Launch of Africa Power Guide
30 Jun 10
 Trinity International LLP ("Trinity") has launched an exciting new power-focused website: www.africapowerguide.com (the "Guide"), in conjunction with contributions from a number of the best law firms in Africa. WHAT IS IT? The Guide provides, for several African jurisdictions, a summary and comparison of key considerations in the development and financing of independent power projects ("IPPs") setting out, for each featured country: (i) an analysis of the legal and regulatory framework, including an overview of core enabling legislation, constitutional issues, procurement laws and consents and authorisations; (ii) a review of the existing power sector including IPPs built to date; (iii) an analysis of the types of corporate structure available; (iv) the existence and availability of different types of security for lenders including key enforcement and insolvency considerations; and (v) a review of other issues relating to land, employment, insurance and arbitration. WHO IS IT AIMED AT? The Guide is aimed at developers, investors and financial institutions active in, or considering entry into, the African power sector. For further details on the Africa Power Guide, please contact any one of: Paul Biggs on +44 (0)20 7653 9701 or paul.biggs@trinityllp.com Patrick Leece on +44 (0)20 7653 9709 or patrick.leece@trinityllp.com Simon Norris on +44 (0)20 7653 9707 or simon.norris@trinityllp.com Conrad Marais on +44 (0)20 7653 9705 or conrad.marais@trinityllp.com Kaushik Ray on +44 (0)20 7332 5921 or kaushik.ray@trinityllp.com


Recent news

Trinity featured in Private Equity & Venture Capital Annual Review
2 Nov 11

Hugh Naylor, Head of Private Equity at Trinity, contributed the chapter on Africa for Private Equity & Venture Capital Annual Review, published by Financier Worldwide. The Annual Review can be found at: http://www.financierworldwide.com/AnnualReviews/AR_PrivateEquity_210isk.pdf.

Trinity Ranked in Legal 500 2011
23 Sep 11
 Trinity has been ranked in the new edition of Legal 500, launched online on 21 September: http://www.legal500.com/firms/670/offices/5043. Following on from its success in the 2010 edition, Trinity is ranked for Finance: Emerging markets and for both Infrastructure and Power within Projects, energy and natural resources. Paul Biggs and Simon Norris are also recommended within Finance: Emerging markets.

New Landline Numbers
22 Sep 11
 Trinity's landline numbers have changed. If you need the contact number of someone not listed below, please call +44 207 997 7040 for help.

Paul Biggs:  +44 207 997 7041   

Patrick Leece: +44 207 997 7042    

Conrad Marais: +44 207 997 7043    

Simon Norris: +44 207 997 7044

Kaushik Ray: +44 207 997 7045    

Tamila Nakazwe: +44 207 997 7046   

Hugh Naylor: +44 207 997 7049    

David Nanson: +44 207 997 7050   

Mulambo Haimbe: +44 207 997 7051 



Trinity International LLP has moved headquarters
24 Jun 11
 Trinity International LLP has moved headquarters. 
 
Please do not hesitate to contact us directly on our mobile or BlackBerry numbers as set out below:
 
Paul Biggs: +44 7771 706 603 or +44 7810 045 011
Patrick Leece: +44 7786 853 606 or +44 7810 120 339
Simon Norris: +44 7970 276 421 or +44 7810 068 881
Conrad Marais: +44 7816 661 185 or +44 7799 764 939
Hugh Naylor: +44 7801 749 211 or +44 7775 774 093
Kaushik Ray: +44 7825 943 900 or +44 7787 434 314

REFIT Article Published by Infrastructure Journal
14 Apr 11

An article by Simon Norris, a partner at Trinity, focusing on the renewable energy feed in tariff programme in South Africa was published by Infrastructure Journal online today http://www.ijonline.com/genv2/Secured/DisplayArticle.aspx?ArticleID=69060.  Trinity has been closely following the market and has been appointed to act in relation to projects that will bid in the first phase of the REFIT programme.

Chambers Global 2011 Ranks All of Trinity's Partners
24 Mar 11

The 2011 edition of Chambers Global ranks Trinity International for "Projects & Energy: Africa" alongside some of the largest and best firms in the project finance market: http://www.chambersandpartners.com/Global/Editorial/40325#org_121722.

With 25 firms rated, Trinity is equal first in terms of number of named individuals.  100% of the firm's partners have been ranked which we believe is a claim that no other law firm can make. We believe that this achievement gives real credibility to Trinity's ethos that a boutique law firm can compete with its largest rivals by ensuring that every client and transaction is serviced by senior, highly experienced lawyers with a dedicated focus.  This eliminates the need for, and inefficiencies of, a large team (typically of junior lawyers) that the traditional law firm model relies on and, most importantly, allows Trinity to pass on the cost benefits direct to its clients.

An extract from the guide is set out below:

"Sources say: "The firm is not fazed by the developing country aspects of various markets and is able to bridge the knowledge and experience gap in a way that makes African partners comfortable and satisfies Western investors." "The speed, quality and consistency of service stand out."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Paul Biggs leads the team. Sources describe him as "one of the leading legal lights of Africa." Patrick Leece is lauded as "a pragmatic and commercial lawyer who understands how to apply the law to real-world situations and provide the client with a practical and workable solution." Simon Norris "has matured into a very good lawyer especially in power and oil and gas work." Conrad Marais "was recently promoted to the partnership and is seen as an up-and-coming figure in the market.

Trinity Expands Private Equity Practice
7 Mar 11

Hugh Naylor, previously a partner at SNR Denton, has joined Trinity International LLP as head of Private Equity.  Hugh will lead the growth and development of Trinity's existing corporate practice which provides a wide range of corporate and commercial advice to its clients, particularly in emerging markets. 

Hugh is a highly experienced corporate lawyer specialising in private equity and growth/ development capital transactions both in the UK and internationally, with a particular focus on Africa and other emerging markets. Hugh has a broad range of experience advising sponsors, management teams, co-investors and companies that are raising funds privately.  He also focuses on funds work, specialising in private equity fund formation, as well as acting for investors in private equity funds. He has extensive experience of private company and business acquisitions and disposals, re-constructions, re-organisations, joint ventures and general corporate work.  Hugh has acted for many of the leading private equity funds investing in Africa. 

"Joining Trinity is a fantastic opportunity to develop its unique brand and approach to the provision of legal services to buy-out and growth capital transactions in emerging markets" Hugh said "It is a fascinating chance to build on Trinity's remarkable success in project finance and corporate work to further develop its corporate practice". 

Citibank Panel Appointment
3 Feb 11
 Trinity is very pleased to be able to announce that it has been appointed to Citigroup, Inc's Africa Corporate Finance legal panel.  We like to think that the appointment is a reflection of Trinity's growing brand in African financing transactions.  By way of example, Trinity's current engagements include acting for the bank consortium in respect of the 350MW Lake Turkana wind project in Kenya, believed to be the largest proposed wind farm in Africa.

Telecoms Financing Close
27 Jan 11
 Trinity advised the lending consortium (including Citibank, Standard Chartered, Absa Capital and Barclays) in relation to a telecoms financing transaction (approximately US$120m) in sub-Saharan Africa that reached financial close at the end of January 2011.

Trinity in Legal 500
7 Sep 10
 Trinity International LLP has been rated for the first time in Legal 500, The Clients' Guide to the UK Legal Profession.  The firm appears in (1) Projects, energy and natural resources: Power, (2) Projects, energy and natural resources: Infrastructure and (3) Finance: Emerging Markets.

Few reasons for Africa to fear EU's fund directive:
29 Jul 10
 Trinity's Kaushik Ray has written an article for The Financial Times' dedicated Africa pubclication, This is Africa, on the EU directive on alternative investment fund managers and its potential impact on Africa: This is Africa online

Nigerian road projects:
11 Mar 10
 A consortium including Trinity International LLP has been shortlisted to act for the Federal Ministry of Works, Housing and Urban Development of Nigeria in respect of four new PPP road projects in Nigeria.

Olkaria III wins Project Finance Magazine Award 2009
13 Jan 10
 We are pleased to announce that the Olkaria III geothermal IPP in Kenya has won the Project Finance magazine/Euromoney African Renewable Deal of the Year 2009. The award was awarded to (1) Ormat International and Orpower 4 Inc as the borrower, (2) the lenders, FMO, DEG, EAIF, Proparco, KfW, EFP, (3) Trinity International LLP in its role as international legal counsel to the lenders and (4) the borrower's international legal counsel (Chadbourne & Parke).

Article for This is Africa
4 Jan 10
 An article by Trinity's Simon Norris and Kaushik Ray Africa has been published on the Financial Times' dedicated Africa website, www.thisisafricaonline.com. The article, "The Rocky Road to Independents" looks at the role of privately-financed independent power projects in meeting Africa's dire need for electricity: http://www.thisisafricaonline.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/125

Article for Project Finance International
15 Dec 09
 The new edition of Project Finance International magazine features an article by Patrick Leece of Trinity. The article considers the trends in infrastructure projects in Africa and the lessons learned from those transactions that have reached financial close. The article looks at a number of transactions including those on which Trinity has advised such as the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Nigeria and the Tema port project in Ghana.

The Africa File: www.theafricafile.com
16 Nov 09
 The Africa File is a new online publication conceived and sponsored by Trinity International LLP: the law firm for Africa ( Trinity ): www.theafricafile.com. The Africa File is an annual collection of articles written by Trinity and its clients and contacts who are active on the African continent. 2009 marks the first edition of what we hope will become a successful and widely-read annual publication. The Africa File will cover a range of diverse topics but with one pervasive theme: investment in Africa. As a law firm whose founding partners have been advising on transactions in the African energy, transport and infrastructure sectors for approaching twenty years, we have seen and continue to see the huge untapped opportunities on the continent. We specialise in advising on the structuring, development and financing of large scale infrastructure projects and have seen the challenges and the triumphs of closing these projects first hand. The intention of The Africa File is to share some of our experience and, more importantly, the experience of others who know and understand how to do business in Africa. www.theafricafile.com

300MW Wind Farm (Kenya)
1 Sep 09
 Trinity has been appointed to act for African Development Bank and fellow lenders in respect of the 300MW Lake Turkana wind farm project in Kenya.

Conrad Marais at Africa Energy Forum
1 Jul 09
 Trinity's Conrad Marais was an expert panel member commenting on trends in African power projects at the Africa Energy Forum in Bordeaux. Trinity is an annual sponsor of the Africa Energy Forum: http://www.energynet.co.uk/AEF/index.html.

emea finance Award for Lekki-Epe Expressway
19 Jun 09
 emea finance magazine awarded "Best Africa Project Finance Deal 2008" to the Lekki Epe-Expressway infrastructure project in Lagos, Nigeria. Trinity acted for the project company, Lekki Concession Company, and its shareholders, in respect of the development and financing of the project.

emea finance Award for Olkaria III IPP, Kenya
19 Jun 09
 emea finance magazine awarded "Best EMEA Sustainability Deal 2008" to the Olkaria III IPP in Kenya. Trinity acted for the lenders to the project which closed in Q1 2009.

Trinity promotion to partnership
1 May 09
 Trinity International LLP is pleased to announce that it has promoted Conrad Marais to the partnership, effective 1 May 2009. Conrad joined Trinity in early 2007 having practiced in Australia with international firm Allens Arthur Robinson in its Energy, Resources and Infrastructure and Corporate teams in Perth and Melbourne where he worked closely with key international and domestic energy and resource companies such as Rio Tinto. He continued his career at Freshfields in London advising on a broad range of cross-border M&A transactions, joint venture and energy projects in a number of emerging markets. Conrad has experience across diverse sectors with a particular focus on project and corporate finance in energy and infrastructure transactions. Having lived and spent considerable time working in Africa, Conrad has added to the experience of the Trinity team in developing projects and advising on transactions across the continent and in other emerging markets. Conrad was an integral member of the team that completed the Rabai power project in Kenya late last year. The project received the Project Finance International (PFI) and Project Finance Magazine power deal of the year award 2008/2009.

Kaushik Ray
30 Mar 09
 Trinity is delighted to announce that Kaushik Ray has joined the team. Kaushik is a senior associate who trained and qualified as a solicitor at Allen & Overy LLP, gaining experience in its Projects, Energy and Infrastructure group both in London and Paris. Kaushik has experience in project finance across a range of sectors in both energy and infrastructure transactions. Kaushik's particular experience includes advising the lenders on a US$2.5 billion IWPP financing in Saudi Arabia; representing two regional development banks on the financing of the Djibouti port project; advising the sponsors on a US$330m cement plant in Nigeria; advising the sponsors on the development of a US$4bn LNG plant in Iran; and variously advising the government, sponsors and lenders on several PPP projects in the UK. Kaushik also has experiencing advising the lenders on wind farms in Greece and Italy, a telecommunications network in Chad and an electricity network in southern Africa. In addition, Kaushik has acted for commercial banks and sponsors on several tax-structured film and television financings.

Guy Jolly
19 Feb 09
 We are pleased to announce that Guy Jolly, a finance lawyer with a particular focus on international projects transactions, has joined the Trinity team. The firm is continuing its recruitment process as Trinity enters its fourth year of existence.

Project Finance International Africa Power Deal of the Year 2008 for Rabai
5 Jan 09
 The Rabai IPP Project in Kenya has been named "Africa Power Deal of the Year 2008" by Project Finance Magazine. Trinity advised the developers of the project, Aldwych International Limited and BWSC Scandinavian Contractor. This represents an impressive double for the project as it also received a Project Finance International Award in December to round off a successful year for the transaction and indeed Trinity.

Project Finance Award for Lekki-Epe Expressway
1 Jan 09
 The Lekki-Epe Expressway toll road transaction has won Project Finance Magazine's Infrastructure Deal of the Year 2008 for Africa. The deal, closed in the third quarter of 2008, has also won awards from Project Finance International and Africa Investor.

PFI Awards double header for Trinity deals:
1 Dec 08
 Two of the major transactions which Trinity closed in 2008 have won awards at the Project Finance International Awards 2008. The Lekki-Epe Expressway Project in Nigeria won "Infrastructure Deal of the Year" for Africa and the Middle East and the Rabai IPP Project in Kenya won "Power Deal of the Year" for Africa and the Middle East.

Josephine Lindop:
1 Oct 08
 Trinity is very pleased to announce that the Trinity team continues to grow with the addition of Josephine Lindop, an associate with experience in infrastructure and energy projects (including renewables), financing and corporate transactions on the African continent. Josephine speaks fluent French and has a focus on francophone Africa as a result. Josephine qualified with Webber Wentzel Bowens in South Africa and went on to work in Paris, most recently with Gide Loyrette Nouel.

Rabai project closes:
1 Oct 08
 The $160 million 90MW Rabai power project has reached financial close. Trinity acted for Burmeister & Wain Scandinavian Contractor A/S, Aldwych International Limited and the project company, Rabai Power Limited in relation to the development and financing of the project. The plant is located 20 km (12 miles) from the port city of Mombasa, Rabai.

Lekki-Epe Expressway Toll Road Project Closes:
1 Oct 08
 The $335 million Lekki-Epe Expressway Toll Road Project has reached financial close. Trinity acted for the project company, Lekki Concession Company Limited on all aspects of the project, including the concession, EPC, O&M and financing arrangements. Debt finance is to be provided from a range of financial institutions, both Nigerian and international. The project will be a real toll project and involves the upgrading and expansion of 49km of the existing Lekki-Epe Expressway on Victoria Island in Lagos and the development of a new coastal road running parallel to the existing road. The project won "Infrastructure Deal of the Year" for Africa and the Middle East in the Project Finance International Awards 2008 and Africa Investor Transport Deal of the Year Award 2008.

Desalination Facility (Ghana):
1 Sep 08
 Trinity has been retained to act for the lender in respect of a salt water reverse osmosis desalination facility in Ghana.

Rail infrastructure (Nigeria):
1 Jul 08
 Trinity has been instructed to act for the developers of a major rail infrastructure transaction in Nigeria.

Zambian utility refinancing:
1 May 08
 Trinity closes acquisition debt refinancing transaction in Zambia. Trinity acted for the sponsors in relation to the refinancing involving a complex cross-border structure (Zambia, Ireland and the Netherlands).

Telecoms financing, Zambia:
1 May 08
 Trinity closes the US$40,000,000 financing of the operations of the mobile operator, MTN (Zambia) Limited. Trinity acted for a consortium of banks including ABSA Bank and Citibank.

Kelvin power station acquisition:
12 Feb 08
 Trinity acted for Aldwych International Limited in relation to its acquisition (with its fellow investors) of the 600MW Kelvin power station in Johannesburg.

Marina Ferraz Aidar:
12 Dec 07
 The Trinity team is pleased to announce that it has been joined by Marina Ferraz Aidar, a banking and financial markets lawyer. Marina will be working on a range of transactions with a particular focus on representing lenders. Marina joins us from Machado Meyer Sendacz e Opice, one of the largest firms in Brazil with whom we have worked on a number of transactions.

Endeleo joint venture:
12 Dec 07
 Trinity helps create a joint venture to act as a developer/manager and adviser to the public sector in Africa in relation to the development of infrastructure assets.

Trinity acted for Copperbelt Energy Corporation PL
12 Dec 07
 Trinity acted for Copperbelt Energy Corporation PLC in relation to the raising of $35,000,000 in senior debt and the listing of a portion of the company's shares on the Zambian Stock Exchange. Both transactions closed in December 2007.

Conrad Marais:
12 Feb 07
 Trinity is pleased to announce that Conrad Marais, a senior corporate and projects associate has joined Trinity. Conrad qualified in Australia with Allens Arthur Robinson, gaining experience in its Energy, Resources and Infrastructure and Corporate teams in Perth and Melbourne. He has subsequently worked in London with international law firms Freshfields and Morgan Lewis having worked on a range of cross-border M&A transactions, joint ventures and energy and infrastructure transactions. Conrad has significant corporate experience across diverse sectors with a focus more recently on energy and infrastructure transactions. Conrad is a member of the Renewable Energy Association.

Project Finance Award:
12 Dec 06
 Trinity acted for the management team and other equity investors in relation to the leveraged management buyout of a controlling stake in the Copperbelt Energy Corporation in Zambia. The deal received Africa Acquisition Finance Deal of the Year at the Project Finance Deal of the Year Awards 2007.

Wind farm development (Albania):
1 Jan 70
 Acting for the developers of a wind farm project in Albania.