Bob Kartheiser is a partner in the Latin America practice and chair of the firm's Global Project Finance practice at Paul Hastings. Mr. Kartheiser is based in the firm’s New York office. He transacts regularly in Spanish and Portuguese. Mr. Kartheiser has worked for 25 years—roughly equally for lenders and for borrowers—in financings, restructurings, and infrastructure development, including a significant focus on the emerging markets (particularly Latin America) and in the mining, infrastructure and energy sectors. He has done this both as a lawyer representing lenders and equity investors and as the head for 6 years of an independent power producer’s Latin American development group.
Experience
- The lenders on the USD$3 billion financing for the New Mexico City Airport, including intercreditor arrangements.
- The sponsors in the USD$650 million financing by ExIm bank and commercial banks of the Boleo copper mine in Baja California.
- Société Générale and other lenders in the ongoing USD$800 million regasification and power generation project (600 MW power plant) in Panama.
- Calyon as lead arranger in its refinancing of the TEP (a 260MW (gross) pet coke-fired, “self-generation” facility in Mexico) debt.
- BNPP as lead arranger in its refinancing of the TEG (a 260MW (gross) pet coke-fired, “self-generation” facility in Mexico) debt.
- Grupo México on its tender process for the development of a 450MW coal-fired greenfield power plant in Mexico.
- A major Spanish sponsor in its bid for two pipelines in Mexico with estimated project costs of USD$900 million and USD$400 million, respectively.
- SMBC, Mizuho Bank, Ltd., NAD Bank 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 Leon, Mexico.
- A major energy company in connection with an LNG receiving terminal and a power generation project in the Dominican Republic.
- The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A. and IDB in the financing of the Termovalle 190MW gas-fired power generation facility in Cali, Colombia.
- Grupo México and México Generadora de Energía (MGE) on the US$575 million 5.50% Senior Secured Notes Due 2032 Rule 144A project-bond to finance the construction of 500MW combined-cycle, gas-fired electrical power facilities in Mexico. This project was named “Best Power Financing of the Year” by LatinFinance 2013.
- The lenders on the development and construction of a 666MW power plant and LNG receiving terminal in Panamá.
- 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 Pecem, in Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil, with financing from IDB and BNDES as well as B Loan commercial bank lenders. This deal was awarded “Latin America Power Deal” of the Year by Project Finance Magazine 2009 and “Americas Deal of the Year” by IFLR 2009.
- Deutsche Bank in a transaction with Petrobras involving a gas-fired power plant in Brazil.
- TECO Power in the development of a 90MW gas-fired power project in Guatemala (the emergency project using LM 6000’s was initially financed on an all-equity basis and later refinanced through OPIC).
- AES Corporation and its affiliates in the development and financing of the Alutrint Power 720MW combined cycle power plant in Trinidad & Tobago.
- Energias do Brasil S.A. and MPX Energia S.A. on the EPC contracts to build a 720MW coal-fired thermal power plant next to the port of Pecém, in Fortaleza, State of Ceará, and a 360MW coal-fired thermal power plant next to the port of Itaqui, in São Luis, State of Maranhão, Brazil.
- Project sponsors on the 1000MW Tamazunchale bid sponsored by CFE in Mexico.
- The lenders in the financing of the 100MW Cerro Dominador PV solar power project in Antofagasta, Chile.
- CABEI and FMO in the financing of the 21.3MW Agua Zarca hydropower project in Honduras.
- AES subsidiary in Colombia, Chivor SA E.S.P., owner of a 1,000MW hydroelectric plant, in the refinancing of a syndicated loan facility, involving a US$170 million 144A high-yield bond tranche and a US$83 million equivalent Peso-denominated syndicated bank tranche.
- Sociedad Concesionaria Vespucio Norte Express S.A., project company, and its sponsors (Hochtief Projektentwicklung GmbH and Actividades de Construcción y Servicios S.A. Dragados) with a US$424 million project bond, guaranteed by mono line insurer MBIA, to finance the construction of an electronically tolled urban ring road in Santiago, Chile.
- AES Corporation as sponsor in connection with the construction aspects of two 230MW hydroelectric power facilities in Panamá.
- Grana y Montero and Enagás as sponsors in the US$5 billion, 1,000km Gasoducto Sur Peruano (GSP) pipeline project in Peru.
- A syndicate of 4 commercial banks funding the approximately US$280 million expansion of the TISUR port in Peru.
- A major sponsor in its bid to acquire an interest in the Alto Maipo hydropower project in Chile.
- MPX Chile in its development of a 2,000MW coal-fired power station, together with an associated port and water desalination facility in Chile.
- A fund in its reconfiguration of a port in Colombia (including separate contracts for dredging, marine works, civil works and equipment supply).
- Sociedad Concesionaria Operadora Aeroportuaria Internacional S.A. - OPAlN S.A. in the US$1.2 billion concession-based expansion of the El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia. Financing was provided by IDB, CDB and CAF. This project was named “Latin America Transport Deal of the Year” by Project Finance Magazine 2013 and “Project Finance Deal of the Year” by IFLR Americas 2013.
- OPAIN S.A., in US$500 million refinancing of the credit obtained from three international development institutions for the development and expansion, operation and commercial development of the El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá, Colombia.
- Concesión La Pintada S.A.S. in the ongoing financing of the design, development, construction, commissioning and operation of the Conexión Pacífico 2 Road project in Colombia (involving a 6-sponsor group, and USD, COP and liquidity facility tranches).
- Dragados ACS as sponsor in the Rule 144A project bond financing of "Pista 2" at the El Dorado airport in Bogota, Colombia.
- Camargo Correa and Andrade Gutierrez as sponsors in connection with the US$115 million financing by IFC of the Dutra toll road in São Paulo, Brazil.
- The Sponsors in connection with an LNG receiving terminal or FSRU, transmission line and a power generation project in the Dominican Republic.
- BBVA and other lenders on the financing of a toll bridge in Virginia, U.S.
- 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. This project was named “Best Oil & Gas Financing of the Year” by LatinFinance 2013.
- 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.
- The lenders on the paused financing of design, development, construction, commissioning and operation of a 260km 2x230 kV transmission line to service the Los Llanos oil fields in Colombia.
- SMBC, BNDES, Caixa Economica, UKEF and potentially other commercial bank lenders on the approximately US$18 billion project financing of 21 ultra-deepwater drill ships to be leased by Petrobras S.A for use offshore Brazil.
- Marubeni in its acquisition of the Miravalles geothermal power plant in Costa Rica.
- FMO, DEG, Proparco and DnB NOR in respect of the initial phases of the financing of the 58MW Bajo Frio Hydro Power Plant in Panamá.
- GE Energy Financial Services in its bid for a stake in an entity that owns a hydroelectric plant in Panamá.
- Excelerate Energy as sponsor of the approximately US$2.4 billion Port Lavaca, Texas floating liquefaction facility.
- Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Macquarie Bank Limited and Société Générale, as lenders, in the US$200 million senior secured facility to Haile Gold Mine, Inc. for the development of the Haile Gold Mine project in Lancaster County, South Carolina.
- Canadian and Korean sponsors in the proposed financing of the US$1.6 billion Rosemont (Arizona) copper mine by ECAs from Korea, Germany and Canada together with six commercial banks.
- A major Peruvian corporation in the initial stages of the US$600 million development and financing of a mine, port and desalination facility in northern Peru where BBVA is financial adviser.
- Baja Mining Corp on the US$858 million greenfield Boleo mining (copper and cobalt) project in Baja, Mexico. The lenders for the transaction consisted of Export-Import Bank of the United States (U.S. Ex-Im Bank), EDC, Korea Development Bank and a club of commercial banks. This deal received “Latin America Mining Deal of the Year 2010” from Project Finance Magazine and “Exploration and Development Funding Award” at the Annual Mines and Money Awards 2010.
- Credit Suisse International and Barclays Capital, as joint lead arrangers in connection with the US$400 million project financing of an open pit nickel mine and processing facilities in the State of Bahia, Brazil.
- Bahia Mineração Limitada as primary legal counsel on the structuring and financing of the ongoing development of a US$1.7 billion greenfield iron ore mine together with associated rail and port developments in Brazil.
- 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).
- 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.
Accolades and Recognitions
- Ranked Band 1 – Chambers Latin America Projects, 2011–2017
- Ranked Band 1 – Chambers Latin America Energy and Natural Resources, 2015 - 2016
- Ranked Band 2 – Chambers Latin America Banking & Finance, 2014 - 2017
- Ranked Band 2 – Chambers USA Projects Nationwide, 2014 - 2016
- Ranked Band 2 – Chambers USA New York Latin American Investment, 2013 - 2015
- Ranked as Leading Lawyer – Legal 500 Latin America Projects and Energy, 2012 - 2015
- Named “Latin America Top 100 Lawyers” by Latinvex, 2013–2016
- Listed in Who’s Who Legal Banking and Project Finance
Education
- Columbia University Graduate School of Business, M.B.A., 2000
- Columbia University School of Law (Stone Scholar), J.D., 1985
- Princeton University, A.B., cum laude, 1982