DLA Piper advises lenders on EUR456 million financing for Genser Energy

DLA Piper has advised Rand Merchant Bank, the Standard Bank of South Africa Limited, and Absa Bank Limited, on EUR456 million in syndicated facilities provided to Genser Energy Investments LLC (Genser Energy), a USA-headquartered energy infrastructure company with operations across West Africa.

The financing will support Genser Energy’s continued expansion and the development of critical energy infrastructure across West Africa. The projects include the conversion of existing open-cycle gas turbine plants to more efficient combined-cycle systems, the completion of a gas processing plant in Prestea, Ghana, and the development of a proposed 470MW power project in Côte d’Ivoire. The funding will also be used to facilitate the exit of Oppenheimer Partners from the shareholding structure of Genser Energy.

The multi-jurisdictional transaction involved legal work including the structuring, negotiation and documentation of the financing across Ghana, the United States, Mauritius, Côte d’Ivoire and Jersey.

A team from the Finance practice in DLA Piper’s Johannesburg office worked on the transaction, led by partner and Location Head, Nick Grootes. He was supported by senior associate Byron Bromham, associate Sibusiso Shabalala and candidate attorneys Sibusiso Msibi and Kalsee Nadasen.

Nick Grootes, partner, commented: “The successful completion of these facilities reflects the strength of DLA Piper’s global platform and our ability from Johannesburg to coordinate complex, multi-jurisdictional syndicated English law governed financings across the globe, including in jurisdictions such as Ghana, the United States, Mauritius, Côte d’Ivoire and Jersey. The transaction also reflects our experience in the African energy and infrastructure sectors and will support continued investment in energy infrastructure and economic development across West Africa.”