Biography
Ian Hua is an associate in the Debt Finance practice of White & Case's New York office. His practice focuses on leveraged, corporate finance and acquisition financings, including domestic and cross-border transactions, asset-based lending, and distressed lending and restructurings. Ian advises major commercial and investment banks, private credit funds, direct lenders, and private equity sponsors and corporate borrowers on a broad range of financing transactions, with particular experience in leveraged acquisition financings and complex multi-jurisdictional structures.
Ian also represents Chinese and other Asia-based financial institutions and multinational businesses in connection with U.S.-related financings, restructurings, and investment activities. His cross-border experience includes advising international banks on regulatory and structural considerations associated with their U.S. operations and expansion strategies.
Experience
Bank Lending
- Representation of the lead arrangers and administrative agent in connection with US$3.1 billion of senior secured credit facilities provided to Ball Corp. (NYSE: BALL).
- Representation of Deutsche Bank AG, as left lead arranger, administrative agent and lender, in connection with US$1.325 billion senior secured credit facilities provided to Playa Resorts Holding B.V. Playa (NASDAQ: PLYA).
- Representation of the co-investors in a Blackstone Credit & Insurance led investor consortium on a US$7 billion investment in Sempra Infrastructure Partners' Port Arthur LNG Phase 2.
- Representation of Citibank, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and HSBC, as Lenders, in connection with a senior unsecured term loan provided to Nubank (NYSE: NU). The financing involved a credit line in Mexican and Colombian pesos, in a total aggregate amount equivalent to US$650 million.
- Representation of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent and lead arranger in connection with the upsize and refinancing of US$2.45 billion senior secured facilities provided to DG Investment Intermediate Holdings 2, Inc.
- Representation of Jefferies LLC and other financial institutions, as joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, in connection with US$1.45 billion of senior secured credit facilities provided to Jefferies Finance LLC and JFIN Co-Issuer Corporation.
- Representation of HSBC Bank USA, N.A., as administrative agent and lead arranger, in connection with the US$950 million senior secured multi-currency credit facilities provided to Albaugh, LLC.
- Representation of the lead arrangers and administrative agent in connection with US$435 million in senior secured credit facilities provided to SmartBear, a provider of software development and quality tools.
- Representation of Barclays Bank PLC as administrative agent and lead arranger in connection with US$375 million senior secured credit facility provided to Ozark Holdings LLC.
- Representation of China Merchants Bank, New York Branch, as administrative agent and lead arranger in connection with US$400 million senior secured credit facilities provided to Global Logistic Properties.
- Representation of Bank of Communications New York Branch as lead lender in connection with US$360 million term loan facility provided to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
- Representation of Bank of China, New York Branch as lead lender in multiple bilateral and syndicated credit facilities.
- Representation of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, New York Branch as lender in multiple credit facilities and commercial paper programs.
Private Credit & Direct Lending
- Representation of a club of private credit lenders, as joint lead arrangers and lenders, in connection with US$862 million senior secured credit facilities provided to Royal Oak, in connection with its acquisition of Whole Earth Brands (NASDAQ: FREE).
- Representation of a private credit lender in connection with a US$323 million senior secured financing to a leading software company providing inventory management services to utilities industry.
- Representation of a private credit lender in connection with the US$300 million senior secured term loan facility provided to an aviation and aerospace component manufacturing company.
- Representation of a club of private credit lenders in connection with a US$190 million senior secured financing to enable a private equity firm to acquire a leading provider of STEM curriculum for the K-12 education.
- Representation of a private credit lender in connection with a US$155 million senior secured financing for a software company's recapitalization transaction.
- Representation of a club of private credit lenders, as joint lead arrangers and lenders, in connection with senior secured credit facilities provided to a global alternative asset manager for its significant equity investment in a market-leading programmatic advertising platform.
- Representation of a club of private credit lenders, as joint lead arrangers and lenders, in connection with senior secured credit facilities for a global asset manager's acquisition of a majority stake in a major U.S. utility services provider.
- Representation of the direct lending arm of a major investment bank, as administrative agent and lender in connection with a recurring revenue senior secured facility provided to a software company.
- Representation of a club of private credit lenders in connection with a senior secured financing to support a private equity firm's acquisition of an HOA management software company.
- Representation of an insurance company, as mezzanine lender in connection with the financing for a private equity firm's acquisition of a landscaping solutions company.
Borrower Finance
- Representation of MAXIMUS, Inc. as borrower, in connection with a US$2.1 billion secured credit facility to finance the acquisition of Veterans Evaluation Services, Inc. and refinance existing indebtedness of the company.
- Representation of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (NASDAQ: PPC), as borrower, in connection with the refinancing of its senior secured credit facilities totaling US$1.5 billion.
- Representation of Stone Point Capital, as sponsor, in connection with the financing for its acquisition of ECN Kessler Holdco LLC.
- Representation of Stone Point Capital's portfolio company, ComPsych Investments Corp. as borrower in connection with the refinancing of its senior secured credit facilities.
- Representation of Rapyd Financial Network as borrower, in connection with the financing for its acquisition of PayU Global Payment Organization in Latin America and Africa.
- Representation of J&F Investimentos, a subsidiary of JBS S.A., as borrower in connection with its secured credit facility.
- Representation of Vantage Data Centers, as borrower, in connection with multiple construction loan financings.
- Representation of Glass Routes, a portfolio company of Platform Investment Partners, as borrower in connection with its senior secured credit facility to finance its greenfield network buildout.
- Representation of Ethan Allen Global, Inc. (NYSE: ETD) as borrower, in connection with its US$125 million revolving credit facility.
- Representation of HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (NYSE: HASI) as issuer, in connection with its green commercial paper notes program.