Elicia Ling is of counsel in the Latin America practice and the Global Project Finance and Development practice at Paul Hastings. She is based in the firm’s New York office. Ms. Ling has represented sponsors and lenders in a number of financing and infrastructure development transactions throughout Latin America. Her experience encompasses a wide range of sectors, including power, oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, shipping and agricultural commodities.
Experience
- The lenders, including KEXIM, IFC and HSBC, in connection with the US$176 million financing of the user fare collection system for the Bogotá rapid transit system in Colombia. This project was named “ECA Deal of the Year 2012” by Trade Finance Review Magazine and “Americas Deal of the Year 2012” by Trade Finance Magazine.
- The Lenders in connection with a US$3 billion revolving credit facility and the ongoing bond financing of the US$13 billion new international airport in Mexico City. This project was awarded “Latin American Airports Deal of the Year” by IJGlobal 2015, “Latin Project Finance Deal of the Year” by Latin Lawyer 2015 and “Latin America Infrastructure Deal of the Year” by LatinFinance 2015.
- Banco ABC Brasil S.A., Cayman Islands Branch, and Banco Itaú BBA S.A., Nassau Branch, as joint lead arrangers, in the US$250 million financing, and Banco Itaú BBA S.A., as BNDES repasse agent in the financing of approximately US$320 million in local currency, of an iron ore project in the State of Amapá, Brazil. The project includes the development of an iron ore mine, a railroad linking the mine to the Amazon River and a port facility at the Amazon River (this transaction was named “Deal of the Year 2007” by Trade Finance Magazine).
- Odebrecht, Enagás and Graña y Montero in the US$6 billion, 1,000km Gasoducto Sur Peruano (GSP) pipeline project in Peru.
- Canadian and Korean sponsors in the financing of the US$1.6 billion Rosemont (Arizona) copper mine by ECA’s from Korea, Germany and Canada together with six commercial banks.
- Colbún S.A. in the negotiation of its coal supply and related shipping arrangements in Colombia for its power plants in Chile.
- MPX Chile for one year in its development of a 2,000MW coal-fired power station, together with an associated port and water desalination facility in Chile.
- A major sponsor in connection with its bid to acquire several wind farms in Mexico.
- SMBC, Mizuho Bank, NAD Bank, Nord LB and NAFIN on the financing of a 155MW wind farm and associated transmission line in the Sierra Juarez Mountains of Baja California, Mexico, which will sell energy cross-border into the U.S.
- NAD Bank, Banco Santander, Bancomext, Banobras and NAFIN in the integrated 252MW (total) Ventikas I and II wind farms with a capital cost of US$650 million, located in General Bravo, Nuevo León, Mexico.
- BNPP as lead arranger in its refinancing of the TEG (a 260MW (gross) pet coke-fired, “self-generation” facility in Mexico) debt. The project involved COFACE and IDB.
- Vale in connection with a strategic review of more than a dozen iron ore sales contracts to key Asian purchasers and provision of advice in connection with ongoing negotiations with purchasers.
- Odebrecht Oleo e Gas S.A. (OOG) in connection with its ongoing participation as a shareholder together with Sete Brasil Participações in five special-purpose project companies, each to own one drill ship to be constructed and leased to Petrobras. Our client will also operate the drill ships and manage their construction.
- OOG and Teekay in connection with its development, construction, operation and financing by a syndicate of commercial banks of FPSO Cidade de Itajaí for charter to Petrobras.
- FMO and CABEI in the financing of the 21.3MW Agua Zarca Hydropower project in Honduras.
- OOG in connection with its equity investment in, and the US$480 million financing of, the Delba rig for charter to Petrobras, which included the restructuring of the project’s debt with IDB and a group of B Lenders.
- Ecopetrol S.A. and, later, Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A. on the development and first phase financing of the up to US$4 billion Bicentenario pipeline in Colombia. This project was named “Best Oil & Gas Financing of the Year” by LatinFinance 2013.
- A major energy company in connection with the stalled financing of an LNG receiving terminal and a power generation project in the Dominican Republic.
- Procaps S.A. in its dual-currency US$150 million borrowing from JP Morgan and a syndicate of Colombian and international banks; this funding closed in November 2013, and included a Peso and Dollar tranche.
- Porto do Pecém Geração de Energia S.A., a project company, and its sponsors (Energias do Brasil S.A. and MPX Energia S.A.), in the US$1.59 billion project financing of a 720MW coal-fired thermal power plant next to the port of Pecém, in Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil, with financing from IDB and BNDES as well as B Loan lenders. This deal was awarded “Latin America Power Deal of the Year 2009” by Project Finance Magazine.
- Mizuho Bank, Ltd., SMBC, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and Natixis on the financing of the US$280 million expansion of the Matarani port in Peru. This project was awarded “Latin America Transportation Deal of the Year” by IJGlobal 2014.
- HSBC, Bancolombia and EDC in the structuring and financing of the 512MW (net) greenfield, Fenix gas-fired power plant in Peru.
Education
- Columbia Law School, J.D., 2004
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Derecho, 2003
- Wellesley College, B.A., magna cum laude, 1996