Jeremy Duffy

Partner, London

Biography

“Jeremy is able to communicate technically complex advice in commercial language. When Jeremy leads on a deal, he thinks ahead to navigate you through the deal. He foresees the complexities and hurdles and solves them ahead of time. He is an expert in distilling advice into the points that you need to focus on.”
Chambers and Partners UK

Overview

Jeremy is head of the EMEA Bank Lending team based in London. He is a recognised expert on cross-border financing arrangements and a leading advisor to global banks, funds, sponsors and corporations on European leveraged finance transactions, investment grade transactions, restructurings, general bank lending, bridge facilities and high yield securities.

Clients appreciate Jeremy's 'commercial acumen' and 'solutions-orientated approach'. They benefit from his extensive experience advising on multi-jurisdictional leveraged buyouts and top-tier senior and subordinated finance arrangements as well as real estate finance and data center expertise.

Bars and Courts
England and Wales
Victoria, Australia
High Court of Australia
Education
Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment
Securities Institute of Australia
LLB
University of Melbourne
BCom
University of Melbourne
Languages
English

Experience

Leverage Finance:

  • Acting for the senior lenders in connection with the provision of financing to be made available to Kersia International, an entity backed by IK Investment, for the acquisition of Kersia SAS. The acquisition was financed by way of a TLB and RCF. This transaction formed the European test case for ESG provisions under a syndicated LBO;
  • Acting for Santander and HSBC, as RCF lenders, on the debt financing package to support Caffè Nero's refinancing of all its debt. Caffè Nero is the largest independent coffee house group in Europe, with more than 1,000 stores across ten countries.
  • Acting for Encore Capital Group, Inc. on its US$2.8 billion global funding structure. The transaction involved combining Encore's restricted group with that of its subsidiary, Cabot Credit Management, and included an amended multi-currency RCF with an increased total commitment of US$1.05 billion, the issuance of multiple series of senior secured notes plus senior secured floating rate notes along with private placement notes;
    Shortlisted for Finance Team of the Year, The Lawyer Awards
  • Acting for Goldman Sachs International, Golub Capital and Berenberg Bank, as Lenders, in connection with Novo Holding's acquisition of BBI Group Holdco Limited. The financing involved a TLB and super senior RCF;
  • Acting for Deutsche Bank AG as the sole lender in connection with a £522 million senior secured bridge credit facility provided to KSE, UK, Inc. in connection with its recommended mandatory cash offer made for Arsenal Holdings PLC, the UK listed holding entity for Arsenal Football Club.

Digital Infra Finance:

  • Acting for Deutsche Bank AG, Société Générale S.A. and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation as mandated lead arrangers, global syndicate, active bookrunners and original lenders in relation to a €620 million financing of the Data4 data center business. This deal was the largest data center financing completed in the European market to-date and covers 19 data centers across Europe;
    Winner of the "European Data Deal of the Year" at the PFI Awards
  • Acting for Deutsche Bank AG as mandated lead arranger and lender plus other lenders in connection with the senior secured and junior secured financings of IPI Partners, LLC acquisition of DigiPlex Norway;
  • Acting for Deutsche Bank AG as mandated lead arranger and lender on a senior and junior financing for the acquisition of Norway's Green Mountain AS data center business by Azrieli Group;
  • Acting for Deutsche Bank AG and Natixis, London Branch as mandated lead arrangers and lenders on the financing of the acquisition of Switzerland-based data center owner and operator Safe Host SA (now known as STACK Infrastructure Switzerland SA) by IPI Partners, LLC.

Direct Lending:

  • Acting for Ares Management Limited in connection with the acquisition of OCM Netherlands Dental Clinics Holdings and Adent Cliniques Dentaires Groupe by Nordic Capital;
  • Representation of Goldman Sachs (through its funds) as lender in connection with acquisition financing provided to Providence Strategic Growth Capital Partners as sponsor. The loan proceeds were used to acquire Nalanda Global S.A.;
  • Acting for Goldman Sachs (through its funds), Commerzbank AG and Landesbank Baden-Württemberg in connection with the acquisition of All4Labels Group GmbH by Triton Partners;
  • Acting for Barings on the establishment of a unitranche financing for the recommended takeover offer for Medica Group plc by IK Partners.

Restructurings:

  • Acting for Roust Trading Ltd (RTL), an affiliate of Russian Standard Corporation, in connection with RTL's investment in and acquisition of Central European Distribution Corporation;
    Winner of the "Standout" award in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers report
  • Acting for Deutsche Bank AG in connection with an English law senior secured term loan facility to refinance the restructured Icelandic Bank ALMC hf.;
  • Acting for the co-ordinating committee of senior lenders of the Findus Group in connection with its restructuring;
  • Acting for Arabian Centres Company in connection with their dual currency US$1.9 billion refinancing package.
    Winner of the "Real Estate Deal of the Year" award with IFN 
    Winner of the "Saudi Arabia Deal of the Year" award with IFN

Investment Grade Finance:

  • Acting for BNP Paribas, HSBC Bank PLC, ING Belgium SA/NV and Nordea Bank AB (publ) in connection with the provision of a €1.3 billion multi-currency RCF to Volvo Cars;
  • Acting for the group of lenders to JAB Holdings with respect to various term loan and revolving credit facilities provided to JAB Holdings and its investment vehicles and portfolio companies;
  • Acting for the group of lenders to JDE Peet's N.V. in the €6.5 billion refinancing of its existing indebtedness;
  • Acting for BNP, Lloyds Bank plc and National Westminster Bank plc on a syndicated ESG-linked facilities agreement including a term loan facility and multicurrency revolving loan facility made available to PZ Cussons plc.
Speaking Engagements

Speaker at Euromoney Scandinavian High Yield Bond conference

Speaker at Euromoney Leveraged Finance European conference

Speaker at Debtwire Commercial Lending conference

Publications

Co-author of "LIBOR no more", Financier Worldwide

Co-author of "Libor: UK is EU's guinea pig in transition to risk-free rates", Practice Insight

"Ten years on: The surprising resilience of European leveraged finance" European Leveraged Finance Report

"European covenant lite: an identical twin or a younger sibling?" International Financial Law Review

Co-author of "Times they are a changing" White & Case Insight

Co-author of "Intercreditor hot spots and what to watch" Financier Worldwide

Co-author of "How super is your senior," International Financial Law Review

Co-author of "A New Lease of Life," The Treasurer

Awards and Recognition

Highly Regarded (IFLR1000, UK, 2019 - 2023)

Leading Individual (Legal 500, UK, 2018 - 2023)

"Jeremy is a fantastic example of a solutions-oriented, client-centric counsel. His strengths are, first and foremost, his commercial acumen and skills as a finance lawyer."
(Chambers UK, 2022)

"Jeremy Duffy is super responsive, commercial, available 24/7, extremely skilled and very good at finding solutions and working through problems."
(Chambers UK, 2022)