Alex Schlosser is the National Practice Group Leader of Banking & Financial Services at Clayton Utz.
Alex is a specialist in:
- acquisition finance and leveraged buyouts
- IPO financings
- large-scale corporate syndicated lending
- mezzanine financing and complex intercreditor arrangements
- subscription financing and lending to funds, managed investment schemes and financial institutions
- complex secured lending transactions
- distressed loans, debt trading and corporate restructures.
Having worked at a Magic Circle firm in London and Frankfurt for a number of years, Alex has gained invaluable offshore experience advising clients on complex cross-border transactions, often spanning multiple jurisdictions.
Alex is described by clients as “fantastic, pragmatic and approachable” (Chambers Global) and clients say "he understands the banking market very well, which adds a huge amount of value to the process" (Chambers Global).
Expertise
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Banking and Finance
Acquisition Finance, Mezzanine Lending and IPOs
- Biostime/Swisse: Alex acted on the Australian elements of the acquisition finance package used to fund the A$1.67 billion acquisition by Biostime International Holdings of Swisse Wellness Group Pty Ltd. (2015)
- Proprium Capital Partners: Alex advised offshore private equity firm Proprium Capital Partners on the financing of its acquisition of one of Australia's premier land development businesses, Investa Land. (2015)
- Gateway Group IPO: Alex acted as bank counsel on the financing arrangements for the listing of the Gateway Group on the ASX in June 2015.
- Crown Castle: Alex acted for one of the bidders on the financing aspects of its proposed acquisition of Crown Castle Australia (sold for A$2 billion). (2015)
- Stork/Giovenco: Alex advised the lenders funding the acquisition by Stork Technical Services BV of Giovenco Industries (Aust) Pty Ltd. (2015)
- NMSG: Alex acted for Crescent Capital in relation to its financing arrangements for the National Medical Services Group. (2015)
- Southern Cross Dental Laboratories: Alex advised Ironbridge Capital on the financing arrangements in relation to its sale of Southern Cross Dental Laboratories to Modern Dental Group. (2015)
- Canberra Data Centres: Alex acts as Lenders' counsel to Canberra Data Centres, including in relation to the acquisition of a significant stake by Quadrant Private Equity. (2014)
- Invensys: Alex acted as Australian counsel on the financing related to the acquisition by Schneider Electric of Invensys plc, a global automation player with a large installed base and a strong software presence. (2014)
- Monash Group IPO: Alex assisted Monash IVF, which achieved the world’s first in-vitro fertilisation pregnancy in 1973, with its IPO-facilities in relation to its initial public offering on the ASX on 25 June 2014.
- iSentia IPO: Alex acted as bank counsel in relation to the IPO-facilities for the iSentia Group which listed on the ASX on 5 June 2014.
- APN News & Media: Alex acted as counsel to the subordinated bridge financier in relation to the A$132 million entitlement offer by APN News & Media Limited used to fund the $246.5 million acquisition of Clear Channel's 50% stake in its radio assets, as announced to the market on 19 February 2014.
- Covermore IPO: Alex acted as Lender's counsel on the debt facilities for the Covermore Group in relation to its initial public offering on the ASX.
- Braiform MBO: Alex acted as borrower's counsel in relation to the financing aspects of the MBO of Braiform out of the Spotless Group.
- Blackstone / Pactera: Alex acted as Australian counsel in relation to the financing aspects of Blackstone's acquisition of Pactera, including the issue of a $275 million high-yield bond, Asia's first high-yield note used to fund a LBO since 2011.
- CKF / Competitive Foods: Alex advised the Collins Foods Group in relation to itsacquisition facilities for the acquisition of Competitive Foods in 2014.
- Power: Alex advised the mezzanine financier on the limited recourse funding of a generation and electricity transmission project in Western Australia.
- Arthur J. Gallagher & Co / Wesfarmers: Alex acted for Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. in relation to financing arrangements in connection with the $1.01bn acquisition of Wesfarmers' insurance broking and premium funding operations.
- Transpacific Waste Management New Zealand: Alex acted for one of the bidders on the senior secured financing for the proposed $800m+ acquisition of Transpacific Waste Management New Zealand.
- Cura Day Hospitals: Alex acted for Intermediate Capital Group in relation to the financing aspects of the MBO of the Cura Day Hospitals Group.
- Trinseo: Alex acted as Australian counsel in relation to the financing aspects of Bain Capital's acquisition of Styron/Trinseo and Trinseo's subsequent $1.325bn high-yield bond, offered on 24 January 2013.
- Singapore Stock Exchange: Alex acted for the Singapore Stock Exchange in relation to an approximately $3.6 billion financing package for its proposed acquisition (by way of scheme of arrangement under section 411 of the Corporations Act) of the ASX.
- Australian Offshore Solutions: Alex advised on the financing aspects and subsequent refinancing of the acquisition of Australian Offshore Solutions Pty Ltd.
- Xtralis: Alex advised the mezzanine finance parties on the re-financing of the Xtralis Group (a Pacific Equity Partners investment).
- Collins Foods Group IPO: Alex acted for the Collins Foods Group in relation to its $145 million banking facilities to cater for the Group’s ongoing debt funding needs as part of the initial public offering of Collins Foods Limited.
- Jurlique International: Alex acted for Jurlique in relation to its financing arrangements and subsequent acquisition by Pola Orbis Holdings.
- iNova Pharmaceuticals: Alex acted for iNova Pharmaceuticals in relation to its senior and mezzanine financing arrangements and subsequent sale to Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
- MYOB Limited: Alex acted for the underwriters in connection with the acquisition of MYOB Limited by Archer Capital and Harbourvest Partners LLC.
- American Stock Transfer & Trust Company: Alex acted on the senior and mezzanine financing of the approximately US$1 billion acquisition of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Corporate Finance
- Steadfast Limited: Alex acts as Lenders' counsel on the financing arrangements for the Steadfast Group. (2015)
- Bright Food Australia: Alex acted for the lenders to Bright Food in relation to the re-financing of its Manassen Foods acquisition facilities and its general corporate debt.
- Alesco Limited: Alex acted for the financiers to Alesco Limited in relation to its corporate debt facilities and the hostile Dulux takeover in 2012.
- Transpacific Limited: Alex acted for Transpacific on its $1,525 million syndicated bank facility, funded in conjunction with a fully underwritten $309 million entitlement offer and subordinated convertible notes buy back.
- Smarte Carte: Alex acted as Australian Lenders' counsel on the financing arrangements for the Smarte Carte Group.
- Cabcharge: Alex acted as Lenders' counsel on the syndicated financing of the Cabcharge Group.
- Golder Group: Alex acted as Australian counsel on the financing arrangements for the Golder Group.
Financial Institutions, Funds and Managed Investment Schemes
- Private Equity Funds: Alex has acted both as borrower's counsel and as Lender's counsel in relation to subscription finance facilities for four of Australia's major private equity funds.
- Debt Funds: Alex has acted as Lender's counsel in relation to the subscription finance facilities for various funds, including a major Senior Debt Fund.
- HFA Holdings Limited: Alex acted for HFA Holdings Limited in relation to its corporate debt funding arrangements.
- SFG Australia Limited: Alex acted for SFG Australia Limited in relation to its inaugural syndicated financing arrangements and its subsequent acquisition by IOOF Holdings Limited.
Workouts and restructurings
- Mining Services: Alex has advised various mining services companies and lenders to mining services companies in relation to complex corporate debt restructure programs and turn-arounds.
- Financial Services: Alex has advised borrowers and lenders on the restructure of a number of financial services and investment funds businesses.
- Distressed Loans: Alex has acted for lenders and borrowers in tense negotiations involving the trading of distressed sub-investment grade loans or loan participations, including in connection with portfolio sales.
- Transactions in the public domain: Some of the public matters that Alex has worked on include Nine Entertainment, RedGroup Retail, the Geon Group and APB Britco.
See Banking and Finance
Corporate Finance
- Steadfast Limited: Alex acts as Lenders' counsel on the financing arrangements for the Steadfast Group. (2015)
- Bright Food Australia: Alex acted for the lenders to Bright Food in relation to the re-financing of its Manassen Foods acquisition facilities and its general corporate debt.
- Alesco Limited: Alex acted for the financiers to Alesco Limited in relation to its corporate debt facilities and the hostile Dulux takeover in 2012.
- Transpacific Limited: Alex acted for Transpacific on its $1,525 million syndicated bank facility, funded in conjunction with a fully underwritten $309 million entitlement offer and subordinated convertible notes buy back.
- Smarte Carte: Alex acted as Australian Lenders' counsel on the financing arrangements for the Smarte Carte Group.
- Cabcharge: Alex acted as Lenders' counsel on the syndicated financing of the Cabcharge Group.
- Golder Group: Alex acted as Australian counsel on the financing arrangements for the Golder Group.
See Corporate Finance
Leveraged Finance
- APN News & Media: Alex acted as counsel to the subordinated bridge financier in relation to the A$132 million entitlement offer by APN News & Media Limited used to fund the $246.5 million acquisition of Clear Channel's 50% stake in its radio assets, as announced to the market on 19 February 2014.
- Power: Alex advised the mezzanine financier on the limited recourse funding of a generation and electricity transmission project in Western Australia.
- Xtralis: Alex advised the mezzanine finance parties on the re-financing of the Xtralis Group (a Pacific Equity Partners investment).
- iNova Pharmaceuticals: Alex acted for iNova Pharmaceuticals in relation to its senior and mezzanine financing arrangements and subsequent sale to Valeant Pharmaceuticals.
- American Stock Transfer & Trust Company: Alex acted on the senior and mezzanine financing of the approximately US$1 billion acquisition of American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
See Leveraged Finance
Project Finance
- Power: Alex advised the mezzanine financier on the limited recourse funding of a generation and electricity transmission project in Western Australia.
See Project Finance
Private Equity
- Private Equity Funds: Alex has acted both as borrower's counsel and as Lender's counsel in relation to subscription finance facilities for four of Australia's major private equity funds.
- Proprium Capital Partners: Alex advised offshore private equity firm Proprium Capital Partners on the financing of its acquisition of one of Australia's premier land development businesses, Investa Land. (2015)
See Private Equity