Clifford Chance advises Sizewell C Limited on reaching Financial Close, with £5 billion export credit backed debt raise and strong investment grade credit rating

Global law firm Clifford Chance has advised Sizewell C Limited, the first nuclear power project globally to be financed with independent, private financial investors.

Following agreement of the equity raise and Sizewell C Limited’s final investment decision in July 2025, the company has confirmed a further £5 billion of debt raised through the BpifranceAE export credit facility. Thirteen banks have supported the £5 billion debt raise, demonstrating the depth of support for Sizewell C Limited’s pioneering financing model. Sizewell C Limited is the first new nuclear project in the UK to have attracted significant private finance.

This landmark moment unlocks full-scale construction of the Suffolk-based plant, which, once operational, could create savings of £2 billion a year across the future low-carbon electricity system – leading to cheaper power for consumers.

A multi-disciplinary Clifford Chance team acted on all aspects of the transaction, including the revenue model and government support package, equity capital raise and debt financing, supply chain, anti-trust / regulatory and decommissioning arrangements.

Clifford Chance’s team was led by Partners John Wilkins, head of the firm’s Global Nuclear Group, and Praveen Jagadish. Crucial support was provided by Partners Ed Bretherton, Nic Cookson, Olivia Higgs and Jemma Dick, Senior Lawyers Keith Hauck, Joseph Woodworth, Ingrid Booth, Anthony Santangeli, Katie Kempthorne, Alex Blake, Samiha Bham, Lucy Roberts, Will Martin, Sophie Stratton, Emma Clarke and Kirsten Hunt, and Associates Jack Foley, Jasmin Sahota, Connie Maskell, Kirsty Jones, Lily Grant, Brianna Harcus and Dorothy Adu-mfum.

The firm advised Sizewell C Limited on all aspects of the equity capital raise in July and the receiving of the Final Investment Decision by the UK Government