Martin Forbes
Biography
Overview
Martin is a partner of the Firm's Debt Finance Group in London. His practice focusses primarily on advising private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies and other borrowers. He also advises banks and alternative capital providers.
Clients benefit from Martin's contribution to the Firm's leading US/European leveraged finance product platform. This combines sophisticated finance support with the English, US and local law capability already provided by the Firm in all the major jurisdictions in which private equity firms invest or raise finance.
Experience
Ali Group, 2021
Representation of Ali Group, one of the largest and most diversified global leaders in the foodservice equipment industry, in connection with its US$4.8 billion acquisition of Welbilt, Inc., a US public company.
Oatly, 2021
Representation of Oatly, a Swedish vegan food brand, in connection with its SEK3.6 billion sustainability-linked financing provided by a club consisting of several Nordic / European banks, prior to Oatly's US$10 billion initial public offering and listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The financing is framed by sustainability targets.
CVC Capital Partners, 2021
Representation of CVC Growth, an affiliate of CVC Capital Partners, in relation to its acquisition of a majority stake in Unily, a leading employee experience platform.
Cerba, 2021
Representation of the mandated lead arrangers including Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Natixis, UBS and JP Morgan in connection with the loan and bond financing for the acquisition by EQT and PSP Investments of Cerba HealthCare and the subsequent acquisition of Lifebrain by Cerba HealthCare. The financing included €1.875bn term loan B facilities, €720m senior secured notes, €525m senior unsecured notes and €400m revolving credit facilities.
Mehiläinen, 2021
Representation of Mehiläinen, a Finnish health services provider, and its majority-owner CVC Capital Partners on the issuance of an ESG linked incremental facility worth €1.06 billion.
IMA, 2020
Representation of BC Partners LLP and SOFIMA on the €1.25 billion high yield bond and €400 million debt facilities for the acquisition of IMA S.p.A., an Italian publicly-traded company and world leader in the design and production of automatic machines for the processing and packaging of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, tea, coffee and tobacco, including through a public takeover offer. The transaction values the equity of IMA at approximately €2.93 billion.
Swissport, 2020
Representation of Swissport, a multinational cargo/airport ground services provider, on their debt restructuring and new financing process including a new €500 million term loan facility and up to €200 million revolving facility.
Fat Face, 2020
Representation of Fat Face, a British lifestyle clothing and accessories retailer, on the arranging and implementation of their post-restructuring debt facilities, including a senior facility, PIK facility and various ancillary facilities.
Colisée, 2020
Representation of Societe Generale as agent and security agent and Credit Suisse International, BNP Paribas, Societe Generale and Barclay Bank PLC as arrangers, as well as other lenders in connection with EQT Infrastructure's acquisition of the Coliseé group, a leading operator of nursing home facilities, based in France, from IK Investment Partners.
Alvogen, 2020
Representation of Alvogen, a global generic pharmaceuticals business, on the sale of its CEE Business to Zentiva, an international pharmaceutical company based in Prague which is owned by Advent.
Recordati, 2018
Representation of CVC Capital Partners on the €3.4 billion bridge to bond facilities and €250 million revolving credit facilities, for its acquisition from the Recordati family of the holding company that owns a 51.8 percent stake in the Italian pharmaceutical group Recordati and subsequent public takeover offer for the remaining shares.
Cherry AB, 2019
Representation of a consortium including Bridgepoint on the debt financing for a $1 billion (SEK 9.2 billion) public takeover offer for Cherry AB, a Sweden-based gaming company.
Melita Limited, 2019
Representation of the arrangers including Credit Suisse and HSBC in relation to EQT's acquisition of leading Maltese telecom operator Melita Limited.
Mehiläinen, 2018
Representation of CVC Capital Partners on the €810 million senior loan facilities and €200 million second lien facility for its acquisition of the Mehiläinen Group, the Finnish healthcare group.
SUSE, 2018
Representation of JP Morgan Chase, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs and Jefferies as mandated lead arrangers in connection with the senior debt financing for EQT's acquisition of SUSE, an international software solutions provider. The transaction included a €675 million covenant lite TLB and an $81 million revolving credit facility.
Zenith, 2017
Representation of Bridgepoint on its £425 million term loan B financing (and £110 million undrawn facilities) for the acquisition of Zenith, a Swiss luxury watchmaker.
