White & Case LLP has advised BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, IFC, ING, Natixis, OPIC, Société Générale and two Guinean banks on the multi-hundred million financing of Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée's Sangaredi bauxite mine expansion in the Republic of Guinea. The financing will be part of the largest foreign investment in Guinea in recent years, with the debt tranches committed for the mine expansion, including a facility covered by UFK, the German untied export credit agency.

"The successful financing of this landmark mining project in Guinea is a significant achievement for all of the parties involved," said White & Case partner Peter Finlay. "This transaction harnessed our deep mining and metals expertise, together with our longstanding track record of successful project financings in Africa."

CBG is 51% owned by Alcoa, Rio Tinto and Dadco and 49% by the Republic of Guinea. Upon completion, the expansion of the mine, processing plant and shared multiuser infrastructure is expected to increase production capacity from 13.5 million to 18.5 million metric tons and have a substantial development impact on the Guinean economy.

The White & Case team was led by partners Peter Finlay and Rebecca Campbell, counsel Tallat Hussain and senior associate Meredith Campanale, supported by associates Alec Johnson and Hiba Abdullahi.