Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich Advises Strategic Decisions Group in $137 Million Strategic Combination With the Metzler Group

Business Wire, Feb 11, 1999

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 10, 1999--Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP announced that it advised Strategic Decision Group (Menlo Park, Calif.) in connection with its agreement to merge with The Metzler Group Inc. (Chicago, Ill., Nasdaq:METZ).

The merger, announced Monday, is valued at approximately $137 million and will be carried out by means of a tax-free stock-for-stock exchange.

Strategic Decisions Group is an international strategy consulting firm that helps clients increase business value. They work with clients to develop and implement creative concepts for growth, embrace and profit from change, and transform the organizations through new model of strategic leadership.

SDG's client base comprises diverse sectors -- electricity, oil and gas, telecommunication, financial services and pharmaceuticals. The Metzler Group is a leading nationwide provider of management consulting services to energy and network industries. The deal will expand the levels of management consulting services through the companies' joint client base.

Mergers and acquisitions partner Peter Astiz and senior associate Jon Perry led the Gray Cary team supported by associates Lynne Fullerton, Chirag Karia, Allison Koehler, Christine McCarthy, Sally Rau, Magan Ray and Kirk Williams. Other Gray Cary partners working on the deal were Penny Gallo, who has worked with SDG since its inception in 1981, David Plewa and Jay Spitzen.

"Gray Cary is pleased to play a role in the growth of the global service economy through the success of this deal," said Astiz.

Gray Cary's Corporate and Securities Group is comprised of more than 70 attorneys with a specialized team of more than 30 devoted to mergers and acquisitions. Since Jan. 1, 1997, Gray Cary has advised on more than 149 merger and acquisition transactions totaling over $28 billion.

Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP specializes in the representation of emerging growth and high technology companies, with nearly 300 attorneys practicing firm-wide in Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco and Austin. Clients include public and private companies, at all stages of growth from start-up to Fortune 500.