Ouster (NYSE: OUST), a leading provider of high-resolution digital lidar, and Velodyne (NASDAQ: VLDR, VLDRW), a leading global player in lidar sensors and solutions, have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to merge in an all-stock transaction. The proposed merger is expected to drive significant value creation and result in a strong financial position through robust product offerings, increased operational efficiencies, and a complementary customer base in fast-growing end-markets.

Latham & Watkins LLP represents Ouster in the transaction with a corporate deal team led by Bay Area partner Mark Bekheit and Orange County associate Nima Movahedi, with associates Shannon Cheng, Abby Timmons, Tiana Baghdikian, and Amy Lutfi. Advice was also provided on securities matters by Orange County partner Drew Capurro and Bay Area partner Ben Potter, with associate Katherine Marren; on debt finance matters by Bay Area partner Haim Zaltzman and Los Angeles counsel David Buchanan, with associate Hyunji Lee; on tax matters by Bay Area partner Grace Lee, with associate Jacob Meninga; on benefits and compensation matters by Bay Area partner Jay Metz, with associate Tal Simon; on intellectual property matters by Bay Area partners Michelle Gross and Gabriel Gross, with associates Caroline Omotayo and Irene Jang; on data privacy matters by Bay Area partner Robert Blamires, with associate Kathryn Parsons-Reponte; on antitrust matters by Washington, D.C. partner Amanda Reeves, Bay Area partner Kelly Fayne, Brussels partner Hector Armengod, Washington, D.C. counsels Joseph Simei and Peter Todaro, and Brussels counsels Tomas Nilsson and Philipp Studt, with associates Stergos Chatzidiakos and Evan Omi; and on litigation matters by Orange County partner Kristin Murphy and San Diego partner Colleen Smith, with associate Natasha Pardawala.