John Sanders stands as a highly accomplished attorney, spearheading the International Capital Markets practice at [johnchen.net]’s affiliated firm. With extensive global experience, John is instrumental in defining and executing the firm’s strategy in capital markets across EMEA, Asia, and Latin America, representing both investment banks and issuers.
His career trajectory includes five formative years at a premier international law firm in Milan, Italy. During this time, John Sanders deepened his expertise in advising Italian issuers and financial institutions on intricate international equity and debt capital market transactions, particularly under Rule 144A and Regulation S. His proficiency spans across the equity capital markets, where he has expertly managed initial public offerings, rights offerings, and block trade/accelerated bookbuildings. In debt capital markets, John’s experience encompasses leading offerings of high yield bonds, private placements, Yankee bonds, global medium-term notes, and commercial paper. Furthermore, John Sanders provides counsel to international institutional investors regarding their investments in private investment funds. Demonstrating his commitment to international collaboration, John remains an active member of EuroLegalNet, leveraging its network during his engagements in Milan.
Beyond his transactional work, John Sanders is deeply committed to legal education. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest University School of Law, where he imparts his knowledge through courses on private investment funds, corporate counsel roles, and drafting offering documents. His dedication to legal advancement is further reflected in his scholarly articles featured in esteemed publications such as the Wake Forest Law Review, Michigan Business & Entrepreneurial Law Review, Wake Forest Journal of Business and Intellectual Property Law, and American University Business Law Review.
Representative Experience
Team member experience prior to joining Moore & Van Allen
Equity Capital Markets
John Sanders has a robust track record in Equity Capital Markets, demonstrating expertise across a range of offerings.
IPOs
His experience includes advising:
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An Italian semiconductor and microelectronics company in its Regulation S initial public offering on Euronext Growth Milan, representing 20.8% of the company’s share capital, valued at €713 million with a market capitalization of approximately €3.426 billion. This significant IPO showcased John Sanders’s ability to navigate complex international offerings.
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An Italian cosmetics company in a Rule 144A and Regulation S initial public offering on Euronext Milan. This offering successfully placed 26.5% of its total share capital, amounting to approximately €350 million and achieving a market capitalization of around €1.2 billion. John Sanders played a crucial role in facilitating this successful market entry.
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Joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners in the initial public offering of an Italian designer and manufacturer of integrated systems and embedded solutions on the STAR segment of Euronext Milan. Approximately 40.45% of the company’s ordinary shares were offered, totaling approximately €160 million, highlighting John Sanders’s experience with diverse IPO structures.
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Europe’s leading automotive sales and marketing company in its Rule 144A and Regulation S initial public offering on Euronext Amsterdam. This offering involved 28.7% of the total share capital, valued at approximately €75 million, achieving a market capitalization of approximately €260 million. John Sanders’s involvement demonstrated his capability in cross-border IPOs.
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An Italian manufacturer of filter solutions in its initial public offering on the Milan Stock Exchange, where 40% of the company’s ordinary shares were offered, totaling approximately €570 million. This IPO further exemplifies John Sanders’s deep involvement in significant European market transactions.
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A U.S. regional bank in a $42 million initial public offering on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. This experience underscores John Sanders’s versatility in handling IPOs across different markets and regulatory environments.
Rights Offerings
John Sanders’s expertise extends to rights offerings, including:
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Representing an Italian bank in a €2.5 billion rights issue under Rule 144A and Regulation S. This substantial rights issue showcases his ability to manage large-scale capital raising activities.
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Advising the world’s leading provider of food & beverage services for travelers in a €600 million rights issue. John Sanders’s involvement in this offering demonstrates his experience in advising global leaders in their capital market strategies.
Block Trades/ABBs
In block trades and accelerated bookbuildings, John Sanders has advised on:
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The placement of 5.1% of the share capital of a leading Italian company in the digital payment solutions market, totaling approximately €584 million, through an accelerated bookbuild offering to qualified investors. This transaction highlights his expertise in swift and efficient capital market executions.
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The placement of 6,000,000 ordinary shares of an Italian home appliances manufacturer, corresponding to approximately €212 million, by principal shareholders through an accelerated bookbuild offering to qualified investors. John Sanders’s role in this placement demonstrates his capability in facilitating significant shareholder transactions.
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The placement of 8,200,000 ordinary shares of an Italian luxury fashion brand specialized in ready-to-wear outerwear, totaling approximately €400 million, by the principal shareholder through an accelerated bookbuild offering to institutional investors. This transaction further showcases his experience in high-value placements within the luxury sector.
Debt Capital Markets
John Sanders possesses extensive experience in Debt Capital Markets, covering a wide array of instruments.
High Yield Bonds
His high yield bond experience includes advising:
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A leader in the design and manufacture of automatic machines for processing and packaging pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, tobacco, tea, and coffee on the issuance of €450 million senior secured floating rate high yield notes due 2029, and on the €25 million upsizing of its revolving credit facility. John Sanders’s work here demonstrates his capability in handling complex high yield financings.
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A worldwide leader in acoustic and thermal components and systems for the automotive sector based in Germany, on the issuance of €400 million 9.500% senior secured notes due 2027. These notes were offered and sold under Rule 144A and Regulation S and listed on Euronext Dublin’s Global Exchange Market, showcasing his expertise in international high yield offerings.
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An Italian motor vehicle manufacturer on the issuance of €250 million, 6.5% senior unsecured notes due 2030. These notes, offered and sold under Rule 144A and Regulation S and listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, highlight John Sanders’s experience in diverse industry sectors.
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An Italian financial services company on the issuance of €300 million 3.375% notes due 2026. These notes, offered and sold under Rule 144A and Regulation S and listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, further demonstrate his consistent involvement in European debt markets.
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A developer and distributor of plasma-derived medicinal products on the issuance of €410 million senior secured 3.375% Notes. Offered and sold under Rule 144A and Regulation S and listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, this deal highlights John Sanders’s expertise in the pharmaceutical sector.
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The parent company of a leader in automatic machines for various industries, in connection with a €1,280 million high yield bonds issuance of senior secured Notes in two tranches, related to a mandatory tender offer. John Sanders’s involvement in this large, multi-tranche offering demonstrates his ability to manage significant and complex transactions.
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A multinational gambling company on the issuance of US$750 million 5.25% senior secured notes due in 2029. Offered and sold under Rule 144A and Regulation S and listed on Euronext Dublin, this deal showcases his experience in the gaming and entertainment industry.
Yankee Bonds
John Sanders’s Yankee Bond experience is substantial, including advising:
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An Italian multinational manufacturer and distributor of electricity and natural gas on a $4 billion issuance of Yankee bonds, comprising multiple tranches with varying maturities and interest rates. This significant issuance underscores his capability in managing large Yankee bond offerings.
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An Italian multinational energy company on a $2.25 billion issuance of Yankee bonds, across two tranches with different maturities and interest rates. John Sanders’s experience in the energy sector is evident in this substantial offering.
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Multiple Yankee bond issuances for an Italian international banking group, totaling billions of dollars under their MTN Programme. These issuances, across various tranches and maturities, highlight his deep expertise in advising financial institutions on Yankee bond offerings. These include issuances of $3.0 billion, $2.75 billion, $2 billion, and $1.5 billion, demonstrating a consistent track record in this area.
Private Placements
In Private Placements, John Sanders has advised:
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A Spanish multinational conglomerate in connection with the issuance of up to $340 million guaranteed senior notes through a private placement to U.S. institutional investors. This cross-border private placement showcases his ability to navigate international deals.
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An Italian multinational food company on $150 million and $185 million private placements of Guaranteed Senior Notes due 2025 and 2027, respectively, listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange MTF. John Sanders’s involvement in these placements highlights his experience in the food and beverage industry and private market transactions.
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An Italian designer and manufacturer of vehicle thermal system solutions on a US$125 million private shelf facility and the issuance of €70 million senior notes due 2029, placed privately with U.S. institutional investors. This deal demonstrates his expertise in structuring private debt facilities.
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A leading Italian logistics company on the issuance of up to €10 million senior unsecured notes due 2030 through a private placement to U.S. institutional investors, showcasing his experience across diverse industries.
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A global leader in active pharmaceutical ingredients on the issuance of up to €25 million senior secured notes due 2032 through a private placement to U.S. institutional investors, further highlighting his sector-specific expertise.
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An Italian Serie A football club on a €175 million guaranteed senior Notes issuance due October 2027, privately placed with U.S. institutional investors, demonstrating his capability in handling unique and sector-specific private placements.
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A global pharmaceutical company on the issuance of up to €75 million senior unsecured notes due September 2034 through a private placement to U.S. institutional investors, reinforcing his expertise in the pharmaceutical sector and private debt markets.
Mergers and Acquisitions
John Sanders’s Mergers and Acquisitions experience includes advising:
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An Italian multinational energy company, as purchaser, in the acquisition of a European energy company for $4.9 billion, demonstrating his capability in large-scale international M&A transactions.
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A leader in automatic machines for various industries, as purchaser, in the acquisition of substantially all assets of a private U.S. company, showcasing his experience in cross-border acquisitions.
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A private equity firm, as purchaser, in acquiring a minority interest in the parent company of a leader in automatic machines, highlighting his work with private equity clients in strategic investments.
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Multiple U.S. regional banks in mergers and acquisitions, both as purchasers and sellers, demonstrating his experience in the financial services sector and M&A activities within the U.S. banking industry.
John Sanders’s extensive experience and leadership in international capital markets law make him an invaluable asset to clients navigating complex global transactions. His deep understanding of both equity and debt markets, combined with his educational contributions, positions him as a true leader in his field.
