Norton Rose Fulbright advises on six winning deals at PFI Awards

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright advised on six winning deals of the year awarded at the annual Project Finance International (PFI) Awards.

PFI is a leading publication for global energy and infrastructure finance news, data and analysis.

Nick Merritt, global head of infrastructure mining and commodities, Norton Rose Fulbright, commented:

“Our team continues to advise on award winning transactions across the globe, demonstrating the reach and ability of our projects team. We look forward to an exciting year ahead for our clients working on yet more innovative deals. Congratulations to all involved.”

Anne Lapierre, global head of energy, Norton Rose Fulbright, commented:

“We have a long established network of lawyers advising on some of the most pioneering deals and these awards wins demonstrate our capabilities within the renewable energy sector. 2019 is set to be a busy year against a continuing backdrop of market and technological disruption.”

The award winning transactions:

• Americas – Solar deal of the year – Enel Green Power Solar

Norton Rose Fulbright advised Enel Green Power S.p.A. (EGP), as sponsor, and three project companies as borrowers (Villanueva Solar, Parque Solar Don José and Parque Solar Villanueva Tres) on a $605m limited recourse financing of a 1GW portfolio of solar PV parks in Mexico comprised of: Villanueva I (470MW), Villanueva III (350MW) and Don José (220MW). Lead partner: Arturo Sferruzza and Hernan Gonzalez Estrada. 

• Asia-Pacific – Clean energy deal of the year – Kwinana

Norton Rose Fulbright advised leading investment firm, Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF), on the acquisition of a majority interest in the Kwinana Waste to Energy (WtE) plant in Western Australia. The Kwinana WtE plant is a landmark transaction as it will be the first commercial scale and project financed WtE facility constructed in Australia. Lead partners: Jo Crew and Raymond Lou.

• Asia-Pacific – Infrastructure Deal of the Year – WestConnex

Norton Rose Fulbright acted for the successful joint venture comprised of Lendlease, Samsung and Bouygues, in connection with Stage 3A of the WestConnex project in Sydney, Australia. The WestConnex project is the largest toll road infrastructure project to ever be attempted in the Asia-Pacific, and will provide 33km of motorway, linking key sites and areas in western and south-western Sydney to the city and airport, and the overall project (consisting of all stages) is expected to cost US$40bn when it reaches completion in 2024. Lead partner: Mark Waddell.

• Asia-Pacific – Solar deal of the year – Sunraysia PV

Norton Rose Fulbright advised the sponsor, Maoneng Australia, on all aspects of the development, construction, equity sale and debt financing of the 255MWp Sunraysia Solar Farm, near Balranald in Southern NSW. Lead partners: Raymond Lou, Rob White and Lisa Koch.

• Europe – Transport Deal of the Year – Blankenburg Tunnel

Norton Rose Fulbright advised the sponsor, construction consortium comprising DEME, Macquarie and Ballast Nedam, on the €1bn Blankenburg Connection project in the Netherlands. It is the one of the largest and most complex PPPs, combining elaborate technical solutions and financial engineering to complete a missing section of Rotterdam’s road system, promising to improve significantly traffic around the busy port city. Lead partners: Daphne Broerse and Wouter Hertzberger.

• Middle East and Africa – African Programme of Year – REIPPP 4

Norton Rose Fulbright advised Enel, through its subsidiary Enel Green Power RSA (EGP RSA), the Enel Group’s South African renewables company, on the multi-tranche financing facilities for a portfolio of five wind projects in South Africa. The portfolio totals approximately 700MW of capacity at an estimated value of approximately €950 million. Lead partner: Arturo Sferruzza and Jackie Midlane.

For further information please contact:

Kate Farrell, Public Relations Executive
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7444 3724; Mob: +44 (0) 7515 324 290  
kate.farrell@nortonrosefulbright.com

Notes for editors:

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm providing the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

Recognized for its industry focus, Norton Rose Fulbright is strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare. Through its global risk advisory group, the firm leverages its industry experience with its knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses.

Norton Rose Fulbright operates in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, aiming to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of its offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices.