Hellmuth & Johnson is proud to announce its role as legal counsel to The Smead Manufacturing Co. during its recent acquisition by Illinois-based Tops Products, a subsidiary of Atlas Holdings.
Founded in 1906 and headquartered in Hastings, Minnesota, Smead has long been renowned as a family-owned innovator in office and filing supplies—from creating the first Bandless File System to mass-producing more than 2 million military wallets during World War II. After 119 years of independent leadership, including guiding by Ebba Hoffman and later Sharon and Casey Avent, the company has taken its next evolution under Tops Products following the acquisition announced on June 10, 2025.
The acquisition provides Smead access to Tops Products’ advanced manufacturing infrastructure and a broad North American distribution network, further cementing its status in the office products sector.
“We were honored to provide strategic guidance and legal counsel throughout this complex, cross‑state transaction,” said Alec Sherod, M&A Practice Group Lead at Hellmuth & Johnson. “Our team was proud to support a heritage brand like Smead through this pivotal transition, ensuring its century-plus legacy continues under a strong new ownership structure.”
In addition to Alec Sherod, the Hellmuth & Johnson legal team was comprised of attorneys Michael Klemm, Maggie Blaisdell, Drew Benik, and Elizabeth Runde.
Local media coverage of the acquisition: