Theon Chalklen

Since joining Kirkland Theon advised:

• Global bicycle and e-bike manufacturer Accell Group on the restructuring of its senior secured loans, asset backed lines, securitisation arrangements via a UK scheme and the subsequent restructuring of its mezzanine and first lien loans via an intercreditor drag.
• Europe’s largest digital used-car marketplace Constellation Automotive on its refinancing and recapitalisation.
• The initial purchasers on global healthcare group Grifols’ private placement of senior secured notes and its refinancing and RCF extension.
• KKR on its bid to acquire and recapitalise Thames Water, the UK’s largest regulated water utility.
• The fulcrum creditors to major UK regulated water utility Southern Water Southern Water on the restructuring of the group’s senior and mezzanine debt and their co-investment in the recapitalisation alongside the sponsor.
• A private equity sponsor on its bid to acquire and recapitalise UK-listed retail bank Metro Bank.
• Cineworld, one of the world’s largest cinema operators, on the restructuring of its senior secured term loan and RCF debt and UK lease portfolio via four contested UK restructuring plans.
• Coupang and Greenoaks on their financing, acquisition and recapitalisation of global luxury fashion marketplace Farfetch.
• Financing sources to global luxury cruise and tour operator Scenic Group on a structured asset financing supporting its recapitalisation and senior secured notes refinancing.
• Financing sources for a refinancing of The Restaurant Group, one of the UK’s leading hospitality groups and owner of Wagamama.
• Financing sources on rescue financing for European real estate and retail group Signa.
• Clarion Events, the world's largest privately owned event and exhibition organiser, on an amendment and extension of its senior secured loans via a consensual transaction with a UK scheme backstop.
• Strategic Value Partners and Blantyre on their financing, acquisition and recapitalisation of leading global oxo chemicals producer OQ Chemicals.
• Global elevator-components manufacturer Wittur on the restructuring of its first and second lien syndicated loans and bilateral lines via a consensual transaction with a UK scheme backstop.
• Multinational restaurant operator Food Delivery Brands on the restructuring of its senior secured notes, working capital lines and ICO loans via a Spanish restructuring plan.
• Digivault, the first standalone UK FCA-registered digital asset custodian, on its trading administration, recapitalisation and sale.

Prior to joining Kirkland, Theon advised:

• The arrangers and financing sources on senior financing for VFS Global, the world’s largest provider of visa outsourcing services.
• Financing sources on debt financing for BetFred’s bid on William Hill’s UK retail business.
• Financing sources on the financing of Cranemere-backed The Engineered Stone Group, Europe’s largest producer of engineered bathroom products.
• The initial purchasers on MásMóvil Group’s senior secured and senior notes offering to support its acquisition of Euskaltel.
• Shareholders of leading global fintech and payments platform SumUp on its debt and equity financing.
• The principal lenders to Doncasters, a global aerospace and industrials components manufacturer, on the recapitalisation of the group’s senior secured debt.
• The revolving and ancillary facility creditors on the Chapter 11 bankruptcy and reorganisation of CWT.
• The Löwen Play group on the restructuring of its senior secured notes via an English scheme of arrangement.
• The Eddie Stobart transport and logistics group on its liquidity financing and public takeover.
• Senior creditors on the restructuring of agribusiness and retail group Agrokor under Croatia's extraordinary administration corporate rescue procedure.
• The New Look retail group on the restructuring of its notes and revolving facility debt via English schemes of arrangement.
• The creditors on the bankruptcy and takeover of the JSC Antipinsky Refinery.
• The super-senior hedge counterparties and the largest senior lender on an enforcement against the Tchenguiz hotel group.
• The Steinhoff group on the restructuring of its European businesses.
• The mandated lead arrangers on committed debt financing for a bid on Thyssenkrupp’s elevator unit.
• The mandated lead arrangers and second-lien investors on debt financing for the public-to-private acquisition of payments processing group Paysafe by Blackstone and CVC.
• The mandated lead arrangers on debt financing for an unsolicited public takeover offer for an international food business headquartered in Switzerland.
• Epiris on debt financing for its acquisition of Inchscape Shipping Services.
• Epiris on debt financing for its public-to-private acquisition of Euromoney.
• Swiss pharmaceutical company Galderma on its post-IPO syndicated refinancing.
• Private equity sponsors on committed debt financings supporting bids on Envirotainer, Nemera, E+I Engineering and the Comdata group.
• The mandated lead arranger on a refinancing of European hotel chain A&O Hotels and Hostels.
• The mandated lead arrangers and second-lien investors on financing for the acquisition of chemicals manufacturer Safety-Kleen by Apax.
• The mandated lead arrangers on a refinancing of the Exact cloud software group.
• The mandated lead arrangers on a refinancing of the OVH cloud software group.
• The super senior creditors on unitranche financing for the acquisition of the Portman dental care chain by Core Equity Holdings.
• The mandated lead arrangers on debt financing for the acquisition of the Lumenis medical laser group by Baring.
• The second lien lenders on debt financing for the acquisition of French insurance brokerage group Financiere Holding CEP by Bridgepoint.
• The mandated lead arrangers on committed debt financing for a bid on residential care group Armonea.
• The mandated lead arrangers on committed debt financing for a bid on French water infrastructure group Holding d'Infrastructures et des Metiers de l'Environnement.
• The mandated lead arrangers on a series of incremental financings and high-yield notes taps supporting strategic acquisitions by Unilabs.
• The investment adviser for one of the world’s largest venture capital funds in relation to the structuring and implementation of its co-investment scheme.

Senior Associate, Latham & Watkins LLP, London, 2021–2022

Linklaters LLP, London

• Managing Associate, 2020–2021
• Associate, 2017–2020

Solicitor, Chapman Tripp, Auckland, 2016–2017

Solicitor, Anderson Lloyd, Christchurch, 2011–2014