Norton Rose Fulbright advises Africa Finance Corporation over a syndicated debt facility for Ivory Coast Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage

Global Press release - Business January 2019

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright, has advised Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), pan-African multilateral development finance institution, on the debt financing of Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage (SIR), under a multi-currency long-term credit agreement in euros and CFA francs for approximately 600 million euros.

SIR is the only oil refinery in Ivory Coast. Created in 1962, SIR provides crude oil refining and petroleum products distribution all over Ivory Coast. Equipped with two atmospheric distillation units producing 75.000 barrels per day and one hydrocracker producing 18.000 barrels per day, SIR has a capacity of 3.8 million tons per year for an income of more than 1.6 billion euros. The geographic location of SIR turns it into a strategic hub in relation to its markets, which fosters the marketing of their products.

Anne Lapierre, global head of energy at Norton Rose Fulbright, comments: “We are very pleased to have assisted Africa Finance Corporation on this refinancing deal for Société Ivoirienne de Raffinage. Energy development is key for the development of Ivory Coast and for the region in general, where our law firm advises on a significant number of projects.”

The team was led by Anne Lapierre, assisted by of counsel, Véronique Bruel and Paolo Pinna. The team was supported in London by partner Davide Barzilai on funded and risk sub-participation aspects, and in Singapore by partner Colin Rice on hedging aspects.

For further information please contact:

Carole Guettier, Senior business development manager, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Tél: + 33 (0)1 56 59 52 75
carole.guettier@nortonrosefulbright.com

Charles Billiard, Communication Executive, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP
Tél: + 33 (0)1 56 59 52 96
charles.billiard@nortonrosefulbright.com

Notes for editors:

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 about Norton Rose Fulbright, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices 

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