Image of Luke Whibley

Luke Whibley

Partner

Luke specialises in leveraged finance/private capital, acting for both private equity funds on the sponsor side and private credit funds (as well as our key banking clients) on the lender side.

He advises on a broad array of financing products, including senior, senior/mezz, unitranche/stretched senior, super senior, PIK/Holdco and asset-backed financings.

In addition, Luke has deep corporate lending experience, acting as a trusted advisor for corporate treasury teams (and their lenders) across the entire debt capital structure, including operational financing, long term institutional investor debt and event-driven/bespoke structured financing arrangements. He also regularly acts for lenders and borrowers on secured, asset-backed commodity financings.

Luke is admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and joined the firm’s Amsterdam office in 2007, having previously worked in the firm’s London office.

Experience

Representative matters

Leveraged Finance/Private Capital – Sponsor Side

Exponent on the financing provided by Eurazeo in respect of the acquisition of the TestingCo group.

3i Group plc on the amendment, extension and increase of Action’s existing financing arrangements, including its first USD debt issuance.

Volpi Capital on the financing provided by LGT Capital and Partners Group in respect of Volpi’s continued investment in the Cyclomedia group through a continuation fund vehicle.

Bencis Capital Partners on the financing provided by Pricoa in respect of Bencis’ continued investment in the European Candy Group through a continuation fund vehicle.

Waterland on the financing provided by Tikehau of the acquisition by Waterland of re rode spar.

Leveraged Finance/Private Capital – Lender Side

Crescent Capital in respect of its financing of the acquisition by Astorg of the Avania group.

Cordet Capital in respect of its financing of the acquisition by a Dutch private equity fund of the Selo Food Group.

Eurazeo in respect of its financing of the acquisition by Avedon of the Kinly group.

A syndicate of banks in respect of the amendment, extension and increase of Antin’s portfolio company Eurofiber’s existing senior financing arrangements.

A club of banks in respect of the refinancing of Egeria portfolio company Fletcher Hotel Group’s senior financing arrangements.

Corporate Lending

Arcadis on its bridge to bond financing of a Canadian public bid and Irish private acquisition, underwritten by BAML and GS.

FrieslandCampina on (a) its European revolving credit facility, (b) its development financings with the European Investment Bank and International Finance Corporation (c) various other financing arrangements and (d) amendments and waivers in respect of such financing arrangements as a result of a group tax reorganisation.

KPN on the financing of its aborted bid for a Dutch target.

Vesteda on (a) its syndicated European revolving credit facility and (b) its financing with the European Investment Bank.

Royal Cosun on its European private placement financing provided by Barings.

Vitens on its European private placements with New York Life and Achmea.

Nationale-Nederlanden and New York Life on their respective European private placements for Evides.

ING Bank N.V. as arranger and underwriter in respect of an acquisition financing for the Pon group.

Trade and Commodity Finance

A multinational financial institution as arranger in respect of various syndicated financings of the Sunrise Foods Group.

A multinational financial institution as arranger in respect of the acquisition and asset-based financings provided to soft commodity processor and distributor Acomo.

ING Bank N.V. as arranger in respect of various syndicated refinancings of the Eurofiber group, owned by Antin Infrastructure.

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2008

Languages

English
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.