James Simpson

Work highlights 

• Representing Almaviva S.p.A. in connection with its offering of €725 million aggregate principal amount of senior secured notes due 2030 to finance its public take-private offer for US-listed Iteris Inc. (NASDAQ: ITI) and refinancing of its existing indebtedness.

• Representing the shareholders of The LYCRA Company and certain other investors on the refinancing of the company’s senior secured notes due 2023 through a “drop-down” financing transaction and a subsequent settlement transaction. The refinancing combined elements of “drop-down” and “double dip” structures and represented one of the most innovative high yield refinancing transactions in the European market to date.

• Representing Haya Real Estate, one of the leading real estate servicing companies and the largest bank-independent third-party servicer of real estate developer loans and real estate owned assets in Spain, in connection with its financial recapitalisation which was implemented by way of a UK scheme of arrangement. The recapitalisation included a partial redemption and exchange of the company’s existing senior secured fixed and floating rate notes for €368.4 million of new floating rate notes maturing in 2025 and noteholders also received a combined 27.5% equity interest in the group.
• Representing the initial purchasers in connection with Carlyle’s acquisition of Hexaware, a leading global provider of digital, IT and business transformation services, which was financed with $1.01 billion of high yield bonds. The transaction was the first ever bridge to bond financing for an Indian LBO and the largest Indian LBO to date
• Representing the initial purchasers in connection with United Group’s acquisition of Wind Hellas, a leading telecommunications provider in Greece, which was financed with €980 million of high yield bonds