For two years, Dole Food has relied on Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher to defend it against lawsuits brought by Nicaraguan farm workers alleging they were exposed to a harmful pesticide used to boost banana production. Now the fresh-produce company is turning to the firm for help on its planned initial public offering.
Dole filed paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday for an initial public offering that will include both newly issued shares and shares sold by its sole stockholder. Dole is closely held by billionaire David Murdock, who took the company private in 2003. The price range has yet to be set, but the company plans to raise $500 million to pay down debt, among other things.
