Clifford Chance is advising OpCapita, a private equity firm, on its acquisition of a majority stake in women's clothing retailer Maurices Inc., from its parent company, Ascena Retail Group, Inc., a U.S. public company. Maurices is a specialty retailer focused on women’s value apparel operating stores across the U.S. and Canada. Ascena Retail Group owns other women's clothing retailers, including Ann Inc. (operator of Ann Taylor and Loft), Justice, Lane Bryant, Catherines and Dressbarn.
The acquisition represents OpCapita's first investment in the U.S. and values Maurices at an enterprise value of $300 million.
The Firm's multidisciplinary team advising OpCapita is led out of New York by Corporate partner Kevin Lehpamer and includes associates Neil Barlow, Stephanie Kilmer, Katherine Chang and Jake Makar.
The Clifford Chance team advising OpCapita also includes:
- Partner Michael Sabin and associates Thien Folkemer, Thomas Rossidis and Brian Prewitt (funds);
- Partners Daniel Winick and associates Andrew Young and Shayona Dhanak (leveraged finance);
- Partner Philip Wagman and associate Rebecca Pereira (tax);
- Partner Howard Adler and associate Atul Jain (executive comp./employee benefits);
- Partner Jay Gavigan and associate Leah Edelboim (banking & finance);
- Counsel Daryl Fairbairn and associate Jennifer Saionz (IP/IT);
- Counsel Victoria Manthas and associate Elie Margulies (real estate);
- Partner Megan Gordon and associates Catherine Ennis and Brian Yin (regulatory/data privacy); and
- Partner Tim Cornell and associates Brian Concklin and Abigail Cessna (antitrust).