People

Overview

John Papaspanos focuses his practice on U.S. domestic and international project and acquisition financings, tax equity transactions, restructurings, and other debt and equity financing transactions involving energy and infrastructure projects and companies.

Mr. Papaspanos regularly represents private equity sponsors, developers, independent power producers, public and private companies, lenders, financial institutions and equity investors on complex and novel project finance and other transactions, including a broad variety of renewable energy, conventional energy, commodities financing, chemicals, and infrastructure transactions.

Admission & Affiliations

  • New York State Bar
  • New Jersey State Bar
  • The Fulbright Foundation in Greece, Member of the Peer Review Committee for the Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Hellenic-American Chamber Of Commerce, Member of Board of Directors
  • Hellenic Lawyers Association, Member of Board of Directors
  • J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School 2014
  • Certificate, Business, Economics & Public Policy, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania 2014
  • B.S., International Relations, Seton Hall University 2009

Experience

Energy Transition Transactions

  • Represented a major European energy company in connection with a financing for the development in the U.S. of a hydrogen production facility of at least 500 MW and an ammonia production facility.
  • Represented an affiliate of The AES Corporation as borrower in connection with (i) a back-leverage, secured term loan facility and letter of credit facility with a commitment of approximately $300 million for a portfolio of commercial and industrial scale solar projects and associated tax equity transactions and (ii) the amendment and restatement of such credit facilities.
  • Represented an affiliate of Sunnova Energy International Inc. as borrower in a secured revolving credit facility for an aggregate commitment amount of $65 million for the purchase of home improvement loans.
  • Represented an affiliate of Sunnova Energy International Inc. as borrower in an upsizing of a back-leverage warehouse facility to finance portfolios of residential solar assets that are held in tax equity funds.
  • Represented an affiliate of Sunnova Energy International Inc. as borrower in various upsizing transactions for a back-leverage warehouse facility to finance portfolios of residential solar loan agreements and residential solar assets that are held in tax equity funds.
  • Represented an affiliate of Sunnova Energy International Inc. as borrower in an upsizing of a revolving warehouse credit facility for residential solar loan agreements for an aggregate commitment with an aggregate commitment amount of $875 million and an uncommitted maximum facility amount of $1 billion.
  • Represented an affiliate of Sunnova Energy International Inc. as borrower in an upsizing of a revolving credit facility to increase the aggregate commitment amount to $215 million.
  • Represented a solar developer in connection with the negotiation and structuring of a joint venture for the development of a utility-scale solar project.
  • Represented a sponsor in connection with a tax equity financing transaction involving five (5) ground-mount utility-scale solar projects in New York state.
  • Represented a finance company in connection $150 million term loan secured by equity interests in numerous renewable energy investments.
  • Represented an affiliate of The AES Corporation in connection with a tax equity financing transaction involving a portfolio of photovoltaic solar energy generating systems.
  • Represented a major private equity infrastructure fund manager in a financing for the acquisition of a major landfill gas to RNG developer and its development-stage portfolio.
  • Represented a private equity-backed infrastructure investor in connection with acquisition and financing transactions related to water and other water-related infrastructure assets.
  • Represented an investor in connection with a joint venture transaction and an approximately $110.5 million mezzanine and bridge loan secured by equity interests in 12 residential solar funds, each with existing tax equity and back-leverage debt, and an approximately $80.3 million mezzanine and bridge loan secured by equity interests in a separate group of residential solar funds, each with existing tax equity and back-leverage debt.
  • Represented an equity investor in connection with investment and associated financing for electric cogeneration facilities at a public university.
  • A private equity sponsor in connection with several construction, back-leverage financings and tax equity transactions for utility scale solar electric generation projects.

Conventional Energy and Infrastructure Transactions

  • Represented BKV-BPP Power LLC, which is a joint venture between BKV Corporation and an affiliate of Banpu Power Public Company Limited, a public company listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, in connection with the financing of the Temple II generating facility, which is a utility scale natural gas power plant in Texas.
  • Represented a private equity sponsor in connection with an acquisition financing for a utility scale natural gas power plant.
  • Represented a leading financial institution in connection with non-recourse supply and offtake arrangements and financing transactions in respect of crude oil, conventional refined products, renewable feedstocks and products and other asset-based financing transactions, supporting various refineries located in North America.
  • Represented a leading financial institution in connection with non-recourse supply and offtake arrangements and financing transactions in respect of crude oil, conventional refined products and other asset-based financing transactions, supporting various refineries located in North America.
  • Represented a leading financial institution in connection with the amendment and restatement of various supply and offtake agreements and financing documents in respect of oil, conventional refined products and other asset-based financing transactions, supporting various refineries located in North America.
  • Represented a leading financial institution in connection with non-recourse supply and offtake arrangements and financing transactions in respect of crude oil, refined products and accounts receivable, supporting an oil refinery in North America.
  • Represented a hedge provider in connection with the negotiation of seven (7) secured and unsecured swaps with different owners of natural gas fired power plants in the U.S.
  • Represented a private equity sponsor in connection with a financing of the acquisition of port-related assets.
  • Represented Arroyo Investors in connection with its acquisition of an integrated shore-side LNG liquefaction and bunkering business.
  • Represented Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), and a group of commercial banks on a $4.37 billion senior secured project debt finance, letter of credit and working capital facilities to finance the construction and operation of Train 1 of a multi-train natural gas liquefaction and export facility to be located near Freeport, Texas.

Other Transactions

  • Represented a public company in connection with a Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceeding.


08 April 2024 Client Updates Globalization of the Renewable Energy Market
08 April 2024 Client Updates Globalization of the Renewable Energy Market

Awards and Community

Recognized as a "Rising Star" by The Legal 500 U.S., 2022 & 2023