Linklaters Advises on the US$867m Uganda Hydroelectric Power Plant Financing

Linklaters has advised the lenders on the project financing of the 250MW Bujagali Hydroelectric Power Project on the Victoria Nile in Uganda. This transaction is the first greenfield power financing in Uganda and the largest private sector investment in east Africa to date. The total project cost was US$867.7m, including senior debt of US$613.8m and subordinated debt of US$68m, making it the largest private equity power investment in Africa. Senior loan facilities were provided by IFC, African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, Agence Francaise de Developpment, KfW, FMO, DEG, Proparco, Standard Chartered Bank and ASBA Bank, whilst IFC, FMO and Proparco also provided subordinated loan facilities. The equity PRI structure involved a claims cooperation agreement between the lenders and MIGA. Industrial Promotion Services (Kenya), Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, Jubilee Investments Company (all part of the Aga Khan group) and World Power Holdings Luxembourg (owned by Blackstone SGP Capital Partners (Cayman) and Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) acted as equity partners in the deal. The Linklaters team was led by energy and infrastructure partner James Douglass and managing associate Martin Kavanagh.

Comments are closed.