Practice Area
Project Finance
Project finance is a key instrument for the implementation of large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects, requiring a high level of sophisticated legal support. We advise on transactions involving international banks, financial institutions (EBRD, ADB, IFC), major multinational corporations, and governmental bodies.
SIGNUM’s team has extensive experience in transactions with European, American, and Asian financial institutions, including multi-billion dollar financings. We advise across a wide range of industries, including mining, energy, oil and gas, renewable energy, and agribusiness.
Our support covers all stages of project finance from structuring and preparation of documentation under English, Kazakh and international law to corporate capacity checks, issuance of legal opinions, and engagement with regulators. We work in close cooperation with leading international law firms, serving as a bridge between global financial centers and Kazakhstan.
We represent both lenders (international banks, syndicates of creditors, institutional investors) and borrowers (major Kazakh producers, holding companies, international corporate groups). This dual perspective enables us to provide balanced solutions and safeguard our clients’ interests in the most complex transactions.
Our international expertise combined with a deep understanding of Kazakh law allows us to act as a trusted partner in the implementation of the most ambitious projects, where precision, a comprehensive approach, and a high level of trust are essential.
Международный опыт и глубокое знание местного законодательства позволяют нам выступать надежным партнером в реализации самых масштабных проектов, где требуются точность, комплексный подход и высокий уровень доверия.
- Structuring project finance transactions and developing financing schemes;
- Advising on transactions with syndicates of international banks and financial institutions;
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating loan, prepayment, export, EPC, O&M, and offtake agreements;
- Preparing legal opinions (capacity, enforceability, validity) for international banks and investors;
- Advising on security, collateral, as well as corporate and regulatory law matters;
- Liaising with governmental authorities and international financial institutions;
- Representing clients in disputes related to project finance and enforcement of security.
Experience
1) SIGNUM advised the Lender on a contemplated facility for the Borrower to fund prepayments to a major Kazakh producer for the delivery of copper products. The work included a high-level review of English law transaction documents, such as the Facility Agreement, Prepayment Agreement, Security Assignment, and Export Contract. SIGNUM also reviewed and commented on corporate authorizations for the Producer and Parent and issued a legal opinion on their capacity to enter into the relevant transaction documents
2) Advising a leading European bank in connection with a secured prepayment facility provided to a UAE-based trading affiliate of a major Kazakh copper producer. The transaction was structured to finance advance payments for copper products to a Kazakhstan-based producer, with guarantees provided by both the producer and its parent company established under AIFC law. Acting for the lender - leading European corporate and investment bank headquartered in Paris, SIGNUM conducted a high-level review of the English law transaction documents involving the Kazakh parties, including the facility agreement, prepayment agreement, security assignments, and export and offtake contracts. The work also involved reviewing and commenting on corporate authorisations of the Kazakh producer and its AIFC parent, and preparing a Kazakhstan law capacity legal opinion on their ability to enter into the relevant finance documents.
3) Acting as local counsel for a large project to finance two renewable energy facilities with the participation of a Chinese investor and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan.
4) Ongoing legal advice to EBRD on a USD 300 million revolving facility to finance part of the working capital needs of the Kazakh subsidiary of a major Swiss-based international agricultural company, including four tranches.
5) Legal support to a syndicate of leading international banks on Kazakhstan law matters in relation to a USD 3 billion credit facility provided to the world’s largest independent oil trader. The support included conducting legal due diligence, issuing legal opinions, and reviewing all transaction documents.
6) Advising one of the leading European banks on Kazakh law matters as part of its provision of USD 120 million committed secured syndicated borrowing base facility to a conglomerate commodities company.
7) Legal support to a leading oil trader in relation to its USD 180,000,000 credit facility provided to oil and gas company. The support included issuing legal memorandum, legal opinion and reviewing the transaction documents.
8) Legal advice for EBRD on the 18.5 million project loan provided to Kazakhstan-based member of international group of malt-manufacturing companies.
9) Legal support in project financing involving a major Swiss energy and trading company, with a leading Kazakh mining and metallurgical company acting as guarantor. The work included advising on Kazakh law matters, reviewing transaction documents, and assessing the guarantor’s corporate capacity and obligations under the financing structure.
10) Advising the Greece’s leading industrial company on the legal due diligence report on Kazakh law matters arising out of EPC, O&M and procurement contracts. This legal exercise was connected with the proposed issuance of a Greek law bond on the Athens Stock Exchange, financed by EBRD to support the company’s transition to the green economy.
11) Legal opinion on the EBRD loan for a beverage company in Kazakhstan.
12) Structuring and incorporation of a fund for allocation and distribution of social payments of large mining company.
13) Litigation: representing the client in court case against one of the largest Kazakhstani second-tier banks on the enforcement of its guarantee, issued as collateral for the fulfilment of the obligations of the contractor. As a result of court proceedings, the court obliged the bank to pay the client the amount of the collateral (more than USD 700,000).
