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MoFo Represents Exantas Capital Corp. in $375 Million Financing and Management Contract Acquisition

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MoFo represented Exantas Capital Corp. (NYSE: XAN), an externally managed REIT that specializes in commercial real estate loans and credit investments, such as CMBSs, in connection with strategic financing agreements that will provide Exantas with up to $375 million of capital and in matters related to the acquisition of Exantas’s management contract by ACRES Capital, LLC, a subsidiary of ACRES Capital Corp., which is a middle market commercial real estate lender. 

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MoFo represented Exantas Capital Corp. (NYSE: XAN), an externally managed REIT that specializes in commercial real estate loans and credit investments, such as CMBSs, in connection with strategic financing agreements that will provide Exantas with up to $375 million of capital and in matters related to the acquisition of Exantas’s management contract by ACRES Capital, LLC, a subsidiary of ACRES Capital Corp., which is a middle market commercial real estate lender. The financing consists of a $250 million seven-year senior secured financing facility provided by Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual) and the issuance of up to $125 million of 12% senior unsecured notes and warrants to purchase an aggregate of up to 3.5 million shares of Exantas’s common stock to MassMutual and a fund managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P.The new financing will provide Exantas with the ability to fully repay its existing repurchase and warehouse facilities and with approximately $165 million of liquidity to implement the Company’s business plan to preserve and grow book value and earnings.The definitive agreements for the transaction were signed on July 31, 2020.The deal team included partners Tracy Bacigalupo, Spencer Klein, Geoff Peck, Heath Linsky, Justin Salon, and Jay Blaivas and associates Aisulu Masylkanova, Joe Sulzbach, Mara Goodman, and Mike Maroni, law clerk Thomas Belcastro, and paralegals Daniel Lopez and Monet Zaccarelli. Associates Katherine Erbeznik, Fred Muna, Marianne Marchiori, and Meredith Carr also assisted.

MoFo Represents Exantas Capital Corp. in $375 Million Financing and Management Contract Acquisition

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Spencer Klein is a corporate partner and serves as co-chair of the firm's global Mergers & Acquisitions Group.Spencer focuses his practice on M+A transactions and related matters such as proxy contests and takeover defense counseling. He has advised on more than 200 successfully closed mergers, tender and exchange offers, stock and asset acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. He is also a veteran of numerous contested matters and regularly counsels corporate boards and committees in transactional and high-profile corporate governance matters.Spencer frequently advises leading U.S. and multinational companies across multiple industries. His engagements include multi-billion dollar deals in health care and life sciences, financial services, technology, consumer products, manufacturing, retail, energy, and entertainment and media. In addition to prominent corporate clients and private equity funds, he has represented some of the world's leading bulge bracket and boutique investment banks.Prior to joining Morrison & Foerster, Spencer was a partner at O’Melveny & Myers LLP, McDermott Will & Emery LLP and Shearman & Sterling LLP. Spencer received his B.A. from The Pennsylvania State University in 1986, and his J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law in 1989, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Hofstra Law Review.Spencer has been recognized regularly as one of the world's leading M+A lawyers by International Financial Law Review, Super Lawyers, Legal 500 United States, and The World's Leading Lawyers for Mergers and Acquisitions: U.S. Expert Guide (Legal Media Group). He has been named a "New York Super Lawyer" by Law & Politics in each of the last fifteen editions. Legal 500 US has referred to Spencer as "one of the best deal lawyers in the country."Spencer serves as a Special Professor of Law at Hofstra University School of Law, a member of the Alumni Board of Visitors of the Department of Political Science at The Pennsylvania State University, and the founding Chair of the Hofstra Law Review Alumni Advisory Board.  In 2022, Spencer was an inaugural inductee into the Hofstra Law School Hall of Fame.

Spencer Klein

Global Co-Chair of M&A Practice

Geoff has extensive experience in representing investment banks, private debt funds, hedge funds, business development companies, asset managers, specialty finance companies, borrowers, and issuers in large-cap, middle-market, and mezzanine financings and restructurings.Geoff works with clients on domestic and international financing matters, particularly cross-border transactions, including:<ul><li>Acquisition financings</li><li>Asset-based financings</li><li>Bridge financings</li><li>First/second liens financings</li><li>Hybrid debt/equity financings</li><li>Preferred equity financings</li><li>Private placements</li><li>Project and infrastructure financings</li><li>Trade financings</li><li>Subordinated financings</li><li>Subscription-backed financings</li><li>Unitranche financings</li><li>Warehouse financings</li></ul>Geoff also regularly represents creditor committees, ad-hoc committees, creditors, and debtors in connection with insolvency matters, including complex workouts and restructurings, DIP financings, exit financings, secondary trading of debt and equity, and analysis of special situations trading opportunities.Clients regularly retain Geoff to develop new products and form documents.Geoff maintains an active pro bono practice and is the president of the board of trustees of GAIA, a non-profit organization providing health services in sub-Saharan Africa. He is also an active speaker and regularly writes on finance trends and issues.Before joining Morrison Foerster, Geoff worked at a global investment bank, where he provided legal advice and transaction management services to the bank’s proprietary and special situations investment groups, which included par and distressed trading groups.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><ul><li>Represented Alter Domus (f/k/a Cortland Capital Market Services) as loan agent related to the refinancing and amendment and extension of certain loan facilities of borrower Moran Foods, LLC (also known as Save A Lot). The refinancing includes a new $200 million asset-based lending credit facility and an extended maturity with respect to approximately $377 million of existing first and second lien loans.</li><li>Represented ResCap in its $1.45 billion DIP financing, a hybrid leveraged loan and securitization. International Financing Review named the transaction a 2013 restructuring of the year.</li><li>Represented the lead arranger and commercial lenders in $847 million of financings extended to Ecopetrol, the Colombian petroleum company. The loans were guaranteed by an export credit agency. Trade Finance magazine recognized the transaction as a 2013 deal of the year.</li><li>Represented Cerro de Aguila in its $595 million financing of a 525 MW hydroelectric power plant in Peru. Project Finance magazine recognized the transaction as a 2013 Latin American power deal of the year.</li><li>Represented the lead arrangers in connection with a $3.250 billion syndicated loan financing extended to finance the corporate reorganization of a global real estate company.</li><li>Represented the lead arrangers in connection with $785 million of trade financings extended to a Brazilian exporter.</li><li>Represented the lead arrangers in connection with a $357.5 million first/second lien bankruptcy exit financing extended to Rotech Healthcare.</li><li>Represented the lead arrangers in connection with a $160 million mezzanine financing extended to a Caribbean and Latin American telecommunications and media company.</li><li>Represented the lead arranger in connection with a $150 million subscription-backed financing extended to a global infrastructure fund.</li><li>Represented a business development company in connection with a $125 million syndicated debt capital raise.</li><li>Represented the administrative agent and lender in connection with a $116 million first/second lien financing extended to a chain of residential behavioral and addiction health treatment centers.</li><li>Represented the lead arrangers in connection with $24 million and £24 million of unitranche acquisition financings extended to affiliated U.S. and UK technologies companies.</li><li>Represented an infrastructure private equity fund in financing the acquisition of a 97 MW wind farm located in the Pacific Northwest.</li><li>Represented the lead arrangers in connection with an out-of-court restructuring of loans extended to a large chain of Mexican retail stores.</li><li>Represented Circuit of the Americas in connection with a syndicated loan and mezzanine financing used to construct a motor sports and multi-purpose entertainment venue in Austin, Texas, which hosts, among other events, the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix.</li></ul>

Geoffrey R. Peck

Partner

Justin is chair of the firm’s Capital Markets practice and former co-chair of Morrison Foerster’s REIT practice.Justin represents both issuers and underwriters in a wide variety of corporate and securities matters, including initial public offerings, primary and secondary offerings, private placements, senior and subordinated debt financings, and liability management transactions. In addition, he serves as primary outside counsel to numerous public company clients with respect to corporate governance issues, compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws, and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, as well as general corporate matters.For his role as lead attorney on Arm's IPO, The American Lawyer recently recognized Justin as a 2024 "Dealmaker of the Year," an award honoring lawyers who guided the most complex, groundbreaking, and impactful deals of the past year.Justin is recommended by The Legal 500 US 2023 for Capital Markets: Debt Offerings, Capital Markets: Equity Offerings, M&A / Corporate and Commercial: Private Equity Buyouts, and REITs. He is also recognized as a leading lawyer in Chambers USA 2023 for REITs.Justin is a member of the firm’s global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) steering committee.<h4 dir="ltr">Representative Experience</h4><h5 dir="ltr">Equity</h5><ul><li dir="ltr">Represented Arm Holdings plc, the world’s leading semiconductor IP company, in its blockbuster $5.22 billion USD IPO on Nasdaq, the largest IPO of 2023.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Armada Hoffler Properties, Inc. (NYSE: AHH) in connection with multiple follow-on offerings of common stock and preferred stock and represented the underwriters in connection with Armada Hoffler’s initial public offering.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Inovalon Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: INOV) in its initial public offering.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented RLJ Lodging Trust (NYSE: RLJ) in connection with its initial public offering.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with Plymouth Industrial REIT’s initial public offering, multiple follow-on offerings of common stock, and issuance of perpetual preferred stock.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with Community Healthcare Trust’s (NYSE: CHCT) initial public offering and numerous follow-on equity offerings.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Farmland Partners, Inc. (NYSE: FPI) in its initial public offering, subsequent public offerings of common stock, and offering of 6.00% Series B Participating Preferred Stock.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented issuers or underwriters in connection with SPAC IPOs for Anzu Special Acquisition Corp I, Endurance Acquisition Corp., Pegasus Digital Mobility Acquisition Corp., Revelstone Capital Acquisition Corp., Science Strategic Acquisition Corp. Alpha, and Sound Point Acquisition Corp. I.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Education Realty Trust (NYSE:EDR) in connection with multiple public offerings of common stock resulting in proceeds in excess of $1 billion.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented UDR, Inc. in connection with multiple follow-on equity offerings.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with multiple registered offerings of preferred stock and common stock by Sotherly Hotels (NASDAQ: SOHO).</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Trade Street Residential, Inc. in its backstopped rights offering and corresponding PIPE.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with Independence Realty Trust’s (NYSE: IRT) offering of common stock and concurrent listing on the NYSE.</li></ul><h5 dir="ltr">Debt and Liability Management</h5><ul><li dir="ltr">As designated underwriters’ counsel to Royal Dutch Shell Plc, represented the underwriters in connection with registered offerings of more than $30 billion of fixed and floating rate notes by Shell International Finance, the U.S. financing subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell Plc.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with the registered offering of $5 billion of notes by Novartis Capital Corporation, the U.S. financing subsidiary of Novartis AG.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Education Realty Trust (NYSE:EDR) in connection with multiple public offerings of debt securities resulting in proceeds in excess of $1 billion.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented ON Semiconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: ON) in its $500 million Rule 144A offering of 1.625% convertible senior notes, $805 million Rule 144A offering of its 0% convertible senior notes due 2027, and privately negotiated repurchase and exchange transactions for outstanding senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Vontier Corporation (NYSE: VNT) in its $1.6 billion 144A offering of senior notes and its $1.6 billion registered exchange offer.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO) in its $300 million 144A offering of 2.70% convertible senior notes and its $125 million Rule 144A offering of 3.75% convertible senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Whole Foods Market, Inc. in its $1 billion Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of 5.200% senior notes due 2025 and subsequent registered exchange offer.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the Commonwealth of the Bahamas in connection with its $100 million 144A sovereign debt offering.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented AutoZone, Inc. (NYSE: AZO) in connection with $1.55 billion of registered offerings of senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Smithfield Foods, Inc. in its $1 billion offering of senior notes and concurrent tender offer for over $750 million of outstanding senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP) in its $1.75 billion offering of senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Aventine Property Group in connection with its $100 million private offering of convertible senior notes.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the underwriters in connection with multiple registered offerings of senior notes by Sotherly Hotels (NASDAQ: SOHO).</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the placement agent in connection with the $50 million private offering of senior secured notes by Newport Realty Trust, a private mortgage REIT.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the placement agent in connection with the private placement of $100 million aggregate principal amount of 6.75% senior unsecured notes due 2023 issued by MCREIF SubREIT, LLC, a private REIT managed by M360 Advisors, and fully and unconditionally guaranteed by M360 CRE Income Fund LP.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the placement agent in connection with the private placement of $36.5 million aggregate principal amount of 7.5% senior unsecured notes due 2025 issued by NextPoint Real Estate Finance Operating Partnership, L.P., the operating partnership subsidiary of NexPoint Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE: NREF).</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the placement agent in connection with the private placement of $42.25 million aggregate principal amount of its 7.00% senior unsecured notes due 2026 issued by Pelorus Fund REIT, LLC.</li></ul><h5 dir="ltr">M&A</h5><ul><li dir="ltr">Represented Education Realty Trust in its $4.6 billion all-cash sale to a newly formed perpetual life vehicle led by an affiliate of Greystar Real Estate Partners.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented UDR, Inc. (NYSE: UDR) in connection with Home Properties, Inc.’s $7.6 billion acquisition by Lone Star Funds, in which UDR acquired six communities for approximately $908 million.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Greenlane Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNLN), in its merger of equals with KushCo Holdings, Inc.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Pivotal Investment Corp. II in connection with its merger with XL Fleet Corp., a leader in vehicle electrification solutions for commercial and municipal fleets.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Farmland Partners, Inc. in connection with its stock-for-stock acquisition of American Farmland Company (NYSE: AFCO), as well as more than $400 million of property acquisitions.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented Trade Street Residential, Inc. in its acquisition by Independence Realty Trust, Inc.</li><li dir="ltr">Represented the Special Committee of the board of directors of Bluerock Residential Growth REIT in connection with the proposed internalization of its external manager.</li></ul>

Justin R. Salon