James (Jim) Cruger
- Chicago
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Jim represents private equity funds and public companies in various corporate transactional matters.
Companies rely on Jim Cruger’s more than three decades of experience in mergers, acquisitions, formation of private investment vehicles, joint ventures, and other transactions.
Jim has represented funds including Blue Point Capital Partners, Brentwood Associates, Code Hennessy & Simmons, Explore Holdings, High Street Capital, Hilco Equity Partners, Huron Capital Partners, LaSalle Capital, Main Post Partners, Prospect Partners, Riverlake Equity Partners, SPO Partners, and Wynnchurch Capital. His public company clients include Deutsche Post DHL, Leggett & Platt, Voyager Learning Company, and Strategic Hotel Capital (NYSE).
Jim is the head of the Chicago Private Equity Group.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, J.D., cum laude, 1986
- Loras College, B.A., cum laude, 1983
Bar and Court Admissions
-
Illinois
Professional Recognition
Listed in Thomson Reuters “Stand-out Lawyers,” 2024
Ranked by Chambers USA as "America's Leading Lawyer" for Private Equity: Buyouts, 2011-2024
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Venture Capital Law, 2008-2025
Listed in Illinois "Leading Lawyers"
Listed in Illinois Law & Politics, "Super Lawyers", 2006, 2010-2011
*The Supreme Court of Illinois does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no certificate, award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois.
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Chicago Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Professional Experience
Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
- Acquisition of Texas Hydraulics, Inc. from Dover Corporation
- Acquisition of Stampede Meat, Inc. for Wynnchurch Capital
- Acquisition of Rosboro Company, LLC for Wynnchurch Capital
- Acquisition of Heavy Duty Axle division of Arvin Meritor (NYSE) for Wynnchurch Capital, and subsequent sale to the Carlyle Group
- Acquisition of Dock Products, a division of SPX Corporation (NYSE) for Wynnchurch Capital
- Investment in SAXX Underwear Company by Brentwood Associates
- Acquisition of Hydrofarm by an affiliate of Hawthorn Equity Partners
- Sale of Waterworks to Restoration Hardware for Hawthorn Equity Partners
- Sale of portfolio company to Oracle Corporation for Hawthorn Equity Partners
- Acquisition of Eagle Rider for Main Post Partners
- Joint venture with Harley-Davidson Motor Company for Eagle Rider
- Acquisition of National Paint Industries for Huron Capital Partners, LLC
- Acquisition of Paint Over Rust Products, Inc. for Huron Capital Partners, LLC
- Acquisition of Waste Harmonics for Prospect Partners
- Acquisition of American Reprographics (NYSE) for Code, Hennessy & Simmons
- Acquisition of Weasler Engineering for Code, Hennessy & Simmons
- Acquisition of Beacon Roofing (NASDAQ) for Code, Hennessy & Simmons
- Acquisition of America's Body for Leggett & Platt
- Acquisition of Gamber Johnson for Leggett & Platt
- Representation of Voyager Learning Company (NASDAQ) in merger with Cambium Learning (a Veronis Suhler portfolio company), and follow-on public offering
- Acquisition of Houston Wire & Cable from Alltel Corporation (NYSE)
- Acquisition of SP Industries (a division of SPX Corporation) for Riverlake Equity Partners
- Investment by Natural Food Holdings in Sioux-Preme Products and Niman Ranch, and subsequent sale to LNK Partners
- Investment in Naf-Naf Holdings by Roark Capital
- Investment in Milk Makeup by Main Post Partners
- Formation of Prediction Company and sale to UBS.
- Sale of Exel Transportation and Exel Direct for a U.S. subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL
- Sale of Prime Foam Division of Leggett & Platt (NYSE)
- Sale of Aluminum Division of Leggett & Platt
- Sale of 4Front Engineering to ASSA Abloy
- Sale of Webex Inc. to Bertram Capital
- Sale of Illinois School Bus to Carlyle Infrastructure Partners
- Sale of Bryant & Stratton College to Parthenon Capital
- Sale of Gaco Western LLC to Firestone
Fund Formation
- Formation of private equity/hedge fund with committed capital in excess of $5 billion.
- Formation of hedge fund with committed capital in excess of $1 billion.
- Formation of investment fund targeting intellectual property assets with committed capital in excess of $1.5 billion.
- Formation of numerous leveraged buyout funds with committed capital of between $50 million and $500 million.
- Formation of senior debt fund with committed capital in excess of $1 billion.
- Formation of Fund of Funds with committed capital in excess of $100 million.
- Formation of several venture capital funds with committed capital in excess of $100 million