Katie Hicks

Partner, London

Biography

Overview

Katie Hicks is a partner in the European infrastructure debt practice in London.

Katie specializes in infrastructure acquisition financings and refinancings, acting for both infrastructure sponsors and finance providers. She has extensive experience of bank lending, European institutional funding, US private placements and structured financing platforms across a broad spectrum of infrastructure assets.

Katie is ranked as a 'Leading Individual' in Legal 500 UK for Infrastructure and noted by clients as an 'exceptional finance lawyer'. Chambers UK: Infrastructure also report that, 'She is knowledgeable, commercial and very responsive.'

Bars and Courts
England and Wales, Solicitor
Education
GDL & LPC
College of Law, London
BA
St. Catherine's College, University of Oxford
Languages
English

Experience

Representation of the borrowers and the sponsors on €1.3 billion financing for Galileo, a joint venture between E.ON and Igneo, to which E.ON's existing FTTH and FTTC assets are being transferred and which also has a substantial further fibre roll-out programme

Representation of the funders to a bidder in relation to multi-layer financing for its bid for 51% of the issued shares in Deutsche Telecom's German and Austrian TowerCo 

Representation of a consortium of sponsors (AXA IM Alts and Swiss Life Asset Managers) in relation to both senior and junior financing for their successful bid for more than EUR 2 billion acquisition of 100% of the issued shares from Antin Infrastructure Partners in lyntia Networks, a leading wholesale operator in the Spanish telecommunications market and the only neutral provider operating both light and dark fibre in Spain

Representation of the lenders to a consortium in relation to their financing for a bid for a minority stake in Altamira, Telefonica's fibreco 

Representation of Open Fiber in relation to the establishment of the multi-creditor common terms platform, including bank and PP debt 

Representation of a consortium comprising of AXA Real Estate Investment Managers SGP and Lægernes Pension - Pensionskassen For Læger in relation to the holdco institutional financing for their bid for a minority shareholding in Norlys Tele Service A/S 

Representation of lenders to TDC Net in relation to additional debt raise 

Representation of the lenders to 3i on its acquisition and roll-out financing for its successful bid for DNS:NET Internet Service, a German fibre and ISP business 

Representation of funders on the refinancing of Airband, a UK provider of alternative broadband for rural homes and businesses 

Representation of the funders to DigitalBridge in relation to both senior and junior financing for its successful bid for 100% of the issued shares in Telenet NewCo NV 

Representation of funders in relation to certain funds financing for an unsuccessful bid for a minority stake in Telia's Finnish and Norwegian tower business 

Representation of the funders in relation to the establishment of the multi-creditor common terms platform, including bank and PP debt, for NorthC, a Dutch, German and Swiss portfolio of data centres 

Representation of an infrastructure fund in relation to the certain funds financing for their unsuccessful bid for Green Mountain Representation of the funders on the first European data centre financing based on infrastructure finance terms for a portfolio of data centres backed by StepStone, being one of the most efficient data centre portfolios in Switzerland* 

Representation of Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) in relation to the financing for the purchase of a 60% stake in National Grid plc's UK gas transmission and metering business (NGG) through a consortium led by MAM 

Representation of the lenders in relation to the fully documented certain funds financing for an unsuccessful bid for UK Power Networks 

Representation of an infrastructure fund backed bidder on their unsuccessful bid for certain of the Swedish assets of E.on

Representation of Värtan Gas, an independent and regulated gas Distribution System Operator, on the refinancing of its debt 

Representation of funders on a fully documented funds certain acquisition financing for an unsuccessful consortium bid for Eneco, a Dutch utility* 

Representation of Suomi Gas Distribution and Aberdeen Standard Investments in relation to the refinancing of Suomi Gas Distribution Group, including senior bank facilities and institutional funding* 

Representation of the funders in relation to a certain funds financing for a successful bid by DIF and EDF Invest of Thyssengas* 

Representation of a syndicate of lenders in relation to financing a bid by an infrastructure sponsor for a 49% stake in Gas Connect Austria* 

Representation of Allianz, Amber, CIC, Dalmore, Hermes, Macquarie and QIA in relation to the acquisition of a 61% stake in the gas distribution business of National Grid, including the establishment of a structured midco debt platform and the raising of bank and institutional funding* 

Representation of a funder to a bidco established by IFM Investor's new Net Zero Infrastructure Fund on financing for acquisition of 35% in a JV with San Quirico's family office to acquire a 62.5% stake in an Italian listed company ERG for ca. €1bn 

Representation of a consortium led by Macquarie Asset Management, together with British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and MEAG (the asset manager of Munich Re and Ergo) on the financing for the consortium's acquisition of Reden Solar, a French-based developer, financer, builder and operator of solar power plants across Europe and Latin America, from InfraVia Capital Partners and Eurazeo 

Representation of the acquirer on its acquisition of GETEC, one of Europe's leading sustainable energy service companies for real estate and industrial customers (including related acquisition financing at both senior and junior levels) 

Representation of a joint venture comprising PGGM and DIF Capital Partners in relation to the certain funds financing for their successful bid for Fudura B.V. - a Dutch energy infrastructure services business active in energy transition 

Representation of the funders on the Värmevärden and Adven refinancing including a platform and bank and PP debt 

Representation of the funders in relation to the junior platform financing of Adven Group, a provider of sustainable and business critical energy infrastructure and services in Finland, Sweden and Estonia* 

Representation of the funders to the acquirer on their successful bid for Adven* 

Representation of lenders and PP investors on the Värmevärden refinancing including a platform and bank and PP debt* 

Representation of an infrastructure sponsor on an unsuccessful bid for the Järvenpää/Tuusula district heating assets of Fortum and related bank acquisition financing* 

Representation of Aberdeen Standard Investments, DIF and Local Pensions Partnership on refinancing of Finnish district heating company Elenia Lampö Oy and establishment of the multi-creditor debt platform for the refinancing and new debt raise* 

Representation of the institutional funders on the junior debt refinancing for a 50% indirect shareholder in Solör Bioenergy Group* 

Representation of the funders in connection with establishing a secured debt platform together with a bank facilities agreement and a note purchase agreement for Loiste group, a Finnish heat distribution business* 

Representation of the funders on the refinancing of a Norwegian district heating business, Oslo Vjarme 

Representation of Aberdeen Standard Investments, DIF and Local Pensions Partnership on refinancing of Finnish district heating company Elenia Lampö Oy and establishment of the multi-creditor debt platform for the refinancing and new debt raise* 

Representation of funders in connection with establishing a secured debt platform for HS Orka, one of the largest power and heat generation and supply businesses in Iceland* 

Representation of the funders to GIP in relation to a junior financing for a bid by New Suez for the acquisition from Veolia Environment of the Suez's waste and water business assets in the UK 

Representation of a consortium of infrastructure funds on the acquisition financing for their unsuccessful pre-empt for Wheelabrator* 

Representation of the lenders to the infrastructure fund on the multi-creditor financing for their unsuccessful bid for MapleCo, a UK gas and electricity smart metering business* 

Representation of the sponsors on the refinancing of junior institutional debt in relation to a Nordic wind portfolio* 

Representation of the funders on the establishment of the multi-creditor rated midco and opco common terms platform for LBC 

Representation of the funders to Evos B.V., an FSI portfolio company, on the establishment of the multi-creditor common terms platform 

Representation of the funders on the certain funds financing for the acquisition of the Oystercatcher Terminals by Evos B.V. 

Representation of Koole on the establishment of the multi-creditor common terms platform for Koole Terminals, having also advised on the previous refinancing of Koole Terminals. The debt package included ESG linked incentives* 

Representation of VTTI B.V. on the establishment of the multi-billion dollar multi-creditor common terms platform, including senior bank facilities, a USPP and standalone hedging, for refinancing of their existing unsecured bank and PP debt* 

Representation of the lenders to FSI's European Diversified Infrastructure Fund II's acquisition of certain Vopak terminals and Caldic Chemie B.V.* 

Representation of a syndicate of lenders in relation to financing a bid for a 50% stake in Dragon LNG Terminal* 

Representation of Boreal Holding AS, a major Norwegian public transport provider (including electric ferries and electric busses provider), in respect of a refinancing through a common terms platform, which included NOK and EUR tranches, private placement, bank debt and bonds 

Representation of an infrastructure fund on the financing for their unsuccessful bid for Akiem 

Representation of the bank lenders to GIP and ADIA in relation to junior financing for EUR 7 billion acquisition of a majority stake in VTG AG, Europe's largest private wagon hire company, and subsequent representation of the US PP and bank lenders on the take-out holdco financing for a consortium of GIP, ADIA and OMERS in relation to 100% of VTG GmbH. 

Representation of the funders in relation to a holdco financing for MSIP's controlled entity that is a majority shareholder in VTG 

Representation of the funders in relation to a holdco financing for OMERS's controlled entity that is a minority shareholder in VTG 

Representation of funders to DWS in relation to the midco bank bridge financing for its successful bid for Ermewa in a consortium with CDPQ and a subsequent PP debt take out 

Representation of the sponsors on the certain funds financing for their unsuccessful bid for Aves One 

Representation of funders in relation to the establishment of the new multi-billion multi-creditor common terms platform for the refinancing of the existing debt of Cross London Trains, one of the largest single fleet rolling stock owners in Europe* 

Representation of Beacon Rail Leasing on the €1.45 billion equivalent refinancing of Beacon Rail Leasing's senior debt facilities into a new multi-creditor common terms platform for their European business and continuous representation on the ongoing taps 

Representation of Italo, an Italian high-speed train operator, on a €1.1 billion syndicated loan, which in 2019 was the world's largest green loan in the transport sector* 

Representation of funders on the acquisition refinancing based on the multi-creditor terms for Hector Rail, operating in the Nordics and Germany* 

Representation of SL Capital, Rock Rail and GLIL in relation to the establishment of a multi-creditor platform, including issuances in both EUPP and USPP formats, for the South Western rail franchised Norwegian tower business 

Representation of SL Capital, Rock Rail and GLIL in relation to the establishment of a multi-creditor platform, including issuances in both EUPP and USPP formats, for the East Anglia rail franchise* 

Representation of the lenders to Inframedica on its successful bid to acquire Althea's UK cancer care and diagnostics business from Permira 

Representation of the funders to an infrastructure fund on the certain funds financing for their bid for a German medical business 

An infrastructure fund on the certain funds financing for their unsuccessful bid for Infrareal 

Representation of the funders to an infrastructure fund on the certain funds financing for their unsuccessful bid for an Italian and German medical business 

Representation of OTPP and Westerleigh Crematorium on the refinancing* 

Representation of ADIA, Allianz, Borealis, CIC and MEAG on the refinancing of Tank & Rast, including the establishment of a structured debt platform and the raising of bank finance and issuance of a USPP* 

Representation of the EUPP funders, bank lenders and hedge providers on the holdco multi-creditor financing for the Copenhagen airport and subsequent COVID-19 waivers* 

Representation of Bristol Airport and the Sponsors (comprising SunSuper, StepStone, New South Wales Treasury Corporation, and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board) in the amendment and extension of a holdco liquidity facility 

Representation of OTPP on the refinancing of Bristol Airport and subsequent debt raisings, including senior bank facilities and multiple English law-governed USPPs, and subsequent COVID-19 waivers and holdco financing* 

Representation of Farnborough Airport and MIRA on the acquisition financing of the Farnborough Airport* 

Representation of the funders on the Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton airport refinancing and subsequent COVID-19 waivers* 

Representation of OTPP and Macquarie on the refinancing of Copenhagen Airport, including senior bank facilities, a EUPP, a USPP and standalone hedging* 

* Experience prior to joining White & Case

Awards and Recognition

Band 1, Infrastructure 
Chambers UK 2025

Leading Individual, Infrastructure: M&A and acquisition financing
Legal 500 UK 2025