Energy

Our civil fraud team acted for the largest oil and gas company in Central and Eastern Europe, winning a $40 million settlement after a London court agreed that our client had been fraudulently sold a lower grade of crude oil than it believed it was purchasing from the commodities trader Glencore.

Acted for a public junior gold mining company in a transformational recapitalization (forcing the conversion of preferred stock and amending the terms of a joint venture to reduce the company's remaining obligations) that created a significantly more efficient capital structure and improved the company's liquidity.

We advised a landowner on the lease of a UK site for the development of a windfarm consisting of 18 turbines.

We represented a multilateral agency on a €123.5 million loan to Hrvatska Elektroprivreda DD to finance the construction of a 68MW Ombla hydroelectric power plant at the Rijeka Dubrovacka Bay near Dubrovnik.

We advised an American specialist engineering contractor on EPC contracts to retro-fit existing coal fired power stations with 'green' technology. These contracts were based on various FIDIC, NEC3 and bespoke terms. We also offered additional advice on joint venture arrangements with other specialist contractors.

We advised a developer on an EPC contract to deliver a waste-to-energy project in London.

We advised two developers in connection with their construction and funding arrangements for rural anaerobic digestion facilities. Both contracts required the preparation and negotiation of bespoke EPC contract terms, direct agreements and other supporting documents.

In a SGD$325 million project finance for development of an aromatics plant in Singapore, our team acted as Singapore counsel to the bank syndicate.

Withers has represented Master Chem Oil Ltd on a range of projects including the financing and development of an oil receiving terminal in the Black Sea, Romania, along with general advice on the company's financing arrangements.

Withers have represented a multilateral agency as lead international counsel on €50 million worth of sustainable energy projects. This representation included the securing of loans to companies in Albania, Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Macedonia and Croatia for the development of hydro power plants, a biomass plant, and to support energy efficiency improvements.

Acting for a British Virgin Islands company in relation to a claim for the return of US$20 million due to it from a Turkish company following the non supply of shares in a Swiss company which owned an oil terminal on the Caspian Sea.

Hightex Group is a UK, Swiss and German membrane and renewable energy company. Withers has acted for Hightex Group on their IPO on the AIM market. We have also advised Hightex Group on their reverse takeover of West 175 Media Group Inc., the acquisition of HighTex International (HTI) AG, and on the acquisition of SolarNext AG, a German company active in the solar and alternative energy sectors.

Ariston Thermo SpA is one of the world's leading manufacturers of boilers, burners and solar thermal equipment, with a current turnover of €1.1 billion, they have 6,500 employees and are present in 10 countries with 18 production sites and distribute their products in over 150 countries. Withers have advised on the acquisition of a UK distributor of boilers on Ariston Thermo SpA's behalf.

Withers have represented a developer of a biofuels plant in St Petersburg, Russia.

We are advising an Azerbaijani oil company in a dispute relating to an off-shore drilling platform.

We advised on a grant agreement between the Republic of Croatia and the International Bank for Reconstruction and development. This included advising on the project implementation agreement and overall financing structure in connection with a global environment facility trust fund grant for renewable energy projects in Croatia.

AEE Renewables Plc is a German-based integrated project developer of photovoltaic and hydro power energy systems. Withers has represented AEE Renewables on all aspects of the feasibility, development and implementation of its photovoltaic projects in Germany, UK and Turkey.

Withers are currently working with one of the PRC's largest financial institutions on clean energy opportunities, including advising on the establishment of a resources and energy fund.

Enfinity Group is a Belgian based fully integrated project developer, financier, operator and trader of photovoltaic and wind power energy systems. Withers are proud to have represented Enfity Group on all aspects of their photovoltaic projects, particularly in Italy.

We acted for Oceanpro Investments Limited as borrower on its US$32 million loan facilities from a major bank. This loan was used for the purpose of indirect acquisition of stakes in an Indonesian coal mining company, PT Kutai Bara Nusantara.

We advised a multilateral agency on a US$147 million financing for a mining project in Russia.

We advised on the privatisation of the Scottish electricity industry. This privatisation included the whole pre-IPO reorganisation, and hiving off of the Grid and the Nuclear industry.

Represented Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, as an initial purchaser, in the underwritten Rule 144A private offering of US$25 million 10% Senior Notes Due 2012 of PetroQuest Energy, Inc.

The awarding of an infrastructure contract in Ukraine to an Indian infrastructure company led us to work on an arbitration to deal with a dispute regarding the contract.

Acting as lead counsel for PT Bumi Resources Tbk, which owns one of the largest coal exporters in the world, on its global debt restructuring. The value of this deal is more than USD$5 billion, making it one of the largest debt restructuring in Southeast Asia. This cross-border deal straddles legal and business issues in Singapore, Indonesia, USA, England and Wales.

Acted for the subsidiaries of a People's Republic of China (PRC) based hydropower company in the disposal of the strata title of commercial units in Wanchai, Hong Kong for a consideration of more than HK$330 million.