Derek F. Ladgenski

Derek F. Ladgenski concentrates his practice in all aspects of debt capital markets and corporate finance, including secured and unsecured senior financing, mezzanine financing and similar products, for a wide variety of lending syndicates and other institutional and entrepreneurial clients.

Mr. Ladgenski has experience with several distinct debt markets and products, including secured and unsecured cash flow and asset-based acquisition, development and working capital loans, debtor in possession and U.C.C. Article 9 financings, loans to national and international franchisors, franchisees and restaurants, Islamic Shari’ah-compliant loans and loans to energy and utility companies.

Mr. Ladgenski assisted in the drafting and proposed implementation of a new commercial law system for post-war Afghanistan and has worked locally with Pro Bono Advocates and the Community Economic Development Project. He also serves on Katten’s Pro Bono and Associate Recruitment Committees.

Mr. Ladgenski is a member of the American Bar Association (Business Law Section), the Illinois State Bar Association (Commercial Banking, Collections, and Bankruptcy Section Council) and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in finance, with distinction, and a Bachelor of Arts in English. He then graduated, magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1999.

Representative Transactions

• Represented the administrative agent, joint bookrunners and lenders in connection with a $345,000,000 senior secured credit facility to facilitate the leveraged buyout of a national spring and fastener manufacturer comprised of over 13 divisions. Proceeds of the facility were used to consummate the acquisition, refinance existing debt and provide ongoing working capital and funds for future acquisitions.
• Represented the joint lead arranger, joint bookrunner, syndication agent and lender in connection with a $225,000,000 senior secured credit facility to facilitate the leveraged buyout of a foreign-based, NASDAQ-listed designer and provider of client/server products for electronic payments. Proceeds of the facility were used to consummate the acquisition, refinance existing debt and provide ongoing working capital and funds for future acquisitions. Also represented the administrative agent, joint lead arranger, joint bookrunner and lender in the refinanced credit facility, which facilitated the acquisition of a domestic developer and provider of money transfer and payments technology solutions.
• Represented the administrative agent, joint bookrunners and lenders in connection with a $185,000,000 senior secured credit facility to facilitate the leveraged buyout of a national and international franchisor of several different brands in the automobile aftermarkets. Proceeds of the facility were used to consummate the acquisition, refinance existing debt and provide ongoing working capital and funds for future acquisitions.
• Represented the issuing lender, documentation agent and certain senior lenders in connection with a $145,000,000 senior secured credit facility to facilitate the leveraged buyout of a nationally and internationally known restaurant chain with over 460 locations. Also represented the administrative agent, lead arranger, bookrunner and lenders in connection with a subsequent refinancing of such facility with the proceeds of high-yield debt.
• Represented the administrative agent, lead arranger, bookrunner and lenders in connection with a senior secured credit facility to facilitate the leveraged buyout of a privately-owned, multi-state restaurant chain with over 30 locations. Proceeds of the facility were used to consummate the acquisition, refinance existing debt and provide ongoing working capital and funds for future expansion.
• Represented the private equity buyer of and mezzanine lender to a produce grower and distributor in connection with its senior secured and mezzanine credit facilities. Proceeds of the facilities were used to consummate the acquisition, refinance existing debt and provide ongoing working capital and funds for future expansion.
• Represented the sole lender in connection with a senior secured credit facility to facilitate the debt financing of a U.C.C. Article 9 purchase of a furniture retailer with over 20 locations. Proceeds of the facility were used to consummate the acquisition, refinance existing debt and provide ongoing working capital.