Smridhi Gulati

Partner

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

T +44 20 7184 7867 | F +44 20 7184 7001

[email protected]

Services

Banking and Financial Institutions > Corporate > Leveraged Finance > Life Sciences >

Smridhi Gulati focuses her practice on corporate and securities matters, with particular emphasis on acquisition finance, leveraged finance and general banking work.

Ms. Gulati advises UK and international lenders, including direct lending funds, banks and other financial institutions, as well as private equity sponsors and corporates on a variety of UK and cross-border acquisition finance and corporate lending transactions, including bilateral, club and global syndicated lending for private equity backed , management buy-outs, , and refinancing and restructurings of leveraged assets.

In the 2021 edition of Chambers UK, Ms. Gulati is described as being “well versed on UK mid- market sponsor buyouts on both the lender and borrower sides" and “efficient, hands-on, brilliant technically and a very good all-round lawyer with good commercial knowledge.” In the 2018 edition of Chambers UK, she is described as "very user-friendly and very commercial in her responses." The 2017 edition of The Legal 500 UK recommends her work in acquisition finance and clients note she is "proactive, knowledgeable and commercial." Ms. Gulati has been named on Law.com International’s Rising Stars list for 2021, which recognizes the UK's best up-and- coming women lawyers. She has also been named on the 2020 HERoes Women Future Leaders list, which celebrates inspirational women who are making a significant contribution to gender diversity at work.

Prior to joining Dechert, Ms. Gulati served as a senior associate at another international law firm where she focused on debt finance. While there, Ms. Gulati spent time on secondment to UBS AG and Lloyds Banking Group. EXPERIENCE

Shawbrook Bank on a unitranche financing package provided to support Ambienta SGR S.p.A’s investment in the Collingwood Lighting Group. Kartesia on its provision of a senior debt financing package to the Kallidus Group backed by Apse Capital, to provide for the continued growth and development of Kallidus and to support the acquisition of Sapling Inc. Advanced Oncotherapy plc in connection with its strategic funding partnership and debt facility with Nerano Pharma. Shawbrook Bank on its provision of a committed and uncommitted unitranche financing package to support Palatine Private Equity’s investment in the Acora Group, a leading provider of IT support and cloud solutions. 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. Ares Management Limited and National Westminster Bank plc on the provision of a financing package for the MBO of AgriBriefing (a Horizon Capital Investment). Ares Management Limited and Barclays Bank PLC in connection with their provision of debt financing to support Dobbies Garden Centres acquisition of a portfolio of 31 garden centres and related businesses from Wyevale Garden Centres. 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. Quorn Foods (Marlow Foods) on a senior unsecured financing package entered into with a syndicate of banks to refinance certain of Quorn’s existing financing arrangements. Ares Management Limited on the provision of a financing package in excess of £1bn to refinance the Daisy Group’s existing financing arrangements and fund the of certain investors in the Daisy Group. Clanwilliam Group on negotiating the financing package provided by Alcentra Limited. Ares Management Limited and Barclays Bank PLC on Ares’ provision of debt financing to support Dobbies Garden Centres’ acquisition of a portfolio of garden centres and related businesses from Wyevale Garden Centres. Ares Management Limited on its provision of financing support to Midlothian Capital Partners and a consortium of investors to acquire HB Education Limited (the holding company for PGL). Centaur Media plc on the financing package provided by Lloyds Bank plc and Royal Bank of Scotland plc. 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. 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 on their provision of a senior financing package to the Gedesco Group. Quilvest Private Equity on the acquisition of global specialist recruitment firm Phaidon International. PwC as administrators of Lehman Brothers Limited in connection with £10 billion of potential liabilities as a result of a shareholding in an unlimited company, intercompany debts and pension debt. Alcentra and Royal Bank of Scotland plc on their provision of a unitranche and super senior financing package to the Lawyers on Demand Group (a Bowmark Capital investment). Ares Management Limited on their provision of a unitranche debt financing package to the Right Choice Brokers Group (a Lloyds Development Capital minority investment). CVC Credit Partners and EQT Credit as mandated lead arrangers in connection with the provision of senior and subordinated financing facilities to the Paymentsense Group. Ares Management Limited and Royal Bank of Scotland plc on their provision of a senior debt financing package to support Phoenix Equity Partners acquisition of a majority stake in the Forest Holidays Group. Ares Management Limited and HSBC Bank plc on their provision of a senior debt financing package to support the Medivet Group, in which Inflexion Partnership Capital has a minority investment. Ares Management Limited on the provision of their financing package in support of MxP Partners LLP's buyout of the pub group, Amber Taverns Group. Ares Management Limited and Royal Bank of Scotland plc on the provision of their financing package in support of Midlothian Capital Partners and a consortium of investors, in partnership with co-founder Miles Dewhurst and the management team, agreement to acquire Park Leisure 2000 Limited, the UK’s leading luxury holiday park operator. Ares Management Limited and HSBC Bank plc on their provision of additional unitranche and senior financing facilities to the Ocorian Group. British contemporary fashion brand Whistles on their debt restructuring and The Foschini Group's (TFG) acquisition of a substantial majority shareholding in the Whistles Group.

Includes matters handled at Dechert or prior to joining the firm.

EDUCATION

Nottingham Law School, LL.B., 2003, Honors Nottingham Law School, LL.M., Corporate Law, 2004, Commendation Nottingham Law School, Legal Practice Course, 2005, Commendation

ADMISSIONS

England and Wales

LANGUAGES English Hindi

MEMBERSHIPS

The Law Society Solicitors Regulation Authority