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Opportunities and Challenges for Asia Investors in Latin America

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Following a rebound in Latin American international trade in 2021, more and more Asia-based strategic and PE investors are considering investing in the region. Latin America presents many opportunities, as well as some regulatory and other challenges for investors. Please join us for a webinar where we will discuss the main opportunities and challenges related to investment in Latin America, including:



Following a rebound in Latin American international trade in 2021, more and more Asia-based strategic and PE investors are considering investing in the region. Latin America presents many opportunities, as well as some regulatory and other challenges for investors. Please join us for a webinar where we will discuss the main opportunities and challenges related to investment in Latin America, including:<ul><li>Market trends and investment hot spots</li><li>Regulatory considerations including antitrust and foreign ownership restrictions</li><li>Circumventing public corruption</li><li>Navigating a successful exit</li></ul>Morrison & Foerster partners and Latin America desk co-chairs Randy Bullard and Ruti Smithline will share their insights. Tokyo partner and co-head of the Asia Private Equity practice Nozomi Oda and Shanghai partner Ruomu Li will also contribute to the discussion. Singapore Partner Paul Davis will moderate the webinar.We welcome you to join the conversation.CLE/MCLE/CPD credits pending.To access the full recording of the webinar, please complete and submit the form below.<iframe style="width: 100; height: 350;border-top-width: 0px;border-right-width: 0px;border-bottom-width: 0px;border-left-width: 0px;border-top-style: initial;border-right-style: initial;border-bottom-style: initial;border-left-style: initial;border-top-color: initial;border-right-color: initial;border-bottom-color: initial;border-left-color: initial;border-image-source: initial;border-image-slice: initial;border-image-width: initial;border-image-outset: initial;border-image-repeat: initial;" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" type="text/html" height="350" width="100" src="https://www2.mofo.com/l/323401/2022-05-20/855tg" title="Submission form to access webinar recording" title="iframe"></iframe><hr>

Opportunities and Challenges for Asia Investors in Latin America

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Ruti Smithline is co-chair of the firm’s Investigations + White Collar Criminal Defense group and co-chair of the firm’s Latin America Desk. Her practice focuses on complex litigation, with an emphasis on white collar criminal defense, SEC enforcement, and corporate internal investigations.Ruti is a member of the firm’s global FCPA + Anti-Corruption Task Force. She regularly advises clients on cross-border investigations, global compliance programs and anti-corruption due diligence for acquisitions, joint ventures, and private equity transactions. Ruti has represented individual and corporate defendants in cross-border criminal investigations, SEC enforcement matters, and other regulatory proceedings, including matters related to trade sanctions and anti-money laundering. She has experience conducting corporate internal investigations both domestically and internationally, often advising clients on remedial measures responsive to the issues investigated.Ruti was born and raised in Colombia and is fluent in Spanish. She has conducted investigations, seminars and anti-corruption training in Spanish throughout Central and South America.Ruti has been recognized by industry leading publications including Chambers & Partners, where she is ranked in the USA guide for Litigation: White Collar Crime & Government Investigations in New York and nationally for their FCPA category, in addition to being ranked in the Latin America guide for Corporate Crime & Investigations across the LatAm region. She has also been recommended by Legal 500 US in their Corporate Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense category, was recently selected by LatinVex as one of "Latin America's Top 100 Lawyers: FCPA & Fraud" for 2021, and has also been named to Global Investigations Review's "Women in Investigations" 2018 survey, which recognizes the top 100 leading female investigations specialists from around the world.Ruti received her J.D. from The George Washington University School of Law, where she graduated with honors and as a member of the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A. degree cum laude from Cornell University. She is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey.<h4>FCPA Representative Matters</h4><ul><li>Monitorship Team for a Large South American Company. Working as key team member for the independent compliance monitor as appointed by the DOJ and two separate multilateral development banks for a large South American company in the wake of a multi-jurisdictional resolution worth billions of USD. </li><li>Fortune 500 Company. Conducted an internal investigation into potential FCPA violations at a foreign subsidiary of a Fortune 500 multinational corporation. Conducted more than 60 interviews of employees, reviewed business lines and relationships with key customers and distribution channels, and conducted forensic analysis of accounting records and internal controls. Investigation included a review of business units in more than 15 countries to assess FCPA risks.</li><li>A Multinational Agricultural Company. Conduct an internal investigation into allegations of improper payments made to a government official in a Latin American country, which included assisting with recommendations to enhance and improve the Company’s compliance program and implementation of those remedial measures.</li><li>A Multinational Electronics Company. Representation in an SEC FCPA investigation involving conduct in Latin America related to our client’s engaging in a business relationship with a company that was subsequently involved in a government corruption scandal.</li><li>Audit Committee of International Company. Represented the audit committee of an international supplier of agricultural products in its internal investigation resulting from a whistleblower complaint alleging violations of the FCPA in the Middle East. This matter was one of the first cases to be reported to the SEC under its whistleblower rules enacted in 2011. After we completed the investigation and reported the result to the SEC, it declined to conduct an investigation of its own and closed the file.</li><li>Fortune 500 Company. Represented a Fortune 500 company with anti-corruption due diligence in connection with the acquisition of a foreign telecom company with substantial operations in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.</li><li>Global Retailer. Represented a senior executive of a global retailer in connection with an investigation by the DOJ, SEC and other agencies into possible violations of the FCPA in Mexico, Brazil and other countries.</li></ul><h4>Other Representative Matters</h4><ul><li>A Foreign Bank. Representation in connection with inquiries from banking regulators regarding the Bank’s relationships with customers and entities involved in well-known corruption and money laundering schemes as well as the Bank’s own BSA/AML controls, which implicates bank secrecy laws and the privacy and data security laws of various jurisdictions.</li><li>A U.S. Holding Company for a Multinational Bank. Conducted an independent assessment of the Company’s compliance program, including reviewing the bank’s governance, internal controls, audit, and filtering systems, to ensure compliance with U.S. sanctions laws pursuant to a Consent Order entered into with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.</li><li>A State-Owned Bank. Conducted a multi-year internal investigation into anti-money laundering controls and potential violations of U.S. sanctions laws at the New York branch of the Bank, which culminated in a deferred prosecution agreement to settle allegations made by federal and state regulators. The representation also involved securing a motion to dismiss in a related civil action where Plaintiffs sought over US $1 billion directly from the Bank related to allegations of fraudulent conveyance.</li><li>Multi-Faceted Investigation of University Grants. Advised a major U.S. research University in a criminal and civil investigation of alleged false claims relating to federal research grants and contracts.</li><li>Various Individuals in South America. Representation of individuals in South America working for U.S. headquartered Bank in investigation by DOJ regarding potential violations of Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering laws.</li><li>Former Mortgage Executive. Represented the Chief Financial Officer of one of the largest national mortgage originators, now bankrupt, in an SEC investigation and related shareholder litigation arising from the credit crisis.</li></ul>

Ruti Smithline é co-líder do grupo de investigação criminal e defesa de colarinho branco e co-líder do Latin America Desk. Sua prática se concentra em litígios complexos, com ênfase em defesa criminal de colarinho branco, conformidade com a Securities and Exchange Commission dos Estados Unidos (SEC), litígios sobre valores mobiliários e investigações corporativas internas.Smithline é membro da equipe e do grupo de trabalho FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) + Anticorrupção escritório. Ela representa regularmente clientes em investigações internacionais, programas de conformidade global e due diligence anticorrupção para aquisições, joint ventures e transações de private equity. Ruti representou indivíduos e empresas acusadas em investigações criminais cross-border, questões de conformidade com a SEC e outros procedimentos regulatórios, incluindo questões relacionadas a sanções comerciais e lavagem de dinheiro. Ruti tem experiência na condução de investigações corporativas internas, nacionais e internacionais, assessorando frequentemente clientes em ações corretivas que respondem aos problemas investigados.Smithline nasceu e foi criada na Colômbia e fala espanhol fluentemente. Ela conduziu pesquisas anticorrupção, seminários e treinamento em espanhol nas Américas Central e do Sul.Smithline foi nomeada recentemente na pesquisa "Mulheres em Investigações” da Global Investigations Review em 2018, que reconhece as 100 principais especialistas em investigações no mundo todo. Ela também foi recentemente selecionada pela LatinVex como uma das "100 melhores advogadas da América Latina: FCPA e fraude" em 2018. Ela também foi anteriormente reconhecida pelo Ethisphere Institute como uma das "Advogadas que importam" em 2016 e pela Global Investigations Review como uma dentre 40 dos principais advogados de investigação do mundo com menos de 40 anos. Além disso, Ruti foi selecionada para a Lista de Estrelas em Ascensão do Metrô de Nova York em 2014 e 2015 pela Super Lawyers, com base no reconhecimento de colegas e em conquistas profissionais.Smithline recebeu se formou em direito na Faculdade de Direito da Universidade George Washington, onde se formou com honras e como membro da Order of the Coif. Ela recebeu seu diploma de bacharel cum laude da Universidade de Cornell. Ela é admitida para exercer advocacia em Nova York e Nova Jersey.<h4>Casos Representativos de FCPA</h4><ul><li>Comércio varejista global. Representou um executivo sênior de um comerciante de varejo global em uma investigação do Departamento de Justiça, da SEC e de outras agências sobre possíveis violações do FCPA no México, Brasil e outros países.</li><li>Empresa Fortune 500. Conduziu uma investigação interna sobre possíveis violações do FCPA em uma subsidiária estrangeira de uma corporação multinacional Fortune 500. Conduziu mais de 60 entrevistas com funcionários, revisou linhas de negócios e relacionamentos com os principais clientes e canais de distribuição, e realizou análise forense de registros contábeis e controles internos. A pesquisa incluiu uma análise de unidades de negócios em mais de 15 países para avaliar os riscos de FCPA.</li><li>Empresa Fortune 50. Representou uma empresa multinacional Fortune 50 com sede nos EUA em uma investigação interna sobre supostas violações de FCPA e compliance na região Ásia-Pacífico. Após a conclusão da investigação e compliance, nem a SEC nem o Departamento de Justiça tomaram medidas contra nosso cliente.</li><li>Comitê de Auditoria de Empresa Internacional. Representou o comitê de auditoria de um fornecedor internacional de produtos agrícolas em sua investigação interna, oriunda de uma denúncia de irregularidades alegando violações de FCPA no Oriente Médio. Esse assunto foi um dos primeiros casos a serem relatados à SEC sob suas regras de denúncia decretadas em maio de 2011. Após concluir a investigação e relatar o resultado à SEC, a SEC desistiu de conduzir sua própria investigação e arquivou o caso.</li><li>Empresa de investimento global. Representou uma empresa de investimento global com a due diligence anticorrupção com operações no Japão, China, Tailândia e México. Com base nos resultados da devida diligência, aconselhamos a empresa sobre a implementação de um programa de conformidade pós-aquisição.</li><li>Empresa Fortune 500. Representou uma empresa Fortune 500 em due diligence anticorrupção relacionada à aquisição de uma empresa estrangeira de telecomunicações com operações substanciais na África, América Latina, Sudeste Asiático e Oriente Médio.</li><h4>Outros casos representativos</h4><li>OFAC e BSA/AML. Conduziu a investigação interna de um grande banco estrangeiro sobre possíveis violações de sanções da OFAC e de práticas de combate à lavagem de dinheiro.</li><li>BSA/AML. Representou várias pessoas na América do Sul que trabalham para um Banco com sede na União Europeia em uma investigação do Departamento de Justiça dos Estados Unidos sobre possíveis violações da Lei de Sigilo Bancário e leis sobre lavagem de dinheiro.</li><li>Ex-executivo de hipoteca. Representou o Diretor Financeiro de um dos maiores emissores nacionais de hipotecas, agora falido, em uma investigação da SEC e em litígios relacionados aos seus acionistas decorrentes da crise de crédito.</li><li>Investigação multifacetada de bolsas universitárias. Assessorou uma importante universidade de pesquisa nos EUA em uma investigação criminal e civil sobre alegações falsas relacionadas a subsídios e contratos federais de pesquisa.</li></ul>

Ruti Smithline es copresidenta del grupo de Investigaciones + Defensa Criminal de Cuello Blanco de la firma y copresidenta del Latin America Desk de la firma. Su práctica se centra en litigios complejos, con énfasis en defensa criminal de cuello blanco, cumplimiento de la Comisión de Bolsa y Valores de EE. UU. (SEC), litigios de valores e investigaciones internas corporativas. Ruti es miembro del equipo de trabajo FCPA (Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) + Anticorrupción de la firma. Regularmente asesora a clientes en investigaciones transfronterizas, programas de cumplimiento global y diligencia debida anticorrupción para adquisiciones, empresas conjuntas (joint ventures) y transacciones de capital privado (private equity). Ruti ha representado a individuos ​​y corporaciones acusadas en investigaciones penales transfronterizas, asuntos de cumplimiento de la SEC y otros procedimientos regulatorios, incluyendo asuntos relacionados con sanciones comerciales y contra el lavado de dinero. Tiene experiencia llevando a cabo investigaciones corporativas internas tanto a nivel nacional como internacional, con frecuencia asesorando a clientes sobre medidas correctivas que responden a los problemas investigados.Ruti nació y se crió en Colombia y habla español con fluidez. Ha llevado a cabo investigaciones, seminarios y capacitación anticorrupción en español en América Central y del Sur.Ruti fue nombrada recientemente en la encuesta "Investigaciones de mujeres" de Global Investigations Review en 2018, que reconoce a las 100 mujeres principales especialistas en investigaciones de todo el mundo. También fue seleccionada recientemente por LatinVex como una de las "100 mejores abogadas de América Latina: FCPA y fraude" para 2018. También fue reconocida anteriormente por Ethisphere Institute como una de las "Abogados que importan" en 2016 y por Global Investigations Review como una de 40 de los principales abogados de investigaciones del mundo con menos de 40 años. Además, Ruti fue seleccionada para la lista de estrellas en ascenso del metro de Nueva York en 2014 y 2015 por Super Lawyers con base en el reconocimiento de pares y el logro profesional.Ruti recibió su J.D. de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad George Washington, donde se graduó con honores y como miembro de la Orden de la Cofia. Ella recibió su título de B.A. cum laude, de la Universidad de Cornell. Está admitida para practicar leyes en Nueva York y Nueva Jersey.<h4>Asuntos Representativos de la FCPA</h4><ul><li>Comerciante al por menor global. Representó a un alto ejecutivo de un comerciante al por menor global en relación con una investigación realizada por el Departamento de Justicia, la SEC y otras agencias sobre posibles violaciones de la FCPA en México, Brasil y otros países.</li><li>Compañía Fortune 500. Llevó a cabo una investigación interna sobre posibles violaciones de la FCPA en una subsidiaria extranjera de una corporación multinacional Fortune 500. Realizó más de 60 entrevistas a empleados, revisó líneas de negocios y relaciones con clientes clave y canales de distribución, y realizó análisis forenses de registros contables y controles internos. La investigación incluyó una revisión de las unidades de negocio en más de 15 países para evaluar los riesgos de la FCPA.</li><li>Compañía Fortune 50. Representó a una compañía multinacional Fortune 50 con sede en E.E.U.U. En una investigación interna de presuntas violaciones de la FCPA y el auto-trato en la región de Asia y el Pacífico. Tras la conclusión de nuestra investigación y autoinforme, ni la SEC ni el Departamento de Justicia tomaron ninguna medida contra nuestro cliente.</li><li>Comité de Auditoría de Empresa Internacional. Representó al comité de auditoría de un proveedor internacional de productos agrícolas en su investigación interna resultante de una denuncia de irregularidades alegando violaciones de la FCPA en el Medio Oriente. Este asunto fue uno de los primeros casos en ser reportados a la SEC bajo sus reglas de denuncia de irregularidades promulgadas en mayo de 2011. Después de completar la investigación e informar el resultado a la SEC, la misma se negó a realizar una investigación propia y cerró el archivo.</li><li>Empresa de inversión global. Representó a una empresa de inversión global con la debida diligencia anticorrupción de un objetivo estadounidense con operaciones en Japón, China, Tailandia y México. En base a los resultados de la diligencia debida, asesoramos a la compañía con respecto a la implementación de un programa de cumplimiento posterior a la adquisición.</li><li>Compañía Fortune 500. Representó a una compañía Fortune 500 con la debida diligencia anticorrupción en relación con la adquisición de una compañía de telecomunicaciones extranjera con operaciones sustanciales en África, América Latina, Sudeste de Asia y Medio Oriente.</li></ul><h4>Otros Asuntos Representativos</h4><ul><li>OFAC y BSA / AML. Llevó a cabo una investigación interna de un gran banco extranjero con respecto a posibles violaciones de las sanciones de la OFAC y las prácticas contra el lavado de dinero.</li><li>BSA / AML. Representó a varias personas en Sudamérica que trabajan para el Banco con sede en E.E.U.U. en una investigación del Departamento de Justicia sobre posibles violaciones de la Ley de Secreto Bancario (Bank Secrecy Act) y las leyes contra el lavado de dinero.</li><li>Ex ejecutivo hipotecario. Representó al Director Financiero de uno de los mayores emisores de hipotecas nacionales, ahora en bancarrota, en una investigación de la SEC y litigios relacionados con los accionistas que surgieron de la crisis crediticia.</li><li>Investigación multifacética de subvenciones universitarias. Asesoró a una importante universidad de investigación de E.E.U.U. en una investigación penal y civil de presuntas afirmaciones falsas relacionadas con subvenciones y contratos federales de investigación.</li></ul>

Ruti Smithline

Partner

Randy, managing partner of Morrison Foerster’s Miami office and co-chair of the firm’s Latin America Desk, advises multinational clients in connection with cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securities and finance transactions throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe and the United States.Randy has advised numerous European global corporations in connection with establishing and developing their U.S. presences, as well as managing their Latin American operations. He also represents issuers in equity and debt offerings and exchange listings.Randy’s mergers and acquisitions work has focused on international cross-border mergers and acquisitions across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, media, entertainment, energy, agriculture, manufacturing and food and beverage.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><h5>Mergers and Acquisitions</h5><ul><li>Petlove&Co. in connection with its financing round with existing major investors, Tarpon, SoftBank, L Catterton, Porto Seguro and Monashees, and a new initial investment by Riverwood Capital. This is the largest financing round in Petlove&Co’s history.</li><li>SoftBank Latin America Fund in connection with a Series B funding round for Incode, a next-generation identity and authentication platform for global enterprises.</li><li>SoftBank Latin America Fund in connection with a Series C funding round in Addi, a fintech startup based in Bogota, Colombia that offers buy-now-pay-later technology.</li><li>SoftBank Latin America Fund in connection with a Series D funding round in Open Co, a Brazilian consumer credit company.</li><li>SoftBank Latin America Fund on leading a Series B funding round for Laika, a Colombia-based pet supplies e-commerce platform.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series E financing round led by the SoftBank Latin America Fund totaling $190 million in MadeiraMadeira, a Brazilian online home goods platform.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series C financing round in JusBrasil, a platform that connects people to justice through lawyers and legal information.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series C financing round led by the SoftBank Latin America Fund in Contabilizei, a Brazilian online platform that offers affordable tax-filing and accounting SaaS for SMEs in Brazil.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series D financing round led by the SoftBank Latin America Fund in Olist, a Brazilian e-commerce platform.</li><li>SoftBank Latin America Fund in connection with the recently announced $108 million financing round in Pismo, a technology company providing an all-in-one processing platform for banking, payments, and financial markets infrastructure.</li><li>SoftBank, Riverwood Capital, Igah Ventures, and Volpe Capital in connection with their investments in CRM&BONUS’s R$280 million financing round.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with the Series C US$50 million financing round in GAIA, an e-commerce platform for the sale of furniture and design accessories in Mexico.</li><li>The management team of Wizeline, Inc., a global technology services provider that partners with clients to build high-quality digital products and platforms, in connection with the agreement under which Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ), a global investment group and one of Canada’s largest pension funds, will acquire majority ownership of Wizeline.</li><li>SoftBank in its agreement to invest up to US$150 million into a subsidiary of Grupo Bursátil Mexicano (GBM), a leading investment platform in the Mexican stock market for over 35 years.</li><li>SoftBank in a joint venture with WeWork, the leading flexible space provider, that provides SoftBank Latin America Fund with the exclusive right to operate the WeWork brand in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico.</li><li>Petlove, a Brazilian company that offers an online platform for pet products in Brazil, on its acquisition of Porto Pet, a company in the Porto Seguro business group and a leader in the animal health plan segment.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with the US$150 million (R$822 million) preferred equity investment in Afya Limited (Nasdaq: AFYA), the largest medical education group in Brazil.</li><li>SoftBank Group Corp. in connection with the US$84.5 million financing round in Descomplica, the first Brazilian EdTech company to enter the higher education market. Co-led by investment fund Invus Opportunities, the funding round represents the biggest investment to date in an EdTech company in Latin America.</li><li>Visa Inc. (NYSE: V) in its acquisition of YellowPepper, a fintech pioneer with proprietary technology and partnerships supporting leading financial institutions and startups across nine Latin American and Caribbean countries including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, and Trinidad and Tobago.</li><li>Petlove, a Brazilian company that offers an online platform for pet products in Brazil, in the expansion of its e-commerce into a pet ecosystem through the acquisition of DogHero, a pet services Brazilian company.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series C financing round totaling $225 million in Kavak, a Mexican online platform for buying and selling used cars.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series B financing round totaling $108 million in Acesso Digital, a Brazilian IDTech pioneer in ID protection solutions.</li><li>SoftBank in its sale of a majority stake in Brightstar Corp., a subsidiary of SoftBank and the global leader of end-to-end device lifecycle solutions for carriers, retailers, and enterprise, managing mobile devices, to Brightstar Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management team.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with its Series D US$225 million investment round in VTEX.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series C financing round led by SoftBank’s Latin America Fund in Brazilian data science company Cortex.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series B financing round led by SoftBank’s Latin America Fund totaling US$125 million in AlphaCredit, one of the fastest growing technology-enabled financial platforms in Latin America.</li><li>Inchcape, the leading global independent multi-brand automotive distributor and retailer, in its cash-free and debt-free £47 million acquisition of Autolider, a distributor of Daimler brands in both Uruguay and Ecuador.</li><li>Dolphin Entertainment, Inc., a leading independent entertainment marketing and premium content development company, in its $3 million acquisition of Shore Fire Media, Ltd., a public relations and media management firm based in Brooklyn, New York that specializes in music, entertainment and popular culture.</li><li>SoftBank in connection with a Series D investment round totaling US$250 million in QuintoAndar, a São Paulo-based real estate leasing platform.</li><li>SoftBank in its joint US$150 million Series C round investment with Tencent in Argentine fintech company Ualá.</li><li>SoftBank in its $100M investment in Konfio, an online lending platform in Mexico.</li><li>SoftBank in its investment in Buser, Ltd., an intercity bus charter online booking service in Brazil.</li></ul><h5>Finance</h5><ul><li>The Chilean, Peruvian, and Colombian operating companies of Andean Telecom Partners in a syndicated senior secured financing totaling approximately $170 million and a subsequent syndicated senior secured financing totaling $35 million.</li><li>Andean Tower Partners Colombia, operator and developer of wireless telecommunications infrastructure owned by Digital Bridge, in the US$55 million refinancing operation granted by Scotiabank Colpatria. </li><li>Satelites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. in its prepackaged plan of reorganization and issuance of US$325 million exit financing of senior secured notes, and follow-on note offerings.</li><li>Costa Rican and U.S. issuers in the refinancing of an existing facility through the issuance and private placement of US$250 million in notes to affiliates of a U.S. insurance provider.</li><li>Torres Unidas Chile SpA and Torres Unidas del Perú S.R.L., telecommunications and infrastructure companies in Chile and Peru respectively, in US$120 million syndicated term loan cross-collateralized facilities with Scotiabank Chile and Scotiabank Perú S.A.A, and multiple refinancings of such facilities over a six-year period.</li><li>A leading private equity investor in growth markets across Latin America in its US$120 million revolving credit facility with a leading multinational bank.</li><li>A Costa Rican tower operator in its term loan agreement with a leading commercial bank in Costa Rica.</li><li>One of the largest financial services firms in the world in syndicated credit facilities, acquisition finance facilities and other financing transactions in various industries throughout Latin America, including in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.</li><li>A Salvadoran retailer in connection with US$300 million multicurrency financings secured by assets in 11 different Caribbean jurisdictions. The acquisition was consummated in part through public offers in Jamaica and Barbados.</li><li>The manager and operator of 52 airport facilities in Argentina, Italy, Brazil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia and Peru in its US$485 million initial public offering (IPO) on the NYSE.</li><li>German foreign private issuers in various industries in connection with initial public offerings and Nasdaq listings.</li><li>Underwriter in multiple follow-on offerings for a nanotechnology-focused closed-end investment fund.</li></ul>

Randy, copresidente del Latin America Desk y socio del Departamento Corporativo de la firma, asesora a clientes multinacionales en relación con fusiones y adquisiciones transfronterizas, empresas conjuntas (joint ventures), y transacciones de valores y finanzas en toda América Central y del Sur, el Caribe, Europa y los Estados Unidos.Randy ha asesorado a numerosas corporaciones globales europeas en relación con el establecimiento y desarrollo de sus presencias en los Estados Unidos, así como en la gestión de sus operaciones en América Latina. También representa a emisores en ofertas de capital y de deuda y en cotizaciones de la bolsa.La experiencia de Randy en relación a fusiones y adquisiciones se ha centrado en fusiones y adquisiciones internacionales transfronterizas en una amplia gama de sectores, incluyendo servicios financieros, telecomunicaciones, medios de comunicación, entretenimiento, energía, agricultura, industria manufacturera, y alimentos/bebidas.<h4>Experiencia Representativa</h4><h5>Fusiones y adquisiciones</h5><ul><li>Representó a SoftBank en relación con una ronda de inversión Serie B dirigida por SoftBank Latin America Fund, por un total de US$ 125 millones en AlphaCredit, una de las plataformas de tecnología financieras de más rápido crecimiento en América Latina.</li><li>Representó a Inchcape, el principal distribuidor y minorista independiente de automóviles de múltiples marcas a nivel mundial, en su adquisición sin dinero en efectivo y deudas de £ 47 millones de Autolider, un distribuidor de las marcas de Daimler en Uruguay y Ecuador.</li><li>Representación de Dolphin Entertainment, Inc., una empresa independiente líder en mercadeo de entretenimiento y desarrollo de contenidos de primera calidad, en su adquisición de US$ 3 millones de Shore Fire Media, Ltd., una empresa de relaciones públicas y gestión de medios de comunicación con sede en Brooklyn, Nueva York, que se especializa en música, entretenimiento y cultura popular.</li><li>Representó a SoftBank en relación con una ronda de inversión Serie D por un total de US$ 250 millones en QuintoAndar, una plataforma de arrendamiento inmobiliario con sede en São Paulo.</li><li>Representó a SoftBank en su inversión conjunta con Tencent de US$ 150 millones en la ronda de financiación de la Serie C en la aplicación argentina de servicios bancarios digitales Ualá.</li><li>Representó a SoftBank en su inversión de US$ 100 millones en Konfio, una plataforma servicios financieros en México.</li><li>Representación de SoftBank en su inversión en Buser, Ltd., un servicio de reservas en línea de alquiler de autobuses interurbanos en Brasil.</li></ul><h5>Finanzas</h5><ul><li>Representó a Andean Tower Partners Colombia, operador y desarrollador de la infraestructura de telecomunicaciones inalámbricas propiedad de Digital Bridge, en la operación de refinanciamiento de US$ 55 millones otorgada por Scotiabank Colpatria. Se espera que Andean Tower Partners Colombia utilice los fondos para desarrollar y adquirir activos de infraestructura de telecomunicaciones.</li><li>Representación de Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. en su plan preestablecido de reorganización y emisión para una financiación de salida de US$ 325 millones de los pagarés de garantía preferente (senior secured notes), y ofertas de pagarés de seguimiento (follow-on note offerings).</li><li>Representó a emisores costarricenses y estadounidenses en el refinanciamiento de una instalación existente mediante la emisión y la colocación privada de US$ 250 millones en notas a filiales de un proveedor de seguros de los Estados Unidos.</li><li>Representó a Torres Unidas Chile SpA y Torres Unidas del Perú S.R.L., empresas de telecomunicaciones e infraestructura de Chile y Perú respectivamente, en el otorgamiento de préstamos a plazo con garantía cruzada de US$ 120 millones con Scotiabank Chile y Scotiabank Perú S.A.A., y en el refinanciamiento múltiple de dichos préstamos durante un período de seis años.</li><li>Representó a un inversionista líder de capital privado en los mercados en crecimiento de toda América Latina en su línea de crédito rotativo de US$ 120 millones con un banco multinacional prominente.</li><li>Representó a un operador de torres costarricense en su contrato de un préstamo a plazo con un banco comercial líder en Costa Rica.</li><li>Representó a una de las empresas de servicios financieros más grande del mundo en servicios de crédito sindicado, servicios de financiación de adquisiciones y otras operaciones de financiamiento en diversas industrias de toda América Latina, entre ellas las de Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Panamá, República Dominicana y Nicaragua.</li><li>Representó a un minorista salvadoreño en relación con financiamientos en múltiples divisas por valor de US$ 300 millones garantizadas con activos en 11 jurisdicciones del Caribe. La adquisición se consumó en parte mediante ofertas públicas en Jamaica y Barbados.</li><li>Representó al administrador y operador de 52 instalaciones aeroportuarias de Argentina, Italia, Brasil, Uruguay, Ecuador, Armenia y Perú en su oferta pública inicial (IPO) de US$ 485 millones en la Bolsa de Valores de Nueva York (NYSE).</li><li>Representó a emisores privados extranjeros alemanes en diversas industrias en relación con las ofertas públicas iniciales y las cotizaciones en el Nasdaq.</li><li>Representó a un asegurador en múltiples ofertas de seguimiento (follow-on offerings) para un fondo de inversión cerrado centrado en la nanotecnología.</li></ul>

Randy, co-líder do Latin America Desk e sócio da área empresarial, assessora clientes multinacionais em fusões e aquisições internacionais, joint ventures e transações de valores mobiliários e financeiros no Caribe, Europa, Estados Unidos, América Central e do Sul.Randy assessorou várias empresas globais e européias no estabelecimento e desenvolvimento de suas atividades nos Estados Unidos, bem como na gestão de suas operações na América Latina. Representa também emissores em ofertas de ações e dívida.Sua experiência em fusões e aquisições é concentrada em fusões e aquisições internacionais em uma ampla gama de setores, incluindo serviços financeiros, telecomunicações, mídia, entretenimento, energia, agricultura, alimentos e bebidas.<h4>Casos Representativos (incluindo experiências em outros escritórios)</h4><h5>Fusões e aquisições</h5><ul><li>Representou SoftBank em uma rodada de investimentos Série B liderada pelo Latin America Fund do SoftBank no valor total de US$ 125 milhões na AlphaCredit, uma das plataformas de tecnologia financeira de maior crescimento na América Latina.</li><li>Representou a Inchcape, líder global independente na distribuição e varejo de carros multimarcas, na aquisição, por £ 47 milhões, da Autolider, distribuidora das marcas da Daimler no Uruguai e no Equador.</li><li>Representou a Dolphin Entertainment, Inc., uma empresa independente líder em marketing de entretenimento premium e desenvolvimento de conteúdo, na aquisição, por US$ 3 milhões de uma empresa de relações públicas e gerenciamento de mídia com sede no Brooklyn, Nova York, especializada em música, entretenimento e cultura popular.</li><li>Representou SoftBank em uma rodada de investimentos Série D, totalizando US$ 250 milhões na QuintoAndar, uma plataforma de leasing imobiliário com sede em São Paulo.</li><li>Representou SoftBank em seu investimento, em conjunto com a Tencent, no total de US$ 150 milhões, na rodada de financiamento Série C no aplicativo argentino de serviços bancários digitais Ualá.</li><li>Representou SoftBank em seu investimento de US$ 100 milhões na Konfio, uma plataforma de serviços financeiros no México.</li><li>Representou SoftBank em seu investimento na Buser, Ltd., um serviço de reservas on-line para aluguel de ônibus interurbanos no Brasil.</li></ul><h5>Financiamentos</h5><ul><li>Representou a Andean Tower Partners Colombia, operadora e desenvolvedora de infraestrutura de telecomunicações sem fio de propriedade da Digital Bridge, na operação de refinanciamento de US$ 55 milhões concedida pelo Scotiabank Colpatria. Espera-se que os fundos sejam utilizados pela Andean Tower Partners Colombia para desenvolver e adquirir ativos de infraestrutura de telecomunicações.</li><li>Representou Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. em seu plano de reorganização e emissão pré-estabelecido para um financiamento de US$ 325 milhões em notas prioritárias garantidas e ofertas subsequentes de notas.</li><li>Representou emissores da Costa Rica e dos Estados Unidos no refinanciamento de uma instalação existente, por meio de uma emissão privada de US$ 250 milhões em notas a subsidiárias de um provedor de seguros dos Estados Unidos.</li><li>Representou a Torres Unidas Chile SpA e a Torres Unidas del Perú S.R.L., empresas de telecomunicações e infraestrutura do Chile e Peru, respectivamente, na concessão de empréstimos a prazo com garantia cruzada de US$ 120 milhões com o Scotiabank Chile e Scotiabank Perú S.A.A., e no refinanciamento múltiplo desses empréstimos por um período de seis anos.</li><li>Representou um investidor líder em private equity em mercados em crescimento na América Latina em sua linha de crédito rotativo de US$ 120 milhões com um importante banco multinacional.</li><li>Representou um operador de torres na Costa Rica em seu contrato de empréstimo com um banco comercial líder na Costa Rica.Z</li><li>Representou uma das maiores empresas de serviços financeiros do mundo em serviços de crédito sindicado, serviços de financiamento de aquisição e outras operações de financiamento em vários setores da América Latina, incluindo Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Panamá, República Dominicana e Nicarágua.</li><li>Representou um varejista salvadorenho no financiamento de várias moedas no valor de US$ 300 milhões garantido com ativos em 11 jurisdições do Caribe. A aquisição foi parcialmente concluída por meio de ofertas públicas na Jamaica e Barbados.</li><li>Representou o administrador e operador de 52 instalações aeroportuárias na Argentina, Itália, Brasil, Uruguai, Equador, Armênia e Peru em sua oferta pública inicial (IPO) de US$ 485 milhões na Bolsa de Valores de Nova York (NYSE).</li><li>Representou emissores privados estrangeiros alemães em vários setores em relação a ofertas públicas iniciais na Nasdaq.</li><li>Representou uma seguradora em várias ofertas subsequentes para um fundo de investimento fechado focado em nanotecnologia.</li></ul>

Randy Bullard

Managing Partner, Miami

Nozomi Oda is a partner of Morrison Foerster Law Offices. Nozomi’s practice focuses on cross-border public and private M&A, joint ventures, strategic investments, and capital markets transactions. She has a particular emphasis on advising private equity and life sciences clients. Nozomi serves as co-head of Morrison Foerster’s Asia Private Equity practice.Nozomi also regularly advises on a wide range of Japanese regulations, including securities, financial, and fund regulations, merger review, and healthcare and life sciences regulations. In addition to her work in private practice, Nozomi previously spent two years with Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) as a deputy director of the corporate disclosure department, where she participated in the drafting of the FSA’s regulations on disclosures regarding private placement offerings and director compensation.Nozomi is recommended in the 2023 edition of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Japan: Corporate and M&A and also has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in Japan for Capital Markets Law, Corporate and M&A Law, Private Equity, Private Funds and Venture Capital Law.Nozomi is a bengoshi admitted to practice in Japan and New York, and is a member of the Daiichi Tokyo Bar Association.Nozomi’s experience includes representing:<ul><li>Daiichi Sankyo in its $6.9 billion global drug development and commercialization agreement with AstraZeneca.</li><li>C.R. Bard in its acquisition of Medicon, a Japan-based distributor of medical equipment.</li><li>Nissan Motor in its $2.3 billion acquisition of a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors.</li><li>Starbucks Coffee in its buyout of the remaining 60.5% share of Starbucks Coffee Japan.</li></ul>

Opportunities and Challenges for Asia Investors in Latin America

20 May 2022 12:30 AM - 1:30 AM HKT