James Markus

Senior Counsel Dallas

T +1 214.651.5366

F +1 214.200.0648

[email protected]

Biography

In practice for more than 40 years, Jim Markus represents financial institutions, corporations, private equity firms and alternative lenders on a range of corporate finance and restructuring transactions. Jim’s practice focuses on commercial lending and corporate finance, with a special emphasis on asset-based lending, syndicated financings, leveraged acquisitions, and mezzanine finance. He also handles complex workouts of troubled loans, including in-court and out-of-court restructurings. Jim is dedicated to understanding his clients’ capital needs and designing practical and effective financing solutions to address the risks and opportunities they face.

In addition to his vast experience with financial institutions, Jim has worked with companies from a diverse array of industries. He has also served as pro bono counsel to the Dallas Children’s Theater for several decades, including handling the financing for the acquisition and construction of their current facility.

Known for his careful and deliberate approach, Jim is one of only a few lawyers recognized for more than 10 years in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.) under both banking law and bankruptcy and creditor/debtor law. That publication also selected Jim as a "Lawyer of the Year" in 2018. Jim’s work in banking and finance is noted in Chambers USA (Chambers and Partners), where one client describes him as “a terrific lawyer” and “a thorough practitioner.”

Jim is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and is a member of a number of industry organizations, including the Turnaround Management Association, the Dallas Bar Association, the Secured Finance Network (SFNet), and the Texas Association of Bank Counsel. He also serves on the American Bar Association’s Commercial Financial Services Committee, Business Law Section.

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Selected Client Representations

A $1.05 billion cross-border, secured asset-based revolving credit facility to an international distributor of pipe valves and fittings
A $400 million syndicated cross-border, secured asset-based revolving credit facility and term loan
A $2.035 billion secured term loan to Sunoco L.P.
A $1.5 billion secured revolving credit facility to Sunoco L.P.

Asset-Based Lending

Administrative agent in a $375 million U.S./Canadian/U.K./Singapore cross-border, multi-currency syndicated credit facility to an integrated manufacturer and distributor of oil field tubular products
A $300 million U.S/Canadian/German/Swiss/U.K. cross-border, multi-currency syndicated credit facility to a fragrance company
A $200 million amended and restated revolving credit facility, with U.S. and German tranches, to Neenah Paper, Inc.
Conversion of a $300 million cash flow revolving credit loan into a $250 million asset-based credit facility to an oilfield services holding company and its 24 subsidiaries
Administrative agent in a $150 million cross-border revolving credit facility to a global pipeline contractor and its numerous U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries
A $50 million exit financing enabling a manufacturer of geosynthetic lining products to consummate its plan of reorganization and emerge from bankruptcy

Syndicated Finance

A privately held oil and gas exploration and production company in a $500 million reserve-based first lien revolving credit facility and a $125 million second lien term loan
Administrative agent in a $200 million asset-based revolving credit facility for a concrete producer
A provider of hospice services in a $160 million syndicated revolving credit facility and term loan B in connection with a successful tender offer for a public company
Administrative agent in a $150 million revolving credit facility to a refining company
A rental company specializing in drill pipes and related drilling tools in a $120 million senior revolving credit facility and term loan in connection with the acquisition of related companies providing rental services and equipment

Mezzanine Finance

Private equity firm in connection with a second lien term loan to a pharmaceutical company
Private equity firms in connection with a second lien term loan to an operator of hospice centers
Private equity firm in a $135 second lien term loan which, together with a $305 million first lien credit facility, enabled the acquisition of a global market research company
Private equity firm in connection with a second lien term loan to enable an acquisition
Private equity firm in a mezzanine financing as part of the $120 million acquisition of a wire and wireless connectivity products manufacturer

Acquisition & Leveraged Finance

Administrative agent in a $275 million asset-based revolving credit facility to a janitorial supply distributor
An initial $75 million revolving credit facility and term loan for an acquisition, followed by a $195 million syndicated revolving credit and term loan to make additional acquisitions
A private equity sponsor in a $90 million unitranche revolving credit and term loan facility to finance the acquisition of a practice development and supply chain solutions provider for independent optometrists and dentists in the United States and Canada
Administrative agent in a $120 million revolving credit facility to a distributor of insulation products
Administrative agent in a $120 million asset-based revolving credit facility in connection with the acquisition of an importer and distributor of pipe used in the energy and construction sectors

Restructuring & Reorganization

Administrative agent in the workout of a $400 million secured reserve-based revolving credit facility to Emerald Oil, Inc. and its subsequent chapter 11 bankruptcy
Workout of $150 million of guaranteed loans to Provident Royalties, resulting in acquisition of the collateral through a bankruptcy sale
An agent in the workout of a $75 million syndicated credit facility to an appliance manufacturer
Lender in an out-of-court restructuring of $59 million of winery and vineyard loans to an affiliated group of companies
Workout and restructuring of a $97.5 million second lien term loan
An exit financing consisting of $150 million revolving credit and term loan facility, and $55 million of senior secured notes
An agent in the workout of a $75 million syndicated asset-based credit facility to a trucking company

Professional Affiliations and Engagements

Awards and Recognitions