Delta Solar SAS, one of France's top five solar operators, has successfully refinanced a portfolio of nine photovoltaic parks located in various parts of southern France and Corsica with a total installed capacity of 67.3 MWp. Delta Solar’s ultimate shareholders include Ardian, Bernis Energy, Debiopharm Investment and Nixdorf Foundation, following their acquisition of shares in Delta Solar’s parent, Aloe Energy SAS, in late 2014 through Aloe Invest SAS, a renewable energies investment vehicle.

This challenging solar asset portfolio refinancing was brought to financial close in a record timeframe, with the signing of the senior facilities agreement being achieved around six weeks after the arrangers, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Siemens Bank and Société Générale, were mandated.

The lenders were advised by Linklaters LLP, with Francois April (partner), Darko Adamovic, Alex Bluett, Samuel Bordeleau, Marion Caoudal, Binta Mamadou and Romain Marchand (associates) advising on project and financing aspects, Fanny Mahler (associate) on regulatory matters, Amaury Chautard (associate) on real estate aspects, Cibèle Natasha Antunes (counsel) and Charles Linel (associate) on derivatives aspects and Thomas Perrot (partner) and Alexandra Mourlon (associate) on tax matters.

Delta Solar and Aloe Energy were advised by Clifford Chance with Benjamin de Blegiers (partner) and Chloe Desreumaux (associate) on project and financing aspects, Gabriel Mauger (associate) on derivatives aspects, Marianne Pezant (counsel) and Thierry Diouf (associate) on corporate law aspects and by Edouard Chapellier (partner) and Jonathan Abensour (associate) of Linklaters LLP on tax aspects of the transaction.

The borrower’s financial adviser was Lazard Frères.