John Chua
Photo of John Chua

Cheng Aik Chua (John Chua)

Counsel

Email

john.chua@aoshearman.com

Phone

+1 212 848 4737

Offices

New York

V-CARD

John represents leading global financial institutions, private credit funds and direct lenders in a wide range of complex financing transactions, including leveraged and investment-grade acquisition financings, refinancings, syndicated credit facilities, asset-based revolving facilities, bridge and mezzanine financings, and unitranche and direct lending transactions.

He has particularly deep experience advising arrangers, agents and lenders on cross-border financings (including in connection with cross-border acquisitions). He counsels clients on the structuring, negotiation, and documentation of credit facilities across the broadly syndicated loan and private credit markets, spanning commitment papers, credit agreements, amendments, refinancings, and out-of-court restructurings.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • Credit Suisse, Bank of Montreal and additional arrangers on the USD2.021 billion financing, comprising of a first lien term loan and revolving facility, second lien term loan and an asset-based revolving facility, for Cinven's acquisition of Bayer Environmental Science, a carve-out of Bayer AG's environmental science business.
  • The lead arrangers on the financing for Ferrero’s USD3.1bn acquisition of WK Kellogg.
  • Bank of America, N.A and other asset-based lenders on the financing of Macy's Inventory Funding LLC’s USD2.1bn asset-based revolving credit facility.
  • The lenders and agents on the financing of Mill Point Capital LLC's acquisition of AeriTek Global LLC, the commercial refrigeration and food service equipment businesses of FEMSA, in a corporate carve-out transaction.
  • Boston Scientific Corporation on a range of financing transactions, including the financing for its USD15bn acquisition of Penumbra, Inc.
  • Trivium Packaging B.V. on an approximately USD2.93bn cross-border financing comprising a term loan B facility, an asset-based revolving facility, and first lien and second lien secured notes.
  • The lead arrangers (direct lenders) on the financing for a private equity sponsor’s approximately USD1bn acquisition of a Californian food company.
  • The lead arranger (direct lender) on the financing for a private equity sponsor’s approximately USD1bn acquisition of a Texas retail company.
  • Vista Credit Partners and other secured lenders on the cross-border recapitalization of Afiniti Limited, involving the restructuring of approximately USD522 million of the existing secured credit debt obligations (including the amendment of the existing Credit Agreement) and a lender-led asset transfer resulting in the secured lender group acquiring majority ownership, implemented through a Bermuda provisional liquidation with U.S. Chapter 15 recognition.
  • Bank of America, N.A on an amendment to Enviri Corporation's existing credit facility in connection with Veolia Environnement S.A.'s acquisition of Enviri's Clean Earth business and the concurrent spin-off of the Harsco Environmental and Rail businesses.
  • Morgan Stanley and other lenders on the amendment and extension of Sensata Technologies’ USD650m revolving credit facility.
  • Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc. on its USD250m asset-based revolving credit facility secured by accounts receivable.
  • Brookfield Infrastructure Group LLC and affiliates on a USD250m back-leverage debt facility for PosiGen Backleverage, LLC.
  • Vista Credit Partners on ARR credit facilities for Demandbase and Deepwatch.
  • The lead arranger on a first lien term loan facility to finance a management buyout of a New York based real estate development firm.
  • Private Export Funding Corporation and the Export-Import Bank of the United States on three series of secured notes totaling USD975m.

Pro bono

  • Advising the Lower Eastside Girls Club of New York on various finance matters. 

Published Work

  • Ilona Potiha Laor; John Chua; Dino Peragallo; Aylmer Wang, (2025) “Syndicated vs. Direct Lending: Evolution of Competing Yet Complementary Debt Financing Providers”, NY: International Comparative Legal Guides (ICLG)
  • Co-author, (2025) “Banking & Finance 2025: USA - Law and Practice”, NY: Chambers and Partners Global Practice Guides

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • Member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York

Qualifications

Admissions

Attorney-at-Law, New York

Advocate and Solicitor, Singapore

Academic

New York University School of Law, LL.M.

National University of Singapore, LL.B. (First Class Honors)

Languages

English, Mandarin
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.