Katie Hicks

Primary Focus & Experience

Katie specializes in infrastructure acquisition financings and refinancings, acting for both infrastructure sponsors and finance providers. She has extensive experience in bank lending, European institutional funding, US private placements and structured financing platforms across a broad spectrum of infrastructure assets.

She has advised:

• VTTI, a global leader in independent energy that now develops the critical energy infrastructure needed to move towards a carbon neutral future, on its US$1.7 billion refinancing. Previously, she advised VTTI on the establishment of the multi-billion-dollar multi-creditor common terms platform, including senior bank facilities, a USPP and standalone hedging, for refinancing of their existing unsecured bank and PP debt, and subsequent work*
• GETEC, a leading partner for smart, efficient and sustainable energy infrastructure solutions to the industrial and real estate sectors in Europe, on its €3.1 billion refinancing under common terms investment-grade platform with longer and diversified tenors, offering GETEC a flexible structure to support its expansion in both existing and new markets*
• The funders in connection with the €2.6 billion refinancing of Ventient Energy, Europe’s largest operator of onshore wind farms*
• The funders to Brookfield and Digital Bridge in relation to multi-layer financing for their acquisition of 51% of the issued shares in Deutsche Telecom 's German and Austrian TowerCo*
• A consortium of sponsors (AXA IM Alts and Swiss Life Asset Managers) in relation to both senior and junior financing for their successful bid for more than EUR 2 billion acquisition of 100% of the issued shares from Antin Infrastructure Partners in lyntia Networks, a leading wholesale operator in the Spanish telecommunications market and the only neutral provider operating both light and dark fiber in Spain*
• A joint venture comprising PGGM and DIF Capital Partners in relation to the certain funds financing for their successful bid for Fudura B.V., a Dutch energy infrastructure services business active in energy transition*
• The bank and PP lenders to GIP and ADIA in relation to the junior financing for the €7 billion acquisition of a majority stake in VTG AG, Europe's largest private wagon hire company*
• The lenders to 3i on its acquisition and rollout financing for its successful bid for DNS:NET Internet Service, a German fiber and ISP business*
• The funders to Digital Bridge in relation to both senior and junior financing for its successful bid for 100% of the issued shares in Telenet NewCo NV*
• The funders in relation to the establishment of the multi-creditor common terms platform, including bank and PP debt, for NorthC, a Dutch, German and Swiss portfolio of datas*
• Macquarie Asset Management (MAM) in relation to the financing for the purchase of a 60% stake in National Grid pie's UK gas transmission and metering business (NGG) through a consortium led by MAM*
• The funders on the new multibillion, multi-creditor common terms platform for the refinancing of the existing debt of Cross London Trains, one of the largest single fleet rolling stock owners in Europe*

*Matter completed prior to joining Milbank

Recognition & Accomplishments

Katie is ranked as a “Leading Individual” in The Legal 500 UK for Infrastructure and noted by clients as an “exceptional finance lawyer.” Chambers UK lists Katie as Band 1 for Infrastructure and reports that, “She is knowledgeable, commercial and very responsive.”