Leslie A. Plaskon

Leslie’s experience includes the following representations:

• Funds affiliated with Whitebox Advisors, ATW Partners, Wazee Street Capital Management, Morningside Ventures, Highbridge Capital Management, in the bankruptcy proceedings of Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited, resulting in the debt for equity exchange of their secured debt holdings and in their provision of exit financing to the debtor.
• Whitebox Advisors and other investors in the financing of the acquisition of a conventional oil refinery in Mobile, Alabama and the funding for its conversion to renewable diesel by Vertex Energy, Inc.
• Great American Capital Partners in connection with a FILO term loan to Vitamin Shoppe.
• Great American Capital Partners as administrative agent and lender in connection with acquisition financings for Franchise Group, Inc.
• WhiteHawk Capital Partners LP, as administrative agent and collateral agent, in connection with a US$116 million secured asset-based term loan facility with crossing liens and third lien debt to a manufacturer in the automotive industry.
• Nautilus, Inc. and its subsidiaries, a worldwide marketer, developer, and manufacturer of fitness equipment, as borrower, in a US$30 million secured term loan credit facility with Crystal Financial SPV LLC, as a lender and Crystal Financial LLC d/b/a SLR Credit Solutions, as agent.
• IAA, Inc., as borrower, in connection with the refinancing of an existing revolver and term loan with a new revolver and term loan facility.
• New Sbarro Finance, Inc., as borrower, in connection with a secured term loan credit facility.
• Whitebox Advisors and other investors in the purchase of US$81.5 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Secured Notes due 2026 and warrants to purchase approximately 26.5 million ordinary shares of Rockley Photonics Holdings Limited.
• EQT Private Equity and PRO Unlimited in connection with PRO Unlimited’s acquisition of Workforce Logiq.
• United Airlines in connection with its financing agreement with Avianca Holdings S.A., alongside Kingsland Holdings Limited.
• Several large financial institutions in a US$8.7 billion acquisition financing of PetSmart, the largest specialty pet retailer, by a consortium led by BC Partners.
• The administrative agent in connection with a reserve-based credit facility and financing of a large cap sponsor’s US$2.2 billion acquisition.
• GA Capital, as administrative agent in US$150 million term loan financing for Sears Canada.
• The lead financial advisor in a US$350 million acquisition financing of a trailer leasing operator.
• Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. as agent, and other joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners of a US$415 million asset-based revolving loan credit facility to XPO Logistics, Inc., an intermodal and logistics management company.
• A large financial institution in connection with a US$150 million asset-based revolving facility to a global provider of medical device solutions.
• The agent in the restructuring of an international manufacturer of playground equipment. 
• Morgan Stanley, as agent, on the US$700 million bankruptcy exit financing to a leading global auto supplier of climate, interior, and electronic systems to global automotive original equipment manufacturers. 
• Great Rock Capital, GA Capital, TPG, and other alternative lenders in connection with numerous financings, including PCX Aerostructure, General Wireless, Wood-Mode, Evine, Reichhold Chemicals, Hancock Fabrics, and Sypris Inc.
• Furniture Brands, Centerline, and other borrowers in various finance facilities.

In addition, Leslie has represented either the agent bank, lender group, or steering committee in the bankruptcy cases or out-of-court restructures involving, among others, CHC Helicopters, SandRidge Energy, Southcross Energy Partners, RG Steel, BearingPoint, Eddie Bauer, New Vision Broadcasting, American Safety Razor, Greatwide Logistics Services, Leiner Health Products, Lenox China Inc., and Allegiance Telecom.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

• Member, ABF Journal Editorial Board
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Turnaround Management Association
• Member, American Bankruptcy Institute