Deal Docket

Nationwide, the value of merger and acquisition deal size is climbing. While the number of announced deals declined 4 percent, average deal size

Brown Shoe co. of clayton purchased american Sporting Goods corp., of aliso viejo, calif., with help from Bryan cave and husch Blackwell attorneys. File photo

increased 45 percent to $356 million from $245 million, according to data from PricewaterhouseCoopers.

In particular, middle market activity — defined as deals under $1 billion — contributed 94 percent of the deal volume and 27 percent of deal value of the total deals in 2011, the investment firm said.

The investment firm said it expects merger and acquisition activity will pick up through the rest of 2011, citing stronger capital markets, more available financing and large amount of cash on corporate balance sheets.

Below is a look at deals involving various transactions and Missouri lawyers in the past few months, according to information from company press releases, law firms and lawyers.

We would like to hear about your transactions, no matter the type of deal or its size. Please send brief details to [email protected]

The Deal: Stifel Financial Corp., a St. Louis-based investment banking and wealth management firm, will invest $40 million for senior preferred interests in investment banking firm Miller Buckfire & Co. of New York. Miller Buckfire’s restructuring advisory capabilities will be available to Stifel’s clients and Stifel’s capital markets expertise will become available to Miller Buckfire’s clients.

Announced: June 8

Advising Stifel Financial Corp. from Bryan Cave in Missouri: Rob Endicott, Mike Schwartz and Jim Wotruba

The Deal: Kansas City’s Industrial Development Authority issued about $178 million in tax-exempt refunding bonds. This allowed the city to pay and refund variable-rate bonds previously issued by IDA to finance the cost of the Power & Light District. The refunding bonds were issued with fixed interest rate.

Date of bond issuance: June 1

Advising: Kutak Rock’s Kathy Peters and Jean Matzeder at the Hardwick Law Firm acted as bond counsel on behalf of the IDA and Kansas City; Bryan Cave’s David Reid and Stephen Sparks were underwriter’s counsel.

The Deal: Wells Fargo Bank N.A. agreed to acquire the remaining equity interest in CP Equity, the sole owner of Castle Pines Capital and its affiliates of Denver. Terms of the purchase were not disclosed.

Announced: May 26

Advising CP Equity and some of its selling shareholders: Steve Baumer, Brian Feezel, Kevin Schopp, Dan White, Greg Galvin, Martha Phillips, Sarah Sise and Paula Pace of Bryan Cave in Missouri

The Deal: O’Fallon Brewery was sold to Sugar Creek Acquisition, a St. Louis-based company run by former Anheuser-Busch marketing executive Jim Gorczyca. Purchase price was not disclosed.

Announced: May 23

Advising Sugar Creek Acquisition: Paul Klug and Charles Vos of Polsinelli Shughart

The Deal: J.E. Dunn Construction Co. formed two Missouri entities, Rosecrans Services Company and GenTech Construction Company. Those companies acquired substantially all the assets of two Texas companies. Purchase price was not disclosed.

Deal Closed: April 13

Advising J.E. Dunn from Husch Blackwell: Steve Carman, Lori Buck and Craig Kovarik.

The Deal: Clayton-based Brown Shoe Co. purchased American Sporting Goods Corp., of Aliso Viejo, Calif., for $145 million in cash plus assumed net debt.

Announced: Feb. 17

Advising Brown Shoe Co.: Stephanie Hosler, Mike Schwartz, Dan White and Phil Wright of Bryan Cave; Alan Nemes from Husch Blackwell for intellectual property matters  MO