Norton Rose Fulbright SA reaches financial close on biggest solar farm in west Africa

Global law firm, Norton Rose Fulbright, has successfully closed the financing facilities on a 50MW solar PV plant in Sikasso, Mali for the first French green Independent Power Producer, Akuo Energy.

The Kita solar farm is its first project to begin construction in Africa and is the largest in west Africa.

Head of Banking and Finance at Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa, Jackie Midlane, who led on the transaction, said, “We are proud to have played a key role in the region’s most high-profile, innovative transactions.”

The project has been in development by Akuo Energy since 2014, with Norton Rose Fulbright advising on the transaction since July 2016. The firm’s teams in Johannesburg and Paris represented the following Lenders

• The Emerging Africa Infrastructure Fund Limited (acting through its agent and investment manager Investec Asset Management Proprietary Limited)
• Banque Ouest Africaine de Développement
• Banque Nationale de Développement Agricole
• Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij Voor Ontwikkelingslanden N.V. (FMO)

For further information please contact:

Rachel Lailey, Content manager, Africa
Tel +27 79 892 9369 | Mob +27 83 730 2000
rachel.lailey@nortonrosefulbright.com

Notes for editors:

Norton Rose Fulbright

Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm providing the world’s preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East.

Recognized for its industry focus, Norton Rose Fulbright is strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare. Through its global risk advisory group, the firm leverages its industry experience with its knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses.

Norton Rose Fulbright operates in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, aiming to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of its offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact.

Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices.