Sara Couling

Selected experience

• A consortium of international and local banks, as lenders, on the $3 billion Facility D Independent Water and Power project in Qatar, on its related hedging arrangements. The project involved the construction of a 2,520 MW gas-fired power plant and a 136.5 million gallons per day associated desalination plant near the Qatar Economic Zone, south of Doha.
• Mubadala Capital, the financial investment arm of Mubadala Investment Company, a sovereign investor owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi, in connection with the establishment of an evergreen origination platform with Barings, one of the world’s leading financial services firms, to provide financing solutions to European middle-market businesses, demonstrating the continuing evolution of Mubadala's investment strategy.
• The note purchasers, lenders and various agents and account banks and hedging banks on a tiered refinancing comprising a project financing to Shuaibah Two Water Development Project Company (STPC) and a private placement notes issuance by a DIFC issuer at a different level in the corporate structure.
• Ziggo N.V. on its refinancing and related hedging arrangements, comprising new €3.3 billion term loan facilities and a new €650 million revolving credit facility in connection with the acquisition of the Ziggo Group by Liberty Global, as well as a tender offer and consent solicitation, and separately an exchange offer, relating to certain of Ziggo’s Notes.
• GE on its acquisition of the aviation business of Avio S.p.A., an Italy-based manufacturer of aviation propulsion components and systems for civil and military aircraft, for $4.3 billion, with respect to the financing and hedging arrangements.
• Bridgepoint, a major international private equity group focused on investing in market-leading businesses, on its £212 million ($351.55 million) acquisition of Moneycorp from SOF Investments. Moneycorp is one of the largest specialist foreign exchange providers in the market targeting customers through a multi-channel offering, serving both SME corporate and private customers.
• Lenders and hedging banks on the $652.3 million financing of the Central Termica de Temane power project in Mozambique, which was awarded “Africa Power Deal of the Year” in the prestigious PFI Awards. Lenders in the project included international development funds and the project was expected to provide electricity to meet the demand of 1.5 million households and contribute about 14 percent of the electricity supply capacity available to meet demand in Mozambique.
• HSBC, as mandated lead arranger, agent and security agent, on the financing of TPG Growth’s acquisition of Frank Recruitment Group from Livingbridge.
• Swap providers on the documentation for hedging the interest rate risk on certain infrastructure project financings in the Middle East and Egypt.
• Anglo American plc on its 2015 offering of $850 million 3.625% Senior Notes due 2020 and $650 million 4.875% Senior Notes due 2025, and its 2014 offering of $500 million Senior Floating Rate Notes due 2016 and $500 million 4.125% Senior Notes due 2021, providing UK finance advice.