Raffaele Montenero Turco
Biography
Overview
Raffaele is a partner in the Project Development and Finance Group, where he leads the Firm’s project development practice in Latin America. He has extensive experience in the cross-border financing, development and management of domestic and international power, energy and infrastructure projects. He has particular experience in the drafting, negotiation and enforcement of project documents for energy and infrastructure projects.
Prior to joining the Firm, Raffaele was senior in-house counsel for more than three years at one of the world’s largest utility companies in Spain. Since joining White & Case, Raffaele has continued to assist clients during the entire lifecycle of project development, from initial procurement and contract negotiations through construction, operation and pre-dispute resolution.
Experience
Latin America
Representation of Invenergy and its project subsidiary Energía del Pacifico (EDP) on the groundbreaking development and project financing of the 378 MW LNG-to-power infrastructure project at the Port of Acajutla in El Salvador. The project will require an investment of approximately US$1 billion and will be the largest foreign direct investment in El Salvador to date.
Representation of Termocandelaria Power, the fifth largest electric power generation company in Colombia, in connection with the development and financing of the conversion of its power plant in Cartagena from simple to nominal 566 MW net combined-cycle.
Representation of the sponsor on the development and sale of the 168 MW Fenicias wind farm in Mexico to a subsidiary of Grupo México.
Representation of the developer in connection with the supply, construction and installation agreements for an approximately 20 MW solar and battery storage energy project in Mexico.
Representation of Neoen in connection with the development (including construction arrangements) and project financing of the 208 MW Altiplano 200 solar power plant in Argentina.
Representation of the lenders in the US$822 million long-term project financing for Transmisora Eléctrica del Norte’s (TEN) development of a 600 km electricity transmission line and related substations connecting the Sistema Interconectado Central (SIC) and the Sistema Interconectado del Norte Grande (SING) of Chile, which will unify most of the country’s power grid. The financing consisted of US Dollar and Chilean Peso senior loan facilities and a private placement under New York law as well as a value-added tax facility under Chilean law.
Representation of CAF, EKF, FMO and SMBC in connection with the portfolio financing of the Villalonga and Chubut Norte wind farms and related facilities being developed by Genneia in Argentina. The financing includes an EKF-guaranteed tranche of commercial debt and separate uncovered loan facilities. The transaction was the first portfolio financing under New York law of projects supported by RenovAr PPAs and FMO’s first renewable power investment for a local Argentine company implementing the project.
Representation of IC Power DR Operations, operating as a subsidiary of Inkia Energy, in the preparation and negotiation of the EPC and O&M agreements for the 50 MW Agua Clara wind farm in the Dominican Republic.
Representation of Invenergy and several of its subsidiaries in connection with the acquisition, development and financing of the 70 MW Campo Palomas wind farm in Uruguay.
United States
Representation of a Korean government-owned power company on the acquisition, development and construction, back-leverage and tax equity financing of a 160 MWac solar energy project in Texas.
Representation of KOMIPO and its affiliated US subsidiaries on the acquisition, development and construction, back-leverage and tax equity financing of the 130 MWac Elara solar project in Texas. This transaction was the first Texas solar project implemented by a Korean government-owned power company.
Representation of ACS, Balfour Beatty, Fluor and Hochtief in their successful bid for and US$1.47 billion combined private activity bond and commercial bank financing of the Automated People Mover project at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Representation of Morgan Stanley Energy Partners (MSEP) in connection with its investment in SolMicroGrid, a developer and operator of solar-enabled microgrid systems for commercial and industrial customers.
Representation of East West Bank as tax equity investor in connection with a tax equity investment in a 7.4 MW fuel cell project located on the Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut. The total project costs are approximately US$56 million. The project is indirectly owned by FuelCell Energy, a global leader in fuel cell technology.
Representation of SolaireDirect, a subsidiary of ENGIE, in connection with the development, construction and back-leverage and tax equity financing of the 52 MWac / 61.6 MWp Solaire Holman solar plant in Texas.
Representation of a consortium of eleven funds managed by Allianz Global in the US$300 million senior secured financing of the acquisition by Globalvia Inversiones of Pocahontas Parkway Operations. The acquired company holds the concession to operate, manage and toll the Pocahontas Parkway in Virginia under a Comprehensive Agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation. The transaction featured a two-step merger and the issuance of 25 and 35-year notes secured by the tollway concession.
