Banking and finance lawyers

We have advised banks and borrowers in Singapore on project financing for the development of hotel/office/shopping complexes, residential estates, highways, pipelines, petrochemical plants and other industrial developments, and financing for the acquisition of hotels, hospitals, plantations, commercial and industrial buildings and complexes and the takeover of companies, secured against all kinds of assets and guarantees, in jurisdictions such as Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and others.

We acted for a bank in the financing to an international school in Singapore for the construction of an additional building to its existing campus.

We acted for an international school in the financing of SG$87.56 million from DBS to acquire state land, and construct and develop a new school building in Singapore.

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 acted for PT Recapital Advisors in respect of its US$600 million loans from the Singapore branch of a major bank. The loans were taken in connection with the purchase by a Recapital subsidiary of 90% of the shares in PT Berau Coal.

We acted for an Irish aircraft leasing company in the financing and subsequent re-financing, acquisition and leasing of a Boeing 737-800 aircraft leased to an Indonesian operator and subleased to that Indonesian operator’s newly established Malaysian subsidiary. The aircraft was financed through a warehouse facility with a Swiss bank and later refinanced via a term loan with a French bank in Singapore.

We have advised Indian Public Sector Banks on guarantees in the aggregate amount of £370 million issued by three major banks in favour of EIB. This was in relation to a loan made by EIB to Land Rover for R&D in emissions reduction.

Withers acted for a Chinese leasing company in the sale and leaseback of 139,941 containers by a Chinese marine shipping company. The acquisition was financed by a USD$233 million loan facility from a German bank and a Chinese bank in Singapore.

We acted for a Chinese bank in a USD$39 million loan for the financing of two vessels flagged in Hong Kong. Security for this loan included the provision of a put option for the purchase or bareboat charter of the vessels in an event of default, as well as the provision of a guarantee from a Chinese state-owned company.

We advised an aircraft investment company on the purchase from Sumitomo Bank of 2 Cayman Island companies as lessors of two Boeing 767-204 ER and on their operating leases with a South Asian national carrier.

We acted for the management of a US$50 million freeze-pack plant for fresh vegetables in Zimbabwe.

We advised AES Corporation, Aquila and El Paso on various power projects, including project company acquisitions and disposals in the UK, eastern Europe and Africa on the following projects: Aquila in connection with its $2.1 billion acquisition of Midland Electricity plc; and El Paso on the disposal of its minority interest in the Kladno power project in the Czech Republic and its exit from a power project in Fife, Scotland.

We advised Citibank International Plc, an affiliate of Citibank N.A., on its adherence to OPIC Framework Guarantee Facility Agreement (Global Housing II Program) between Citibank N.A., as facility agent, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), an agency of the United States of America. This was to enhance and expand their lending services to clients located in the OPIC priority countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, Philippines, Armenia, Botswana, Ghana, and others.

We acted for a major Indian bank in financing a steel galvanising plant in Nigeria.

Acted for a consortium of general practitioners to establish a partnership to provide 'out of hours' and other GP services to a number of UK NHS Primary Care Trusts.

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.

Sogefi are a manufacturer of components and filter systems for the automotive industry. We acted for Sogefi in relation to two loans of €40 million in total, which were made by a major bank to finance their research and development programme.

We have advised banks and borrowers in Singapore on project financing for the development of hotel/office/shopping complexes, residential estates, highways, pipelines, petrochemical plants and other industrial developments, and financing for the acquisition of hotels, hospitals, plantations, commercial and industrial buildings and complexes and the takeover of companies, secured against all kinds of assets and guarantees, in jurisdictions such as Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam, and others.

We acted for Carta Isnardo Spa in the tendering procedure and further negotiations of a supply contract for the resurfacing of roads in Kosovo.

Acted for a facilities management company in tender to provide conferencing and related services to the UK Cabinet Office.

We represented Control Risks Group Holdings Ltd on a £28 million loan financing from a major bank to support international operations.

We advised a multilateral agency on their equity investments in a Serbian bank, and a shareholders agreement with the Republic of Serbia including on a privatisation programme.

We advised a facilities management company on EU tender procedures and drafted tender documents for the provision of conferencing and related services to the UK Cabinet Office.

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.

Advising a multilateral agency on its €250 million Western Balkans and Croatia Financing Framework for banks and non-banking financial institutions, including leasing companies.

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.

We advised a Turkish bank in financing the privatisation of the airport in Prishtina, Kosovo via a public private partnership with a Turkish and French consortium. This included advising on the PPP Agreement, the ‘bankability’ of that document, and the relevant direct agreement.

We represented the IFC, FMO and DEG on an $85 million financing package for the construction of a marine oil receiving terminal, and a petrol distribution network in Turkey.

A telecommunications equipment manufacturer providing customer financing for the construction of telecom fiber networks in Mexico and other Latin American countries engaged us to advise.

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 an aircraft investment company on the purchase from Sumitomo Bank of 2 Cayman Island companies as lessors of two Boeing 767-204 ER and on their operating leases with a South Asian national carrier.

We advised Citibank International Plc, an affiliate of Citibank N.A., on its adherence to OPIC Framework Guarantee Facility Agreement (Global Housing II Program) between Citibank N.A., as facility agent, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), an agency of the United States of America. This was to enhance and expand their lending services to clients located in the OPIC priority countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, Philippines, Armenia, Botswana, Ghana, and others.

We advised IFC on a $90 million telecoms project financing in the Dominican Republic.

We advised a major international bank in the financing of six aircraft sold by a major US airline to a leasing company and then to Swedish limited partnerships.

We assisted US based and NYSE listed telecommunication companies in various assets acquisitions in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

Advising a multilateral agency on its €250 million Western Balkans and Croatia Financing Framework for banks and non-banking financial institutions, including leasing companies.

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

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

We advised EBRD in connection with a €70 million project loan for an industrial gas facility in Russia.

We represented Astelit, a Ukrainian telecommunications company controlled by Turkish GSM operator Turkcell, on a $540 million financing (at such time the largest private financing in Ukraine) to expand its mobile network.

We advised Citibank International Plc, an affiliate of Citibank N.A., on its adherence to OPIC Framework Guarantee Facility Agreement (Global Housing II Program) between Citibank N.A., as facility agent, and Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), an agency of the United States of America. This was to enhance and expand their lending services to clients located in the OPIC priority countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh, Kenya, Tanzania, Algeria, Philippines, Armenia, Botswana, Ghana, and others.

We represented EBRD on an $87 million loan to KEGOC to expand an electricity transmission line in Kazakhstan.

We advised a main London Stock Exchange quoted Kazakh Company on issues arising in connection with a Luxembourg listed USD$200 million convertible bond issue and mandatory convertible bond.

We acted as counsel to a syndicate of banks lead-arranged by ZAO Raiffeisenbank Austria with respect to a USD$43 million secured syndicated loan facility to Alini Investment BV.

The proceeds of this loan were used for the construction and development of an office-center in central Moscow.

We acted for Progress-foreign trade firm of the Ukrainian Government in a USD$500 million export project.

A telecommunications equipment manufacturer providing customer financing for the construction of telecom fiber networks in Mexico and other Latin American countries engaged us to advise.

We assisted US based and NYSE listed telecommunication companies in various assets acquisitions in Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.