O'Brien, Patrick J.
Patrick J. O’Brien has been a member of the firm’s corporate practice group since 2003, and a partner since 2008. His practice includes corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, project finance, secured and unsecured commercial lending, restructurings and workouts, investment funds, and general corporate advisory matters. Mr. O’Brien has particular expertise in representing development finance institutions and other investors in debt and equity investments in emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Mr. O’Brien also has extensive experience representing non-U.S. companies and individuals in their investments and other activities in the U.S. and other international markets.
NOTABLE REPRESENTATIONS
Represented the fund sponsor in the establishment and closing of two private equity funds, with aggregate commitments of $50,000,000 (including a $20,000,000 catalytic first loss capital component), focused on renewable energy investments in the Caribbean Basin and Central America (2016-18).
Represented two multilateral development finance institutions in connection with a $410,000,000 secured financing for the expansion of soybean crushing facilities and port loading capacity of Renova S.A., an Argentine agribusiness (2016-17). Transaction was selected as the Natural Resources Finance Deal of the Year for 2017 by Bonds and Loans Latin America (http://www.gfcmediagroup.com/bonds-loans-latin-america-deals-of-the-year/finalists).
Represented a bilateral development finance institution in connection with a $25,000,000 secured financing of the Guatemalan and Nicaraguan operations of a telecom towers company (2016-17).
Represented an investor in a $3,000,000 investment in a Series B round capital raise by an Argentine fintech company (2016-17).
Represented a multilateral and a bilateral development finance institution in connection with a $70,000,000 equity co-investment in the acquisition of an Argentine agribusiness (2016).
Represented two investors in connection with a $140,000,000 minority investment in a Chilean financial services company (2016).
Represented a multilateral development finance institution in connection with a €90,000,000 secured financing for the expansion of a flower production company in Ethiopia (2015).
Represented a multilateral development finance institution in connection with a $7,600,000 equity investment in a port operator located in Guatemala (2015).
Represented a multilateral development finance institution and two Mexican Federal Government development banks in connection with a $225,000,000 project financing for the design and construction of a greenfield multipurpose cargo terminal within the Port of Tuxpan in the State of Veracruz, Mexico (2015).
Represented a U.S. investment fund in an $11,700,000 equity co-investment in an Indian microfinance institution (2014).
Represented a multilateral development finance institution and a bilateral development finance institution in connection with a $24,000,000 project financing for a multi-purpose container and bulk terminal to be located in the Lafiteau/Cabaret area of Haiti (2014).
Represented two European investors in the successful sale and exit from a $30,000,000 investment in preferred shares of a financial institution located in Honduras (2014).
Represented a consortium of lenders (a multilateral development finance institution, a bilateral development finance institution and two private Central American banks) in connection with a $125,000,000 project financing for the development and construction of a container terminal to be located at Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala (2014).
Represented a multilateral development finance institution in a secured loan of $50,000,000 to an investment fund focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency investments in Mexico (2013).
Represented a multilateral development finance institution in a 100,000,000 Mexican Pesos partial credit guarantee of certain corporate bonds issued by a Mexican home builder (2013).
Represented a multilateral development finance institution in a secured loan of $42,000,000 to an investment fund focused on infrastructure investments in Colombia (2012).
Represented a U.S. construction services company in a $23 Million purchase of assets from a trade competitor (2012).
Represented the sellers of a U.S. construction services company in the $145 Million sale of the company and related affiliates to a portfolio company of a private equity fund (2011).
Represented a consortium of four multilateral and bilateral development finance institutions in connection with a $101 Million project financing for the expansion of a container terminal port in Vietnam (2011).
Represented two multilateral development finance institutions in connection with a $33.5 Million project financing for the expansion of a container terminal port in Colombia (2010).
Represented a bilateral development finance institution in connection with a $60 Million pre-export credit facility to an Argentine agribusiness (2010).
Represented a multilateral development finance institution in connection with a $15 Million revolving credit “warehousing” facility to be used to accumulate Ecuadorian mortgage instruments for the later issuance of mortgage-backed securities in Ecuador by the issuer/borrower (2010).
Represented the sellers of an international investment analytics company in the $17 Million sale of the company to a strategic buyer (2009).
Represented an investment fund with a South American farmland focus in its initial formation and capital raise of $15 million and a successful round of investment by several large U.S. private equity funds of approximately $75 Million (2008).
CONTACT
EDUCATION
Columbia University School of Law 1997, J.D. (Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar)
Colgate University 1991, B.A. cum laude
ADMISSIONS
New York
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Counsel and Manager of Product Development for an internet financial services company, (1999-2002)
Corporate Associate in Banking and M&A groups (1997-1999) of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
LANGUAGES
Proficient in Spanish
MEMBERSHIPS/PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Inter-Pacific Bar Association – Vice-Chair of the Banking, Finance and Securities Committee