Jan Wilms is a partner in the Corporate & Financial Services Department and leads the German Finance Department. He focuses on syndicated lending transactions, in particular leveraged buy-out financing, corporate lending and project financing. Jan regularly advises sponsors, borrowers and lenders on a wide range of syndicated lending matters.
Acquisition Finance
Jan represents private equity firms, their portfolio companies, banks and direct lending funds in acquisition financing transactions. He has extensive experience in syndicated senior and subordinated debt transactions, including related recapitalization, amend-to-extend and financial restructuring transactions; his practice also covers unitranche financing transactions.
Chambers Global (2024) and Chambers Europe (2024) rank Jan among the leading individuals practicing in the area of Banking & Finance in Germany.
Corporate Lending
Jan represents borrowers and lenders in corporate lending transactions. His practice covers any kind of syndicated term, revolving credit or bonding facilities for corporate purposes, including promissory note bonds (Schuldschein), and "sponsorless" mezzanine and expansion capital investments. Jan also advises corporate borrowers in financial restructuring transactions.
Project Finance
Jan represents sponsors and borrowers in project financing transactions. His practice in particular covers the financing of photovoltaic projects in Europe and recycling raw materials projects.
The German leading directory JUVE Handbuch ranks Jan as a recommended lawyer in the area loans and acquisition financing.
Jan is fluent in German and English.
Experience
Prior to joining Willkie, Jan was an associate in the Frankfurt office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy.
Acquisition Finance
- BBS Automation in its acquisitions of China-based ReaLead, Italy-based Team S.r.l. and Poland-based ANT Sp. z o.o.
- EQT Mid Market fund in its agreement to sell Avenso GmbH to LUMAS Art Editions GmbH and Avenso in its sale of WhiteWall to CEWE Stiftung & Co. KGaA
- Permira Credit Solutions in the financing for Vitruvian Partners’ acquisition of Berlin-based healthcare staffing company doctari
- IK Investment Partners in its pending acquisition of Bretèche Industrie Group from Equistone Partners and Céréa Capital
- Ardian portfolio company Gantner Electronic Austria Holding GmbH in its acquisition of Syx Automations NV
- 3i Group plc in its agreement to invest up to €247 million in Formel D GmbH
- Ardian in its acquisition of SLV from Cinven
- Schenck Process on €455 million refinancing of existing senior and mezzanine acquisition facilities
- Ardian in its acquisition of Gantner Electronics
- IK Investment Partners in the sale of Sport Group
- Ardian in its acquisition of ADA Cosmetics International GmbH from the Carlyle Group
- Schenck Process on €470 million senior and mezzanine amend-to-extend transaction
- Rockwood/Sachtleben Group on €430 million refinancing of senior acquisition facilities
- AXA Private Equity on €155 million senior acquisition financing for Riemser Pharma
- Halder on €20 million senior acquisition financing for AquaVital
- AXA Private Equity on the sale of a majority stake in HSE 24 to Providence
- AXA Private Equity on €112 million senior acquisition financing / €142 million recapitalization for HSE 24
- Commerzbank in its role as largest lender in the financial restructuring of Schaeffler Group' €12 billion acquisition facilities
- EQT Partners on subordinated debt financing for Capvis’ acquisition of KVT-Koenig
- EQT Partners on mezzanine (re-)financing for Auctus' acquisition of PharmaZell
Corporate Lending
- EQT Partners on expansion capital investment in internetstores, and in the subsequent sale of internetstores to SIGNA Retail
- 3i-backed ATESTEO on €70 million refinancing/recapitalisation
- Gigaset AG on syndicated revolving credit and acquisition facilities and their restructuring
- Eramet S.A. on EUR 100 million promissory note bond (Schuldschein)
- EQT Partners on expansion capital investment in Sportradar
Project Finance
- Voigt & Coll. on the financing of various photovoltaic projects
- Tartech AG on the financing of various recycling raw materials projects
Credentials
Education
Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main, Second State Exam, 2004 University of Frankfurt am Main, First State Exam, 2001