Episode 21: Making 'Cents' of Funding the Green Transition

In the transition towards a greener future, substantial investments are imperative for renewable energy projects and sustainable infrastructure developments.

But where does the funding come from, and how is it being deployed to tackle the immense challenges posed by climate change?

GIIA's Policy and Research Manager Vlad Benn is joined by CMS's Ana Radnev, a Partner specialising in International Finance and Sustainability based in Bucharest and Francis Beechinor-Collins, an Associate in the Energy and Infrastructure team based in London, to delve into the intricate landscape of climate finance. Together they explore the strategies, successes, and stumbling blocks the infrastructure sector faces and provide an insight as to how private investors are reshaping their portfolios to align with environmental objectives, driving innovation, and catalysing positive change.

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Speaker bios

Ana Radnev

Ana is an English and Romanian qualified partner in the International Finance group of CMS and the Head of CMS’ Finance team in Romania. She acts for sponsors and lenders on complex structured multi-jurisdictional financing transactions and restructurings in Central and South-eastern Europe, Turkiye and the Baltic countries, having been covering the region for over 20 years. 

Ana advises on a wide range of event driven transactions including sponsor led leveraged financings, infrastructure finance and restructuring.  Ana has particular expertise representing financial sponsors and lenders on bilateral or syndicated transactions in the infrastructure, TMC, technology and healthcare sectors. Ana is particularly focusing on ESG linked financings and ESG considerations in finance transactions.

Over the past 12 months, highlights of Ana’s work, in relation to sustainable finance, have included: Advising Raiffiesen Bank International Erste Bank Group, Deutsche Bank, Citi and HSBC, on a sustainability-linked revolving credit facility (RCF), and advising Raiffeisen Bank S.A. and Raiffeisen Bank International AG, on a EUR 60m financing for Ratesti Solar Plant S.R.L, the largest new solar project developed in Romania to Rockcastle.

Francis Beechinor-Collins

Francis is an Associate in the Energy, Infrastructure, Project and Asset Finance team in London. Specialising in infrastructure and energy, he acts on behalf of project parties including sponsors, borrowers and funders on project finance transactions. Francis joined CMS in December 2021, after training and working as an associate at Clifford Chance London, Singapore and Frankfurt.