Danek A. Freeman

Biography

DANEK FREEMAN
Danek is a partner in Weil’s Banking and Finance practice and is based in New York.

Danek represents clients in a wide range of complex financing transactions and coordinates the firm’s fund finance practice.

Danek specifically focuses on lending transactions involving diversified asset managers, investment funds and leading financial institutions to provide specialized financing advice required by these clients. He regularly works with clients to develop and negotiate innovative financing structures while navigating the complex legal and business environment in which these organizations operate.

Representations include asset managers and investment funds in a variety of fund financing transactions, including subscription lines, NAV facilities and margin lending as well clients in acquisition financings, syndicated and direct lending transactions and distressed debt and restructuring matters.

Recent clients include Brookfield Asset Management, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Partners, Mudrick Capital, PSP Credit Investments and Searchlight Capital.  

Danek is recognized as a “Highly Regarded” lawyer for Banking in the U.S. by IFLR1000.

Experience

Investment Funds

  • Guggenheim Partners Investment Management in connection with various senior secured credit facilities
  • Brookfield Asset Management in subscription, NAV and secondaries account secured credit facilities for various of its infrastructure, reals estate and credit investment funds
  • JLL Partners in various financing transactions
  • Amherst Holdings in various financing transactions
  • HNA Group Co. Ltd. in a margin loan facility to finance its $6.5 billion acquisition of a 25% stake in Hilton Inc., Park Hotels & Resorts Inc. and Hilton Grand Vacations Inc.

Direct Lending

  • Highbridge, as lender and holder, in connection with its first lien term loan for Senseonics Holdings, Inc. and related exchange by Senseonics of outstanding senior convertible notes for second lien secured notes, shares of common stock and warrants
  • Public Sector Pension Investment Board, as lender and collateral agent, in connection with a senior secured term loan facility for D-Wave Quantum Inc.
  • PSP Investments Credit USA, as a lender or holder in various senior and junior priority leveraged debt financings
  • Apollo Global Management and Guggenheim Partners, as lenders, in $285 million first lien credit facilities for Alion Science and Technology Corporation

Syndicated Lending

  • Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, as administrative agent, in a $223 million senior unsecured term facility for Howmet Aerospace Inc.
  • Citi, as lead arranger and administrative agent, in a $3 billion revolving credit facility for Arconic Inc.
  • J.P. Morgan, as sole lead arranger and administrative agent, in a $5 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility for Microsoft Corporation

Acquisition Finance

  • Citi, as administrative agent and sole lead arranger, in a bridge facility for FMC Corporation to finance its $1.8 billion acquisition of Cheminova A/S
  • Citi, as administrative agent and joint lead arranger, in a $1.5 billion senior unsecured revolving facility for Howmet Aerospace Inc. to finance its spin-off from Arconic Inc. 
  • Morgan Stanley in providing committed bridge financing for BGC Partners Inc. in its $675 million hostile offer for rival GFI Group

Restructuring and Special Situations

  • Core Scientific, Inc., a blockchain infrastructure and mining company, in connection with its debtor-in-possession financing and subsequent senior secured exit term loan facilities upon emerging from chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings
  • Alaska Air Group, Inc., in a $1.928 billion senior secured term facility under the CARES Act
  • Guggenheim Partners, as secured lender and equity holder, in connection with the chapter 11 cases and in the sale of BCBG Max Azria Group, Inc. to Global Brands Group Holding Ltd. and Marquee Brands LLC
  • SunEdison, Inc. (liabilities of $16.1 billion) - official Committee of Unsecured Creditors in the chapter 11 cases of leading solar power company

Awards and Recognition, Firm News & Announcements

Awards and Recognition

Firm News & Announcements