James B. Dickson

James’s special situations and bespoke finance experience includes:

• Partners Group portfolio company Eyecare Partners, LLC, a leading national provider of clinically integrated eye care, in a liability management transaction that significantly enhanced the company’s liquidity, deleveraged its balance sheet, reduced annual debt interest expense and extended debt maturities. The transaction included a $275 million new-money investment into a super senior debt tranche and an uptier exchange of more than 98% of existing first lien term loans, 100% of existing revolving commitments and more than 91% of existing second lien term loans that captured significant debt discount;
• West Marine Products, Inc., a boating and fishing supply company and a portfolio company of L Catterton, on its contingency planning and resulting comprehensive out-of-court restructuring of approximately $800 million of debt;
• Venator Materials PLC, an international chemicals company, on its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and exit financing via a crossing-lien US ABL and multiple jurisdiction term loan;
• STX Entertainment, a film and television studio, on its contingency planning and resulting sale to Najafi Companies;
• L Catterton as the anchor investor in a $355 million capital raise of iFit Health & Fitness, a global leader in connected fitness and interactive content;
• Durational Capital Management LP on an asset-based lending facility in connection with its take-private acquisition of Casper Sleep Inc. (NYSE: CSPR) and multiple financings thereafter;
• Service King, an auto collision repair company, on its recapitalization and transfer of majority ownership to Clearlake Capital Group, L.P.;
• Akorn, Inc., a pharmaceutical company, on its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing and exit financing;
• Funds controlled by Round Hill Music on various financings for acquisition of music intellectual property rights;
• Media Rights Capital, a leading independent studio with film, television, and non-fiction divisions, on its separation transaction with Todd Boehly’s company Eldridge Industries whereby, among other things, Eldridge received dick clark productions (producer of the Golden Globes) and Media Rights Capital retained A24;
• A leading cosmetics company on its liquidity investment from existing minority equityholders and related covenant relief amendments;
• Funds controlled by a major sponsor on their fund-level financings used to support margin calls on total return swaps;
• Specialty Retail Shops Holding Corp. (aka Shopko), a chain of department stores, on its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing.

James’s acquisition and syndicated financing experience includes:

• Sycamore Partners Management, L.P. on various transactions for its portfolio companies:
  
  • Financing in connection with its take-private acquisition of Chico's FAS, a women’s clothing and accessories retailer;
  • Financing in connection with the creation of Knitwell Group, a combination of the apparel brands Ann Taylor, Loft and Talbots;
  • Multiple financings for Azamara, an upmarket cruise line;
  • Pure Fishing Inc., the world’s largest fishing tackle company, on its acquisition of Svendsen Sport;
  • Talbots Inc., a women’s apparel retailer, on its refinancing and related transactions;
  • Torrid Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CURV), a women’s apparel retailer, on its initial public offering;
• Gryphon Investors on various transactions for its portfolio companies:
  
  • Ncontracts, LLC on its acquisition of Quantivate LLC;
  • Financing in connection with its acquisition of Big Chief Inc.;
  • Financing in connection with its acquisition of AirX Climate Solutions, Inc.;
  • Financings for Wind River Environmental, LLC;
• Charter Communications Inc (Nasdaq: CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator, on a refinancing ($12 billion in term loans and revolving commitments in an “investment grade” credit agreement);
• Centerbridge Partners LP on its acquisition of American Bath Group, the leading North American bathware manufacturer ($1.325 billion in term loans and revolving commitments);
• Centerbridge Partners LP on its acquisition of AHEAD, an enterprise cloud managed service provider and digital transformation specialist ($1.14 billion in term loans and revolving commitments);
• Madison IAQ, an indoor air quality specialist and a portfolio company of Madison Industries, on a refinancing and acquisition of Nortek Air ($2.74 billion in term loans and revolving commitments);
• L Catterton on its acquisition of West Marine, Inc., a marine aftermarket retailer ($645 million in term loans and revolving commitments);
• L Catterton on its acquisition of Truck Hero, Inc., a leading provider in aftermarket accessories for pickup trucks and jeeps ($1.75 billion in term loans and revolving commitments);
• Filtration Group Corporation, a filtration solutions provider and a portfolio company of Madison Industries, on a refinancing ($1.5 billion and €250 million in term loans and revolving commitments);
• Union Park Capital on multiple middle-market financings secured by cross-border collateral;
• Estancia Capital Management on various acquisitions of broker-dealer and registered financial advisor entities;
• TPG Capital on its investment in LifeStance Health, a leading provider of outpatient behavioral health services in the United States.