Legal and Economics Training Courses > Electricity Project Finance Modelling Analysis

About this Training Course

Analysis of Project Finance Models is a 3-day course that will provide you with the ability to understand nuances of project finance theory through analysing and understanding project finance models. The course is designed so that the participants can understand and assess the models that other people create inside and outside of the organisation. By working with actual models in a hands-on environment, you will be better able to quantify risks of different types of projects and you will be able to use models to assist in the negotiation of contracts.

The course is designed so that you understand the importance of: (1) how models should be structured; (2) debt structuring in models; (3) developing the funding parts of the model before commercial operation and problems with circular references that arise from interest during construction fees and the debt service reserve account; and (4) building flexible models with effective summary statistics.

The course will show you how to construct models that are accurate with effective error checks to verify the model so that your models can incorporate complex cash flow waterfalls, alternative funding cascades and sculpted repayment techniques, allowing transparency and equipping users with a clear understanding. Additionally, the participants will learn how to use advanced techniques to resolve circular references associated with funding of a project and debt sculpting that use VBA functions rather than macros.

Upon completion of the course, the participants will be able to:

  • Evaluate and review actual models with case studies to assess overall economics of projects.
  • Understand project finance models in the context of finance theory related to subtle issues associated with contract structuring, debt sizing, debt funding, debt repayment, debt servicing costs and credit enhancements.
  • Interpret models developed by other people and add master scenario pages to any model using case studies of actual models.
  • Create flexible models with effective summary statistics to evaluate alternative timing, operating assumptions, financial structures, re-financing and contract pricing.
  • Work through the difficult problems in project finance modelling including
    • Complex cash flow waterfalls with balloon payments and mini-perm structures
    • Sizing of debt with capitalized interest and alternative drawdown schedules
    • Flexible debt sculpting with income taxes
  • Understand the benefits of creating user defined functions rather than copy and paste macros to resolve any circular reference problems in project finance models including funding problems and debt sculpting.
  • Learn Excel techniques with some VBA to make better presentations from models and to make models more transparent and efficient.
  • Project finance analysts
  • Financial analysts, business development professionals
  • Project developers and managers
  • Infrastructure investment professionals and investors
  • Power utility corporate finance professionals
  • Company accountants and government power industry regulators
  • Intermediate

The training course is presented in an interactive workshop format that allows discussion. The course will be delivered through analysis of case studies and running examples of problems.

Course Duration: 3 days in total (21 hours).

The training instructor relies on a highly interactive training method to enhance the learning process. This method ensures that all participants gain a complete understanding of all the topics covered. The training environment is highly stimulating, challenging, and effective because the participants will learn by case studies which will allow them to apply the material taught in their own organization.

Training Schedule

0830 – Registration

0900 – Start of training

1030 – Morning Break

1045 – Training recommences

1230 – Lunch Break

1330 – Training recommences

1515 – Evening break

1530 – Training recommences

1700 – End of Training

Our key course expert provides financial and economic consulting services to a variety of clients, he teaches professional development courses in an assortment of modelling topics (project finance, M&A, and energy). He is passionate about teaching in Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. Many of the unique analytical concepts and modelling techniques he has developed have arisen from discussion with participants in his courses. He has taught customized courses for MIT’s Sloan Business School, Bank Paribas, Shell Oil, Society General, General Electric, HSBC, GDF Suez, Citibank, CIMB, Lind Lakers, Saudi Aramco and many other energy and industrial clients. His consulting activities include developing complex project finance, corporate and simulation models, providing expert testimony on financial and economic issues before energy regulatory agencies, and advisory services to support merger and acquisition projects. Our key course expert has written a textbook titled Corporate and Project Finance Modelling, Theory and Practice published by Wiley Finance. The book introduces unique modelling techniques that address many complex issues that are not typically used by even the most experienced financial analysts. For example, it describes how to build user-defined functions to solve circular logic without cumbersome copy and paste macros; how to write function that derives the ratio of EV/EBITDA accounting for asset life, historical growth, taxes, return on investment, and cost of capital; and how to efficiently solve many project finance issues related to debt structuring. He is in the process of writing a second book that describes a series of valuation and analytical mistakes made in finance. This book uses many case studies from Harvard Business School that were thought to represent effective business strategies and later turned into valuation nightmares. Over the course of his career our key course expert has been involved in formulating significant government policy related to electricity deregulation; he has prepared models and analyses for many clients around the world; he has evaluated energy purchasing decisions for many corporations; and, he has provided advice on corporate strategy. His projects include development of a biomass plant, analysis and advisory work for purchase of electricity generation, distribution and transmission assets by the City of Chicago, formulation of rate policy for major metro systems and street lighting networks, advocacy testimony on behalf of low income consumers, risk analysis for toll roads, and evaluation of solar and wind projects. He has constructed many advisory analyses for project finance and merger and acquisition transactions. Lastly, our key course expert was formerly Vice President at the First National Bank of Chicago where he directed analysis of energy loans and also created financial modelling techniques used in advisory projects. He received an MBA specializing in econometrics (with honours) from the University of Chicago and a BSc in Finance from the University of Illinois (with highest university honours).

Unlock the potential of your workforce with customized in-house training programs designed specifically for the energy sector. Our tailored, in-house courses not only enhance employee skills and engagement but also offer significant cost savings by eliminating travel expenses. Invest in your team's success and achieve specific outcomes aligned with your organization's goals through our expert training solutions. Request for further information regarding our on-site or in-house training opportunities.

In our ongoing commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, we will no longer providing hard copy training materials. Instead, all training content and resources will be delivered in digital format. Inspired by the oil and energy industry’s best practices, we are leveraging on digital technologies to reduce waste, lower our carbon emissions, ensuring our training content is always up-to-date and accessible. Click here to learn more.

To further optimise your learning experience from our courses, we also offer individualized “One to One” coaching support for 2 hours post training. We can help improve your competence in your chosen area of interest, based on your learning needs and available hours. This is a great opportunity to improve your capability and confidence in a particular area of expertise. It will be delivered over a secure video conference call by one of our senior trainers. They will work with you to create a tailor-made coaching program that will help you achieve your goals faster. Request for further information post training support and fees applicable