Puttré Richard

RICHARD PUTTRÉ represents financial institutions, project sponsors, and investors in the development, financing, acquisition, and disposition of energy and infrastructure projects across the United States and Latin America.

Richard has extensive experience in the U.S. public-private partnership (PPP) market, advising bidders, lenders, and underwriters on the procurement and financing of major transportation projects throughout North Carolina, Texas, California, Michigan, Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Georgia. He also counsels project companies on refinancing transactions involving operating transportation assets and regularly advises sponsors on the development, financing, and construction of renewable energy projects across the United States.

In Latin America, Richard’s practice is focused on the energy transition and critical infrastructure sectors. He has represented sponsors in the financing of one of Chile’s largest electric bus fleets, as well as numerous photovoltaic (PV) solar projects in Peru, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, and Panama. Richard’s experience also includes advising on the development and financing of major infrastructure projects throughout the region, including toll road concessions in Costa Rica, Chile, and Colombia. In addition, he recently represented the owner in the financing of a fuel storage and transshipment facility in the Bahamas and advised the sponsor of a fiber optic network project in Guyana.

• NTE Mobility Partners Segments 3 LLC (NTE3), the concession company operating, maintaining, and collecting tolls on the North Tarrant Express Segments 3A, 3B, and 3C Facility in Fort Worth, Texas (the Project), in connection with a senior financing consisting of approximately US$457 million of senior forward delivery bonds. NTE3 will issue these bonds in three series, the proceeds of which will be applied, among other things, to the repayment of a portion of existing debt related to the construction of the Project.
• One Communications (Guyana) Inc. in connection with a credit facility provided by Inter-American Investment Corporation (IDB Invest) to finance the deployment of a mobile and fixed broadband and telecommunications network and operating and capital expenses related to the operation of its telecommunications infrastructure.
• Ferrovial Airports Holdings US Corp in the sale of its membership interest in Ferrovial Vertiports US LLC and its subsidiary, Ferrovial Vertiports Florida LLC, to Atlantic Aviation Infrastructure Corporation.
• Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) in connection with its multi-tranche US$200 million financing provided by Banco Santander, S.A. and The Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) related to lithium production in Chile and Australia to export to South Korea.
• SQM in connection with its multi-tranche US$100 million financing provided by Banco Santander, S.A. and KEXIM related to lithium production in Chile and Australia to export to South Korea.
• Liwathon B.O.S. LLC, which operates and maintains a fuel oil storage and transshipment terminal in the Bahamas, in connection with a financing provided by Private Export Funding Corporation, supported by a financial guarantee from the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The proceeds of the financing will be used to repair the South Riding Point oil terminal in Bahamas and facilitate the export of goods and services from the United States to the borrower in the Bahamas.
• NTE3 in connection with a US$275 million senior financing transaction. The Texas Private Activity Bond Surface Transportation Corporation issued private activity bonds (PABs) and lent the proceeds to NTE3, which applied the funds to refinance outstanding PABs that were previously issued in connection with the construction of the Project.
• Suministradora de Buses K Cuatro SpA, along with its sponsors Inversiones Kaufmann S.A. and InfraBridge Ebus Chile SpA, on a US$344 million financing package for an electric bus fleet in Santiago, Chile. The lenders are International Finance Corporation (IFC), IDB Invest, and Banco del Estado de Chile. The project has a total estimated value of US$422 million. With a total of 992 electric buses, this project contributed to the creation of the largest electric bus fleet in the Americas and the second-largest electric bus fleet in the world.
• NTE3 in connection with a US$221 million senior financing transaction. NTE3 will issue a series of senior lien bonds, the proceeds of which will be applied to repay a portion of existing debt related to the construction of the Project.
• Sacyr Concesiones S.L., Unión Vial Río Pamplonita S.A.S., and Fideicomiso Unión Vial Río Pamplonita S.A.S. with a US$451.5 million long-term project financing. 
• The lenders and underwriters in connection with the bids for major transportation infrastructure projects in California, Michigan, Hawaii, Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia, among others. 
• The sponsors in connection with the bids for transportation infrastructure projects in Washington and Oklahoma, among others. 
• Autopistas del Sol S.A. with a Rule 144A and Regulation S offering by Autopistas del Sol of US$300 million aggregate principal amount of 7.375% Senior Secured Notes. 
• Enel Chile S.A. in connection with a credit facility provided by the European Investment Bank to finance the development, construction, and operation of multiple renewable energy generation and distribution projects by Enel in Chile as part of that country’s energy transition program with a guarantee provided by SACE S.p.A.
• JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., a large and innovative solar panel manufacturer, in the sale of two solar PV plants in Mexico to White River Renewables. 
• Jinko Solar and Energía Solar San Ignacio, S. de R.L. de C.V. in development, construction, operation, and financing of a Mexican 25.02 MWp PV solar power plant. 
• Jinko Solar and Solar Park Viborillas, S. de R.L. de C.V., in the development, construction, and senior financing of a 130 MW PV solar power project in Mexico. 
• Japan Bank for International Cooperation, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Mizuho Bank, Ltd. with a US$500 million syndicated credit facility. 
• Grupo T-Solar with the sale of a minority equity interest in two projects consisting of two 20 MW PV plants in southern Peru. 
• SolarPack Corporación Tecnológica SL in the development and financing of a 19 MW PV solar plant in Moquegua, Peru. 

The above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.

Richard has been a guest lecturer in international finance at the University of Miami School of Law.