Morgan & Morgan

Morgan & Morgan

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MMG Tower, 23rd Floor Ave. Paseo del Mar, Costa del Este Panama City Rep. of Panama

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  • Archive from category "Francisco Arias"
February 27, 2021

Category: Francisco Arias

Morgan & Morgan´s Corporate Law team recognized in IFLR1000 2021

Monday, 04 January 2021 by webmaster

Panama, January 4, 2021. Morgan & Morgan has been recognized as a leading law firm in the 2021 edition of the International Financial Law Review (IFLR) 1000, a reference guide to the world´s leading financial and corporate law firms and lawyers.  

The firm´s Corporate Law team earned top rankings in Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, M&A, and Project Development.

 

 

In addition, the following individual attorneys were ranked in the 30th edition of the guide:

Highly Regarded

Francisco Arias G.

Inocencio Galindo

Ramón Varela

Kharla Aizpurúa Olmos

Expert Consultant

Carlos Ernesto González Ramírez

Rising Star

Aristides Anguizola

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  • Published in 2020, Aristides Anguizola, Carlos Ernesto Gonzalez, Francisco Arias, Kharla Aizpurua, News, Ramon Varela
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Morgan & Morgan advised Avianca Holdings, S.A. in connection to a over US$ 2 billion debtor-in-possession financing structure pursuant to its reorganization plan under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code.

Monday, 26 October 2020 by webmaster

Panama, October 26, 2020. Morgan & Morgan acted as Panamanian counsel to Avianca Holdings, S.A., as Debtor; and Latin Airways Corp., Taca, S.A., AV International Investments, S.A., AV International Holdings S.A.,  AV International Holdco S.A., AV International Ventures S.A., AV TACA International Holdco, S.A., International Trade Marks Agency Inc. and Aviacorp Enterprises, S.A., as Guarantors, in connection with the transactions contemplated by a debtor-in-possession financing consisting of US$ 1.27 billion Tranche A senior secured financing and US$ 722 million Tranche B secured subordinated loan. The financing will help Avianca improve its liquidity and provide support to its operations.

Partners Francisco Arias and Aristides Anguizola, Associate Allen Candanedo, and International Associate Miguel Arias participated in this transaction.

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  • Published in 2020, Allen Candanedo, Aristides Anguizola, Banking Law, Banking Law_publi, expertise, Francisco Arias, Miguel Arias publi, Miguel Arias_exp
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Morgan & Morgan achieves top rankings in Chambers Latin America 2021

Friday, 02 October 2020 by webmaster

Panama, October 2, 2020. Once again, Morgan & Morgan receives top rankings in the recently released Chambers & Partners Latin America Guide 2021, a key reference point of Latin American top law firms.

Morgan & Morgan has been recommended in several practices due to the firm´s excellent performance and prominent work in each one of these areas.

Likewise, the directory classifies within the top Bands the following attorneys of the firm:

  • Inocencio Galindo: Banking and Finance / Projects and Energy / Corporate and M&A.
  • Francisco Arias G.: Banking and Finance / Capital Markets / Corporate and M&A.
  • Ramon Varela: Banking and Finance, Projects and Energy.
  • Roberto Vidal: Corporate and M&A.
  • Kharla Aizpurua Olmos: Banking and Finance.
  • Ricardo Arias: Capital Markets.
  • Ana Carolina Castillo Solis: Projects and Energy.
  • Allen Candanedo: Intellectual Property.
  • Maria Eugenia Brenes: Intellectual Property.
  • Simon Tejeira Q.: Dispute Resolution.
  • Jose Carrizo: Dispute Resolution.
  • Luis Vallarino: Dispute Resolution.
  • Jazmina Rovi: Shipping.
  • Juan David Morgan Jr.: Shipping (Litigation).
  • Francisco Linares: Shipping (Litigation).

Congratulations to all of them, and thanks to our clients for trusting us as their legal advisors in Panama.

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  • Published in 2020, Allen Candanedo, Ana Castillo, Francisco Arias, Francisco Linares, Inocencio Galindo, Jazmina Rovi, Jose Carrizo, Juan David Morgan Jr, Kharla Aizpurua, Luis Vallarino, Maria Brenes, News, Ramon Varela, Ricardo Arias, Roberto Vidal, Simon Tejeira
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Morgan & Morgan advised in a US$40 million bond issuance by Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (Bladex)

Monday, 14 September 2020 by webmaster

Panama, September 14, 2020. Morgan & Morgan advised BofA Securities, Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC., and SMBC Nikko Securities America Inc., in an issuance by Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (Bladex) of five-year term bonds for US$400,000,000.00 with a fixed coupon of 2.375%, under Rule 144A and Regulation S of the United States Securities Act of 1933.

Partners Francisco Arias G. and Roberto Vidal, and international associate Miguel Arias M. represented Morgan & Morgan in this transaction.

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  • Published in 2020, Banking Law, expertise, Francisco Arias, Miguel Arias_exp, Roberto Vidal, Securities and Capital Markets
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The Legal 500: Securitisation Country Comparative Guide 2020

Monday, 22 June 2020 by webmaster

Panama, June 22, 2020.  Partners Francisco Arias G. and Ricardo Arias, contributed with the Panama Chapter of The Legal 500: Securitisation Country Comparative Guide 2020, a publication that provides an overview of the law and practice of securitization law across a variety of jurisdictions.

The online Panama chapter is available here.

Or a PDF version is available to download here.

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  • Published in Francisco Arias, News, Ricardo Arias
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Alpha Credit © closes equity financing round led by SoftBank Latin America Fund

Monday, 13 April 2020 by webmaster

Panama, April 13, 2020.

Morgan & Morgan advised Alpha Credit ©, a leading technology firm that provides financial services to segments underserved by traditional banking institutions, specialized in consumer lending and financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in the process to complete an equity financing round for more than MXN$2.4 billion (approximately US$100 million), led by SoftBank´s Latin America fund, one of the leading technology investors in the region.

Partners Francisco Arias and Roberto Vidal participated in this transaction.

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  • Published in expertise, Francisco Arias, Mergers & Acquisitios, Roberto Vidal
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Morgan & Morgan advised the shareholders of Unity Group in a corporate restructuring and subsequent sale of its business to Willis Europe B.V.

Thursday, 12 March 2020 by webmaster

Panama, March 12, 2020. Morgan & Morgan advised  the shareholders of Unity Group, a holding company with subsidiaries engaged in insurance brokerage in Central America with operations in six countries (Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua), in a corporate restructuring and subsequent sale of its business to Willis Europe B.V., a company incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands and a subsidiary of Willis Towers Watson (NASDAQ: WLTW), a leading global brokerage and consulting firm. The transaction will increase the reach and scale of Willis Towers Watson in the Latin American region, both for its Corporate Risk and Brokerage (CRB) and the Human Capital and Benefits (HCB) segments.

This was a cross border transaction involving United States of America, British Virgin Islands, The Bahamas, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

Partners Ricardo Arias, Francisco Arias, Roberto Vidal; senior associate Pablo Epifanio; and associate Miguel Arias, participated in this transaction.

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  • Published in expertise, Francisco Arias, Insurance and Reinsurance, Mergers & Acquisitios, Pablo Epifanio, Ricardo Arias, Roberto Vidal
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A guide on Mergers and Acquisitions in Panama

Monday, 09 March 2020 by webmaster

Francisco Arias, Partner, Morgan & Morgan (head of M&A practice)
Roberto Vidal, Partner, Morgan & Morgan

Regulatory framework for foreign investment

The Panamanian Constitution reserves “retail activities” for Panamanian nationals.  Various statutes have limited the application of the prohibition to activities that involve the sale of goods to consumers.

By statute, the private sector (national or foreign) may not participate in water and sewage services; in other words, these services are reserved to the State. Likewise, electricity transmission services (as distinguished from generation and distribution) is also by statute reserved to the State.

Certain activities in Panama are reserved totally or partially for Panamanian nationals, based on constitutional provisions and regulated by statute.  For example, commercial fishing in national waters is reserved for Panamanian nationals.  Similarly, broadcast radio and television is reserved for Panamanians, but foreign persons may own up to 35% of corporations holding concessions for those activities.

Another type of restriction in Panamanian statutes prohibits foreign governments from owning land and participating in certain industries.  For example, foreign corporates and entities controlled by foreign governments may not hold a majority stake in public service of telecommunications corporations. Similar restrictions are found in mining.

Foreign persons may not own real estate within 10 kilometers of the border with other countries. 

Exchange control or currency regulations

The monetary unit in Panama is the Balboa. However, the U.S. Dollar (US$) is the legal tender of Panama and the same nominal value as the Balboa. There are no capital controls or foreign currency controls in Panama. Forced currency is prohibited in Panama’s Constitution and the parties may enter into obligations and establish payments in the currency they freely agree upon.

Grants or incentives

Investments (national or foreign) may qualify for incentives provided they are made in certain areas designated by law. 

Labour regulations

Individual employment contracts / Termination regulation

  • Termination of employment contracts is regulated by the Labor Code, which grants special protection to employees.

Layoffs

  • There is a process that can be followed before the Ministry of Labor to reduce personnel based on “economic grounds”, but companies normally carry out reductions without pursuing that process.

Tax charges

Capital gains in the sale of shares are taxed at 10%. The buyer must withhold 5% of the price paid and the seller may accept the amount so withheld as its definitive tax or file a return to obtain a credit for the difference between the amount withheld and the taxed caused by the gain realized in the transaction. In an asset transaction, the tax treatment will depend on the asset being transferred.  For example, real estate is levied with two taxes: transfer tax (2%) and capital gains tax (10%).  The buyer must withhold 3% of the purchase price, leaving the seller to accept the amount so withheld as its definitive capital gains tax or file a return to obtain a credit for the difference between the amount withheld and the capital gains taxed caused by the gain realized in the transaction. There are stamp taxes that may apply to the documentation granted. The issuance of shares does not cause any taxes.

Antitrust jurisdiction triggering events/thresholds

Corporate concentrations that affect competition will be subject to antitrust review.  The threshold at which concentration may affect competition is 25%. Parties to a transaction that affects competition may submit a petition to the antitrust authority to review and approve, which approval may be granted without or with conditions. A concentration that is approved by the antitrust authority may not be reviewed by the authority or subject to judicial review.  Without such approval, within three (3) years after perfected both the authority or a court (upon petition by a third party) may review the transaction and impose sanctions (including divestment) if found detrimental for competition. 

Signing/closing meeting documents

Closings are ordinarily carried out through the delivery of documents set forth in definitive agreements, including share certificates duly endorsed in the case of share transactions.  Payment is usually made through wire transfers.

In the case of asset deals, special documentation, formalities and filings depend on the type of asset.  For example, real estate is only transferable through a public deed (“escritura pública”) granted before a notary public, which deed must then be submitted for registration and actually registered in the Panama Public Registry Office. 

Gap requirements between signing and closing

In the case of share transactions, there are no such gaps required by law, except for tender offers of publicly traded shares.  In the case of asset transactions involving real estate, for example, such gaps arise because registration of the public deed takes at least 24 hours.

Proof of identity and authority to sign

Corporate resolutions in the case of legal entities, accompanied by a good standing certificate of the jurisdiction of incorporation, and passport or other identification document for the person signing.  All documents granted or executed outside Panama must be authenticated by a Panamanian Consul or through the Apostille (Hague Convention (1961) on legalization of document).

Document execution

  • Simple contracts are executed by written signature. Public deeds are granted by a Notary Public upon personal appearance and execution by signatories before the Notary Public.
  • In the case of simple contracts, written signature by the persons signing on behalf of corporate parties thereof will suffice – ie, the parties validate whether the persons are duly authorized to enter into an agreement on behalf of the corporate party.
  • Individuals with legal capacity may enter into contracts and grant deeds by written signature.
  • In the case of foreign companies, it is customary to require powers of attorney duly legalized by a Panamanian Consul or through the Apostille.

Notary impact on transaction timetable

Authentication of signatures by notaries is viable and may be obtained during the execution ceremony, provided that signatories are physically present at such ceremony.  Post execution authentication is viable, provided the signatory is in Panama and customary identification documents (eg, passport) is produced to the notary.

 Changing of stockholders, officers and directors

Changes of stockholders in the books of the corporation may be regulated in its articles of incorporation and/or by-laws.  In the absence of such regulation, it is usually accomplished through the Secretary of the corporation, who customarily requires the share certificate and its endorsement in order to make annotations in the share register.

Changes of directors and officers requires corporate resolutions to be submitted to a Notary Public for issuance of a public deed, which deed must then be filed and registered with the Panama Public Registry Office.

Private limited company

Transfer of title of shares is usually accomplished through the Secretary of the corporation, who customarily requires the share certificate and its endorsement. 

Execute document in counterpart

It is customary to avoid counterparts in order to minimize stamp taxes, which are caused and payable with respect to each counterpart. Signature pages of contracts may be executed in different jurisdictions to be consolidated in a single counterpart, with each signature being authenticated in compliance with the law in the jurisdiction of execution, including legalization by “apostille”.

Strictly enforced undertakings

Strict enforcement of undertakings will be available soon, upon signing and promulgation (ie, publication in the Official Gazette) of recently adopted legislation that reinstated provisions of the Judicial Code that were repealed a few years ago.

Damages are available.

Required due executions legal opinions

None required by statute, but in cross border transactions (particularly for indebtedness) it is customary for legal opinions (debtor’s and creditors’ counsel) to be issued.

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  • Published in Francisco Arias, Mergers & Acquisitios, Mergers & Acquisitios_publi, Publications, Roberto Vidal, Uncategorized
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Chambers & Partners Securitization Guide 2020

Monday, 09 March 2020 by webmaster

Panama, March 9, 2020.  Partners Francisco Arias, Ricardo Arias, and associate Cristina De Roux contributed with Chambers & Partners, providing their professional insights into Panama’s legal securities market.

The online Panama chapter is available here.

Or a PDF version is available to download here.

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  • Published in Cristina De Roux, Francisco Arias, Press Room, Publications, Ricardo Arias
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Morgan & Morgan advised in connection with a Senior Secured Convertible Securities Purchase Agreement for an amount of up to US$50 million

Thursday, 09 January 2020 by webmaster

Panama, January 9, 2020. Morgan & Morgan acted as Panamanian counsel to Avianca Holdings, S.A., Latin Airways Corp., Taca, S.A., AV International Investments, S.A., AV International Holdings S.A.,  AV International Holdco S.A., AV International Ventures S.A., AV TACA International Holdco, S.A.,  and Aviacorp Enterprises, S.A., as Note Parties in connection with the transactions contemplated by that certain Senior Secured Convertible  Securities Purchase Agreement for US$ 50,000,000.00 dated as of  January, 9, 2020, between Avianca Holdings, S.A., as Issuer,  and Citadel Equity (Ireland) DAC, as a Purchaser, among other parties.

Partners Francisco Arias, Ricardo Arias, and Aristides Anguizola participated in this transaction.

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  • Published in Aristides Anguizola, Banking Law, expertise, Francisco Arias, Ricardo Arias, Securities and Capital Markets
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