James Simpson

James Simpson

Counsel, London

Overview

Education and qualifications

Overview

James has extensive experience representing private equity firms, corporate issuers and investment banks in connection with high yield bond offerings and acquisition financings as well as private placements of debt securities, tender offers and other liability management exercises.

James has advised on a number of notable high yield bond transactions, including: 

Work highlights 
    • Representing the shareholders of The LYCRA Company and certain other investors on the refinancing of the company’s senior secured notes due 2023 through a “drop-down” financing transaction and a subsequent settlement transaction. The refinancing combined elements of “drop-down” and “double dip” structures and represented one of the most innovative high yield refinancing transactions in the European market to date.
  • Representing Haya Real Estate, one of the leading real estate servicing companies and the largest bank-independent third-party servicer of real estate developer loans and real estate owned assets in Spain, in connection with its financial recapitalisation which was implemented by way of a UK scheme of arrangement. The recapitalisation included a partial redemption and exchange of the company’s existing senior secured fixed and floating rate notes for €368.4 million of new floating rate notes maturing in 2025 and noteholders also received a combined 27.5% equity interest in the group.
  • Representing the initial purchasers in connection with Carlyle’s acquisition of Hexaware, a leading global provider of digital, IT and business transformation services, which was financed with $1.01 billion of high yield bonds. The transaction was the first ever bridge to bond financing for an Indian LBO and the largest Indian LBO to date
  • Representing the initial purchasers in connection with United Group’s acquisition of Wind Hellas, a leading telecommunications provider in Greece, which was financed with €980 million of high yield bonds

Education and qualifications

James studied Law with German Law at King’s College London.

Country/countries of admission: England and Wales, New York.