Business Updates

Structuring Energy and Natural Resource Investments into Sub Saharan Africa

By Joz Coetzer, Mukund Dhar, Professor Hiroshi Oda, Christopher Utting | White & Case LLP

Bill Clinton Visits Clinton Foundation Projects In Africa

An improving investment climate –

Perceptions of Africa as an investment destination are changing rapidly and parts of Africa are increasingly considered very attractive for foreign direct investment. Compare this to similar findings as recently as three or four years ago, and it becomes clear that there has been a remarkable change in Africa’s image in a short period of time.

The statistics suggest that these changing perceptions are justified. Africa’s share of global foreign direct investment stands at 5.7% – an all-time high, of which, notably, 80% is directed towards sub-Saharan Africa1. In addition, there has been a marked increase in intra-African investment. While the majority of this inward investment has been focused on the traditional extractive industries, it is worth noting that there is also a long-term trend towards increasing investments in consumer facing industries, such as financial services. Kenya, for example, is harnessing such investment to establish itself as a regional commercial financial hub…

 /  Published October 17, 2014 at 4:00 PM

Sarulla Geothermal Power Project To Serve As Blueprint For Future Projects

By Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi | Latham & Watkins LLP

A man walks outside a newly launched 670

The 330-MW Sarulla geothermal power project stands to be the largest geothermal power project in Indonesia to date. A Latham & Watkins team led by partners Joseph Bevash, Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi and Andrew Roche advised the lenders on the $US1.17 billion financing of the project. In this Q&A interview Tjia-Dharmadi discusses the significance of the deal, the unique financing challenges it presented, and the project’s potential to serve as a blueprint for future geothermal projects in Indonesia.

 /  Published October 16, 2014 at 4:00 PM

Ratcheting Up The Pressure: Reinforced Ukraine-Related Sanctions On Russia

By Panagiotis Bayz, Betre Gizaw, Felix Helmstädter, Nicholas Spiliotes, Christoph Wagner | Morrison & Foerster LLP

President Obama Delivers State Of The Union Address At U.S. Capitol

On September 12, 2014, the United States (“U.S.”) and European Union (“EU”) both announced expanded sanctions related to Russia and Ukraine. These measures seek to increase pressure on the Russian Government to stop threatening the territorial integrity of Ukraine. In general, the specific sanctions (i) target specific entities and individuals, (ii) limit access to financial markets, and (iii) prohibit certain oil related exports and activities.

 /  Published October 14, 2014 at 4:00 PM