Baker McKenzie advises Natixis & BBVA on $146m financing for Ferrovial

Baker McKenzie has advised Natixis & BBVA on a $146m credit agreement to finance power projects for Ferrovial

Baker McKenzie has advised Natixis, New York branch (as Coordinating Mandated Lead Arranger, Structuring Bank, Administrative Agent and the Green Loan Coordinator) and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. New York branch (as Mandated Lead Arranger) on an approximately 146 million dollar credit agreement to finance the development, construction, ownership and operation of the Centella and Tap Mauro power transmission line projects in Chile, by Centella Transmisión, S.A., a subsidiary of Ferrovial S.A.

The credit facility is intended to be categorised as a green loan in accordance with the green loan principles. The Centella project consists of a transmission line of approximately 250 km long that will connect the Nueva Pan de Azúcar, Punta Sierra and Nueva los Pelambres substations. The Tap Mauro project consists of a transmission line connecting the Los Piuquenes-Tap Mauro transmission line with the Centella power substation.

Natixis, New York branch and Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. New York branch were advised by a cross-border Baker McKenzie team led by Jose Morán (pictured left) (partner, Chicago), along with Antonio Morales (pictured right) (partner, Madrid), Juan González (partner, Chicago), and Sebastián Vivanco (partner, Santiago).

Commenting on this transaction, Juan Gonzalez, partner in the Chicago office of Baker McKenzie, said “It has been a pleasure and an honour to represent leading financial institutions like Natixis and BBVA with the financing of key electricity transmission projects in Chile, and to showcase our Firm’s ability to operate and serve clients as a single team on a cross border basis in New York law governed financings of projects in Chile.”

Antonio Morales, partner in the Madrid office of Baker McKenzie, added “We are very proud to have been trusted by Natixis and BBVA to advise them on this strategic project financing. We are delighted to have been able to provide our clients with cross-border advice and a team that understands all the cultural factors and the political and economic challenges of this type of transaction, something in which we are leaders as a law firm”.