WFW advises Helios on 100 MW Spanish PV acquisition

Watson Farley & Williams has advised Helios Energy Investments on its acquisition from Cobra and related financing, of the large-scale Bonete PV projects, with a total capacity of circa 100 MW located in Bonete, Albacete

The transaction, closed on 29 May 2020, following the completion of construction and successful generation into the electricity grid, was made via the acquisition of the relevant project companies and represented Helios’ entry into the Spanish renewables market. The projects were part of the PV capacity awarded to Cobra in Spain’s third renewables auction and registered in the Specific Retribution Regime Registry at a pre-allocation status.

Acting as transaction advisors, Watson Farley & Williams carried out the due diligence process, as well as the drafting and negotiation of the SPA, development agreements (EPC, O&M) and several other ancillary agreements. The project financing was negotiated with a syndicate of financial institutions comprising Banco de Sabadell S.A., Kommunalkredit Austria AG, Crédit Industriel et Commercial (CIC), Nomura International PLC and Siemens Bank GmbH. WFW also assisted on tax structuring and Spanish regulatory matters including permitting and licensing, as well as advice relating to the specific remuneration regime for renewable technology and general trends and mechanisms of the Spanish energy market. Other advisers to the transaction were OCA Global (technical advisor) and Aon (Insurance advisor).

Helios Energy Investments manages a group of funds and several co-investment vehicles, with over €500 million of invested capital. Helios’ portfolio includes more than 600 MW of income-generating energy projects in sectors such as Solar PV, Wind, Biogas, Energy from Waste, which are located in Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Poland and the UK.

WFW Madrid office Energy team advising Helios was led by Corporate partner and office head María Pilar García Guijarro (pictured left), working closely with Finance partner Jose María Anarte (pictured right), Regulatory partner David Diez and Tax partner Luis Soto, as well as Corporate senior associate Román Pazos and Finance associate Iñigo Bastarreche among others.