KatieHiggins

Partner

Sydney + 61.2.8272.0531

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Katie Higgins has substantial experience acting for financial institutions, corporates, funds, and insolvency practitioners across a range of debt financing transactions. In these representations, she focuses on debt restructurings, workouts, and insolvency-related matters. Katie's practice covers a diverse range of areas, including retail, energy and resources, property, projects, and infrastructure and includes assignments acting for listed companies, financial institutions, and government agencies on restructuring arrangements, insolvency matters, cross-border transactions, property and structured financings, and project and acquisition financings.

Katie's recent experience includes acting for the administrators of Austradia Pty Ltd, the Australian franchisee of Topshop/Topman; advising the administrators of Payless Shoes; advising Insurance Commission of Western Australia on matters arising from the $1.8bn settlement reached between the Bell Group and its banking syndicates; advising on Australian law aspects in connection with the chapter 11 restructuring of Peabody Energy; and advising one of the world's largest utility companies on Australian-related aspects of its various international investments.

Prior to joining Jones Day in 2016, Katie acted on a range of restructuring and insolvency matters for Australian banking syndicates and secondary lenders, including in relation to various public-private partnerships such as the Bonnyrigg Social Housing PPP and in relation to exposures to interests associated with the Patinack Farm and Reed Construction corporate groups.

Katie is a member of Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association (ARITA) and INSOL International. She also has lectured on debt financing as part of the master of law course at the University of Sydney.

Experience

  • Ad hoc group of senior secured lenders advised in landmark restructuring of the syncreon groupJones Day acted for the ad hoc group of senior secured lenders in the landmark restructuring of the global logistics syncreon group which was implemented via English Schemes of arrangement, with chapter 15 recognition in the U.S. and CCAA recognition in Canada.
  • Financial institution provides multi-currency senior secured syndicated credit facility to international manufacturing companyJones Day represented a financial institution, as lead arranger and administrative agent, in connection with a multi-currency senior secured syndicated credit facility to an international manufacturing company.
  • Exide Technologies completes $1.1 billion comprehensive new financing and recapitalizationJones Day represented Exide Technologies, a global leader in stored energy solutions for the automotive and industrial markets, in connection with a comprehensive new financing and recapitalization transaction.
  • KPMG Australia acquires Ferrier HodgsonJones Day advised KPMG Australia in its acquisition of Ferrier Hodgson, a leading independent restructuring, turnaround and insolvency firm in Australia.
  • ICWA and JN Taylor Finance (in liquidation) challenge liquidator's decision to review or re-adjudicate a proof of claim admitted over 20 years agoJones Day is acting for the Insurance Commission of Western Australia ("ICWA") in proceedings commenced by JN Taylor Finance Pty Ltd (in liquidation) and ICWA in the Supreme Court of Western Australia seeking to reverse a liquidator's decision to review or re-adjudicate a proof of claim that was admitted in the liquidation of The Bell Group Limited in the amount of approximately $291 million over 20 years ago.
  • ICWA protects its interests as creditor and funder in Bell Group liquidationsJones Day is acting for the Insurance Commission of Western Australia ("ICWA"), a Western Australian government entity, in proceedings commenced in the Supreme Court of Western Australia concerning the distribution to creditors of over $1.8 billion in the liquidations of the Bell Group.
  • Heidrick & Struggles amends and restates revolving credit facilityJones Day advised Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc., a premier global provider of executive search, leadership assessment and development, organization and team effectiveness, and culture shaping services, in connection with the amendment and restatement of its revolving credit facility.
  • SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and SunTrust Bank-led syndicate provide $1.1 billion credit facility to EquifaxJones Day advised SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., as left lead arranger, and SunTrust Bank, as administrative agent, in connection with a $1.1 billion senior revolving credit facility provided by a syndicate of lenders to Equifax Inc., a consumer credit reporting agency.
  • Coronado Coal acquires Curragh coal mine in central Queensland, Australia, from Wesfarmers Limited for A$700 million (US$539 million)Jones Day advised Coronado Coal LLC in the acquisition of the Curragh coal mine in central Queensland, Australia, from Wesfarmers Limited for A$700 million (US$530 million).
  • Senior officers of ICWA and State Solicitors Office of Western Australia obtain orders setting aside liquidator examination summonses and production ordersJones Day acted for the CEO and General Counsel of the Insurance Commission of Western Australia ("ICWA"), and the State Solicitor and a senior lawyer of the State Solicitors Office of Western Australia, in a successful Federal Court of Australia application to set aside examination summonses and production orders obtained by the liquidator of Bell Group NV (in liquidation).
  • Peabody Energy amends and restates receivables securitization program with PNCJones Day represented Peabody Energy Corporation, a large private-sector coal company, and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with an amendment and restatement to its receivables securitization program with PNC to, among other things, increase the maximum availability under the facility to $250 million, extend the facility termination date, and add certain Australian subsidiaries of Peabody Energy Corporation as originators.
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    October 2019 Commentaries

    To Appeal or Not to Appeal? Liquidators Could Face Personal Costs Orders

    October 2019 Commentaries

    Independence Day: Australian Court Refuses to Remove Liquidators

    October 2019 Commentaries

    Double Trouble: Court Advises Liquidators to Reject A$905 Million Proofs of Debt

    October 2019 Commentaries

    Bakewell v Anchorage Capital Master Offshore Ltd: Can Ancillary Rights and Claims Be Sold?

    March 2019 Alerts

    Australian Court Directs Receivers to Pay Priority Creditors of Company in Liquidation

    October 2018 Commentaries

    (Mighty) River Runs Dry: Australian High Court Rules "Holding" DOCAs Are Valid

    June 2018 Commentaries

    Ask and You May Receive: Equitable Liens, Administrators and Court Directions in Australia

    March 2018 Jones Day Publications

    ASX Releases Continuous Disclosure Guidance on the Insolvent Trading Safe Harbour

    September 2017 Alerts

    Judicial Guidance about "Perfection by Possession" under Australia's Personal Property Securities Act

    September 2017 Commentaries

    Australian Court of Appeal Approves Use of "Holding" Deed of Company Arrangement
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