“Chris Chubb is an ESOP Extraordinaire – From documenting a new ESOP formation through to complex seller note negotiations, he has been a tremendous partner to identify and avoid key risks in what is a very complex ownership structure”Legal 500 USA 2022
Overview
Christopher M. Chubb (“Chris”) is a Banking & Finance partner in Mayer Brown’s Chicago office. Chris focuses his practice on the representation of corporate and lending clients in connection with a broad range of finance transactions, including leveraged buyouts, working capital financings, cash flow and asset-based financings, add-on acquisitions, cross-border and multi-currency financings and debtor-in-possession financings. In addition, Chris has represented clients in a variety of specialty lending fields (including ESOP, gaming, health care and franchise lending, among others).
Chris represents lenders (including commercial finance institutions and national and regional banks), borrowers (including private equity funds and public and private companies) and general corporate clients. Chris is identified as a “Key lawyer” in Mayer Brown’s Commercial Lending practice by Legal 500 USA 2022 and as "provid[ing] strong levels of service" by Chambers USA 2023.
Areas of Focus
Experience
Finance – Lender Side
- Represented a global financial institution (i) as administrative agent, joint bookrunner and joint lead arranger, in providing a senior secured credit facility, consisting of a $100 million revolving credit facility and $350 million term loan facility, and (ii) as administrative agent, sole bookrunner and sole lead arranger, in its provision of a unsecured $90 million senior subordinated term loan facility to The Gorman-Rupp Company to finance the Borrower's acquisition of a fuel transfer business from Tuthill Corporation.
- Represented JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, swingline lender, and issuing bank in a $120 million credit facility to finance a minority investment by private equity in an ESOP-owned, global consulting firm.
- Represented Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and BofA Securities, Inc., as joint lead arranger, in connection with a senior syndicated five-year unsecured $500 million revolving credit facility with Skechers USA, Inc., a global footwear leader, which credit facility includes an accordion feature for up to an additional $250 million.
- Represented JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and joint lead arranger, and other lenders in connection with a multicurrency, five-year $150 million revolving credit facility with Beyond Meat, Inc., a plant-based meat producer. The revolving credit facility includes an accordion feature for up to an additional $200 million.
- Represented a major national bank as administrative agent in connection with a syndicated, multi-currency, senior unsecured $225 million credit facility to a public company that is a diversified producer of premium specialty papers for the tobacco industry.
- Represented a major national bank in connection with a $111 million revolving and term loan facility to the operator of a major regional trucking business and certain of its affiliates to fund a 100% ESOP buyout.
- Represented a major financial institution in connection with the refinancing of a $55 million revolving asset based loan to the operator of a chain of hardware stores and lumber yards with more than 120 stores in 15 states, which has been 100% owned by an ESOP for 30+ years.
- Represented a major national bank as administrative agent in connection with a $48.8 million revolving and term loan facility to a medical device manufacturer.
- Represented a major national bank as administrative agent in connection with a $47.5 million revolving and term loan facility to the family of companies comprising a major national moving and storage business to fund a 100% ESOP buyout.
- Represented a regional bank in connection with a $44 million revolving credit line for an affiliated group of mineral processors.
- Represented a major national bank as administrative agent in connection with a $40 million asset-based revolving credit facility to an online watch and jewelry retailer and negotiated a split first lien intercreditor agreement with the borrower’s term loan lender.
- Represented a national bank in connection with a $32 million revolving and term loan facility to a developer and manufacturer of adhesive-coated paper and film to fund a 100% ESOP buyout.
- Represented a major national bank as lender in connection with a senior secured $30 million asset based revolving credit facility to a call center operator with operations in the United States and the Philippines.
- Represented a major national bank in connection with a $23.7 million revolving and term loan facility to a leading visual merchandising company to fund a 100% ESOP buyout.
- Represented a major national bank in connection with a $19 million leverage backed acquisition of a logistics service provider to major grocery store chains by a private equity firm.
- Represented a major national bank in connection with a $19 million term and revolving credit facility to a regional school bus company.
- Represented a national bank in connection with a $16 million revolving loan facility to an auto parts reseller and its affiliated companies.
- Represented a major national bank in connection with a $12 million leverage backed acquisition of a manufacturer of generic drug products and skin creams by a private equity firm.
Finance – Borrower Side
- Represented a private equity fund in the leverage backed acquisition of a major American shoe company and its $65 million senior revolving and term loan facilities and $47.5 million subordinated term loan facility.
- Represented a private equity fund and its portfolio company, a system of anesthesiology practices, in connection with a year-end dividend recapitalization and a $31 million increase to their revolving and term loan facilities.
- Represented a private equity fund in the leverage backed acquisition of a major donut shop franchisee and its $29.75 million term and revolving credit facilities.
- Represented a purchaser of credit card receivables, its principals and affiliated companies in connection with a $26 million revolving loan facility.
- Represented an Illinois state-licensed Video Gaming Terminal Operator as borrower in connection with a $25 million term loan facility secured by all assets, including Video Gaming Terminals. Additionally, provided the borrower with gaming regulatory advice and representation in front of the Illinois Gaming Board in connection with the facility.
- Represented a private equity fund in the leveraged acquisition of a processor of dairy by-products, including $15.5 million of senior, mezzanine and junior unsecured debt.
General Corporate
- Represented Versa Capital Management, LLC in its purchase of substantially all of the assets of American Laser Centers, LLC in a 363 sale under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code.
- Represented ProLogis in its merger with AMB Property Corporation.
- Represented several clinical health care services providers in health care regulatory and general corporate matters.
- Represented several clinical health care services providers in multiple clinic, multi-state expansions.
- Represented a private equity fund in the divestiture of a specialty glass manufacturing portfolio company.
- Represented a snack food manufacturer in a sale of all of its assets to a strategic buyer.
Internship
- Intern, Judge Virginia M. Morgan, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, 2008.
Perspectives
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September 202023
Long-Term Debt Requirements Proposed for US Regional Banks
Global Financial Markets Podcast -
March 2020
United States: Lending and Secured Finance Country Comparative Guide
The Legal 500 Country Comparative Guides
Education
University of Michigan, BA
University of Michigan Law School, JD, cum laude
Admissions
- Illinois
- Recognized as "provid[ing] strong levels of service" by Chambers USA 2023.
- Identified as a “Key lawyer” in Mayer Brown’s Commercial Lending practice by Legal 500 USA 2022
- Member, Winning Team, “M&A Deal of the Year (Over $1 Billion to $5 Billion)” for Platform Specialty Products Corporation (f/k/a Platform Acquisition Holdings Limited) acquisition of MacDermid, Incorporated and related entities, The M&A Advisor’s 6th Annual International M&A Awards, 2014
- Member, Winning Team, “Private Equity Turnaround of the Year” for the Chapter 11 reorganization and acquisition of American Laser Skincare LLC, Global M&A Network’s Turnaround Atlas Award, 2012