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Wolfgang Melzer

Partner

Email

wolfgang.melzer@aoshearman.com

Phone

+49 69 2648 5724

Offices

Frankfurt

V-CARD
Wolfgang specialises in structured finance, comprising both project finance and asset finance.

Within project finance and as part of our PENRI group, he is experience in advising sponsor/equity investors as well as lenders/debt providers on all types of renewables, e.g. on- and off-shore wind, solar, LNG Terminals, Datacenter, fibre and gas or electricity networks. On the asset finance side, he regularly works on cross border lease financing (operate as well as finance leases) for aircraft (for instance JOLCOs), rolling stock, ships and moveable infrastructure. Some of these transactions have an accounting and tax background. Wolfgang also advises both banks and borrowers on real estate financings as well as on general corporate finance matters, including NPL.

Experience

Representative matters

  • Patrizia Infrastructure regarding its joint project development with Numbat for installing EV charging stations across tegut supermarkets in Germany. The deal marks the company's entry into the ultrafast EV charging sector.
  • JERA on the landmark acquisition of a 100% interest in Parkwind NV, the largest offshore wind platform in Belgium and an offshore wind innovator in Europe.
  • Partners Group, on its financing in respect of the acquisition of a controlling equity stake in Cloudflight, a leading digital transformation services provider in Europe.
  • a European specialist bank for infrastructure and energy financing as lender and MLA for an Italian solar project financing totaling 550 MWp in Italy.
  • the Mandated Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners on Trafigura Group Pte Ltd’s (a market leader in the global commodities industry), new multi-currency Syndicated Revolving Credit Facility and Term Loan Facilities at c. USD2.4bn equivalent.
  • Regularly advising lenders on Japanese Operating Leases with Deutsche Lufthansa AG regarding Airbus aircraft, as well advising lessors in the context of sale and lease back transaction for Boeing aircraft.
  • The lenders on a giga-scale hydrogen and green steel project in Europe.
  • a global financial institution acting as agent on a waiver relating to the PPP German motorway financing for the highways A10 and A24. We advised on the original Financing. • Blue Star Group GmbH & Ci. KG on the acquisition of three large container vessels from Sinoceanic XII Limited.
  • A global financial institution on the financing of a fleet of vessels (mostly tugs) for a joint venture company established between Boskalis and KOTUG. This is a complex secured financing involving multiple jurisdictions and various ownership structures within a new joint venture entity.
  • European Investment Bank (EIB) on a venture capital financing for OneDealer Single Member S.A. and relating issuance of warrants in the parent of the borrower for the benefit of EIB. The transaction included an innovative remuneration scheme for EIB through loan interest and warrants in borrower’s parent.
  • European Investment Bank (EIB) on a venture loan for CargoBeamer AG regarding the construction of certain intermodal terminals in Germany, France and Italy and the acquisition of certain intermodal wagons.
  • European Investment Bank (EIB), European Commission and Investitionsbank Berlin (IBB) on the innovative financing and structuring of the EU Malaria Fund.
  • European Investment Bank (EIB) on the financing of several large solar parks in Spain. Advising Hessische Landesbank Girozentrale as debt provider on a leverage sale and lease back for cargo rolling stock with DIF as equity investor and Touax as operator and lessee. Advising Flixtrain GmbH, as lessee, on leasing, procurement and related agreements for passenger rolling stock against the background of a leveraged lease financing transaction (ongoing).

Pro bono

  • Supporting Friends International on legal questions with regard to their corporate structure.

Published Work

  • Melzer W. (2005) "Der Schadensausgleich nach dem Luftsicherheitsgesetz", article in NVwZ, 12/2005
  • Melzer W. (2005) "US-Cross-Border-Leasing", Commentary in Eildienst-Information fuer Rat und Verwaltung, Heft 318, 03/2005
  • Melzer W., Kurkowski F. (2004) "Risiken ausgewogen verteilen, Im Vergleich zu ueblichen Vorhaben sind PPP-Modelle strukturell anspruchsvoller", ZfK, 06/200
  • Melzer W. (2003) "Die Zwangsvollstreckung in Luftfahrzeuge aus deutschem Registerpfandrecht", ZLW, 52. Jg., 4/2003 
  • Melzer W., Kurkowski F. (2003) "Leasing kennt keine Grenzen", IT-Business News, Ausgabe 48, 11/2003
  • Melzer W. (2003) "US-Cross-Border-Leasing - Moeglichkeiten zur Linderung der Finanznot von Nahverkehrsbetrieben", Nahverkehrspraxis, Jan/Feb/2003
  • Melzer W. (2003) "Kein Ausverkauf deutscher Kommunen - ueber das US-Cross-Border-Leasing", article in Handelsblatt, 23/04/03

Recognition

“Named as "Leading Individual for Project Financing: Renewables Projects"”
JUVE Rechtsmarkt 01/2024
“Experienced project financier specialising in banking advice”
client, JUVE Rechtsmarkt 01/2024

Qualifications

Admissions

Germany, 1994 (Rechtsanwalt)

Academic

Diploma, Advanced European Studies, College Of Europe, Bruges, Belgium, 1991

Languages

German, English, French
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.