Jonathan A. Van Horn
PEOPLE

Jonathan A. Van Horn

Partner
van.horn.jonathan@dorsey.com

Overview

JON IS AN EXPERIENCED, BUSINESS-FOCUSED M&A LAWYER. HE PROVIDES PRACTICAL, ACTIONABLE STRATEGIC ADVICE TO BOARDS OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVES INVOLVED IN M&A TRANSACTIONS.
Jon is a partner in the Mergers and Acquisitions practice group. Jon represents purchasers and sellers in mergers and acquisition transactions, including negotiated business combinations and contested acquisition transactions. Jon’s experience in this area includes advising boards of directors and special committees. Recent engagements include advising Land O’Lakes in its acquisition of Ceres and Vascular Solutions in its sale to Teleflex. Resident in Dorsey’s Toronto office from 2002 through 2004, Jon advises clients on U.S. law aspects of U.S.-Canada mergers and acquisitions transactions. Jon also advises public and private companies on general corporate matters. Jon is a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Committee of the ABA’s Business Law Section and is a contributor to the committee’s thought leadership projects, including the widely consulted deal points studies. Jon’s interests outside of the office include cross-country skiing with his wife and two sons, preparing smoked meats, and curling.

Education & Admissions

University of Michigan Law School (J.D., 1999), cum laude

University of Wisconsin - Madison (B.B.A. with Honors, Finance and Political Science, 1992)

Admissions

  • Minnesota

Experience

Representative Transactions

Mergers and Acquisitions Transactions
  • Carlisle Companies Incorporated
    Acquisition of Hawk Corporation
  • ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Sale to Tyco Electronics, Ltd.
    Acquisition of LGC Wireless Inc.
    Acquisition of Fiber Optic Network Solutions Corp.
  • Possis Medical, Inc.
    Sale to MEDRAD, Inc. (an affiliate of Bayer AG)
  • A.S.V., Inc.
    Sale to Terex Corporation
  • Yamana Gold, Inc.
    Acquisition of Meridian Gold Inc. (successful unsolicited tender offer and acquisition)
  • Syngenta Seeds, Inc.
    Acquisition of Pybas Vegetable Seed Co., Inc.
    Acquisition of Synergene Seed & Technology, Inc.
  • Trane, Inc.
    Acquisition of Cramer Building Services Corp.
    Acquisition of Southwest Comfort Sales and Service, Inc.
    Acquisition of R.L. Thorpe Sales, Ltd.
  • NovaGold Resources Inc.
    Successful defense against unsolicited take-over attempt by Barrick Gold Corporation
  • Land O’Lakes, Inc.
    Sale of Cheese and Protein business to Saputo Inc.
  • DataCard Corporation
    Acquisition of Dynamic Card Solutions, LLC
    Acquisition of Ga-Vehren Engineering Co.
    Acquisition of CPST, LLC
  • Goldcorp Inc.
    Acquisition of assets from Barrick Gold Corporation
    Acquisition of Wheaton River Minerals Ltd.
    Successful defense against unsolicited take-over attempt by Glamis Gold Ltd.
  • Lawson Software, Inc.
    Acquisition of Intentia AB and related holding company restructuring
  • eFunds Corporation
    Acquisition of ClearCommerce Corporation
  • IAMGold Corporation
    Proposed acquisition of Wheaton River Minerals Ltd.
    Successful defense against unsolicited take-over attempt by Golden Star Resources Ltd.
  • Survivalink Corporation
    Sale to Cardiac Science, Inc.
  • The Schwan Foods Corporation
    Acquisition of Edwards Holding Company
    Acquisition of T&N Foods, Inc.
  • Caribou Coffee Company, Inc.
    Sale to Arcapita Bank
  • US Bancorp
    Acquisition of Oliver-Allen Corporation
    Acquisition of Scripps Financial Corporation
    Acquisition of Advent Business Systems, Inc.
    Acquisition of Assurafirst Financial Corporation
    Acquisition of Nevada branch banking operation from BB&T
Corporate Finance Transactions
  • Central Fund of Canada Limited. (Issuer’s Counsel)
    Public offering of 11,584,660 Class A non-voting shares (US$48,539,725)
    Public offering of 15,050,000 Class A non-voting shares (US$74,949,000)
    Public offering of 19,500,000 Class A non-voting shares (US$114,075,000)
  • Dundee Wealth Management Inc. (Underwriter’s Counsel)
    Offering of 24,516,129 Subscription Receipts (C$190,000,000)
  • Envoy Communications Group Inc. (Underwriter’s Counsel)
    Offering of 26,315,800 Units (C$35,004,014)
  • Fortune Minerals Limited (Underwriter’s Counsel)
    Offering of 4,706,000 Common Shares (C$20,000,500)
  • GMP Capital Corp. (Issuer’s Counsel)
    Offering of 9,100,000 Common Shares in connection with Canadian initial public offering (C$100,100,000)
  • Golden Star Resources Ltd. (Underwriter’s Counsel)
    Public offering of 16,100,000 Units (US$30,600,000)
    Public offering of 17,000,000 Units (US$51,000,000)
    Public offering of 9,430,000 Common Shares (C$36,770,000)
    Public offering of 6,600,000 Common Shares (US$49,500,000)
  • IAMGold Corporation (Issuer’s Counsel)
    Offering of 9,000,000 Common Shares (C$63,000,000)
  • Noranda Operating Trust (Underwriter’s Counsel)
    Offering of Senior Secured Notes (C$153,500,000)

News & Resources

Articles

2018 Amendments to the Minnesota Business Corporation Act
2015 Changes to the Minnesota Business Corporation Act
Seminar Playback: The Basics of Representation and Warranty Insurance - Tools for Closing the M&A Transaction
2014 Changes to the Minnesota Business Corporation Act
SEC Adopts Rules Regarding Proxy Voting by Investment Advisers
"SEC Adopts Rules Regarding Proxy Voting By Investment Advisors," Dorsey & Whitney Newsletter

News & Press Mentions

18 Dorsey Attorneys Named Thomson Reuters “Stand-Out Lawyers”
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes 30 Dorsey Lawyers and 10 Practices in Minneapolis
Chambers USA 2023 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
2020 Election Protection
Dorsey lawyers gear up for vote
Dorsey Partner Jonathan Van Horn Talks About Election Protection
Dorsey Represents Vascular Solutions, Inc. in Acquisition by Teleflex Incorporated
Chambers USA 2016 Ranks Dorsey Lawyers and Practices
Chambers USA 2016 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Chambers USA 2015 Recognizes Dorsey Lawyers and Practices in Minnesota
Dorsey & Whitney Named Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year-North America by Lawyers World Law
Test your Knowledge of Minnesota's Election Law
Dorsey Partner Jonathan Van Horn Comments on Election Protection in the Star Tribune

Select Presentations

  • “2016 Business Law Institute – What Every Deal Lawyer Should Know About Representation and Warranty Insurance in M&A,” May 2016
  • “2015 Corporate Counsel Symposium – The Ties That Bind:  M&A Challenges for Buyers of Family-Held of Founder-Owned Businesses,” October 2015
  • “Turnaround Management Association/Minnesota – Transactional Risk Products:  Orchestrating a Good Outcome in the Face of Adversity,” October 2015
  • The Basics of Representation and Warranty Insurance - Tools for Closing the M&A Transaction,” May 2015
  • “2014 Business Law Institute – Delaware and Doing Deals,” May 2014
  • “2012 Corporate Counsel Symposium – M&A Under the Microscope: Getting the Deal Done in Uncertain Times,” October 2012
  • “2008 In-House Counsel Crash Course,” March 2008
  • "Tender Offers Are Back," February 2008

Industries & Practices

  • Banking & Financial Institutions
  • Canada Cross-Border Transactions
  • Capital Markets
  • Corporate Governance & Compliance
  • Emerging Companies
  • Energy & Natural Resources
  • Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Mergers & Acquisitions

Professional & Civic

Professional Achievements

  • Minnesota Bar Association, Business Law Section - Member of Chapter 302A Subcommittee
  • Board of Directors, The Loppet Foundation, 2015 – present

Accolades

  • Recognized as a "Stand-Out Lawyer" by Thomson Reuters, 2024

Chambers USA 2023Ranked In - USA Chambers and Partners 2016 - Leading Individual Ranked in Chambers USA 2015 - Leading Individual

  • Ranked by Chambers USA: Corporate/M&A, 2015-2016 (Up and Coming), 2023

Pro Bono 50 Hours 2022Contributed 100+ Pro Bono Hours in 2020

  • Contributed more than 50 Challenge pro bono hours, 2022
  • Contributed more than 100 Challenge pro bono hours, 2020
  • Recommended by Legal 500 United States, 2019

North Star Lawyer

  • MSBA North Star Lawyer, 2012 and 2015-2022
  • Listed as a "Rising Star" by Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2008
Jonathan A. Van Horn