Image of John Menke

John Menke

Counsel

Email

john.menke@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 713 354 4878

Offices

Houston

V-CARD
John has many years of experience representing investment banks in their capacities as underwriters of public offerings (including numerous SPAC IPOs) and placement agents and related roles in private placements, whether stand-alone or in connection with M&A transactions (including numerous De-SPAC PIPES).
John also has a long history of representing public and private companies across the oil and gas, industrial chemicals and restaurant focus areas in capital markets transactions, including public and private offerings of debt and equity securities. He regularly advises both buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions transactions involving both publicly traded and privately held targets. He also advises publicly traded clients on securities law compliance (annual, quarterly and periodic reports), corporate governance and monetization transactions.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • ExcelFin Acquisition Corp. in connection with its $200 million IPO and pending $370 million business combination with Baird Medical Investment Holdings Limited.
  • Private placement agents in the business combination and $91 million PIPE transaction between European Biotech Acquisition Corp. and Oculis SA.
  • Private placement agents in $60 million PIPE transaction by Sonendo Inc.
  • The sole book-running manager on the upsized initial public offering of SilverBox Corp III, a special-purpose acquisition company, of 13,800,000 units at an offering price of $10 per unit, resulting in aggregate gross proceeds to the company of $139.38 million.
  • The underwriters on the $230 million IPO and Nasdaq listing of the units of Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II, a U.S.-based SPAC targeting renewable and clean energy companies.
  • The sole placement agent in connection with the private placement offering by 5E Advanced Materials of $60 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.50% secured convertible notes to BEP Special Situations IV.
  • The placement agents on a $154 million PIPE transaction in connection with the business combination of Oaktree Acquisition Corp. II and Alvotech Lux Holdings S.A.S.
  • The underwriters on the $250 million IPO and NYSE listing of the units of Athena Technology Acquisition Corp. II, a U.S.-based SPAC targeting companies in the technology industry.
  • The conflicts committee of the general partner, CSI Compressco GP LLC, in CSI Compressco LP’s (CSI) execution of agreements resulting in a series of transactions that enable CSI to redeem all its outstanding senior unsecured notes due 2022.
  • The underwriters on the $230 million IPO and NYSE listing of the units of Athena Consumer Acquisition Corp, a U.S.-based SPAC targeting technology and consumer sectors.
  • Worldwide Webb Acquisition Corp., a U.S.-based SPAC targeting a market-leading, differentiated internet company, on its $230 million IPO and Nasdaq listing of units.
  • The sole book-running manager on the $230 million IPO and NYSE listing of the units of Spring Valley Acquisition Corp. II, a U.S.-based SPAC targeting education, training and education technology companies.
  • The placement agents on a $300 million PIPE transaction in connection with the business combination of Cellebrite and TWC Tech Holdings, a SPAC.
  • The underwriters on the $609.5 million IPO and NYSE listing of the units of Elliott Opportunity II Corp., a SPAC targeting technology and technology-enabled services companies.
  • Microvast Inc. on its $3 billion business combination with special purpose acquisition vehicle Tuscan Holdings Corp. and Nasdaq listing.
  • Thresher Energy, Inc., as borrower, on a $50 million RBL facility.
  • Bakkt Holdings, LLC on its $2.1 billion business combination with special purpose acquisition vehicle VPC Impact Acquisition Holdings and NYSE listing.
  • American Financial & Automotive Services, Inc. and American Financial Warranty Company in connection with the sale of 100 percent of their outstanding stock to Assurant, Inc.
  • A Texas-based automotive industry service provider and its subsidiary in connection with the sale of 100 percent of their outstanding stock to a leading New York City-based insurance provider.
  • A privately held upstream oil and gas company in a business combination with a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company and a privately held midstream company with a closing market capitalization of $3.5 billion. (previous firm experience).
  • A publicly traded industrial chemicals company in connection with the $525 million cash acquisition of a business producing drag reducing agents for oil pipelines. (previous firm experience).
  • A privately held restaurant and gaming company in the $55 million acquisition of approximately 65 restaurants in a competitive bidding process arising out of bankruptcy proceedings. (previous firm experience).
  • A financially troubled publicly traded oil and gas company in a bidding process resulting in a tender offer and subsequent merger for cash consideration to the public stockholders of $70 million. (previous firm experience).
  • A publicly traded industrial chemicals company in a cross-border acquisition of a valve lubricant, cleaner and sealant business for pipelines for $20 million CDN. (previous firm experience).
  • A blank check oil and gas limited partnership in $350 million continuous public offering of common units. (previous firm experience).

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

Member, State Bar of Texas

Qualifications

Admissions

Texas

Academic

Associate of Arts, Blinn College, 1980

Bachelor of Business Administration, University of Texas, Austin, 1982

J.D., University of Texas, 1985

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.