William R. Busch has practiced with the corporate and tax groups of Faegre Baker Daniels since 1975 and has been a partner since 1983. He practices primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private financings, corporate governance, executive compensation and general corporate and partnership counseling. He currently serves as general outside counsel and corporate secretary of several corporations.

Mergers and Acquisitions. Bill has represented and advised purchasers, sellers, management, equity investors and other participants in numerous transactions, of which the following are examples:

• Sale of CableScope, Inc. (cable television system in Buffalo, New York) to Tele-Communications, Inc.
• Acquisition of Minnesota Timberwolves professional basketball franchise from the National Basketball Association (and related financing, corporate structure and start-up matters)
• Sale of Minnesota Vikings professional football franchise and related companies and assets
• Sale of Forward Communications Corporation (including six television stations, eight radio stations and a newspaper) to Wesray Communications, Inc.
• Sale of KTVH-TV (CBS network television affiliate in Wichita, Kansas) to Kansas Broadcasting System, Inc.
• Sale of WDRB-TV (independent television station in Louisville, Kentucky) to The Toledo Blade Company
• Sale of Rapid City Journal (daily newspaper in Rapid City, South Dakota) to Lee Enterprises, Inc.
• Sale of Great Falls Tribune (daily newspaper in Great Falls, Montana) to Gannett Co., Inc.
• Sale of Hub City, Inc. (power-transmission manufacturing) to Regal Beloit Corporation
• Sale of National Business Systems, Inc. (image processing and data management) to Anacomp, Inc.
• Sale of Minnesota Timberwolves professional basketball team and related arena (Target Center)
• Sale (by merger) of The Star Tribune Company to The McClatchy Company
• Acquisition of Intermedics, Inc. (cardiac pacemaker manufacturer) by Guidant Corporation

Private Financings. Bill has represented and advised corporate borrowers in financing transactions, including among others short-term bridge financings; revolving-credit arrangements; and secured and unsecured private debt placements.

Corporate Governance. He has represented and advised corporate management, directors and shareholders regarding general corporate governance matters (including staggered boards of directors, multiple classes of stock and similar structures); unsolicited attempts to acquire control or force a sale or merger; redemptions of stock and related capitalization matters; going-private transactions; voting trusts and other shareholder arrangements; fiduciary duties of directors and officers; demands for corporate information; application of statutes in various jurisdictions limiting director liability; shareholder buy-sell arrangements; and similar matters.

Executive Compensation. Bill has represented and advised corporate management, directors and shareholders in connection with short-term and long-term incentive payment plans; executive employment, retention and termination agreements; deferred compensation plans; stock option plans; restricted and incentive stock plans; and related tax matters.