Transportation, Railways, Privatization and Public-Private Partnership Experience

Given Obeidat Law’s experience in representing clients on both sides of transactions in the fields of transportation, railways and privatization and public-private partnerships, attorneys at Obeidat Law offer an extensive depth and breadth of knowledge in these areas.

We have, across the years, acted for the Jordanian government or entities controlled by it as well as for private companies that were bidding for or were evaluating privatization projects in Jordan.

Our role as legal advisors in privatization matters covers a wide range of tasks including legal due diligences, drafting and reviewing legal documentation related to the transactions, participating in negotiations, rendering advice on Jordanian laws and regulations impacting the transaction and handling various issues that may arise and which relate to the closing of the transaction.

Some of the transactions Obeidat Law has been involved in

  • Between 1998 and 2001, Obeidat Law undertook the role of legal advisor to the government of Jordan on the privatization of a publicly held railway operator.  The transaction involved reviewing the existing legal and regulatory environment, and assessing the multiple relationships between, among others, the entity and the Government of Jordan;
  • During 2007, the firm advised International Finance Corporation and the Islamic Development Bank in relation to a multi-million United States Dollar financing of the Queen Alia International Airport expansion and operation project.  The project, which is part of the Government of Jordan’s new trend of awarding PPP projects to international bidders, was awarded by the Government of Jordan to an international consortium on a BTO basis.  Our role involved advising the lenders on the various aspects of Jordanian law, assisting the financiers’ international counsel in drafting the local security documentation for the financing, and in rendering legal opinions on Jordanian law as well as coordinating with the Government of Jordan.  It is noteworthy that the financing was a combination of a $150 million commercial loan and $100 million Islamic Ijara.  Financial close for the said project took place in November 2007.  Our firm continues to advise IFC and IDB with respect to this project as it went through a major expansion that involved substantive amendments to the project documents and increased financing;
  • During 2009, Obeidat Law advised the Jordan Phosphate Mines Company on the $110 million financing of a new phosphate terminal and related facilities in the port city of Aqaba.  The financing for the project included a $50 million A loan from International Finance Corporation and a $60 million B loan arranged by IFC from commercial banks;
  • During 2009 and 2010, we advised the Ministry of Public Works & Housing on the introduction of legislation that would enable the awarding by the Ministry to private sector bidders of the right to construct and operate Jordan’s first toll-road on a BOT basis;
  • As of October 2018, Obeidat Law has been advising the Greater Amman Municipality as part of a legal, financial and technical advisory team in connection with the operation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.  Our advice on this project at the current time focuses on the legal and regulatory aspects of the project as well as some work on the structuring side.