G+T has advised the Yandin Windfarm project, a joint endeavour 70% owned by RATCH-Australia (“RAC”) a leading independent power producer, and 30% owned by Alinta Energy’s parent company Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, on the $A368 million syndicated debt financing to fund a 214-megawatt wind farm in the mid-west of Western Australia.
This is the Alinta Group’s first direct commitment to building renewable energy generation facilities, alongside supporting 10 other renewables projects through offtake agreements. RAC owns more than 1GW of renewable and gas fired power generation in operation or construction in Australia.
The 214-megawatt Yandin Wind Farm will comprise 51 wind turbines, each of 4.2 MW capacity, with the ability to power as many as 200,000 households a year, making it the largest wind farm in Western Australia.
G+T acted for the project in negotiating with a syndicate of lenders, including ABN Amro, BNP Paribas, ING, OCBC, Societe Generale and Standard Chartered, in connection with the WA wind farm financing.
This deal cements G+T’s place as a leader in the renewables sector, advising on the most complex infrastructure finance transactions out of Australia. G+T’s deal team also provided assistance on the broader project components of the project with its cross-practice collaboration ensuring the greatest value and efficiency was delivered for the project, and bringing synergies to execution.
The G+T team was led by Banking + Infrastructure Partner John Schembri, supported by special counsel Caroline Mathie, lawyers Stuart Cormack and Brent Thompson and graduate lawyers Ginia Kouznetsova and Annabel Kirkby. G+T Real Estate + Projects partners Claire Boyd and Amanda Hempel advised on the property and infrastructure development aspects on the deal, supported by lawyer John Larbalestier and graduate lawyer Giorgia Fraser.
Gilbert + Tobin’s Banking + Infrastructure team is recognised in the leading legal directories, including most recently being ranked at Band 1 for Banking and Finance – Acquisition Finance by Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019 and Tier 1 for Restructuring + Insolvency by Legal 500. In the IFLR1000 Specialists Guide 2019, G+T are recognised for work in Unitranche financings, the only Australian firm to be recognised. G+T has significant experience advising leading Australian and international financial institutions, investment banks, corporations and private equity funds. We act for lenders, borrowers, sponsors and consortia on a range of issues from high-value corporate transactions to complex restructuring projects.