John P. Gourary

John Gourary, a corporate partner in our New York office, has more than 25 years of experience in bank finance transactions (including structured finance and other asset-based transactions), as well as in mergers and acquisitions and venture capital transactions.  He has handled transactions in these areas for, among others, Abbey National, Abbott Laboratories, Charlesbank Capital Partners, Duke University, Emory University, GE Capital, Kerr-McGee, King Pharmaceuticals, LIN Media, Microsoft, Northwestern University, Pfizer, Resource America, SandRidge Energy, UBS, University of Rochester, and Zurich Financial Services.

Mr. Gourary's practice has recently centered on syndicated loan transactions as well as innovative financings of unusual asset classes. In particular, Mr. Gourary regularly advises universities, life sciences companies, groups of inventors and investment funds on the sales and monetizations of pharmaceutical royalty streams. 

Representative Matters

Representative royalty monetization engagements include:

• Northwestern University in the sale of a portion of its worldwide royalty interest in Lyrica for $700 million, the largest monetization ever of a royalty stream for a pharmaceutical product.
• Emory University in its ground-breaking monetization of the royalty rights associated with Emtriva for $540 million, recognized by Investment Dealers' Digest as the 2005 Healthcare Deal of the Year.
• Centre Solutions, a member of the Zurich Financial Services Group, in the development and structuring of the first pharmaceutical royalty securitization, a $130 million senior/subordinated financing, on behalf of a major university, of the rights associated with the intellectual property at the core of a leading pharmaceutical product.

• A $5.5 billion multi-tranche senior secured credit facility for Kerr-McGee and a subsequent $1.25 billion revolving credit facility, each led by JPMorgan.
• A $22.5 billion multi-currency credit facility for GE Capital, led by JPMorgan.
• Repurchase agreements for Microsoft to finance its $30 billion dividend payment and its $20 billion stock self-tender.
• A $550 million senior secured credit facility for LIN Media, led by JPMorgan.
• A $1.75 billion senior secured (borrowing base) credit facility for SandRidge Energy, led by Bank of America.
• Charlesbank Capital Partners in acquisition and other financings ($50 million to $200 million) for the following portfolio companies: Aurora Organic Dairy, Blacksmith Brands, Cedar Creek, Horn Holdings, and Zenith Products.

Honors and Rankings

• New York Super Lawyers (2006-2011)

Publications and Speeches

• Mr. Gourary has spoken on the topic of pharmaceutical royalty monetizations at conferences held by the Licensing Executives Society (LES), Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and Technology Transfer Tactics.
• Mr. Gourary participated in a Q&A session with Law 360 (11/25/2009) regarding his Corporate Finance practice.
• Mr. Gourary is quoted in "Royalty Monetization: High-Profile Deals Generate Excitement Among TTOs," Technology Transfer Tactics (November 2008), (Reprinted with permission from Technology Transfer Tactics, Vol. 2, No. 11 (November 2008)).
• Mr. Gourary is quoted in "Northwestern Sells to Royalty Pharma Portion of Lyrica Interest for $700 Million," BNA's Life Sciences Law & Industry Report (January 2008) (Reproduced with permission from Life Sciences Law & Industry Report, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Jan.4, 2008)) which discusses Northwestern University's sale of a portion of its worldwide royalty interest in Lyrica.