Benjamin Downie

Benjamin Downie focuses his practice on the raising of domestic and international credit and private capital across the securitization, structured finance, and debt capital markets.

He has acted on a range of award winning, innovative, and first transactions, with a recent focus on forward flow transactions (both committed portfolio purchase structures and co-lending/equity structures), real estate/infrastructure structured solutions and CRE (commercial real estate) warehousing, the use of structured credit as the primary source of debt funding for M&A transactions, and the establishment of first-of-type dealer floorplan and retail offtake transactions in the auto market.

Recent selected transactions include acting for the originator on a first-of-its-kind handset receivables funding platform, acting for the originator on the Australian aspects of the world's first asset-backed securitization of wine and spirits, acting for a global auto manufacturer on the establishment of its dealer floorplan securitization program, and acting for the senior lender to Hyundai's inaugural retail auto securitization program.

He has a broad spectrum of clients from sponsors and originators, private equity and funds, domestic/international banks, and investment banks and acts across the entire capital structure (senior and mezzanine) and all transaction types and asset classes, including term transactions, private placements, master trusts and warehouses, trade receivables, RMBS (residential mortgage-backed securities), CMBS (commercial mortgage-backed securities), dealer floorplan, auto receivables (loan, lease, and hire purchase), equipment, personal loans, distressed and insolvent debt, insurance premiums, and future flow transactions.

His experience extends to debt capital markets (Australian and offshore bond programs, hybrids, and kangaroo issuances), receivables financing, secured asset-backed lending structures, distressed and insolvent debt trading, and structured commodity and inventory facilities.