Robbie G. Yates

Experience

Rob Yates practices in the Corporate, Securities and Finance section of the firm's Corporate group, where he focuses on public securities offerings, merger and acquisition transactions, and early stage and venture capital financings. In addition, Rob assists clients with general securities law compliance, corporate governance issues and general corporate matters. Rob also advises entrepreneurs and emerging growth companies on business formation and founders' issues.

Prior to joining Stoel Rives, Rob was an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in Washington, D.C. (2003-2005); a law clerk at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles (2002); a law clerk at Stoel Rives LLP in Salt Lake City (2001-2002); and an extern for Chief Judge Dee V. Benson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah (2001).

Representative Work

Public Securities Offerings

• Represented largest stockholder in SemiLEDs Corporation's initial public offering of $95.5 million of its common stock.
• Represented a renewable energy company in a registered direct offering of common stock and warrants for $25.5 million 
• Represented a renewable energy company in connection with the underwritten public offering of 1,986,173 shares of its common stock.
• Represented a renewable energy company in connection with the private placement of $20 million of common stock and warrants and in its subsequent registration for resale of such securities on Form S-3.
• Represented a renewable energy company in connection with the sale of a $55 million aggregate principal amount of 8% Convertible Senior Notes due 2013 in a Rule 144A offering.
• Represented a renewable energy company in its launch of a $25 million at-the-market program with Merrill Lynch acting as sales agent.
• Represented a renewable energy company in connection with several registered direct offerings of $3 million of its common stock.
• Represented a renewable energy company in its launch of a $25 million controlled equity offering with Cantor Fitzgerald acting as sales agent.
• Represented a renewable energy company in connection with the filing of a $150 million universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3.
• Represented a renewable energy company in connection with the filing of a $25 million universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3.
• Represented Hoku Scientific, Inc. in a $50 million common stock and warrant offering to Tianwei New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd. of the People's Republic of China.
• Represented Hoku Scientific, Inc. in its launch of a $54 million equity distribution program with UBS Securities acting as sales agent.
• Represented Hoku Scientific, Inc. in connection with the filing of a $110 million universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3.
• Represented Hoku Scientific, Inc. in the filing of a resale registration statement on Form S-3 for the resale of up to 2,893,519 of its shares of common stock by certain of its stockholders.
• Represented D.A. Davidson & Co. and BB&T Capital Markets, as underwriters, in the public offering of $49.68 million of common stock of Sterling Construction Company, Inc.
• Represented Amerityre Corporation in connection with the private placement of common stock and warrants and in its subsequent registration for resale of such securities on Form S-3.
• Represented Amerityre Corporation in connection with the filing of a $120 million universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3.
• Represented Huntsman Advanced Materials LLC in the registration of, and its exchange offer for, $250 million 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2010 and $100 million Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2008.
• Represented Huntsman International LLC in the registration of, and its exchange offer for, $175 million 7.375% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 and €135 million 7.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015.
• Represented Huntsman LLC in the registration of, and its exchange offer for, $198 million 11.5% Senior Notes due 2012 and $100 million Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2011.
• Represented various underwriters in multiple registered debt offerings of over $2.5 billion by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
• Represented Corporación Andina de Fomento in multiple registered offerings of $350 million of floating rate notes.
• Represented Brinker International, Inc. in a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of $300 million of 5.75% Notes due 2014.
• Represented CEMEX S.A. de C.V. in a successfully completed cash tender offer and consent solicitation for its 12.75% Notes due 2006 and its 9.625% Notes due 2009.

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Represented a Utah-based company in its purchase of a scuba diving equipment company.
• Represented Huish Detergents, Inc. in the sale of its business to Vestar Capital Partners.
• Represented B&B Acquisition, Inc. in its purchase of the assets of Candle Warmers Etc. and Heated Scents, Inc.
• Represented provider of door-to-door marketing services in the sale of certain of its accounts in five separate transactions valued at over $20 million.
• Represented Petrolinvest Sp. z o.o. in its purchase of common stock of Occidental Resources, Inc.
• Represented Utah-based vending machine business in connection with the sale of its business valued at $1.1 million.
• Represented group of investors in purchasing a large apartment complex located in Texas valued at approximately $7.5 million.
• Represented Sorenson Capital Partners in its purchase of Leslee Scott Inc.
• Represented pest control company in the sale of its accounts valued at over $30 million.

Early Stage and Venture Capital Financings

• Represented internet software company in a seed preferred stock offering to certain venture capital and angel investors.
• Represented personal care products company in a Series A-1 preferred stock offering to certain venture capital funds.
• Represented personal care products company in a convertible bridge note financing with certain venture capital investors.
• Represented personal care products company in a Series A preferred stock offering to certain angel investors.
• Represented two Oregon-based companies in Series D convertible preferred stock financing rounds.
• Represented angel investor in his purchase of a minority interest in a Utah-based software company.
• Represented angel investor in his purchase of common stock and warrants in a Utah-based social networking company.
• Represented pest control company in its sale of common stock to an angel investor.
• Represented door-to-door marketing company in the restructure of a $13 million loan.

General

• Represented Huntsman Corporation in connection with corporate restructuring transaction.
• Advise multiple public companies regarding securities law regulations, disclosure issues and ongoing securities law compliance matters, including interactions with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ.
• Prepare charter documents to form multiple start-up companies.
• Draft and negotiate various types of contracts governed by Delaware, New York and Utah law.
• Prepare confidential treatment requests for public companies that are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Represented multiple companies that have reincorporated from Utah to Delaware.

Professional Honors & Activities

• Listed in Best Lawyers in America® (currently: Corporate Law), 2013
• Named as one of Utah Business magazine's "Legal Elite"
• Law School Faculty Award for "Meritorious Achievement and Distinguished Service," 2003
• BYU Men's Basketball Academic Achievement Award, 1997-1998 
• BYU Management Society Board Member, Salt Lake Chapter, 2006-2009
• Utah Innovation Awards Liaison, 2006-present
• Book Subcommittee Chair, Utah 100 Committee, MountainWest Capital Network, 2006-present
• Member of firm's recruiting committee, 2007-present

Presentations

• Co-Presenter, "Auditor Liability," University of Utah, Sept. 22, 2009, June 7, 2010 and Sept. 9, 2010 
• Co-Presenter, "Legal Due Diligence for Opinion Letters," Salt Lake City, Aug. 14, 2008
• Presenter, "Contract Landmines: An Overview of What Business People Must Know When Entering into a Contract," Salt Lake Small Business Development Center, Nov. 13, 2007
• Co-Presenter, "Minimizing the Risk of Loss: Choosing a Corporate Structure," Salt Lake City, Mar. 22, 2007
• Co-Presenter, "Legal Issues for Small Businesses," Salt Lake Community College, May 23, 2006
• Presenter, "Legal Issues for Entrepreneurs," Salt Lake Community College, Nov. 1, 2005

Publications

• "Legal Matters," The Enterprise, Dec. 11-17, 2006
• Note, "Aurora Credit Services, Inc. v. Liberty West Development, Inc.: An Analysis of Shareholder Derivative Suits in Closely Held Corporations," BYU Law Review, 2002

Education

• Brigham Young University, J.D., 2003, magna cum laude
  Order of the Coif
  Editor-in-Chief, BYU Law Review, 2002-2003
• Brigham Young University, M.Acc., 2003
• Brigham Young University, B.S., 2003, Accounting

Admissions

• Utah
• New York
• District of Columbia

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