John Michael Knapke

Willkie represented UK-based fund manager Blue Water Energy LLP, which provides capital to growing and established companies in the international energy sector, in the global fundraising for its second private equity fund. Willkie client Blue Water Energy LLP announced the final closing of Blue Water Energy Fund II, (BWE Fund II), with total commitments in excess of $1.1 billion, surpassing its target of $1 billion after securing further commitments from a number of new limited partners. Founded in 2011, Blue Water Energy is a leading global middle market energy specialist private equity firm based in London. The firm primarily targets investments in the reserves, upstream and midstream/downstream sectors, while partnering with best-in-class management teams and utilizing a network of seasoned investment and operating professionals. Since raising its two funds, (BWE Fund I and BWE Fund II), Blue Water Energy has $2.5 billion under management and a global portfolio of 14 companies. For BWE Fund II, Blue Water will continue its buy and build strategy focused exclusively on opportunities in the exploration and production; upstream equipment and services and mid/downstream equipment and services sub-sectors. The cross-border, multidisciplinary Willkie deal team was led by partner Solomon Wifa and included partners Hillel Jacobson and Peter Haller; UK partners Henrietta de Salis and Judith Harger; and associates Colin Fulton, John Knapke, Caitlin Link and Ross Weinstein.

Dec 8

1 min

Willkie advised client Monarch Alternative Capital LP on the formation of Monarch Capital Partners V (MCP V), its fifth closed-end fund, which is poised to capitalize on distressed opportunities in the current market. On December 8, Monarch Alternative Capital LP, a leading distressed and opportunistic credit investment firm, announced the final close of Monarch Capital Partners V. Monarch raised $3 billion of capital for its oversubscribed fifth closed-end fund, which is poised to capitalize on distressed opportunities in the current market. Monarch Capital Partners V launched in early 2020, ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund began investing upon the first close in May 2020 and has been actively deploying capital. Monarch's seasoned team, which has been together through multiple distressed cycles, is well positioned to capitalize on the dynamic and unpredictable environment arising from COVID-19. Through October 31, 2020, MCP V has deployed $1.1 billion of capital across 38 different investments. Firmwide, Monarch has invested over $3.5 billion into the distressed asset class, the most capital the firm has deployed in a year since 2008. Monarch Alternative Capital LP is a global investment firm founded in 2002 with offices in New York and London. The firm manages approximately $8.3 billion across its closed-end funds, open-ended fund, and customized solutions. Monarch focuses primarily on distressed situations and opportunistic credit across corporate debt, structured credit, real estate, government debt, and special situations. Willkie had previously advised Monarch on MCP V's predecessor funds, including MCP IV for which Monarch had raised $1.25 billion in 2017 The Willkie team was led by fund formation partners Lior Ohayon and John Knapke, and included partners Hillel Jacobson and Peter Haller, and associates Matthew Pei and Caitlin Link.

Dec 11

1 min

Willkie represented Gainline in the fund closing. On April 8, Willkie client Gainline Capital Partners LP announced that it reached $155 million for the final closing of its first private equity fund, Gainline Equity Fund LP.   The fund invests in the United States lower middle-market, with a particular focus on seeking to opportunistically make investments with the primary purpose of obtaining control or influence in its portfolio companies. Gainline has already completed two platform investments and is actively evaluating opportunities across the business services, niche manufacturing and consumer products industries. The firm targets high-quality, fundamentally sound businesses that have proven business models, stable and mature revenue bases and prospects for substantial returns, but which stand to benefit from Gainline's hands-on management approach to creating value. The Fund expects to invest between $5 million and $35 million in each portfolio company, and expects to consummate investments of up to $100 million in partnership with the firm's institutional limited partner co-investors. Willkie also represents Gainline Capital Partners in connection its portfolio company acquisitions and other strategic matters. The fund formation matter was led by partner Phillip Isom, and included partners Gregory Astrachan, Antonio Yanez, Russell Pinilis, Peter Haller and Anne Choe, and associates John Knapke, David Bakal and Camille Grant.

May 15

1 min

Willkie represented Andros in the formation and closing of its inaugural investment fund. On August 18, Andros Capital Partners LLC announced the closing of its inaugural investment fund Andros Energy Capital LP (the “Fund”) at its $250 million hard cap. The Fund will target private equity investments, credit opportunities and direct asset-level investments across the energy sector and is primarily focused on middle-market transactions requiring between $25 and $200 million of capital. Andros Capital Partners LLC is a private investment firm based in Houston, Texas. It was founded in 2020 by Managing Partner Phillip A. Gayle, Jr., who also serves as the chairman of the Fund’s executive and investment committees. Gayle is joined on the investment committee by Gregory A. Beard, former global head of natural resources and senior partner at Apollo Global Management, and Kurt Palmer, chief investment officer at Beemok Capital. The transaction was led by partners Michael De Voe Piazza and Phillip Isom, and included partner John Knapke, with assistance from associates Will Thanheiser and Marissa Fox.

Aug 21

1 min

Willkie advised client Monarch Alternative Capital LP (Monarch) on the formation of Monarch Capital Partners VI (MCP VI), the sixth iteration of Monarch’s flagship closed-end fund. On September 30, Monarch, a leading opportunistic credit and real estate investment firm, held the final closing of MCP VI. Monarch raised over $4.7 billion of capital for MCP VI, significantly exceeding its target of $3.5 billion and surpassing the size of its 2020 predecessor fund, with strong backing from both existing and new investors across geographies and channels. The fund’s global and flexible strategy is designed to capitalize on complexity and dislocation across various areas of opportunistic credit and real estate, including corporate loans and bonds, capital solution investments, real estate lending, structured credit, and other areas. Monarch is a global investment firm founded in 2002 with over $15 billion in assets under management across its closed-end funds, open-ended fund, and customized solutions. Monarch focuses primarily on opportunistic credit and real estate across various market segments and instrument types. Willkie previously advised Monarch on MCP VI's predecessor funds, including MCP V for which Monarch raised $3 billion in 2020. The Willkie team was led by fund formation partners John Knapke and Lior Ohayon, and included partners Russell Pinilis and Alexander Ryan, and associates Matthew Pei, Dana Wellesly-Stein, Mary Trujillo, Siyuan Fang, Caitlin Link and Joshua Baskin.

Oct 9

1 min