Adrian Leal

Associate, Houston

Biography

Overview

Adrian Leal is an associate in White & Case LLP's Energy, Infrastructure, Project and Asset Finance Practice, focusing on corporate and project finance transactions in Latin America.

Adrian's experience includes the representation of both borrowers and lenders in the development, construction, purchase, sale and financing of a wide array of infrastructure and power projects, including ports, toll roads, renewable and conventional power plants. He also has extensive experience representing agent banks, senior lenders, lead arrangers, private equity funds and other borrowers in connection with secured and unsecured syndicated credit facilities and acquisition financings.

Adrian has represented some of the world's largest financial institutions and corporate entities. His broad experience in Latin America includes transactions in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru, as well as other Latin American jurisdictions.

Bars and Courts
Texas
Florida
Education
JD
University of Texas at Austin
MS
at El Paso
University of Texas
BA
at El Paso
University of Texas
Languages
English
Spanish

Experience

USPP for PMGD projects in Chile
Representation of the purchasers and the lender in connection with the US$290,000,000 purchase and sale of notes issued by Matrix Renewables Chile SpA, the proceeds of which will be used to finance a 328 MW portfolio of PMGD projects in Chile. The notes were issued in the form of a private placement. BNP Paribas acted as placement agent and lender for the transaction.

Vale Senior Revolving Credit Facility
Representation of Vale International, Vale S.A. and Vale Canada, the leading global mining companies, as borrowers, in connection with a US$2 billion senior revolving credit facility.

Senior Secured Acquisition Financing of Colbún Transmisión in Chile
Representation of Alfa Desarrollo, a consortium controlled by APG Energy and Infra Investments and Celeo Redes, as borrower and issuer, in the structuring and closing of the senior secured financing for the acquisition of Colbún Transmisión, by Alfa. The transaction value is circa US$1.3 billion. The acquisition included the transfer of ownership of circa 899 kilometers of transmission lines and 27 substations owned and operated by Colbún Transmisión, in the Chilean Sistema Eléctrico Nacional (National Electric System), representing circa five5 percent of the total transmission market in Chile. Our team worked on all aspects of the financing including the issuance of four point fifty-five percent senior secured notes due 2051, issued pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the US Securities Act, and a senior secured letter of credit facility. The transaction has been recognized as "Americas Transmission Deal of the Year" by PFI Awards.

AMP Capital joint venture with Enel X in Chile
Representation of AMP Capital and its joint venture with Enel X in connection with the long-term financing for the acquisition of 433 electric buses and related charging infrastructure that are being used for the provision of public transportation services in Santiago, Chile. This transaction has been recognized as "Latin America Transport Deal of the Year" by IJGlobal and "Latin America Emerging Energy Deal of the Year" by Proximo Awards.

SMBC and MUFG Bank financing
Representation of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) as joint bookrunner and MUFG Bank as lead arranger in the financing of a petroleum products storage terminal with a nameplate capacity of 1.1 million barrels, integrated by eight dedicated tanks and related distribution infrastructure to be located in Altamira, Mexico.

Sustainability-Linked Revolving Credit Agreement for Vesta
Representation of The Bank of Nova Scotia and BBVA Mexico, S.A., as Sustainability Agents, and Scotiabank Inverlat, S.A. and other banks as lenders in a US$200 million sustainability-linked revolving credit agreement in favor of Corporación Inmobiliaria Vesta, S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexican public company engaged in the real estate sector.

Awards and Recognition

Rising Star, The Legal 500 Latin America, Banking and Finance, 2023