Michelle Gilmore-Parry

Expertise Michelle Advises Experience Highlights Career History

Partner

Banking & Finance

+44 3330 143 401

Expertise

Ms Gilmore-Parry is a highly regarded practitioner throughout the European leveraged finance market.  Ms Gilmore-Parry offers clients practical and commercially focused advice on domestic and cross-border leveraged and acquisition financings, direct lending, secondary trading, infrastructure finance, refinancings, restructurings and debt capital market matters across the full range of products including cov-lite, unitranche, bank-bond, transatlantic, first and second lien, mezzanine, private high yield and holdco PIK transactions.

Michelle Advises

Ms Gilmore-Parry has extensive experience of advising direct lenders, financial institutions, funds, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies and corporates at all tiers of the capital structure. Ms Gilmore-Parry’s ability to cover a broad range of financing transactions and techniques with market leading experience means that she is able to accommodate both lenders and borrowers in any financing structure.  Ms Gilmore-Parry has a growing client base, with particular strength amongst alternative credit providers and corporates.

Experience Highlights

Ms Gilmore-Parry has worked on some of the largest and most significant transactions in the European market, with recent experience, prior to joining gunnercooke including:

Insurance-Sector Financings:

  • Resolution Life in its strategic partnership with Blackstone, including a $500 million strategic investment, for its life insurance and annuity consolidation business.
  • Resolution Life, a global life insurance group, in its $2 billion multicurrency term and revolving facility agreement in connection with its reinsurance of $35 billion in fixed indexed annuities of Allianz Life.
  • Hamilton Insurance Group in its acquisition of Pembroke Managing Agency and Ironshore Europe DAC from Liberty Mutual.
  • AIA Group in its $500 million offering of 3.90% notes due 2028.
  • AIA Group in its $500 million offering in Taiwan of 4.47% senior unsecured fixed rate notes due 2047.
  • AIA Group in its $1.75 billion offering of 3.2% subordinated fixed rate securities, due in 2040. The offering was named “Bond Deal of the Year” by FinanceAsia in its annual Achievement Awards.
  • Prudential Financial in its life insurance joint venture with CT Corp in Indonesia.

Acquisition/Leveraged and General Financings (representing Sponsor/Company):

  • B&M in its £400 million bond offering of 3.625% senior secured notes, and its related refinancing of its existing senior credit facilities with a £455 million senior secured facilities agreement.
  • Kalle Management GmbH, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice portfolio company, in the restructuring of its various finance arrangements.
  • Solenis, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice portfolio company, in the financing aspects of its combination with BASF’s paper and water chemicals business.
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in the financing aspects of its acquisition of a 40% ownership interest in Belron, which valued the company at €3 billion.
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in the financing aspects of its acquisition of Carestream Dental, the digital dental business of Carestream Health.
  • Lovell Minnick in the financing aspects of its take-private deal for Charles Taylor, a leading provider of professional services to the global insurance market.

Acquisition/Leveraged and General Financings (representing the Lender)

  • A TLB lender in connection with a term loan to be provided Ardonagh group under a senior syndicated facilities agreement.
  • A European direct lending fund as provider of second lien debt to finance an acquisition by a major sponsor of a human resources company.
  • A European direct lending fund on its second lien financing to finance the acquisition by a major sponsor of a global pharmaceuticals company.
  • A direct lending fund in its €60 million PIK financing term loan, the proceeds of which provided an equity injection to an Italian borrower, which was a condition to the restructuring of its senior debt.
  • A leading private debt manager as a provider of junior financing to support an LBO in the chemical and food sector.
  • Two direct lending funds as providers of junior financing to support the acquisition by a major private equity firm of an international group of companies with subsidiaries in the United States, Europe and Asia providing a wide range of outsourcing services, primarily for the automotive industry.
  • A direct lending fund as a provider of junior financing for a dividend recapitalisation by a first tier private equity sponsor of an international enterprise software company headquartered in Sweden.
  • A direct lending fund as a provider of junior financing to support the acquisition by a first tier private equity sponsor of a veterinarian company.
  • A direct lending fund as provider of subordinated holdco financing to support a dividend recapitalization for an Italian based global medical device company, which recapitalization closed concurrently with the refinancing of the debt of the operating business with a super senior revolving credit agreement and unsecured high yield bonds.
  • KKR Credit in the €235 million unitranche facility provided to Amtek Global Technologies, a subsidiary of Amtek Auto.
  • Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Stanley in connection with their US$ 1.4 billion senior secured bank financing for the acquisition by Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic of a 50% stake in a holding company that integrated Santander’s Asset Management businesses, consisting of a US$1.2 billion term loans and a US$200 million multicurrency RCF.
  • The Mandated Lead Arrangers in the financing aspects of the acquisition of the Logoplaste Group by funds managed or advised by Carlyle.
  • Goldman Sachs International on the bridge to bond financing for Arrow Global’s acquisition of the Capquest Group, the credit solutions provider.

Infrastructure Financings – Representing Lenders and Borrowers

  • The Evercare Group in equity and debt financing aspects of its sale of a majority shareholding in CARE Hospitals to private equity funds managed by Blackstone.
  • Avenue Group, the Kenyan healthcare provider, in financing aspects of an investment by IFC.
  • The Evercare Group in financing arrangements for the acquisition of CHL Hospitals and CIIGMA Hospitals.
  • Funds advised by Helios Investment Partners as part of a syndicate, led by Gemcorp Capital, providing a $105 million loan facility to Africell, the fast-growing pan-African mobile network operator.
  • The Mandated Lead Arrangers to a consortium comprising Borealis Infrastructure Management, Första AP-Fonden, Tredje AP-Fonden andFolksam on a financing package for the €6.6 billion acquisition of Fortum Distribution, which operates and owns Fortum’s electricity distribution system in Sweden.
  • Porterbrook Rail Finance, one of the three major ROSCOs (Rolling Stock Operating Companies) in the UK, in its refinancings.

Private Placements/High Yield:

  • A direct lending fund in its $125 million Norwegian Bond for Virzt, a Nordic Capital portfolio company.
  • Aflac as lender in a series of loan and bond transactions.
  • Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as lender in the privately placed AUS$100 million senior secured notes for InvoCare Limited.
  • Linkem in its €125 million senior secured notes due 2022.
  • Entertainment One on its offering of £285 million 6.875% senior secured notes and a new £100 million revolving credit facility.
  • Avanti Communications Group plc on its US$370m senior secured notes and USD$70m credit facility.
  • Boparan Holdings, the poultry food products producer, in its $1 billion bank-bond refinancing.
  • Millennium Offshore Services in its high yield offering of $225 million Senior Secured Notes.

Career History

Previous Law firms

  • Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (October 2016 – June 2024)
  • Milbank LLP (September 2012 – October 2016)
  • Shearman & Sterling (now A&O Shearman) (July 2010- September 2012)

Memberships

  • The Law Society of England & Wales

Education

  • University of Leicester, LL.B, First Class Honours.
  • London School of Economics and Political Science, LL.M.
  • College of Law, London, L.P.C.
  • “Milbank at Harvard”, Harvard University executive education program 2015.

Other

  • Michelle’s recent published articles include:
  • “The rise of “hybrids” in the ever-converging PIK and Preferred Equity landscape,” Journal of International Banking & Financial Law (January, 2024);
  • “Sanctions v Loan Agreements: a borrower’s perspective,” International Financial Law Review (September, 2019);
  • “How EU And US Private Placement Models Compare,” International Financial Law Review (July, 2018); and
  • “Right or wrong: recent trends in restricting loan transfers,” International Financial Law Review (March, 2018).

Expertise

Back to top

Ms Gilmore-Parry is a highly regarded practitioner throughout the European leveraged finance market.  Ms Gilmore-Parry offers clients practical and commercially focused advice on domestic and cross-border leveraged and acquisition financings, direct lending, secondary trading, infrastructure finance, refinancings, restructurings and debt capital market matters across the full range of products including cov-lite, unitranche, bank-bond, transatlantic, first and second lien, mezzanine, private high yield and holdco PIK transactions.

Michelle Advises

Back to top

Ms Gilmore-Parry has extensive experience of advising direct lenders, financial institutions, funds, private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies and corporates at all tiers of the capital structure. Ms Gilmore-Parry’s ability to cover a broad range of financing transactions and techniques with market leading experience means that she is able to accommodate both lenders and borrowers in any financing structure.  Ms Gilmore-Parry has a growing client base, with particular strength amongst alternative credit providers and corporates.

Experience Highlights

Back to top

Ms Gilmore-Parry has worked on some of the largest and most significant transactions in the European market, with recent experience, prior to joining gunnercooke including:

Insurance-Sector Financings:

  • Resolution Life in its strategic partnership with Blackstone, including a $500 million strategic investment, for its life insurance and annuity consolidation business.
  • Resolution Life, a global life insurance group, in its $2 billion multicurrency term and revolving facility agreement in connection with its reinsurance of $35 billion in fixed indexed annuities of Allianz Life.
  • Hamilton Insurance Group in its acquisition of Pembroke Managing Agency and Ironshore Europe DAC from Liberty Mutual.
  • AIA Group in its $500 million offering of 3.90% notes due 2028.
  • AIA Group in its $500 million offering in Taiwan of 4.47% senior unsecured fixed rate notes due 2047.
  • AIA Group in its $1.75 billion offering of 3.2% subordinated fixed rate securities, due in 2040. The offering was named “Bond Deal of the Year” by FinanceAsia in its annual Achievement Awards.
  • Prudential Financial in its life insurance joint venture with CT Corp in Indonesia.

Acquisition/Leveraged and General Financings (representing Sponsor/Company):

  • B&M in its £400 million bond offering of 3.625% senior secured notes, and its related refinancing of its existing senior credit facilities with a £455 million senior secured facilities agreement.
  • Kalle Management GmbH, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice portfolio company, in the restructuring of its various finance arrangements.
  • Solenis, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice portfolio company, in the financing aspects of its combination with BASF’s paper and water chemicals business.
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in the financing aspects of its acquisition of a 40% ownership interest in Belron, which valued the company at €3 billion.
  • Clayton, Dubilier & Rice in the financing aspects of its acquisition of Carestream Dental, the digital dental business of Carestream Health.
  • Lovell Minnick in the financing aspects of its take-private deal for Charles Taylor, a leading provider of professional services to the global insurance market.

Acquisition/Leveraged and General Financings (representing the Lender)

  • A TLB lender in connection with a term loan to be provided Ardonagh group under a senior syndicated facilities agreement.
  • A European direct lending fund as provider of second lien debt to finance an acquisition by a major sponsor of a human resources company.
  • A European direct lending fund on its second lien financing to finance the acquisition by a major sponsor of a global pharmaceuticals company.
  • A direct lending fund in its €60 million PIK financing term loan, the proceeds of which provided an equity injection to an Italian borrower, which was a condition to the restructuring of its senior debt.
  • A leading private debt manager as a provider of junior financing to support an LBO in the chemical and food sector.
  • Two direct lending funds as providers of junior financing to support the acquisition by a major private equity firm of an international group of companies with subsidiaries in the United States, Europe and Asia providing a wide range of outsourcing services, primarily for the automotive industry.
  • A direct lending fund as a provider of junior financing for a dividend recapitalisation by a first tier private equity sponsor of an international enterprise software company headquartered in Sweden.
  • A direct lending fund as a provider of junior financing to support the acquisition by a first tier private equity sponsor of a veterinarian company.
  • A direct lending fund as provider of subordinated holdco financing to support a dividend recapitalization for an Italian based global medical device company, which recapitalization closed concurrently with the refinancing of the debt of the operating business with a super senior revolving credit agreement and unsecured high yield bonds.
  • KKR Credit in the €235 million unitranche facility provided to Amtek Global Technologies, a subsidiary of Amtek Auto.
  • Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Stanley in connection with their US$ 1.4 billion senior secured bank financing for the acquisition by Warburg Pincus and General Atlantic of a 50% stake in a holding company that integrated Santander’s Asset Management businesses, consisting of a US$1.2 billion term loans and a US$200 million multicurrency RCF.
  • The Mandated Lead Arrangers in the financing aspects of the acquisition of the Logoplaste Group by funds managed or advised by Carlyle.
  • Goldman Sachs International on the bridge to bond financing for Arrow Global’s acquisition of the Capquest Group, the credit solutions provider.

Infrastructure Financings – Representing Lenders and Borrowers

  • The Evercare Group in equity and debt financing aspects of its sale of a majority shareholding in CARE Hospitals to private equity funds managed by Blackstone.
  • Avenue Group, the Kenyan healthcare provider, in financing aspects of an investment by IFC.
  • The Evercare Group in financing arrangements for the acquisition of CHL Hospitals and CIIGMA Hospitals.
  • Funds advised by Helios Investment Partners as part of a syndicate, led by Gemcorp Capital, providing a $105 million loan facility to Africell, the fast-growing pan-African mobile network operator.
  • The Mandated Lead Arrangers to a consortium comprising Borealis Infrastructure Management, Första AP-Fonden, Tredje AP-Fonden andFolksam on a financing package for the €6.6 billion acquisition of Fortum Distribution, which operates and owns Fortum’s electricity distribution system in Sweden.
  • Porterbrook Rail Finance, one of the three major ROSCOs (Rolling Stock Operating Companies) in the UK, in its refinancings.

Private Placements/High Yield:

  • A direct lending fund in its $125 million Norwegian Bond for Virzt, a Nordic Capital portfolio company.
  • Aflac as lender in a series of loan and bond transactions.
  • Metropolitan Life Insurance Company as lender in the privately placed AUS$100 million senior secured notes for InvoCare Limited.
  • Linkem in its €125 million senior secured notes due 2022.
  • Entertainment One on its offering of £285 million 6.875% senior secured notes and a new £100 million revolving credit facility.
  • Avanti Communications Group plc on its US$370m senior secured notes and USD$70m credit facility.
  • Boparan Holdings, the poultry food products producer, in its $1 billion bank-bond refinancing.
  • Millennium Offshore Services in its high yield offering of $225 million Senior Secured Notes.

Career History

Back to top

Previous Law firms

  • Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (October 2016 – June 2024)
  • Milbank LLP (September 2012 – October 2016)
  • Shearman & Sterling (now A&O Shearman) (July 2010- September 2012)

Memberships

  • The Law Society of England & Wales

Education

  • University of Leicester, LL.B, First Class Honours.
  • London School of Economics and Political Science, LL.M.
  • College of Law, London, L.P.C.
  • “Milbank at Harvard”, Harvard University executive education program 2015.

Other

  • Michelle’s recent published articles include:
  • “The rise of “hybrids” in the ever-converging PIK and Preferred Equity landscape,” Journal of International Banking & Financial Law (January, 2024);
  • “Sanctions v Loan Agreements: a borrower’s perspective,” International Financial Law Review (September, 2019);
  • “How EU And US Private Placement Models Compare,” International Financial Law Review (July, 2018); and
  • “Right or wrong: recent trends in restricting loan transfers,” International Financial Law Review (March, 2018).