitness products. 

      • Represented a venture fund in connection with its debt and equity financings of more than twenty technology companies across the US.

      • Represented a family-owned manufacturer of steel cable, rope and wire products in connection with its sale to another family-owned manufacturing company. 

      • Represented a LON-listed and UK-based developer of inkjet technologies and industrial inkjet printheads in its US acquisition of a manufacturer of industrial inkjet printers and pad print machines.

      • Represented the minority owners of a leading manufacturer of patented hemostatic products in connection with the sale of their interest in the company to a healthcare private equity fund.

      • Represented a family office in connection with its equity and debt investments in a provider of a consumer electronics trading platform, and its subsequent restructuring. 

      • Represented a leading provider of enterprise mobility platforms and solutions in connection with numerous preferred equity and debt capital raising transactions.

      • Represented a NYSE-listed company in connection with its acquisition of a SaaS provider of research management technology services to the investment community. 

      • Represented an independent sponsor in connection with its acquisition of a SaaS provider of e-sourcing technologies, and its subsequent sale of the business to a NASDAQ-listed company.

      • Represented a leading life sciences translation and linguistic validation provider in connection with its acquisition by a LON-listed company.

      • Represented a NASDAQ-listed licensor of imaging and network technologies in connection with its going private tender offer transaction.  

      • Represented one of the largest independent suppliers of energy and materials-handling services in the Northeast in connection with its acquisition of a petroleum products distribution terminal and related assets from a joint venture of one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies.

      • Represented a NASDAQ-listed manufacturer of precision aerospace components and assemblies in connection with its acquisition by a private equity fund pursuant to a tender offer and second-step merger.

      • Represented a leading provider of transportation and logistics services in connection with its acquisition by a NYSE-listed private equity firm.

      • Represented a leading independent publisher of audiobooks in connection with its acquisition by a portfolio company of a private equity fund.  

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    • Professional Associations

      Professional Associations

      American Bar Association

      Connecticut Bar Association

      Massachusetts Bar Association

      National Conference for Community Justice
      Board of Directors (2016)

      Association for Corporate Growth, Connecticut Chapter
      Board of Directors
    • Honors + Awards

      Honors + Awards

      Ranked in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the State of Connecticut in the area of Corporate/M&A for 2023

  • NEWS + PRESS
    • News

      R+C in the News

      • April 28, 2021

        Matt Guanci and Chuck Martin Represent Bridgeport Boatworks in Major Lease Transaction

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      • February 12, 2016

        Matthew Guanci Appointed to the ACG Connecticut Board of Directors

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      • December 17, 2013

        Robinson & Cole Lawyers Participate in Connecticut Innovation Summit

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      R+C News Releases

      • June 1, 2023

        2023 Chambers USA Recognizes 22 Robinson+Cole Lawyers in Eight Practice Areas

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        • View article
      • February 23, 2016

        Robinson+Cole Lawyer Appointed to National Conference for Community and Justice Board of Directors

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        • View article