Ashurst advises John Laing on acquisition of Finley Solar Farm

PRESS RELEASE

International law firm Ashurst advised John Laing on its acquisition of the Finley Solar Farm, a greenfield solar project with a total capacity of 174.9 MWp to be constructed west of Finley in Berrigan Shire Council, New South Wales.

This is the second solar project investment for John Laing in Australia, following investment in Sunraysia Solar Farm in October, and will form part of a larger Asia Pacific renewable energy portfolio that includes investments in the Kiata Wind Farm in Victoria and the three stages of the Hornsdale Wind Farm in South Australia.

The Ashurst team was led by global head of power & utilities Shane Kyriakou, and principally managed by counsel Lynda Tully. The core team included partner Kylie Lane and lawyers Ryan Kabat, Lizzie Bird and Jonathan Bisset (corporate); partner Chris Redden and senior associate Douglas Fung (project finance); partner Tanya Denning, senior associate Peter Arnold and lawyer Tristan Shepherd (energy & resources); partner Mark Disney, counsel Laura van den Berg and senior associate Lillian Yeung (infrastructure).

Tax advice was provided by partners Geoffrey Mann and Ian Kellock, assisted by senior associates Bronwyn Kirkwood and Kristina Popova, while senior associate Carol Kahler advised on real estate matters.

Commenting on the transaction, Shane Kyriakou said:
“This was a complicated transaction that very few participants in the Australian renewables market could have successfully completed. John Laing is one of those few and we are delighted to have been able to assist them.

The deal involved simultaneous signing and completion upon financial close, and we were able to bring capability across equity, debt and construction in the required numbers to support to the relatively small client team.”