Philip Butler

Partner

London | 160 Queen Victoria Street, London, UK EC4V 4QQ

T +44 20 7184 7442 | F +44 20 7184 7001

[email protected]

Services

Global Finance > Leveraged Finance > Private Equity >

Financial Services and Investment Management > >

Life Sciences >

Philip Butler has more than two decades of experience structuring and negotiating a broad range of finance transactions. Mr. Butler advises domestic and international clients on the implementation of all elaborate debt structures and “is a leading mid-market leveraged finance practitioner” (The Legal 500 UK 2017). Mr. Butler regularly represents banks, corporates, funds, lenders, sponsors and syndicates on issues arising across an array of industries, including healthcare, life sciences, energy, manufacturing, financial services, leisure and information technology.

Mr. Butler is routinely ranked as a leading practitioner (Chambers UK 2017) and is noted as being a "skilled and very technical banking lawyer". In the 2021 edition of Chambers UK, he is described as “an experienced adviser to both lenders and borrowers on domestic and cross- border financings”, who gives "a very strong performance on the financing side." In the 2019 edition of Chambers UK, he was ranked under band 2 for banking and finance, where clients note that "he has a very commercial bent, sticks to the key points and he is all about getting the job done efficiently". He has also been listed in Chambers Europe and Chambers Global, 2019, for banking and finance. Praised by peers and clients alike for being “enormously experienced and deeply knowledgeable,” and having the ability to "balance detail and understanding of complexity with commerciality", Mr. Butler is regularly featured in The Legal 500 UK for acquisition finance and bank lending: investment grade debt and syndicated loans. In The Legal 500 UK, 2018, Mr Butler is noted for having a "very strong reputation" for mid-market work in the burgeoning direct lending space. Prior to joining Dechert, Mr. Butler was a partner in the London office of another international law firm where he served as global co-chair of the financial services sector and previous head of the London and UK finance practices.

EXPERIENCE

Barings Asset Management on a unitranche financing package to support the acquisition by a UK private equity house of an outsourcing business. Acting for first out/last out lenders on a senior financing package to support the refinancing of the Dental Care Group. Ares Management Limited and National Westminster Bank plc on their provision of a unitranche/super senior financing package to the Just Childcare Group to support Just Childcare’s buy and build strategy. Phenna Group on financing and tax matters relating to their MBO of the Phenna Group from Academy Association Inc., supported by a debt placement by CVC Credit Partners. Ares Management Limited on the provision of a financing package to refinance the Daisy Group’s existing financing arrangements and fund the of certain investors in the Daisy Group. Clanwilliam Group on negotiating a financing package provided by Alcentra Limited. Ares Management Limited on their provision of a financing package to support Phoenix Equity Partners acquisition of a majority stake in Nexus Vehicle Rentals Group from Bowmark Capital. Ares Management Limited and Barclays Bank PLC on Ares’ provision of a financing to the Bellevue Schools Group. CVC Credit Partners on their provision of a senior financing package to the Gedesco Group. Alcentra Limited and Royal Bank of Scotland plc on their provision of financing to the Lawyers on Demand Group to support its acquisition and future growth (a Bowmark investment). Ares Management Limited and Royal Bank of Scotland plc on their provision of a senior debt financing package to support the acquisition of a majority stake in the Forest Holidays Group (a Phoenix Partners investment). GBT on the financing of the acquisition of the Hogg Robinson Group. CIT Group Inc. on the sale of its Paris-based European rail leasing subsidiary group Nacco to German-based VTG Aktiengesellschaft for US$1.05 billion. CVC Credit Partners and HSBC Bank plc on their provision of unitranche and super senior revolving facilities to BP Inv3 Bidco Limited in relation to its acquisition of the TWMA Group (a Buckthorn Partners LLP investment). HIG White Horse on its provision of financing to the Primesight Group to support its further growth (a GMT communications investment). Alcentra Limited on its provision of financing to the Investis Group to support its further growth (an ECI investment). Ares Management Limited on its provision of financing to the RSK Group. CORDET Capital and Ture Invest AB on their provision of financing to the UC Group to refinance its existing facilities and support its growth. SMBC, Park Square Capital, Ares Management Limited, CVC Credit Partners and HSBC Bank plc on their provision of financing to the Wireless Logic Group to refinance its existing facilities and support its future growth (a CVC Capital investment). Ares Management Limited on its provision of financing to the RCIB Group to support its acquisition and future growth (an LDC minority investment).

EDUCATION

Queen Mary & Westfield College, University of London, Law & Politics (Upper Second)

ADMISSIONS

England and Wales

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

PDI Forum 2017 - London (November, 2017)