Elizabeth J. Kirk
Biography
Overview
Elizabeth Kirk is a partner in the Firm's Debt Finance practice in New York. Elizabeth advises commercial and investment banks, financial institutions, private equity sponsors, export credit agencies and borrowers in connection with secured and unsecured credit facilities, cross-border acquisition financings and general bank lending in a wide variety of industries, with a particular focus on the maritime and offshore sector. Elizabeth has also advised on several high-profile restructuring matters in the US and Europe.
Elizabeth spent eight months on secondment to the Global Loans Syndication team in the Shipping, Offshore & Oil Services group at Nordea Bank Norge ASA in Oslo and London and more than a year on secondment with the Firm's EMEA Debt Finance team based in London. Prior to joining White & Case in 2010, Elizabeth worked in the in-house legal department at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London.
Experience
Citibank and the United States International Development Finance Corporation on senior secured credit facilities providing US$185 million and INR ₹1,165 billion, respectively, to Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited, a leading provider of Indian financial services.
Nordea Bank in a US$390 million financing for International Seaways Operating Corporation. The transaction featured an innovative sustainability-linked pricing mechanic based on the decarbonisation goals of the Poseidon Principles.
The senior secured lender group in a comprehensive out of court restructuring of a Brazilian-based offshore drilling company
Citibank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in connection with a US$150 million financing for Banco Regional S.A.E.C.A., to finance new SME lending in Paraguay, with a particular focus on supporting women-led SMEs
Beal Bank in connection with an up to US$306 million financing for Nordic American Tankers Limited.
Nordea Bank in connection with a US$360 million financing to Diamond S Shipping Inc. to finance the acquisition of 25 crude tanker and product tanker vessels owned by Capital Product Partners L.P. via a spin-off and re-listing on the NYSE.
Citibank, Eksportkreditt Norge AS, and Garantiinstituttet for eksportkreditt, in connection with a US$122.84 million pre- and post- delivery financing for the construction of an expedition ice-class cruise vessel for Lindblad Expeditions.
Deutsche Bank in connection with a US$300 million financing for World Triathlon Corporation.
Jefferies in connection with a US$435 million financing provided in connection with Littlejohn & Co., LLC's acquisition of the Kaman Distribution Group.
Deutsche Bank in a US$1.49 billion financing extended to FinCo I LLC, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp., to finance the acquisition of Fortress Investment Group LLC.
Deutsche Bank in connection with €3.8 billion of senior credit facilities for Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA.
The senior secured lender group to UP Offshore (Bahamas) Ltd in connection with the out-of-court restructuring of its offshore supply vessel business. This transaction was recognized as "Industrials Deal of the Year (over $250MM)" by The M&A Advisor in 2017.
The coordinating committee of senior secured lenders in the restructuring of Seadrill Limited, the world's largest offshore oil drilling company.
Deutsche Bank in multiple financings provided to Colfax Corporation, including for its acquisition of Charter and investment grade facilities.
Nordea Bank in a US$400 million financing provided to Genco Shipping & Trading Limited.
Macquarie in a senior secured financing provided to an affiliate of Siris Capital to finance the acquisition of Polycom, Inc.
Nordea Bank in a US$581 million term loan facility provided to the Gener8 Maritime group in connection with its 2015 merger with Navig8 Crude Tankers Inc. and IPO.
Nordea Bank, as facility agent in connection with US$1.2 billion of term loan financings for Gener8 Maritime backed by KEXIM, K-Sure and CEXIM to finance the acquisition of new build "eco" VLCCs. This transaction won the Marine Money 'Export Credit Agency Deals of the Year' Award 2016.
A group of lenders on the debt financing aspects of the US$1.4 billion restructuring of Danish shipping company TORM A/S by way of an English scheme of arrangement. This transaction won the Marine Money 'Restructuring Deal of the Year' Award 2016.
Nordea Bank in the financing of US$250 million term loan facility provided to a subsidiary of Helix Energy Solutions Group to finance the acquisition of the m.v. "Q5000" a second-generation semi-submersible well intervention vessel.
