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Lawyers

Nick Benham

Lawyers

Advises borrowers and debt providers, with a focus on leveraged and investment-grade acquisition financings. Extensive experience with public company takeovers.

Nick leads our finance practice in London. He advises on a wide range of corporate finance transactions, with a particular focus on cross-border leveraged and investment-grade acquisition financings on behalf of borrowers and of banks and credit funds providing financing at all levels of the capital structure.

Nick has extensive experience advising on the financing of UK and international public company takeovers, and also advises in connection with financial restructurings for strategic debt investors.

A client quoted by Chambers says, “Nick is exceptional - he’s one of our go-to lawyers for complex and difficult matters.” Another client declares, “I’d put him absolutely at the top of my list of lawyers to recommend.”

Experience highlights

Notable Borrower Representations
  • Financing for Tencent-led consortium’s acquisition of 20% of Universal Music Group 
  • £30.6bn financing for Comcast’s competitive takeover of Sky
  • $6.4bn financing for Solvay’s acquisition of Cytec
  • $4.6bn financing for Dialog Semiconductor’s proposed acquisition of Atmel
  • $2.8bn financing for Verisk Analytics’ acquisition of Wood Mackenzie
  • $1.85bn financing for Clarivate Analytics
  • $1.68bn financing for SS&C’s takeover of Blue Prism Group
  • £1.4bn financing for Temenos’ proposed takeover of Fidessa
  • $1bn commodities-based credit facility for Noble Clean Fuels
  • €1bn financing for Natura’s acquisition of The Body Shop
  • $945m financing for Nuvei’s takeover of SafeCharge
  • €600m financing for eDreams ODIGEO
  • $500m revolving credit facility for Temenos
  • $315m financing for GeoPark’s takeover of Amerisur Resources
  • €235m financing for Temenos’ acquisition of Multifonds
  • £140m financing for Atairos’ acquisition of Ocean Outdoor
Notable Lender Representations
  • $28.5bn financing for Amgen’s takeover of Horizon Therapeutics
  • $5.32bn refinancing for Finastra Group
  • $5.14bn financing for 3G Capital Advisors’ acquisition of Hunter Douglas
  • €3.9bn financing for KKR’s acquisition of Refresco
  • €1.8bn financing for Garrett Motion’s spin-off from Honeywell
  • $1.2bn financing for Viavi Solutions’ proposed takeover of Spirent Communications
  • $1.36bn financing for Apollo’s acquisition of Lumileds
  • $1.1bn financing for Vista and BC Partners’ investment in Advanced
  • €1bn financing for Inovyn
  • £900m backstop financing for Barratt Developments’ proposed takeover of Redrow
  • £763m financing for GXO Logistics’ proposed takeover of Wincanton
  • £745m financing for GXO Logistics’ takeover of Clipper Logistics
  • £725m financing for Vista’s takeover of Advanced
  • $725m financing for Roark Capital’s acquisition of International Car Wash Group
  • $642m financing for Vista’s acquisition of Accelya
  • £620m financing for Teledyne Technologies’ takeover of E2V Technologies
  • $461m unitranche financing for Providence Equity and Searchlight Capital’s takeover of Hyve Group
  • £365m financing for Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan’s acquisition of Bridon
  • $250m fund financing for Hollyport Capital
Notable Financial Adviser Representations
  • £71bn takeover of SABMiller by Anheuser-Busch InBev
  • £4.3bn takeover of Rexam by Ball Corporation
  • £3.3bn proposed takeover of RPC by Apollo
  • £124m takeover of Latchways by MSA Safety
  • £115m takeover of Stride Gaming by Rank Group
View more experience

Insights

Navigating challenging markets

Credentials

Recognition

Chambers UK – Banking & Finance: Big-Ticket

Chambers Europe and Global – Banking & Finance, UK

IFLR1000 – Banking, United Kingdom, Highly Regarded

Education
M.A., University of Oxford
Professional history
  • Partner, Davis Polk, 2014-present
  • Partner, Ashurst, 2010-2013
Qualifications and admissions
  • England and Wales
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