John M.Saada Jr.

Partner-in-Charge Cleveland

Cleveland + 1.216.586.7089

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John Saada is Partner-in-Charge of the Cleveland Office and represents private equity and venture capital funds in their formation and governance and the organization and documentation of fund sponsors' internal firm arrangements and compensation matters. He also regularly represents investors in their investments in a variety of private funds. In addition, John represents private equity and venture capital funds, family offices, search funds, angel funds, secondary funds, and strategic investors in investment activities, including venture capital investments, leveraged buyouts, M&A, exits, restructurings, joint ventures, and mezzanine financings.

The private equity and venture capital funds with which John has recently worked include The Riverside Company, MPE Partners, Edgewater Capital Partners, High Road Capital Partners, Kirtland Capital Partners, Trinity Hunt Partners, Resilience Capital Partners, Everberg Capital Partners, Tecum Equity, DalFort Capital, The Townsend Group, Global Forest Partners, JF Lehman & Company, North Coast Venture Partners, Noro-Moseley Partners, and Rockwood Equity Partners.

John also advises private and emerging growth companies in sectors such as health care, technology, information services, financial, automotive, manufacturing, food, and consumer products. His work with these companies focuses on strategic counsel, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financing transactions, executive compensation, and corporate governance matters.

In community matters, John has served as the co-chair of VeloSano since 2016, is the former chairman of the board of the Association for Corporate Growth, and former chairman of the board of trustees of the Positive Education Program. He is also on the boards of the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio, the Kulas Foundation, Greater Cleveland Partnership, Ohio Business RoundTable, and Business Volunteers Unlimited. John is a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2008.

Experience

  • Medallion Arts raises $13.7 million in Series A financingJones Day advised Medallion Arts Inc in its $13.7 million Series A financing co-led by Dragonfly and Lightspeed Faction.
  • Edgewater Capital Management closes Edgewater Capital Partners V, LP at $330 millionJones Day represented Edgewater Capital Management, LLC in its fundraise and formation of Edgewater Capital Partners V, LP ("ECP V"). ECP V is a middle market private equity buyout fund and plans to invest the capital raised into performance product and services companies.
  • Riverside closes Riverside Value Fund I, L.P. at $350 millionJones Day represented The Riverside Company in the successful final close of its Riverside Value Fund I, L.P. (RVF I), achieving its target of $350 million.
  • Morgenthaler Private Equity closes Fund IV at $633 millionJones Day represented Morgenthaler Private Equity in its fundraise and formation of MPE Partners IV, L.P. and its parallel fund (collectively, "MPE").
  • Tecum Capital invests in Keystone FoamJones Day advised Tecum Capital in its investment in Keystone Foam PA, LLC, formerly known as Keystone Foam Corporation, a fabricator of proprietary custom foam products for various end markets.
  • Selman & Company, LLC sold to One80 IntermediariesJones Day advised Selman & Company, LLC (SelmanCo) in connection with the sale of SelmanCo to One80 Intermediaries, Inc.
  • OEConnection acquires VeriFacts AutomotiveJones Day advised OEConnection LLC in the acquisition of VeriFacts, a provider of collision repair network certifications.
  • Refrigeration Sales Corporation sells company to Rotunda Capital PartnersJones Day advised Refrigeration Sales Corporation in its sale of the company to Rotunda Capital Partners.
  • OEConnection acquires SmartCo Services LLCJones Day advised OEConnection LLC in its acquisition of SmartCo Services LLC, a web-based technology company.
  • Riverside invests in CISJones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with its minority investment in CIS Secure Computing, Inc. (CIS), a leading provider of secure endpoint communications solutions to government agencies.
  • CHAMPtitles enters strategic partnership with CopartJones Day represented CHAMPtitles in connection with a strategic partnership with Copart, Inc., whereby Copart will advance CHAMPtitles' electronic vehicle title processing services to its customers.
  • Transtar Holding Company sells company to Blue Point Capital PartnersJones Day advised Transtar Holding Company, a portfolio of industry-leading automotive aftermarket and original equipment businesses with a focus on high-quality products and unmatched customer service, in the sale of majority ownership to Blue Point Capital Partners.
  • Riverside invests in Area Wide ProtectiveJones Day represented The Riverside Company in connection with its minority investment in Area Wide Protective, North America’s leading provider of outsourced temporary traffic safety management solutions supporting infrastructure repair, maintenance and upgrade activities for a broad range of blue-chip utilities, utility contractors and roadway maintenance providers.
  • Morgenthaler Private Equity forms MPE Partners III, L.P. and its parallel fundsJones Day represented Morgenthaler Private Equity in its fundraise and formation of MPE Partners III, L.P. and its parallel funds (collectively, "MPE") with $420.1 million in capital commitments.
  • OEConnection acquires Summit Consulting Int'l, Inc.Jones Day advised OEConnection LLC in its acquisition of Summit Consulting Int'l, Inc., a business intelligence consulting and solutions provider to the automotive industry.
  • OEConnection acquires NuGen ITJones Day advised OEConnection LLC, the leading automotive technology provider for original equipment manufacturers' distribution networks, in its acquisition of NuGen IT, Inc., a software company specializing in body shop and collision industry optimization tools.
  • J.F. Lehman raises $1.35 billion for fifth fundJones Day represented J.F. Lehman & Company, LLC in connection with the formation of JFL Equity Investors V, L.P. and its related investment funds.
  • Resilience Capital acquires 40% stake in LARJones Day advised LAR Resilience, LP, an affiliate of Resilience Capital Partners LLC, in the purchase of a 40% equity stake in Leader Auto Resources LAR, Inc.
  • Tecum Capital invests in National Power CorporationJones Day represented Tecum Capital Partners in connection with its investment in and related financing of National Power Corporation, a provider of power generators, products, and services.
  • Next Generation Films sold to Charter NEX Films, Inc. for $1.07 billionJones Day advised Next Generation Films, Inc. in its sale to Charter NEX Films, Inc., a manufacturer of specialty plastic films, for an aggregate purchase price of $1.07 billion.
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    August 2023 Alert

    SEC Adopts Long-Awaited and Heavily Debated Private Fund Adviser Rules

    August 2020 Alert

    U.S. Treasury Department Releases Proposed Carried Interest Regulations

    March 2018 Jones Day Publications

    Jones Day Talks Technology: Autonomous Vehicles─Ethical Issues Confronting In-House Counsel

    November 2017 Jones Day Publications

    Jones Day Talks Technology: Autonomous Vehicles: Who's Leading the Way?

    November 2017 Jones Day Publications

    Legal Issues Related to the Development of Automated, Autonomous, and Connected Cars

    May 2017 Commentary

    SEC's Unwavering Focus on Disclosure of Valuation Methods and Calculation of IRRs by Fund Sponsors

    January 2017 Commentary

    U.S. Regulatory Action Items for Investment Advisers (2017)

    January 2013 Alert

    U.S. Regulatory Action Items For Investment Advisers (2013)

    February 2012 Commentary

    Exempt Reporting Advisers: Requirements for Investment Advisers that Qualify as Venture Capital Advisers or Private Fund Advisers

    November 2011 Commentary

    SEC Adopts New Risk Reporting Requirements for Certain Registered Investment Advisers to Private Funds (Form PF)
    View All

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • May 25, 2017
      TechniCLE Speaking 2017: CLEaring Our Runway
    • April 14, 2016
      TechniCLE Speaking 2016: Fostering Innovation
    • May 20, 2015
      TechniCLE Speaking
    • October 15, 2010
      Michigan Private Equity Conference: Private Investment Funds - Negotiating Investment Agreement Terms in the Current Environment
    • October 2009
      Key's 2009 M&A Symposium: Opportunities Amidst Market Chaos
    • October 2006
      Structuring a Venture Capital Transaction, Kauffman Foundation - Power of Angel Investing
    • February 2003
      The State of Venture Capital, Case Western Reserve

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