Christopher P. Peterson | People

Chris Peterson is co-head of the firm's Capital Markets practice.

Mr. Peterson's practice is focused on issuances of equity and debt securities and mergers and acquisitions, with an emphasis on equity capital markets transactions on behalf of issuers at all stages of development and investment-grade, sovereign and high-yield debt transactions. In addition, he has extensive experience in financial restructuring and liability management, particularly in the context of acquisition finance and distressed corporate reorganizations. His practice also includes representation of private and public companies in general corporate, governance and securities law matters.

Mr. Peterson has been recognized in various national and international legal publications for his debt and equity capital markets work, most recently by Legal 500 US for Debt Offerings and Global Offerings and Latin Lawyer for the Private Equity Deal of the Year (2019). Mr. Peterson has been described as "very knowledgeable" and "flexible and creative," helping clients to "reach a mutually agreeable solution within the boundaries of relevant regulation."

Focus Areas

Experience

National Securities Clearing Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, in multiple notes offerings for aggregate proceeds of approximately $4 billion, including its inaugural offering of $2 billion aggregate principal amount of 1.200% and 1.500% senior notes pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S.
The Republic of Turkey, in numerous USD and euro-dominated debt offerings for aggregate proceeds of more than $15 billion, including Sharia-compliant sukuk transactions.
Enphase Energy in multiple offerings, of convertible senior notes for aggregate proceeds of approximately $400 million pursuant to Rule 144A.
Liberty Tire Recycling in an offering of $175 million of PIK notes and common stock pursuant to an exchange offer for its existing $225 million senior notes undertaken in connection with an out-of-court restructuring of the company.
Unifrax I LLC, a portfolio company of American Securities LLC and a leading worldwide manufacturer of industrial ceramic fiber products, in its inaugural high-yield offering of $205 million of 7.50% senior notes due 2019 as part of a $670 million financing transaction, and a subsequent $50 million additional notes offering and related consent solicitation, the proceeds of which were used, respectively, to fund Unifrax's acquisition of Lauscha Fiber International and to acquire strategic assets in China.

Evertec, Inc. in connection with various leveraged finance transactions, including the refinancing of its $650 million senior secured credit facility.
Spartan Capital Holdings Sp. z o.o., Eileme 1 AB (publ) and Eileme 2 AB (publ) in the offering of €542 million of 11.75% senior notes due 2020, $500 million of 11.625% senior notes due 2020 and $201 million PIK notes due 2020. The offering was used to refinance the high yield and PIK bridge loans incurred in connection with the PLN 18.1 billion acquisition of Polkomtel, Poland's second-largest mobile network operator.
Johnson & Johnson in its offering of $4.4 billion of various floating and fixed rate senior notes.
Weather Investments S.p.A, Wind Telecom S.p.A. and affiliated companies in the €2 billion bridge, high-yield and PIK financing for the €12 billion leveraged buyout of Wind. The Wind transaction was named "European Debt & Equity-Linked Deal of 2005" by International Financial Law Review.
Central European Media Enterprises Ltd. (CME) in connection with a refinancing transaction with Time Warner Inc. and numerous tender and exchange offers pursuant to the restructuring of existing indebtedness of CME.
The dealers and arrangers, led by Citigroup Global Markets, Inc., in the establishment of a $15 billion medium term notes program by Svenska Handelsbanken AB (publ) and the Section 3(a)(2) issuance thereunder of $1.25 billion of senior notes.
The underwriters led Barclays Capital, in a public offering of $600 million of 7.375% senior notes due 2020 by PVH Corp. (PVH). The offerings were used to fund PVH's acquisition of Tommy Hilfiger Corp.

ISCA Inc., an early-stage agricultural biotech company that offers greener integrated pest management solutions that eliminate or greatly reduce the need for pesticides, in the sale of its ownership interest to De Sangosse SAS, a leading international player in agricultural BioSolutions.
Wheels Up Partners Holdings LLC, the private aviation company, in its combination with Aspirational Consumer Lifestyle Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, at an enterprise value of $2.1 billion.
Virtuoso Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company, on its combination with Wejo Limited to take the UK-based leader in connected vehicle data public in an equity value deal of approximately $1.1 billion.
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation in its offering of $550 million Fixed Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Perpetual Series D Preferred Stock.
CuriosityStream, the first streaming media company devoted to factual entertainment, in its combination with Software Acquisition Group, Inc., a special purpose acquisition company, at an equity valuation of $512 million.

Union Acquisition Corp., a Cayman Islands domiciled special purpose acquisition company, in connection with its combination with Bioceres, Inc., a leading Argentinian provider of agricultural productivity solutions. Named Private Equity Deal of the Year (2019) by Latin Lawyer.
CuriosityStream in a $100 million registered offering of common stock.
CuriosityStream in simultaneous Rule 144A and Reg D offerings of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock for aggregate proceeds of $154 million.
American Securities LLC and its affiliated funds in various secondary offerings and block trades of the common stock of its portfolio company, Fairmount Santrol Holdings Inc.
Evertec Inc. in connection with the implementation of its common stock repurchase plan, including an accelerated share repurchase program.
Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) in a registered offering of common stock concurrently with a Rule 144A offering of high-yield senior secured notes, resulting in aggregate proceeds of $1.2 billion. The offerings were used to finance, among other things, CEDC's acquisition of the Russian Alcohol Group.
The underwriters, led by BofA Merrill Lynch, in a public offering of $330 million of common stock by PVH, used to fund PVH's acquisition of Tommy Hilfiger Corp.
CEDC in the first-ever SEC-registered and European Union Prospectus Directive-compliant equity offering and concurrent Warsaw Stock Exchange dual listing.

Perspectives

August 5, 2024

Arnold & Porter’s Corporate and Financial Capabilities Recognized in 2024 IFLR1000 North America Guide

February 9, 2024

SEC Publishes Final Rule for SPAC Transactions, Bringing Much-Needed Clarity and Certainty to Rules for Capital Raising

Advisory

January 11, 2024

New Year’s Resolutions for Healthier…SEC Reporting and Compliance

Arnold & Porter Webinar

January 5, 2024

Arnold & Porter Advises on Over $30 Billion of Sovereign Finance Deals in 2023

November 6, 2023

SEC Grants Relief for Private Issuers of Fixed-Income Securities Under Rule 144A

Advisory

More

Recognition

IFLR1000

"Highly Regarded" Capital Markets: Debt — USA (2023-2024)
"Highly Regarded" Capital Markets: Equity, M&A — USA (2023-2024)
"Notable Practitioner" Capital Markets: Debt — USA (2019-2022)
"Notable Practitioner" Capital Markets: Equity, M&A — USA (2019-2022)
Cited for US: Capital Markets — Debt & Equity (2013)

The Legal 500 US

Capital Markets: Debt Offerings (2018-2022)
Capital Markets: Global Offerings (2019-2022)
"Leading Lawyer" Capital Markets: High-Yield Debt Offerings (2011)

Latin Lawyer

"Private Equity Deal of the Year" (2019)

Credentials

Education

J.D., New York University School of Law, 1997
B.S., Georgetown University, 1991, cum laude

Admissions

New York

Activities

Member, American Bar Association
Member, New York State Bar Association
Member, Federal Circuit Bar Association