Latest Analysis
Valentine’s Bonus – bankers are blue
Renewables EuropeWord from the banking community has it that if you’re holding out for a heart-warming letter from your boss in the coming weeks – one that leaves you in little doubt how much you’re loved – well… you’re in for a nasty surprise
Vinča waste-to-energy PPP, Serbia
Renewables EuropeA consortium of Suez, Itochu and Marguerite closed late last year on a landmark waste-to-energy PPP project to transform waste management in Serbia’s capital city
Newhurst waste-to-energy, UK
Renewables EuropeBiffa, Covanta and Macquarie’s GIG successfully reached financial close on the 42MW Newhurst waste-to-energy project in Leicestershire against a backdrop of Brexit uncertainty
Banks and developers mull CFE's plans for renewables
Renewables Latin AmericaAs the Mexican government upends incentives, self-supply contracts and the market for clean energy certificates, project finance and investment bankers in New York and developers in Mexico City are attempting to gauge the impact and decipher the administration's motives
Kacific1 satellite, Space
Kacific anticipates commercial service to start next month on its satellite Kacific1 nearly 35,800km above the equator, following the satellite’s launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket about two months ago. The $160 million refinancing had closed less than two weeks before launch, featuring an unusual mix of lenders: DFIs, an Australian pension fund, and a European asset manager
SOFR, so good?
North AmericaAs lenders and borrowers prepare to say goodbye to Libor, also known as “the most important number in finance,” are project finance professionals ready?
Smart Cities – Fear and Loathing in Toronto
Telecoms North AmericaThe conservative – definitely lower case c – nature of Torontarians is being pushed to breaking point by ambitious plans to build a Smart City on their doorstep, giving the international market an ideal case study for the roll out of Intelligent Infrastructure… or possibly how not to do it
Gulf Plains Wind acquisition, US
Renewables North AmericaUS-based fund manager Harbert Management Corporation almost doubled its renewable energy holdings at the end of last year when it acquired a stake in an 812MW wind portfolio − a deal it ultimately opted to finance in the bank market through a holding company called Gulf Plains Wind
Azito IV phase expansion, Côte d’Ivoire
Power Sub-Saharan AfricaA total of nine DFIs turned up for the debt financing of only the fourth expansion of Globeleq’s on-going concern in Côte d’Ivoire which has now reached financial close – enabling the addition of 253MW of installed power capacity at the 462MW Azito combined cycle gas turbine power plant
B-Day landings in World War 5G
Telecoms Asia PacificWow. What a week to have lived through. It started with UK prime minister Boris Johnson revealing that Huawei would be involved in the roll-out of 5G in Britain – potentially leading to a schism with the US – and ended with Brexit… a rift with Europe
AIIB: an Asian multilateral putting focus on digital
Telecoms Asia PacificThe Beijing-based multilateral Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank issued on 14 January a call for public comments on its draft digital strategy to finance Asia Pacific’s rapidly evolving telecoms sector. IJGlobal data shows that in Asia Pacific, MDBs have had a lower rate of involvement in telecoms projects to date, compared to other sectors
Wind developers persevere in Argentina
Renewables Latin AmericaDevelopers have brought a handful of wind projects in Argentina to financial close in recent months, having turned to development finance institutions and export credit agency wraps amid a lack of enthusiasm from commercial banks
Slow progress for Brazilian offshore wind
Renewables Latin AmericaBrazil is only just beginning to develop an offshore wind market but there are some first movers who are already jostling for position at the start line
To lose Toulouse: sale of Toulouse-Blagnac
Transport EuropeOn the penultimate day of 2019, the audience finally saw the curtain descend on a remarkable French M&A farce. Construction company Eiffage closed on the acquisition of a 49.99% stake in Toulouse-Blagnac Airport from Chinese investors Casil Europe
C&I solar developers weigh their options
Renewables North AmericaWhile yield-hungry investors of all stripes are viewing distributed, small-scale solar companies ever more favorably, the founders and management of the target companies are finding that there are attractive alternatives to selling stakes in their businesses outright
Battle lines drawn for Intelligent Infra
Telecoms North AmericaThe lines are being drawn for an East/West technology battle as Intelligent Infrastructure takes a step closer to becoming reality… with the US placing itself in the vanguard as the tech protector for Western nations