Overview
The ‘Mechanics of Project and Infrastructure Financing’ training program is a meticulously designed four-day immersive experience that equips professionals with the critical knowledge and practical skills needed to navigate the complexities of financing large-scale infrastructure projects and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).
Set against the vibrant backdrop of Lagos—a dynamic hub of economic activity and infrastructure development in Africa—this program leverages the city’s strategic importance in regional and global infrastructure financing. Participants will gain a unique blend of legal, financial, and strategic insights into key aspects of project financing, including negotiation, documentation, risk management, dispute resolution, and financial modeling.
With infrastructure serving as the backbone of economic development in emerging markets like Africa, this program addresses the pressing need for professionals adept at structuring, financing, and managing large-scale projects. The course offers a practical, hands-on approach to bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring attendees leave empowered to make informed decisions that drive successful project outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the training, participants will be able to:
- Structure and Negotiate Financing Agreements: Develop robust contractual frameworks for PPPs and large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Build and Analyze Financial Models: Use tools to evaluate project feasibility, determine profitability, and ensure financial sustainability.
- Arrange Security Packages: Design effective collateral structures, guarantees, and step-in rights to mitigate lender risks.
- Enhance Project Bankability: Identify and address key bankability issues to attract funding from multilateral agencies and private investors.
- Mitigate Risks: Effectively allocate, manage, and minimize regulatory, financial, political, and operational risks.
- Resolve Disputes: Apply alternative dispute resolution techniques to minimize costly delays and ensure smooth project execution.
Participants will leave with the confidence and skills to tackle the challenges of infrastructure financing in emerging markets, particularly in Africa, where unique regulatory and operational hurdles abound.
Training Methodology
This highly interactive and experiential program employs a multi-faceted learning approach, including:
- Expert-Led Lectures: Insights from seasoned professionals with extensive industry experience.
- Case Studies: Real-world examples that highlight best practices and common pitfalls.
- Practical Workshops: Hands-on sessions focused on drafting key documents, financial modelling, and risk analysis.
- Group Exercises: Collaborative problem-solving activities that simulate real-world project financing challenges.
- Simulations: Live negotiation scenarios and stakeholder role-plays to hone practical skills.
- Capstone Project: Participants will work in teams to develop a comprehensive financing strategy for a hypothetical infrastructure project, receiving expert feedback on their outputs.
This methodology ensures participants gain actionable expertise that can be immediately applied in their professional roles.
Key Takeaways
- Comprehensive Knowledge: Gain a holistic understanding of infrastructure financing, including legal, financial, and strategic components.
- Regulatory Frameworks: Understand compliance requirements across jurisdictions, particularly in Africa.
- Advanced Financial Modeling: Learn to create and analyze financial models tailored to large-scale projects.
- Effective Negotiation Strategies: Master techniques for multi-stakeholder negotiations in complex infrastructure projects.
- Practical Skills: Draft and review financing agreements, security packages, and risk mitigation plans.
- Dispute Resolution Expertise: Navigate dispute resolution mechanisms, including arbitration and ADR techniques.
- Networking Opportunities: Build connections with peers, industry leaders, and subject matter experts in infrastructure financing.
Who Should Attend
This program is tailored for high-level professionals involved in infrastructure financing and PPPs, including:
- Lawyers: Corporate, in-house, and private practice lawyers handling infrastructure projects.
- Project Sponsors and Developers: Key stakeholders driving infrastructure projects.
- Investment Bankers and Corporate Financiers: Professionals managing project finance portfolios.
- Multilateral Institutions and Export Credit Agencies: Experts focused on financing and supporting development projects.
- Regulators and Government Agencies: Policymakers overseeing infrastructure development and PPP frameworks.
- Financial Advisors and Analysts: Specialists providing insights and solutions for complex financing challenges.
- Public Sector Managers: Decision-makers managing public-sector infrastructure initiatives.
- Project Managers and Consultants: Professionals responsible for project planning and execution.
- M&A Specialists and Corporate Treasurers: Experts navigating the financial intricacies of large-scale projects.
- Insurance Advisers and Brokers: Professionals assessing and mitigating insurance risks in infrastructure projects.
Join us in Lagos, the economic heartbeat of Africa, for this transformative training program. Expand your expertise, network with industry leaders, and become a driving force in delivering infrastructure projects that shape the future.
4-Day Project and Infrastructure Financing Masterclass
Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Date: February 10-13, 2025
Target Audience: Lawyers, Regulators, Project Sponsors, Multilateral Financing Institutions, Consultants, and Corporate Executives
Objective: To equip participants with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills to navigate project and infrastructure financing, focusing on legal frameworks, financing models, negotiation techniques, contract drafting, risk management, and dispute resolution. The training will be practical, experiential, and feature case studies, hands-on exercises, and real-world insights from industry professionals.
Day 1: Fundamentals of Project & Infrastructure Financing (Regulatory & Legal Frameworks)
Nosakhare Aguebor, Senior Legal Counsel, Africa Finance Corporation
Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Overview of the training objectives and expected outcomes
- Networking session to introduce participants
- Module 1: Overview of Project Finance Structures
- Definition and key features of project finance
- Differentiating between project finance and corporate finance
- Key stakeholders and their roles in project financing
- Case Study: Successful Project Finance Structures in Africa
Midday Session: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Module 2: Legal and Regulatory Issues in Project and Infrastructure Finance
- National and international regulatory frameworks
- Compliance with sector-specific regulations (energy, transport, etc.)
- Legal risks and mitigation strategies
- Practical Exercise: Identifying Regulatory Gaps in Project Financing
Evening Session: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Module 3: Key Roles of Project Sponsors, Lenders, and Governments in Project Financing
- Responsibilities and expectations of each party
- The role of government policies in infrastructure projects
- Practical Exercise: Analyzing Stakeholder Agreements
Day 2: Financial Structures, Risk Management, and Due Diligence
Ozioma Agu, Partner, Stren & Blan LP
Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Module 4: Funding Models – Debt, Equity, and Hybrid Structures
- Types of funding models used in project finance
- Understanding risk allocation in different models
- Case Study: Hybrid Financing in Infrastructure Projects
Midday Session: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Module 5: Credit Risk Analysis and Mitigation Techniques
- Assessing creditworthiness of project sponsors
- Mitigating risks through guarantees and insurance
- Practical Exercise: Risk Analysis Simulation
Evening Session: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Module 6: Conducting Due Diligence in Project Finance Deals
- Legal, financial, and technical due diligence processes
- Red flags to watch out for
- Group Exercise: Preparing a Due Diligence Report
Q&A Panel with Industry Experts: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Day 3: Negotiation, Contract Drafting, and Dispute Avoidance
Okechukwu Joachim Okoro, G. ELias & Co
Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Module 7: Drafting Key Project Agreements
- PPP Contracts, EPC Contracts, and O&M Agreements
- Key clauses to include and pitfalls to avoid
- Practical Exercise: Drafting a Sample EPC Contract
Midday Session: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Module 8: Negotiation Strategies for Complex Infrastructure Projects
- Understanding the interests of various stakeholders
- Techniques for managing high-stakes negotiations
- Role-Playing Exercise: Negotiating a PPP Agreement
Evening Session: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Module 9: Dispute Avoidance Mechanisms
- Best practices for conflict prevention
- Early dispute resolution strategies
- Practical Exercise: Developing a Dispute Avoidance Plan
Day 4: Dispute Management and Emerging Trends
Morning Session: 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- Module 10: Managing Disputes in Project Finance – Arbitration & ADR
- Overview of arbitration and ADR mechanisms
- Managing cross-border disputes in infrastructure projects
- Case Study: Investor-State Arbitration Cases
Midday Session: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
- Module 11: Investor-State Disputes and Political Risk Mitigation
- Understanding investor protections under international law
- Political risk insurance and its role in project finance
- Practical Exercise: Crafting a Political Risk Management Plan
Evening Session: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
- Module 12: Emerging Trends in Project and Infrastructure Financing
- ESG considerations in project financing
- Digitalization and innovation in infrastructure finance
- Future trends and opportunities in Africa
Capstone Simulation: Structuring a Multi-Billion-Dollar Project Deal
- Participants will be divided into teams to structure, negotiate, and present a project finance deal.
- Real-time feedback from industry experts
Closing Remarks and Certificate Award Ceremony: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the masterclass, participants will:
- Understand the regulatory and legal frameworks governing project and infrastructure finance.
- Gain practical knowledge of financing models, risk management, and due diligence processes.
- Develop skills in negotiation and contract drafting for complex infrastructure projects.
- Learn best practices in dispute avoidance and resolution.
- Be equipped to manage and structure high-value project finance deals.
Training Methodology:
- Interactive lectures by leading industry professionals
- Case studies and real-world scenarios
- Hands-on exercises and simulations
- Networking opportunities with local and international speakers
Faculty: The faculty will include experts from international law firms, multilateral financing institutions, government regulatory agencies, and leading project finance consultants.