Biography
Matt Benson is a partner in the European restructuring team.
Matt’s practice covers both creditor-side and debtor-side mandates across a number of industries and sectors, including mining, energy and resources, manufacturing, agriculture, financial services, retail and education as well as sovereign debt. He also handles stressed, distressed and special situation financings. Matt’s clients include leading international funds and intermediaries and he has worked on a range of complex multi-jurisdictional restructuring transactions.
Before joining Weil, Matt was part of the restructuring practice of another major international law firm.
Representative Matters:
- Advising the ad hoc group of Supporting Creditors in relation to the global restructuring of McDermott International.
- Advising an ad hoc group of noteholders of Ideal Standard’s senior secured notes due 2026 in relation to its Exchange Offer, Consent Solicitation and Scheme Solicitation
- Advising an ad hoc group of bondholders on Worldwide Flight Services (“WFS”) tender offer
- Advising an ad hoc group of noteholders in relation to the consensual recapitalisation and financial restructuring of Frigoglass S.A.I.C and the group of companies formerly controlled by it (the “Frigoglass Group”)
- Scandinavian Airline, SAS on its debt restructuring
- Advising an ad hoc group of secured lenders to the world’s largest regional aircraft lessor, Nordic Aviation Capital, in relation to its restructuring by way of chapter 11 proceedings
- Advising a consortium of minority equity investors in Dream Cruises Holdings Limited, a large cruise ship operator based in Asia, in connection with its and its parents’, Genting Hong Kong Limited, multi-jurisdictional restructuring and recapitalization
- Advising OneWeb on its investment along with Bharti Global to provide more than $1bn to acquire OneWeb and fund the full restart of its business operations
- Construction and Civil Engineering Company, Obrascón Huarte Lain SA by way of English law scheme of arrangement
- Europe’s largest cinema operator, Odeon Cinemas (part of the AMC Entertainment Group), in relation to the Group’s financial difficulties and the refinancing of its European business
- Galapagos Group, a German industrials business, involving a distressed disposal of the group implemented through an enforcement sale in Luxembourg, advising an ad hoc group of senior bondholders*
- Global group of bondholders on the restructuring of The Republic of Mozambique’s Eurobonds*
- Ad hoc group of bondholders on the restructuring of the Norske Skog group, a paper manufacturer with global operations*
- Ad hoc group of senior creditors of Noble, a Singapore listed commodities trader, on the group's new financing and debt for equity swap, involving parallel schemes of arrangement in the United Kingdom and Bermuda, and a "light touch" Bermuda provisional liquidation*
- Ad hoc group of bondholders on the restructuring of Frigoglass, a Greek-listed glass and refrigeration business, involving a new capital injection and debt-for-equity swap implemented through a scheme of arrangement in the U.K.*
- Ad hoc group of bondholders on various aspects of the restructuring and asset disposal program in respect of Norwegian law bonds issued by OSX 3 Leasing BV, a Dutch E&P company with key assets located in Brazil, and associated restructuring of Brazilian listed E&P operator Dommo Energia SA*
* Experience gained at previous firm
Latest Thinking, Firm News & Announcements
Latest Thinking
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The Weil European Distress Index
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Andrew J. Wilkinson,
Neil Devaney,
Matt Benson,
Jenny Davidson,
Lois Deasey,
Mark Lawford,
Gemma Sage,
Anne-Sophie Noury,
Céline Domenget-Morin and
Britta Grauke
— April 11, 2024
Corporates across Europe have experienced an increase in distress levels during the first quarter of 2024, as highlighted by the latest Weil European Distress Index. Analysing data from over 3,750 listed corporates and financial market indicators, the Index reveals heightened vulnerability amongst industries which are capital-intensive and highly leveraged. This trend underscores the varied impact of ...
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Weil Represents Ad Hoc Group of Supporting Creditors in McDermott Group Part 26A Restructuring Plan Sanctioned by High Court Today
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Matt Benson,
Nick Fortune,
Kyle McLachlan,
Malina Tatarova and
Peter Hession
— February 27, 2024
The High Court of Justice has today sanctioned the financial restructuring of CB&I UK Limited by way of a Restructuring Plan under Part 26A of the Companies Act 2006. CB&I UK Limited is an English subsidiary of the McDermott Group, a global provider of engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry, headquartered in Houston, ...
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Weil Advises on Ideal Standard Exchange Offer
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Matt Benson,
Fergus Kent and
Angus Napier
— September 15, 2023
LONDON, September 15, 2023: Weil advised an ad-hoc group of noteholders of Ideal Standard’s €325,000,000 6.375% senior secured notes due 2026 in relation to its Exchange Offer, Consent Solicitation and Scheme Solicitation launched on August 15, 2023 (the “Exchange Offer”). Ideal Standard is a leading manufacturer of bathroom products in Europe and MENA, providing a broad ...
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Galapagos Group Restructuring Prevails Over Junior Creditor Challenge
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Matt Benson,
Lois Deasey and
Natasha Ayres
— August 11, 2023
The Galapagos Group has secured comprehensive affirmation of its 2019 debt restructuring (the “Restructuring”) from the English High Court. This decision is a significant step towards resolution of the highly contested restructuring, and provides market participants with further clarity and certainty when it comes to implementing lender-led transactions in future. The key focus of the ...
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Weil advises bondholder AHG on Worldwide Flight Services tender offer
Blog Post — Weil European Restructuring Watch
— By
Neil Devaney,
Matt Benson and
Malina Tatarova
— July 18, 2023
Weil advising a bondholder ad hoc group on Worldwide Flight Services tender offer, team includes Matt Benson and Neil Devaney ...
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil Represents Ad Hoc Group of Supporting Creditors in McDermott Group Part 26A Restructuring Plan Sanctioned by High Court Today Deal Brief — February 27, 2024
- Weil Advises on Ideal Standard Exchange Offer Deal Brief — September 15, 2023