Christian Brose Partner

Experience

Christian regularly advises a leading financial institution in its capacity as lead arranger in connection with syndicated financings in the waste and recycling industry, including with respect to the following:

• $3.5 billion senior revolving credit facility for the industry’s largest player in the U.S.;
• $2.25 billion senior revolving credit facility for the industry’s second largest player in the U.S.;
• $1.3 billion senior secured credit facilities for the largest waste to energy company in the U.S.;
• $2.5 billion senior secured credit facilities for a leading specialist in biohazardous medical waste disposal; and
• $550 million senior secured credit facilities for a regional solid waste services and recycling company.

Christian also routinely represents several large financial institutions in connection with food and beverage lending transactions. Recent representative transactions include the following:

• $2 billion senior secured revolving credit facility for one of the largest privately held spirits companies in the U.S.;
• $300 million senior secured revolving credit facility for a leading producer and supplier of premium distilled spirits and specialty wheat proteins and starches;
• $450 million senior secured credit facilities to West Coast-based beer distributor;
• $135 million senior secured credit facilities to leading brewer of craft beer, cider and seltzer; and
• $90 million senior secured revolving credit facility for regional supermarket chain.

Christian has documented hundreds of transactions in this area including facilities for distillers, brewers, beer and soft drink distributors, food distributors and manufacturers, restaurant franchisors and franchisees, grocery store chains and seafood companies.

Christian regularly serves as counsel to a major institutional investor on junior capital transactions, including second lien credit facilities, mezzanine note purchases and holding company note issuances. A few recent transactions include:

• $24.5 million senior subordinated note issuance to finance the acquisition of a pet food manufacturer by a private equity fund;
• $20 million senior subordinated note issuance to finance the acquisition of a pool supplies manufacturer by a private equity fund;
• C$18.5 million second lien term loan facility to finance the acquisition of a dental practice management group by a private equity fund and related add on financings used to acquire additional practices; and
• $11 million holdco note issuance to finance the acquisition of a fire protection services company by a private equity fund.

Balancing his experience representing debt capital providers, Christian represents certain sponsors and their portfolio companies in obtaining financing. A few representative matters include:

• Representation of private equity fund in establishing a credit facility in support of its acquisition of an aviation services company. This transaction was one of at least seven debt financing transactions where Christian has represented this sponsor or its portfolio companies; and
• Representation of private equity fund in leveraged ESOP recapitalization of leading provider of barricade systems, graphic displays and related services. This is one of many ESOP recapitalizations that Christian has documented in the last several years.