Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance advises on financing for the first line of the Bogota metro, Colombia's largest infrastructure project

Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised BBVA and Bancolombia as lenders in connection with the COP$678,450,500,000 (approximately US$175 million) bridge financing for the construction of the first line of the Bogota Metro. The line will consist of a 24 kilometer viaduct with 16 stations along its route, integrating with Transmilenio, Bogota's bus rapid transit system.

The Bogota Metro is expected to improve productivity and mobility in the city by reducing current travel time by half. The project is expected to create more than 17,000 job opportunities and form part of the reinvigoration of Bogota's economy. It was also designed to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly, operating with natural light and ventilation.

Counsel Alberto Haito commented, "We are pleased to bring together a multi-jurisdictional team from five different Clifford Chance offices to complete this financing. The successful close of this transaction will strengthen Bogota's transportation system and improve the quality of life for millions of Colombian citizens."

Working with Alberto was a cross-border, cross-practice team including:

• Washington, DC: partners Fabricio Longhin and Kate McCarthy and associate Daniel Justus
• Shanghai: partners Jiahua Ni and Lei Shi
• Beijing: senior associate Chengcheng Wu and associate Wen Xiao
• Hong Kong: senior associate Feifei Yu
• London: senior associate knowledge lawyer Benjamin Barrat, senior associate Prakruthi Gowda and lawyer Dominic Behar

The firm has a track record of advising on infrastructure financing transactions in Colombia, having recently advised on financing for public infrastructure projects in Barranquilla, Colombia, and sits at the forefront of the Colombian 4G program, most recently advising on Project Autopista Rio Magdalena 2, Colombia's latest 4G toll road financing.