Holland & Knight Recognized for Colombian Deals by LatinFinance at Project & Infrastructure Finance Awards
NEW YORK (September 26, 2017) – Holland & Knight was recognized for its role in two significant toll road projects in Colombia by LatinFinance at the magazine’s annual Project & Infrastructure Finance Awards. The awards dinner took place in New York on Sept. 26.
In each awarded project, the firm represented Financiera de Desarrollo Nacional (FDN), Colombia's infrastructure development bank, which is helping to finance Colombia’s new fourth generation (4G) road system. Holland & Knight Partner Norberto E. Quintana led the team of lawyers advising FDN, which included Partner Enrique Gómez-Pinzón and Associates Laura Guemes, Juliana Saa, Lucas Saffon and Daniel Ramos.
In the category of “Best Local Currency Financing,” Holland & Knight was recognized for its work on the Alta Magdalena 4G project. In this financing, structured by Goldman Sachs & Co., lenders led by Banco Centroamericano de Integración Económica (BCIE) and Colombian peso lenders Banco Popular, Banco AV Villas, Banco de Bogotá and Banco de Occidente provided the financing. The debt financing package included a $339 million senior credit facility, a $670 billion Colombian peso senior credit facility and a $15 billion Colombian peso credit enhancement subordinated liquidity facility. Holland & Knight acted as New York and Colombian counsel to FDN, as the liquidity facility lender.
Another Colombian 4G project, Conexión Norte, was awarded “Best Road Financing.” In this transaction, Autopistas del Nordeste, the concessionaire of the project, received financing in the form of two tranches, including a $250 million credit line from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Korea Development Bank, Banco de Crédito del Perú and Instituto de Crédito Oficial. FDN, Banco Davivienda and Bancolombia provided $520 billion Colombian pesos in the second tranche, with FDN providing an additional liquidity facility worth $80 billion Colombian pesos. Holland & Knight also acted as New York and Colombian counsel to FDN, as the liquidity facility lender.
LatinFinance’s Project & Infrastructure Awards recognize the most impressive transactions and institutions in a field critical to Latin America’s economic progress. The winners are chosen by the magazine’s editorial staff following an extensive process that involves reviewing information provided by market participants and analyzing data.