Hogan Lovells advises on EUR 120 million green loan financing for ruhrfibre project

Press releases | 14 August 2023

Led by partner Carla Luh, global law firm Hogan Lovells has advised leading infrastructure fund manager DIF Capital Partners (DIF), metrofibre and Essener Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH (EVV) on a EUR 120 million green loan financing for the German fibre optic project ruhrfibre.

The FTTH concept for the urban fibre project is financed by an international banking syndicate consisting of ING, Kommunalkredit Austria and SEB. The financing – consisting of capex and revolving credit facilities – is structured as a green loan and requires the use of funds for environmentally friendly fibre optic technologies. In addition, the financing allows for an accordion facility of EUR 40 million.

Hogan Lovells has been advising on all aspects of the drafting and negotiation of the financing and the due diligence on the side of ruhrfibre.

"We are pleased to have successfully advised our client on this important milestone for the advanced and sustainable fibre roll-out in Germany," said Carla Luh, head of the German finance practice at Hogan Lovells.

Hogan Lovells Team for ruhrfibre

Dr Carla Luh (Partner), Julian Schmidt (Associate), Marco Weibrecht (Counsel), Tobias Ulbrich and Georg Jöcker (Associates) as well as Lennart Lautenschläger (Counsel) (all Finance, Hamburg and Frankfurt)