George Ticknor

George Ticknor represents banks, finance companies, public and private investment funds, and other financial institutions on a transactional basis and as general counsel. He also serves as outside counsel to public companies in the financial services and media industries. George also represents private equity funds and their portfolio companies, investment funds, sponsor and other investor groups making investments and acquisitions.

George has been involved in acquisitions and financings in a broad range of industries with a focus on the financial services and technology, media and telecommunications (“TMT”) sectors. His experience also encompasses debt capital market transactions, including high yield debt and syndicated loan financings and restructurings, securitization, second lien and mezzanine financings. He also represents private equity portfolio companies and other operating companies in a range of industries, including communications and financial services.

George’s experience includes the representation of:

• Archtop Fiber, a provider of multi-gig, 100%-fiber internet and phone service to residential and business customers, in its acquisition of GTel, a voice, video and internet service provider based in Germantown, New York
• Archtop Fiber in its acquisition of Hancock Telephone Company, a family-owned telecommunications provider based in Hancock, New York
• ArcLight Capital Partners’ sale of Pride Convenience Holdings, LLC, which operates 31 convenience stores in highly desirable locations, to ARKO, one of the largest operators of convenience stores and wholesalers of fuel in the United States, at a purchase price of approximately $230 million
• ArcLight Capital Partners, LLC affiliate in the acquisition of the Pride retail chain of stores for an undisclosed amount
• Bank of America, N.A. in a $495 million credit facility in favor of Ameresco, a leading energy company
• Post Road Group and its portfolio companies in a series of combined senior debt and equity financings in the telecommunications and healthcare industries including the acquisitions of several regional telephone companies and broadband providers
• Various funds of the Audax Group investing in debt instruments over many transactions for the past 15 years
• Deutsche Bank in establishing a $25 million term loan facility in favor of RapidMiner, Inc., that is secured by collateral in the United States, Hungary, Germany and the United Kingdom
• Softworld, Inc., a leading technology staffing and workforce solutions firm, in its sale to Kelly Services, Inc. (Nasdaq: KELYA, KELYB)
• Kofile, Inc., and its majority investor, Audax Private Equity, in its October 2, 2020 acquisition of Bizodo, Inc. (d/b/a SeamlessDocs)
• Lamar Advertising Company, a leading company in the outdoor advertising business for over 30 years, in many transactions, including:
  • High yield debt offerings aggregating billions of dollars, including the issuance of $1.55 billion in senior notes in 2020 over multiple transactions
  • Conversion of Lamar to a REIT and establishment of UPREIT structure
  • Several credit facilities, including its current credit facility, consisting of a $750 million revolving credit facility, a $350 million Term Loan A and a $600 million Term Loan B
  • Its $250 million accounts receivable securitization program
  • Its acquisition of Fairway Outdoor Advertising’s billboard operations in five U.S. markets from GTCR, LLC, for $418.5 million
  • Its acquisition of the assets of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings Inc. in five U.S. markets for $458.5 million
• NewStar Financial Inc. in a range of transactions since 2004, including:
  • The definitive agreement for First Eagle Investment Management to acquire NewStar
  • The definitive agreement for NewStar to sell portfolio and investment assets, including approximately $2.4 billion of middle market loans and other credit investments to a newly formed investment fund sponsored by GSO Capital Partners LLP
  • The sale of its equipment finance business and related assets to Radius Bank for approximately $140 million
  • The sale of its asset based lending subsidiary, NewStar Business Credit LLC to Sterling National Bank for approximately $330 million
  • A $300 million Senior Notes offering and subsequent “add ons”
  • A $100 million financing with Fortress Credit Corporation
  • A $70 million facility with Macquarie Bank, which was later restructured
  • Various special purpose asset financings including “Master Repos” to fund mortgage financing
  • Served as general counsel advising on loan transactions and restructurings and on matters relating to governance, disclosure, securities, investment advisor matters and debt and capital raises
• Bank of America as administrative agent, lender and arranger in leveraged financings, including $100 million financing in favor of Ameresco
• Credit Suisse as administrative agent in restructuring of credit facility in favor of Liberman Broadcasting
• GE Capital as administrative agent, lender and arranger in a series of leveraged finance transactions in the TMT group prior to the sale of the GE Capital loan portfolio to Capital One
• Capital One in transactions in their TMT group, including credit facilities in favor of Sinclair/Tribune Broadcasting and Cunningham Broadcasting
• Atalaya Capital in a series of combined senior debt and equity transactions in telecommunications, broadcasting and branding industries, including restructuring and realizing on an investment in a European telecommunications company Alltran, a portfolio company of a private equity firm, in connection with the restructuring of first and second lien loan facilities, and its subsequent sale
• A nationally prominent private equity firm and various portfolio companies in a range of matters, including mergers and acquisitions and financing activities, commercial and employment litigation, OSHA and environmental matters
• CapX Partners and its successor Accord Financial in equipment lease facilities
• Funds affiliated with private equity firms and banks, including Citizens Bank, investing in high yield debt and term debt financings