Biography
Benton Lewis is a partner in Weil’s Banking & Finance practice and is based in New York. His practice focuses on financing transactions of all types, including acquisition financings, asset-based working capital financings, debtor-in-possession financings, exit financings and workouts and debt restructurings.
Benton has advised leading private equity sponsors, including Advent International, Berkshire Partners, Brookfield Business Partners, Centerbridge Partners, CVC Capital Partners, Genstar Capital Partners, Providence Equity Partners, PSG, Susquehanna Growth Equity, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Trive Capital.
Benton is recognized as a “Rising Star” for Banking in the U.S. by IFLR1000. He was also named a 2018 “On the Rise” lawyer by Texas Lawyer and recognized as a 2018, 2017 and 2016 “Rising Star” in Banking by Texas Super Lawyers*.
Experience
- J.Crew Group, Inc. in its $2.086 billion debt exchange, debtor–in-possession facility and exit term loan and revolving financings
- Advent International in its investments in:
- Xplor Technologies
- Orveon Global
- RxBenefits, Inc.
- Clearent LLC
- Syneos
- ATI Physical Therapy
- Noosa Yoghurt
- Culligan International Company
- RGL Reservoir Management Inc.
- Cotiviti
- Serta Simmons Bedding
- Oxea
- Brookfield Business Partners in its investment in Westinghouse Electric Company
- Centerbridge Partners in its investments in
- True Food Kitchen
- KIK Custom Products
- IPC Systems
- P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, Inc.
- Dayforce, Inc. (f/k/a Ceridian HCM Holding Inc.) in a $1 billion senior secured term loan and revolving facility
- Providence Equity Partners in its investments in:
- Accelerate Learning
- Sweetwater Sound, Inc.
- 365 Retail Markets
- TAIT
- DoubleVerify
- Topgolf,
- Learfield
- Tempo Music.
- PSG in its investments in Backlight, Dental Intelligence, Inc., DoseSpot, Fidelity, Formstack, INE, Kantola Training Solutions, LLC, LegitScript, Meal Ticket, mPulse, Netsurion, Next Glass, NXTSoft, Patient Now, Patron Technology, Quilt, School Status, Searchspring, Shootproof, Singlewire Software, ThreatConnect, Traliant, Tribute Technology and Yottaa
- THL Partners in its investments in:
- Standish
- inVentiv Health
- Ceridian
- Acosta
- Intermedix
- Simmons Bedding Company
- TPG Growth in its investments in:
- Keter Environmental Services
- Morrow Sodali
- Powerscourt Limited and Powerscourt Financial Media Limited
- TPG Pace Holdings Corp., a SPAC sponsored by TPG Global, in financing relating to its acquisition of Accel Entertainment, Inc.
- Trive Capital in its investments in:
- Little Woodrow’s
- Choice Health at Home
- NCB Management Services, Inc.
- California Brazing
- Earthlink
- Florida Spine & Joint Institute
- Picturehead Holdings
- Valor Healthcare
- Susquehanna Growth Equity in its investments in:
- Real Capital Analytics, Inc.
- MediSpend
- United Talent Agency, LLC in its approximately $1.1 billion senior secured term loan and revolving facility to finance the acquisition of Representatives Of Outstanding Footballers
- Clearhaven Partners in its investment in Wowza Media Systems, LLC
- Searchlight Capital in its investment in Shift4 Payments LLC
- EQT Infrastructure in its investment in WASH Multifamily Laundry Systems, LLC
- Berkshire Partners in its investments in:
- National Vision
- Grocery Outlet Inc.
- Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Agiliti, Inc. in its merger with affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P in a transaction that implies an enterprise value of approximately $2.5 billion
- Topgolf International, Inc. in its credit facilities and in its merger with Callaway Golf Company
- GameStop Corp. in connection with its secured debt exchange and its asset-based credit facility
- Claire’s Stores, Inc. in its asset-based revolving credit facility, exit financing and debtor-in-possession financing
- CHC Group LLC in exit facilities to finance operations following its bankruptcy proceedings
- Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation in its $1.8 billion exit financing facility
- ATI Physical Therapy Inc. (a publicly traded company backed by Advent International) in its incremental second lien secured subordinated facility
Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Guides and Resources, Firm News & Announcements, Latest Thinking
Awards and Recognition
- Benton Lewis Receives 2024 Law360 Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing Award Brief — The Burton Awards for Legal Achievement
- Benton Lewis Recognized as a “Rising Star” for Banking in the U.S. Award Brief — IFLR1000
- Benton Lewis Shortlisted for “Best in Banking & Finance” Award Brief — Euromoney Legal Media Group Americas Rising Star Awards 2019
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil Advises Astorg in $282M Take-Private Acquisition of Hamilton Thorne and Concurrent Acquisition of Cook Medical Reproductive Health Deal Brief — December 03, 2024
- Weil Advises PSG and mPulse on Acquisition of Zipari Deal Brief — September 12, 2024
Latest Thinking
- 2023 Going Private Study Alert — By Christopher R. Machera, Craig W. Adas, Robert Rizzo, James R. Griffin, Sachin Kohli, Brittany Butwin, Douglas P. Warner, Courtney S. Marcus, Evert J. Christensen, Benton Lewis, Dorothy Coco, Parker D. Collins, Matthew S. Connors, Geoff Greenspoon, Jason Klig, Robert Sevalrud and Honghu Wang — PDF — January 29, 2024
- The Rise of Private Credit & Its Impact on Acquisition Dynamics Publication — Bloomberg Law — By Benton Lewis, Christopher R. Machera and Samantha Anne Patel — September 15, 2023