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Project Finance
We are proud to assist with the financing of major projects which are central to New Zealand’s development.
We have one of the most experienced project finance practices in New Zealand. Our experts help clients with all stages of project financing engagements, from due diligence and risk mitigation strategies through to the negotiation of project documents.
We also have specialist expertise advising on PPPs, and are thought leaders on innovative funding methods such as ‘value capture’ which could be introduced to New Zealand. We are also a key adviser to the New Zealand Government on the development of new approaches to infrastructure funding and financing.
Our project finance specialists combine legal expertise, specific knowledge of project finance structures and documents, and industry experience. Many have specialist expertise in the construction, commercial property, transport, water and waste-water, energy and telecommunications sectors.
We call on experts in our other teams for specialist advice on any related issues, such as the organisation of project entities, tax structuring, and property and construction law aspects.
Work Highlights
Lodestone Energy solar farms
We advised Lodestone Energy on the holdco project financing for New Zealand’s largest solar project, which includes the creation of a series of utility-scale solar farms across five locations in Northland, the Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty.
Infrastructure Funding and Financing Programme
We advised Treasury and the Department of Internal Affairs on a significant project to develop an innovative new model for funding and financing major infrastructure projects.
We subsequently advised Treasury on the first transaction to be authorised under the Infrastructure Funding & Finance Act 2020, which will help deliver critical transport infrastructure projects for Tauranga City Council.
Hawke’s Bay Airport upgrade
We advised ASB on its first-ever sustainability-linked loan, when it provided NZ$23 million of sustainability-linked finance to Hawke’s Bay Airport. Hawke’s Bay Airport will use this loan to finance its terminal upgrade in line with its sustainability initiatives, with a major solar farm project next to the airport’s runway also being progressed.
Transmission Gully
We advised the successful consortium Wellington Gateway Partnership on the debt and equity financing for the Transmission Gully project – New Zealand's first roading PPP and, at a project value of over NZ$1 billion, New Zealand's largest-ever PPP at the time.
Auckland's Britomart
We advised on the financing of the above-ground redevelopment of the Britomart heritage precinct $1 billion project
Auckland's Vector Arena (now Spark Arena)
We advised Auckland Council on the project financing of the 12,000 seat stadium, delivered on a BOOT basis.
Austral Pacific
We advised on the project financing for a major oil and gas project in the Taranaki Basin.
Tuaropaki geothermal power plant
We advised on the project financing of the $100 million Tuaropaki geothermal power plant project.
Queenstown's Jacks Point
We advised on the financing of Jacks Point – a $1billion + 400-hectare development.
