Rhys Howard

Primary Focus & Experience

Rhys has extensive experience advising project sponsors, commercial banks, export credit agencies, multilateral and development finance institutions, private equity funds, institutional investors and other key stakeholders on a variety of domestic and cross-border project financings (including bank debt, ECA-insured lending, private placements and 144A/Reg S debt issuances), acquisitions and restructuring in various industries and sectors.

Notable recent experience includes the representation of:

• New Fortress Energy Inc. in connection with the $5 billion combined acquisition of Hygo Energy Transition Ltd. and Golar LNG Partners, LP.
• The creditors in the $875 million financing of the CPV Three Rivers Energy Center, a gas-fired combined cycle power generation facility in northeastern Illinois, located in PJM. The transaction featured a bank tranche, fixed rate tranche and a 4(a)(2) private placement tranche. This transaction was name “US Power Deal of the Year” by PFI
• Brazilian port terminal owner Prumo Participações e Investimentos S.A., a wholly-owned special purpose subsidiary of Prumo Logistica S.A., in connection with its offering of $350 million 7.500% Senior Secured Notes due December 2031.
• Various institutional investors and Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank in connection with GridFlex Generation, LLC's refinancing of a portfolio of three gas-fired peaking generation facilities in the PJM area.
• UTE GNA I Geração de Energia S.A. (GNA) in connection with the project financing of a 1,300 MW LNG-to-Power project in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This transaction was named “Power Financing of the Year” by LatinFinance 2019, “Infrastructure Financing of the Year: Brazil” by LatinFinance 2019 and “Latin America Export Finance Deal of the Year” by IJGlobal Americas
• Centrais Eléctricas de Sergipe S.A. (CELSE) in connection with the development and greenfield project financing of a 1,500 MW LNG‑to-Power project and related LNG FSRU charter in Porto de Sergipe, Brazil. This transaction was named “Financing Innovation of the Year” by LatinFinance 2018, “Best Bond and Best Infrastructure Financing – Brazil” by LatinFinance 2018, “Latin America Power Deal of the Year” by IJGlobal Americas 2018, “Latin America Power Deal of the Year – Americas” by PFI 2018, “Project Finance Deal of the Year and Debt & Equity-Linked Deal of the Year” by IFLR Americas Awards 2019 and “Brazil: Project Finance Deal of the Year” by Bonds & Loans 2018
• The lenders, including the agencies (EDC, EFIC, Euler-Hermes, KEXIM and KFW IPEX-Bank) and a group of commercial banks in connection with the $900 million senior debt financing for the development, construction and operation of the Mina Justa copper-silver-gold mine located in the Ica region of Peru. This transaction was named “Mining Deal of the Year” by PFI 2018 (Americas).

Recognition & Accomplishments

Rhys received his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland. He is admitted to practice in New York.