Johnson Winter & Slattery is engaged by major businesses, investment funds and government agencies as legal counsel on important transactions and disputes throughout Australia and surrounding regions.
We are continually evolving and adapting our diversity and inclusion programs to better support our people, clients and communities.
Our news and media coverage including major transaction announcements, practitioner appointments and team expansions.
We support a number of community initiatives and not for profit organisations across Australia through pro bono legal work and charitable donations.
Our firm provides a diverse range of opportunities for talented, enthusiastic people to develop brilliant legal careers.
Our debt finance team is strategically positioned to focus on the finance needs of Australian corporate borrowers.
We are unique in having top tier finance capability without the constraints imposed through panel relationships with Australia’s major trading banks. While bank panel commitments can give rise to conflicts of interest which may affect the willingness of panel firms to act assertively in commercial negotiations with banks, we are not constrained by:
Our clients include significant entities listed on the ASX or other major international stock exchanges, as well as large private or unlisted companies and trusts. The breadth of our borrower focussed practice ensures we are cognisant of current market practices and the expectations of major lenders.
Our experience covers the full spectrum of debt finance work, including:
We are experienced in major bank debt and capital markets raisings in the Australian, US and European markets, and have strong relationships with leading firms in those jurisdictions.
In workouts and restructurings, our debt finance partners work closely with our specialist insolvency and restructuring partners to provide an integrated, cross-disciplinary team with the full range of skills which may be required.
Advised on the refinancing of Adelaide Brighton’s senior club facilities totalling AUD900 million.
Advised AGN on its approximately AUD1.8 billion secured debt program, which includes credit wrapped notes, MTNs, syndicated and bi-lateral facilities and FX and interest rate hedging arrangements.
Advised on its successful bid to acquire Enwave Australia from Brookfield Infrastructure Partners. Negotiated a debt finance package from a syndicate of banks to refinance the Enwave Australia existing debt and partially fund the acquisition of the group.
Advising on all Australian aspects of its financing for its acquisition of Emergent Cold, comprising US term loan B and asset backed loan facilities with an incremental loan being raised to partly fund acquisition of Emergent Cold. Advised on the financing for its purchase of five separate cold storage facilities from US private equity group Blackstone.
Advised Potentia in relation to the senior facilities provided by Tanarra Capital and Challenger to finance Potentia’s acquisition of the electronics payment business PC-EFTPOS.
Advising Illion in relation to its ongoing debt facilities including in relation to Macquarie Capital’s investment in 2020.
Advising on all debt matters both as lender and as borrower, including structuring and managing complex mezzanine and joint venture structures to facilitate significant debt and equity investments.
Advising on all financing matters including in relation to its off-market bid for Automotive Holdings Group.
Advising on its acquisition financing requirements and its portfolio companies’ debt financing requirements.
Advising in relation to its note purchase facilities for its acquisition of PageUp People.
Acting as Australian counsel to the client as second lien lender supporting KKR’s A$2 billion bid to acquire the publicly listed MYOB.
Advising on its common terms for bank debt and all other financing requirements including recent refinancings and issuance of USPP.
Advising on its debt and derivative transactions including the addition of A$650 million in credit lines for working capital management and planned growth opportunities, a new project financing facility and proposed IPO-related senior debt.
Advising senior and mezzanine lenders financing EMR and Adaro consortium’s US$2.25 billion acquisition of the Kestrel Coal Mine from Rio.
Advising on its senior bank syndicated facilities and subordinated loan note facilities.
Advising on its core debt requirements, including the refinancing by Deutsche Bank of senior facilities previously put in place in connection with its takeover by General Finance Corporation.
Ranked as a leading firm for banking & finance: acquisition finance law
Ranked as leading firm for banking & finance: corporate finance law
"The firm has exceptional capabilities in the loan refinancings sphere. I think, overall, Johnson Winter & Slattery were very professional and assisted us to achieve a highly unlikely but very desired outcome. I was very impressed with the quality of their advice and service"
David Beckett is praised by clients for his "experience and wealth of technical knowledge" as well as his ability to "verbalise complicated technical issues and convey them in an easily digestible manner"
"Exceptional expertise in acting for borrower clients"
"They've been great and have met all our expectations. Their fantastic consistency and depth of knowledge have allowed us to work with them as if they were in-house"
The status of power of attorney clauses and “step-in rights” provisions under the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 (Cth) (PPSA) remains an issue.
With significant regulatory change coming into effect the spotlight is staying firmly on culture, ethics and regulatory compliance. An organisation’s social licence to operate remains a priority...
Johnson Winter & Slattery (JWS) is advising GFG Alliance on the addition of A$650 million in credit lines for working capital management and planned growth opportunities.