Ben Thompson

BEN THOMPSON advises on a broad range of issues in banking law, with a particular focus on the infrastructure sector, structuring and documenting the debt, equity, and security arrangements involved in complex infrastructure finance transactions for both UK and international infrastructure funds, lenders, and noteholders across the full range of infrastructure financing products, including syndicated loans, multi-creditor platforms, and private placements in the European and U.S. markets.

Ben has also advised PE sponsors, banks, and direct lenders on leveraged and general acquisition finance transactions in both London and New York, including spending over 18 months on secondment to international financial institutions.

Ben is ranked by Chambers UK 2027 for Infrastructure, where clients state “Ben Thompson is an absolute standout,” and that “he is one of the best finance partners I have worked with in many years and a rising star in the industry.” He is also recognized as a “Leading Partner” in Legal 500 UK (2027) for Infrastructure: M&A, and he has been recommended by Legal 500 UK since 2023. Sources write, “Ben is able to work creatively on innovative, first-of-a-kind infrastructure financing structures and deliver great outcomes for sponsors. He is always keen to find a way to find solutions to complex issues - even if the precedent isn't there” (2027).

Recent examples of Ben’s work include advising:

• Infrastructure at Goldman Sachs Alternatives in its acquisition of Tosca, a leading global provider of reusable asset pooling and logistics solutions for the food supply chain, from funds advised by Apax Partners.
• DigitalBridge and Aberdeen Investments on their joint acquisition of EQUANS Infra & Mobility, Equans’ asset-based e-mobility platform in the Netherlands.
• The lenders to Ancala Partners on the refinancing of its aerial emergency services businesses, Avincis.
• A large sovereign credit fund on its financing of a data centre platform in the Nordics.
• VisionEdgeOne in its investment in RE2sources, an Italian biomethane producer.
• CityBike (branded as “Inurba Mobility”), a portfolio company of VisionEdgeOne, on the first infrastructure debt financing of a bike sharing company in Europe.
• The senior lender group in connection with the senior secured financing of nLighten, a pan-European data centre platform backed by I Squared Capital, to fund its expansion across the UK.
• The lenders to DigitalBridge and Brookfield’s jointly owned holding company on the refinancing of holdco debt in GD Towers.
• Franklin Templeton on its mezzanine financing of AMPYR Distributed Energy, a renewable technologies business. 
• The senior lenders on Xpansiv’s acquisition of Evident, the global Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) network provider.
• H.I.G. Capital and PolarDC Group Limited on the structuring and first-phase financing of a multi-phase project to deliver a leading data centre designed for High-Performance Computing (HPC) applications in Norway.
• A leading infrastructure fund in its acquisition of Melita, a fully converged digital infrastructure owner and operator delivering broadband, mobile connectivity and data centre solutions across Malta.
• Swiss Life and Schroders Greencoat’s banks on the financing of Equans district heating (now Bring Energy).
• Allianz, Carlyle, and MetLife on its U.S. notes private placement for Igneo’s refinancing of Parkia.
• Igneo’s banks on its refinancing of Navigator Terminals.
• Ancala Partners’ refinancing of Ludlow Care.
• Ancala Partners’ refinancing of Leep Utilities, a last-mile utilities network operator.
• Ancala Partners on its acquisition of aerial emergency services businesses from Babcock.
• Ancala Partners’ refinancing of Holmleigh Care Group.
• Ancala Partners on the acquisition financing of the Fjord Base Group.
• Arcus Infrastructure’s lenders on its acquisition of Workdry International and subsequent bolt-on acquisitions.
• Arjun on its refinancing of its UK solar portfolio.
• Lenders to KKR and OMERS on the refinancing of Caruna Oy in Finland.
• Basalt Infrastructure Partners and Fiera Infrastructure on the refinancing of UK ferry operator Wightlink.
• DIF Capital Partners in its acquisition of Pinnacle Power.
• InstaVolt Limited’s management team on the company’s debt financing following its acquisition by EQT.
• Macquarie Group and Wavenet Group’s acquisition of AdEPT Technology Group.
• Macquarie on the refinancing of Matrix Networks, a last-mile utilities network operator.
• Peel Group and Ancala Partners on the refinancing of Liverpool John Lennon Airport.
• Trooli on its refinancing sale.
• Vescor and its subsidiary, GrowUp Farms, on the debt financing provided by Generate Capital, to finance the build out of a ‘vertical farming’ project.
• 3i’s refinancing of its portfolio of operating PFI assets in the UK (financed on a platform basis).
• AMP Capital (now InfraBridge) on the financing of its acquisition of the Regard Group and Care Management Group, and its fund financing facilities.
• Antin’s acquisition of Kisimul and Sølvtrans, the world’s largest wellboat company.
• Antin’s refinancing of Roadchef and Kellas Midstream (as well as its joint venture in the Tolmount Main gas field development).
• Arjun’s acquisition of Indigo Pipelines.
• Basalt Infrastructure Partners’ take-private of Manx Telecom.
• Igneo’s finance providers on the financing of Swedegas, E.ON Gas Sweden, Scandlines, and MVV.
• Polhem Infra’s acquisition of Telia Carrier.
• Welcome Break on the refinancing of its debt facilities.

Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.