English 
Español Morgan & Morgan advised Itaú Corpbanca in connection with two credit facilities for an amount of up to US$83,801,622.00 and COP 367,366,730,694.00
Panama, November 30, 2019. Morgan & Morgan acted as Panamanian Counsel to Itaú Corpbanca and the other lenders, in connection with two credit agreements granted by certain lenders and Itaú Corpbanca, as administrative agent, for amongst other, the refinancing of certain existing debt of Decameron group.
The first for an amount of up to US$ 83,801,622.00 to Organización Decameron, S. de R.L. and Hoteles Decameron S. de R.L., and certain other companies part of the Decameron group who acted as guarantors of the financing.
And the other for an amount of up to COP 367,366,730,694.00 (Colombian Pesos) to Hoteles Decameron Colombia S.A.S. and Servincluidos, Ltda., and certain other companies part of the Decameron group who acted as guarantors of the financing.
Both credit agreements are secured by a collateral package that involves several jurisdictions, including and not limited to Panama. For purposes of Panama, there is a collateral package including a guaranty trust agreement, pledge over shares or quotas, as applicable, and guaranty agreements in the form of “fianzas”.
Partners Inocencio Galindo and Kharla Aizpurua Olmos, senior associate Pablo Epifanio, and associate Cristina De Roux; participated in this transaction.
- Published in 2020, Cristina De Roux, expertise, Inocencio Galindo, Kharla Aizpurua, Pablo Epifanio, Securities and Capital Markets, Securities and Capital Markets_publi, Securities and Capital Markets-es, Securities and Capital Markets-es_publi
Morgan & Morgan advised Banistmo, S.A. in connection with the public offering of senior secured notes for an amount of up to US$400 million issued through the ENA Master Trust
Panama, November 16, 2020. Morgan & Morgan acted as counsel to Banistmo, S.A., in connection with the issuance and placement of senior secured notes due 2048 with an interest rate of 4%, for an amount up to US$400,000,000.00, issued through the ENA Master Trust, a special trust vehicle created by Empresa Nacional de Autopistas, S.A. (ENA) to raise the funds to refinance certain obligations amongst others of ENA Sur, S.A. and ENA Este, S.A., both companies that owns the concession rights on toll roads knows as “Corredor Sur” and “Corredor Este”.
The notes were registered with the Superintendence of Markets of the Republic of Panama and listed in the Panama Stock Exchange and Luxembourg Stock Exchange, and placed in the United States of America under 144A/ Regulation S exemptions.
In this public offering, Banistmo, S.A. acted as trustee, to a special purpose trust created by Empresa Nacional de Autopista, S.A. (ENA), as settlor and servicer, and ENA Este, S.A., as settlor and ENA Sur, S.A., as settlors, known as “ENA Master Trust” that issued the bonds to raise the funds needed to refinance certain obligations amongst others of ENA Sur, S.A. and ENA Este, S.A., both companies that own concession rights on highways knows as “Corredor Sur” and “Corredor Este”.
To achieve this issuance, it was necessary to cover complex legal aspects of several jurisdictions, the modification of the existing terms of the bonds issued by ENA Sur Trust and ENA Este Trust, an early redemption of the notes issued by the ENA Sur Trust, among other aspects. The transaction at hand was a complex cross-border transaction covering aspect of several jurisdictions, which in addition required for the existing terms of the notes issued by the ENA Sur Trust and the ENA Este Trust to be amended as well as an early redemption of the notes issued by the ENA Sur Trust.
It is important to mention that we acted as wellMorgan & Morgan acted as well as counsel to Banistmo, S.A. for purposes of the relevant legal matters that arouse for the existing notes issued by the ENA Este Trust, in which Banistmo, S.A. is the trustee as well.
Partners Kharla Aizpurua Olmos, Inocencio Galindo, Ricardo Arias and Jose Carrizo, and senior associate Pablo Epifanio, participated in this transaction.
- Published in 2020, Banking Law, Banking Law_publi, expertise, Inocencio Galindo, Jose Carrizo, Kharla Aizpurua, Pablo Epifanio, Projects, Projects-es, Ricardo Arias, Securities and Capital Markets, Securities and Capital Markets_publi, Securities and Capital Markets-es, Securities and Capital Markets-es_publi
Superintendence of Non-Financial Regulated Persons issues new regulations in relation to attorneys and accountants
Panama, 24 July 2020.
By means of Rule JD-01-2020, published in the Official Gazette No. 29076 of 24 July 2020, the Superintendence of Non-Financial Regulated Persons (SNFR) has established a set of rules and obligations imposed to attorneys and accountants whenever they incur in any of the regulated activities under Law 23 of 2015, which relates to prevention of money laundering, financing of arms of mass destruction and financing of terrorism.
Below, we summarize the relevant matters of this new regulation:
Access to Clients’ information
Art. 3 of Rule JD-01-2020 establishes that attorneys and accountants regulated by the SNFR incurring in any of the regulated activities, shall, at the requirement of SNFR, deliver a list of clients classified in qualitative and quantitative terms, based on risk parameters. With respect to clients that has terminated its commercial relation, shall be included in the list indicating an explanation of the cause of termination of the commercial relation.
During the supervision, all documents relating to the relation of each client (e.g. Contracts, agreements, etc.) shall be furnished, as well as the documentation related to the due diligence and control measures applied.
Due Diligence Measures
Art. 6 and 7 of Rule JD-01-2020 establishes the enhanced due diligence requirements applicable to natural or legal persons, that shall be requested by attorneys and accountants in the scenarios set forth under Law 23 of 2015, in which such measure is required in light of the high risk cases.
This new regulation also establishes a list of clients that may be subject to a simplified due diligence measures in virtue of the regulated activities exercised by attorneys and accountants, which is something that was not previously regulated.
Directors and Representatives
Attorneys and accountants shall, at requirement, disclose to the SNFR the identity of the persons designated or offered as nominees to its clients.
Rule JD-01-2020 derogated and left without effect Resolution JD-14-2015 and its amendments, that were the original regulation applicable to the regulated activities of attorneys and accountants.
For further information or advice on the matters described above please contact:
Pablo Epifanio
Senior Associate, Morgan & Morgan
pablo.epifanio@morimor.com
- Published in 2020, Pablo Epifanio, Press Room, Publications
Legal feasibility of electronic signatures in the Republic of Panama
Updated on May 5, 2020
Given the state of emergency declared by the Panamanian Government as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic, the stay at home orders issued by the health authorities and the social distancing that is essential to control the outbreak, the technological tools available for companies to operate remotely are vital.
Law 51 of July 22, 2008, regulated the use of electronic documents, electronic signatures, storage services for the electronic documents, the certification of electronic signatures and adopted other measures to develop e-commerce. Law 51 of 2008 was subsequently amended by Law 82 of November 9, 2012 and regulated through Executive Decree No. 684 of October 18, 2013.
Law 51 of 2008 defines “electronic signature” as the “technical method to identify a person and indicate that such person approves the information in data messages or electronic documents.”
Pursuant to Law 51 of 2008, electronic signatures are valid mechanisms in Panama to consent to agreements or sign documents or legal transactions, provided that the following two (2) conditions (established in article 8 of the law) are satisfied: (i) the availability of a method to identify the originator of the data message and indicate that the content is approved, and (ii) that such method is appropriate and reliable for the purpose for which the message was generated and communicated.
It is important to stress that electronic signatures are different from digitalized signatures, the latter being frequently used to share, through electronic means, Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of documents bearing handwritten signatures. In this sense, Law 51 of 2008 defines a digitalized or scanned signature as “an image of the drawing of a handwritten signature, meaning, the result of its scan. This type of signature is not, in any case, a qualified electronic signature.”
Not only does Law 51 of 2008 provide legal validity to an electronic signature – as opposed to a digitalized signature – as long as the two aforementioned conditions are satisfied, but, furthermore, it creates the possibility to elevate the standard of efficacy and legal effect given to the electronic signature ipso jure, by using the so called “qualified electronic signature.”
The aforementioned article 8 of Law 51 of 2008 establishes that the two conditions for the electronic signatures to be legally binding, shall be presumed ipso jure in case of a qualified electronic signature which is supported by a certificate issued by a certifying service provider duly authorized by the Electronic Signature National Authority (in Spanish, “Dirección Nacional de Firmas Electrónica”).
But what exactly is a “qualified electronic signature”?
Law 51 of 2008 defines it as an “electronic signature the validity of which is backed by a qualified electronic certificate that:
- Allows the identification of the signer and detect any subsequent change to the signed content.
- Is bound to the signer in a unique manner and to the data to which it refers.
- Has been created using secured devices for creating an electronic signature, which are exclusively in the control and possession of the signer.
- Has been created through the infrastructure of a certifying service provider registered with the Electronic Signature National Authority.
In order for a qualified electronic signature to be generated, an independent third party known as “Certifying Service Provider” must intervene. This third party will bind a device that generates an algorithm validating the identification of the signer and its consent, to the act to which the electronic signature is added. This independent third party must be registered with the regulator of all matters pertaining to electronic signatures in the Republic of Panama: the Electronic Signature National Authority which, pursuant to Law 82 of November 9, 2012, is part of the Public Registry of Panama.
Currently, a person interested in obtaining a qualified electronic signature in Panama can register such signature with the Electronic Signature National Authority which as regulating authority, has enabled this registry.
The qualified electronic signature, as previously defined, grants the highest level of legal certainty to the fact that the signer is the person indicated in the qualified certificate and that their consent was given through a data message. In this manner, Law 51 of 2008 deems such qualified electronic signature equal to a handwritten signature authenticated before a public notary, which for all purposes, certifies its genuineness. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a qualified electronic signature does not grant such certainty with respect to its date, unless it is stated through timestamping, provided by a registered certifying service provider. Timestamping is an online mechanism that evidences that certain data have been in existence and have not been altered, since a specific moment in time. In order to have certainty of the date in which an electronic document was signed, a timestamping mechanism must be incorporated, in addition to the qualified electronic signature, in order to simultaneously certify the date of its execution and delivery.
For companies that wish to obtain qualified electronic signatures allowing their employees to sign on behalf of the company, it is important to bear in mind article 15 of Law 51 of 2008, which establishes that “the electronic certificates of legal entities are requested for electronic devices used in a company, such as computers, servers, among others, and shall be requested by its management or duly authorized legal representative with sufficient capacity.” The company, however, can set restrictions and limitations as it deems convenient for the use of electronic signatures by each signer. It is also important to mention that Law 51 of 2008 expressly establishes that if a signer uses the electronic signature on behalf of the company in violation of the restrictions or limitations imposed by such company, the latter shall only be bound vis-à-vis third parties if it acknowledges or ratifies such act, or if it benefits from it. With respect to the legal responsibility of an individual that resorts to the use of electronic signature on behalf of the company, if such individual carries out any acts in violation of the limitations or restrictions imposed by the company in the use of the electronic signature and against the interests of the company, the effects of such act will be enforceable against the individual with access or in possession of the device for the creation of electronic signatures, who can, in turn, file legal actions against the third party that in fact misused the electronic signature of the company, if it was a person other than said employee.
Even though this law was enacted in 2008, there has been relatively little practical applications of it, as well as little to no judicial precedents from the Panamanian courts. It is likely that, due to such lack of judicial precedents, companies have been reluctant to implement the electronic signature as a method to sign legal documents, uncertain as to how the Panamanian judiciary will ultimately interpret the provisions of Law 51 of 2008. However, considering the current COVID-19-related circumstances, technological tools such as electronic signatures are without a doubt legally available options for increased efficiency and competitive advantage. Precisely for that reason, we believe that Panamanian authorities should, without delay, acknowledge and embrace the provisions and mechanisms created by Law 51 of 2008, in order to bring an environment of legal certainty with respect to the use of electronic signatures. This will allow market agents to implement the use thereof to help mitigate the effects of the health crisis currently confronting Panama and, in fact, the world.
Pablo Epifanio, senior associate, Morgan & Morgan
pablo.epifanio@morimor.com
- Published in Banking and Commercial Law_covid, Pablo Epifanio, Publications, startups_resources
Morgan & Morgan advised the shareholders of Unity Group in a corporate restructuring and subsequent sale of its business to Willis Europe B.V.
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.
A look at the compliance measures applicable to the Stock Market
Pablo Epifanio, Senior Associate, Morgan & Morgan
The stock market is undoubtedly one of the most important economic forces in the world. Every year, billions of dollars are moved through stock exchange operations, and year after year, in most jurisdictions, the stock market is promoted as a tool for financing or capturing capital for issuers and as an investment for thousands of participants seeking to place their funds in higher yield investments.
Thus, it is not unreasonable to foresee that although the stock market has had such a positive and important purpose, and in which transactions are increasingly sophisticated and complex, may be used for illicit purposes, particularly those related to financial crimes, including laundering of assets, financing of terrorist groups, among others.
This article succinctly analyzes the implications and scope of the compliance measures established in Agreement 6-2015 adopted by the Superintendency of the Securities Market of Panama, based on Law 23 of April 27, 2015, by which measures are being taken to prevent money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (the “Compliance Act”).
Regulatory Framework for Compliance Measures in Panama
The Compliance Act approved in 2015, regulated by Executive Decree No. 363 of August 13, 2015, which adopts measures that allow entities regulated under it to prevent the use of their platforms and businesses for purposes related to the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The Compliance Act classifies those regulated entities: regulated non-financial entities, regulated financial entities and professional activities subject to supervision. The Compliance Act within the regulated financial entities includes the majority of the participants in the securities market, establishing that the provisions of the same apply to:
a) Self-regulated organizations;
b) Securities Firms;
c) Investment Managers;
d) Pension Fund Management;
e) Unemployment Fund Management;
f) Investment Companies;
g) Self-Managed Investment Companies;
h) Investment Advisers; and
i) Administrative Service Providers of the Securities Market.
An important fact to note is that the Compliance Act, Executive Decree 363 and Agreement 6-2015 do not include the issuers of securities registered with the Superintendency of the Securities Market within their scope of application. This is likely to be the case, since most of the essential intermediaries to carry out a public offering and issuance of securities are subject to regulations, including custodians, payment agents, brokerage firms and investment advisors, they are, in short, those that have a direct relationship with investors. At the same time, the issuer would unlikely be able to properly and efficiently apply due diligence measures to investors with whom it usually does not have direct contact.
The Compliance Act seeks more than anything to establish the regulatory framework applicable to regulated entities in order to facilitate the adequate identification of customers with a risk-based approach, detect funds of illicit origin, establish guidelines regarding the due diligence that regulated entities must applied to their customers, in terms of the application of the “know your customer” policy and encourage the adoption of risk policies.
For the purposes of accurately understanding the applicable legislation on compliance, it is important to keep in mind the definition of “customer” under the Compliance Act: “natural or legal person, as defined by the legal provisions that apply for each economic or professional activity indicated in the Law, with which the regulated financial entities, regulated non-financial entities and activities carried out by professionals subject to supervision establish, maintain or have maintained, in an usual or occasional manner, a contractual, professional or business relationship for the supply of any product or services inherent to its activity.”
Lastly, the Compliance Act empowers the respective regulatory authorities for the activities carried out by the different regulated entities to oversee the compliance with the Compliance Act and adopt regulations that adjust to the reality of each regulated activity.
- Sectoral Regulation Applicable to the Securities Market
The Superintendency of the Securities Market has adopted Agreement 6-2015 of August 19, 2015 (the “Agreement 6-2015”), through which it issued the provisions applicable to regulated financial entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market, to the prevention of the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The regulated financial entities supervised by the Superintendency of Securities Market under Agreement 6-2015 have the obligation to maintain due diligence and care in their operations in order to reasonably prevent such operations from being carried out with funds from activities related to the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Thus, the regulated entities under the supervision of the Superintendency of the Securities Market must have the mechanisms, policies and methodologies required to manage the risk of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, taking in consideration factors such as: the risk profile of the activity exercised by the regulated entity, the profile and types of customers of the regulated entitity, the products and services offered by the regulated entity, the distribution or commercialization channels used by the regulated entity, the location of the facilities of the regulated entity, of its customers and final beneficiaries, and the risk of the custodian or correspondent services of the regulated entity.
For the evaluation of the factors described above, regulated entities must apply a “risk-based approach”, which is nothing more than an understanding of the level of risk according to their nature, in order to focus their efforts effectively. Thus, regulated entities subject to supervision must classify their customers by applying a risk-based approach to: (i) high risk customers, (ii) moderate risk customers and (iii) low risk customers; and they should review this classification at least once a year. With this approach in mind, the regulation gives certain entities flexibility to assess the risks in the services they provide, so that they can apply reinforced measures against major risks, basic measures against usual risks and simplified measures against minor risks, managing and / or mitigating risks, as the case may be.
Agreement 6-2015 specifically establishes the minimum information and documentation that should be requested and verified from customers, both for natural and legal persons, as part of the simplified due diligence that regulated entities subject to supervision of the Superintendency of the Securities Market must apply, which include: complete general information, a copy of the customer’s identification, bank and commercial references, support of funds, detail of activities to which he / she is dedicated, among others.
For the purposes of simplified due diligence in the case of legal persons, Agreement 6-2015 seeks to fully identify the final beneficiary of the legal entity and imposes measures and requirements to be obtained from each customer that is a legal entity for that purpose. For the purposes of the final beneficiary, Agreement 6-2015 states that it shall be understood as such, any natural person who individually or by common agreement with other persons, directly or indirectly, is the owner or has the right to exercise the vote with respect to ten percent (10%) or more of the issued and outstanding shares of a legal entity. In addition to the foregoing, the following must also be fully identified: (i) in the case of companies: the administrators, representatives, attorneys-in-fact and signatories of the legal entity; (ii) in the case of private interest foundations: the members of the founding council, founder and protector; and in the case of trusts: the trustee and the trustor.
Agreement 6-2015 establishes that regulated entities under it will have to apply full-range or enhanced due diligence measures for their customers or activities that may represent a high risk, in order to deepen the information of this type of customers. The Superintendency of the Securities Market, as well as other regulators of activities under the Compliance Act, has issued a guide of indicators of suspicious operations and activities in order that the regulated entities can identify high risk customers and timely apply the measures of full-range due diligence.
Among the types of customers that should be subject to full-range or enhanced due diligence, we have, among others:
a) Natural or legal persons or related business persons with natural or legal persons domiciled or incorporated in jurisdictions considered high risk by national or foreign organizations;
b) Individuals or legal entities that appear in national or foreign lists related to the prevention of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
c) Politically exposed persons (PEP), close relatives and close collaborators;
d) Legal persons that receive or offer the correspondent service, with special attention to those domiciled in jurisdictions that have not effectively implemented the recommendations regarding the prevention of money laundering, terrorist financing and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
e) Businesses with a high volume of operations in cash or quasi-cash; and
f) Businesses with a high volume of international transfers to and from countries and high-risk countries that have not implemented the recommendations regarding the prevention of money laundering crimes, financing of terrorism and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
When applying full-range or enhanced due diligence measures, regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market shall require the same information and minimum documentation established for simplified due diligence, and in addition shall: (i) obtain the approval of senior management at the beginning of the business relationship; (ii) update the records of information and documentation, at least one (1) time each semester; (iii) continuous intensified monitoring throughout the commercial relationship and / or (iv) apply any other measure determined by the senior management of the regulated entity.
Simplified due diligence is the most basic policy, procedures and measures defined in the Compliance Act that may be applied by regulated entities to their customers, and are only applicable if in accordance with the risk policies of the regulated entities, based on a risk approach, it is determined that the customers to apply it are of low risk.
Executive Decree No. 363, which regulates the Compliance Act, expressly establishes the simplified due diligence measures allowed to regulated entities:
a) Reduce the documentary review process;
b) Reduce the frequency of customer identification updates; and
c) Reduce the monitoring of the business relationship and the scrutiny of operations that do not exceed the minimum amount established by supervisory bodies.
Although it does not appear so, simplified measures significantly reduce the economic and managerial burden of due diligence measures for regulated entities, especially in cases where it is evident that the business relationship is not or can not be used for illicit purposes.
An important point to be highlighted is Article 28 of the Compliance Act that establishes that the regulated entities – whether they are intermediaries or not in the securities market – will apply simplified due diligence measures to their customers that are legal persons and are listed in a stock exchange recognized by the Superintendency of the Securities Market. That is, to the issuers of common shares or participation quotas, which are duly registered in the Superintendency of the Securities Market and listed on a stock exchange, simplified due diligence measures will be applied by law. Therefore, regulated intermediaries may apply their simplified due diligence measures to their issuing customers, provided that the before mentioned comply with the conditions established in Article 28 of the Compliance Act.
The main purpose of the compliance regulation in question is based more than anything on prevention, that is why in cases where a customer of a regulated entity does not facilitate compliance with the relevant measures of due diligence, the regulated entity may not open the account or start the business relationship or make the proposed transaction.
Agreement 6-2015 establishes that any new account or commercial relationship must comply with the evaluation of the financial and transactional profile of the customer, in order to measure the risk of the products or services offered. For these purposes, “financial profile” means “the result of the analysis of a set of socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and variables that are presented by a customer and verified by the regulated entity at the time of opening the account or beginning of the business relationship; and that it must be enriched with updated and historical information, with the purpose of establishing the common practice that the customer will maintain with the regulated entity.”
Basically, the analysis and processing of the financial documentation required in the course of the simplified or enhanced due diligence measures gives rise to the financial profile that the regulated entity must develop for each customer. On the other hand, the “transactional profile” refers to the “contrast between the financial profile and the frequency and capacity of a customer’s actual transaction in one or several periods of time.”
In conclusion, the obligation of each regulated entity supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market is to perform an analysis based on criteria in terms of capacity and financial transaction volume of each customer and then make the contrast between said analysis and the reality of each case.
Agreement 6-2015 establishes two important obligations in regards to the employees of the regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market: the first obligation is to have a “Know Your Employee” policy, which seeks that regulated entities have personnel selection procedures and supervise the behaviour of their employees, especially those who perform positions related to customer management, fund management, control of information and other important controls. It is also important that regulated entities establish a profile of this type of employees, which shall be updated at least once a year.
The second obligation of the regulated entities in regards to their employees is the obligation to carry out continuous and specific trainings at least once a year, to the employees with roles related to the management, communication and handling of customer and supplier relationships, receipt of funds, transaction processing, product design and services, compliance, risk, human resources, technology and internal auditing in a way that allows them to be updated on the different types, cases and regulations of money laundering, terrorism financing and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
One of the most important tools that the Compliance Act and the Agreement 6-2015 gives to the regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market are the Suspicious Operations Reports (ROS) and the Unusual Operations Reports (ROI) to the Financial Analysis Unit (UAF). Many times we tend to use these terms as synonyms when they are different and have different implications.
“Suspicious operation” is understood as an operation that can not be justified or sustained against the financial or transactional profile of the customer or that which may be related to illicit purposes. On the other hand, “unusual operation” is understood to be one that is not consistent with a financial or transactional profile declared by the customer or that exceeds the parameters set by the regulated entity in the due diligence process performed on the customer, and that consequently must be justified.
Thus, unusual operation means in short an alert for the regulated entity that the operation is not regular, based on the expected behavior of the customer or exceeds the criteria set for the customer in terms of financial capacity or volume of transactions, and the customer must be required to sustain the operation. Suspicious operation, on the other hand, is one that has no way to be justified or that can reasonably be considered to be linked to the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Executive Decree No. 363 that regulates the Compliance Act establishes that the regulated entities must have measures that allow the timely detection of unusual operations in order to analyze them and rule out or corroborate the unusual operation. Unusual operations that can not be corroborated or verified according to the customer’s profile may be reported by the regulated entity as suspicious transactions.
In addition, operations suspected of being related to the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism, financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction shall be reported as suspicious transactions to the Financial Analysis Unit within 15 calendar days from the detection of the event, transaction, operation or control failure.
In addition, the regulated entities have the obligation to report transactions in cash or quasi-cash, for amounts exceeding the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars (US$10,000.00), legal currency of the United States of America, within the first 10 business days of each month. “Quasi-cash” means, for these purposes, cashier’s checks, travel checks, orders issued to bearer, multiple endorsements, blank endorsements, and other negotiable documents.
All reports to the Financial Analysis Unit must be made through the compliance officer, who will be the liaison person with said entity in regards to the regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market.
Agreement 6-2015 establishes the obligation for regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market to adopt, through its Board of Directors, a Prevention Manual that must be reviewed at least one (1) time a year and must contain at least:
1) Mechanism, policies and methodologies for administration and policies for mitigating the risk of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
2) The classification of customers according to the risk-based approach;
3) The “Know Your Customer” policy;
4) The “Know Your Employee” policy;
5) The periodicity of the reviews and updating of the information and documentation of the customers;
6) Policies relating to correspondent relations;
7) Policies relating to customers or high-risk activities;
8) Policies regarding the confidentiality and protection of information;
9) Contingency plans for information retrieval in cases of disasters;
10) Internal control policies;
11) Norms of self-evaluation of the degree of risk and good practices for the prevention of the crimes of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction;
12) Ethical norms and standards;
13) The liaison person with the Financial Analysis Unit;
14) Management of ROS and other reports to the Financial Analysis Unit;
15) Formation of the Ethics and Compliance Committee and the Audit Committee.
Regarding the Ethics and Compliance Committee, Agreement 6-2015 provides that all regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market must have one to approve the opening of accounts or the commencement of business relations for customers or activities requiring full-range or enhanced due diligence measures to be carried out, and the follow-up to this type of high risk customers. This committee must be formed by at least three (3) members of the Board of Directors. The Ethics and Compliance Committee must also plan, coordinate and ensure compliance with current regulations on the prevention of money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Likewise, Agreement 6-2015 provides that all regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market must have an Audit Committee that is responsible for the execution, evaluation and effectiveness of the internal control systems of the regulated entity, in order to monitor the internal measures and softwares used in relation to the protection of information, prevention of unlawful acts and compliance with current regulations on the prevention of money laundering crimes, financing of terrorism and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
All regulated entities supervised by the Superintendency of the Securities Market must update the information and documentation of their customers at least one (1) time per year for all customers and one (1) time per semester for customers subject to full-range or enhanced due diligence measures. At the same time, they must safeguard the information, documentation and records of the operations carried out, for a minimum period of five (5) years from the termination of the commercial relationship with the customer.
The Compliance Act classifies sanctions in two types: Generic Sanctions and Specific Sanctions. Generic sanctions are those established by said Law for breaches of the provisions of the Compliance Act or its sectoral regulations, including as such Agreement 6-2015, for which there is no specific sanction, which will consist of a fine of US$5,000.00 to US$1,000,000.00. Specific Sanctions are those applicable to specific breaches of the Compliance Act or its sectoral regulations, as regulated by the regulatory authority of the respective activity. The Superintendency of the Securities Market has not regulated the specific sanctions to date, for which generic sanctions (fines) will be applied pursuant to article 60 of the Compliance Act.
The fines imposed for breaches of the Compliance Act may be collected through the coercive jurisdiction of each supervisory body, or through the coercive collection process before the General Revenue Directorate. These fines are without prejudice to any civil or criminal liability that may arise.
Executive Decree No. 363 provides a clear picture in terms of the seriousness of the infractions, since it lists some breaches as infractions with minor severity, medium severity and maximum severity. This allows the regulated entity to identify the level of severity of the sanction for the non-compliances listed.
Finally, Executive Decree No. 363 gives the supervisory bodies of each activity the right to cancel, withdraw, restrict or remove licenses, Certificates of Competence or other authorizations from regulated entities that violate the provisions in force regarding compliance, subject to the verification of the sanctioning processes that correspond.
It is a true and lawful translation into English of the original document written in Spanish. Panama, March 12, 2018. Michelle Williams – Authorized Public Translator – Resolution No. 5775 of November 12, 2014, Republic of Panama.
- Published in Pablo Epifanio, Press Room, Publications, startups_resources
Morgan & Morgan advised MMG Bank Corporation in connection with the first ever financing granted to a Fintech company in Panama
Panama, January 29, 2020. Morgan & Morgan advised MMG Bank Corporation as collateral trustee of a credit facility granted by a private investment fund to Adelantos Capital Corp.
Adelantos Capital Corp. is the first financial institution in Panama who runs its entire operation by electronic means and is dedicated to grant micro-credits in the country under a financial institution license granted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Panama.
The transaction was the first ever financing granted to a Fintech company in the Republic of Panama.
Senior Associate Pablo Epifanio represented Morgan & Morgan in this transaction.
- Published in Banking Law, expertise, Pablo Epifanio
Morgan & Morgan advised MMG Bank Corporation in connection with the structuring of the first ever public offering of revolving Green Bonds issued in the Republic of Panama
Panama, September 3, 2019. Morgan & Morgan advised MMG Bank Corporation, in the structuring of the first ever public offering in the Republic of Panama that consists in a program of revolving Green Bonds issued by Corporacion Interamericana para el Financiamiento de Infraestructura, S.A. (CIFI), for an amount of up to US$200,000,000.00. The Green Bonds have been registered with the Superintendency of Capital Markets of Panama and will be listed on the Panama Stock Exchange. MMG Bank acted as arranger and is engaged as bookrunner and paying agent of the green bonds.
Green bonds are those which are exclusively used to fund projects that have positive environmental and/or climate benefits. Proceeds from these bonds are earmarked for green projects and sustainable developments.
CIFI is a non-banking financial institution that provides financing for infrastructure and energy projects in Latin America and the Caribbean. The shareholders of CIFI include multilateral financial institutions, banks and state development funds.
Morgan & Morgan’s attorneys worked with the executives of MMG Bank’s department of investment banking in Panama and with the members of CIFI’s finance department.
Partner Ricardo Arias and associate Pablo Epifanio, participated in this transaction.
- Published in expertise, Pablo Epifanio, Ricardo Arias, Securities and Capital Markets
Morgan & Morgan advised Banco La Hipotecaria, S.A. in the registration and issuance of Mortgage Loans Notes for an amount of up to US$60 million
Banco La Hipotecaria, S.A., acting as trustee of the Fourteenth Mortgage-Backed Notes Trust (an issuer trust constituted under the laws of Panama), registered Mortgage Loans Notes in three tranches for an amount of up to US$60,000,000 with the Superintendency of Capital Markets of Panama, which notes were successfully placed through the Panama Stock Exchange. Payments due to holders under the Mortgage Loan Notes are guaranteed by a collateral trust constituted under the laws of Panama. The assets of the collateral trust are composed by mortgage loans granted to residents of Panama by Banco La Hipotecaria, S.A., a general license bank engaged in the origination and securitization of mortgage loans in Panama. BG Trust, Inc., an affiliate of Banco General, S.A., is the trustee of the collateral trust. Banco General, S.A. is acting as paying agent of the notes and BG Valores, S.A. acted as local broker dealer of the notes.
This transaction was a cross-border securitization because the mortgage loans originated in Panama were sold to a collateral trust constituted under the laws of Panama in order to guarantee the Mortgage Loan Notes, the Series A of which were acquired by a grantor trust in the United States of America constituted by Banco La Hipotecaria, as settlor, and Citibank, as trustee. Said grantor trust issued trust certificates in a Rule 144A/Reg S offering. Payments due to investors under the trust certificates benefit from a guarantee granted by The Overseas Private Investment Company (OPIC), an agency of the U.S. government. The Series B and Series C Mortgage Loan Notes were acquired by local investors in Panama.
Partners Ricardo Arias and Roberto Vidal, and associates Ana Carolina Castillo, Pablo Epifanio and Cristina De Roux, participated in the transaction.
Morgan & Morgan advised Banco La Hipotecaria, S.A. in the structuring of its first covered bond program
Morgan & Morgan advised Banco La Hipotecaria, S.A. (BLH) in the structuring of its first covered bond program from which BLH may issue covered bonds pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933 in series, from time to time, up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of US$200,000,000. The issuer of the covered bonds is BLH and the bonds are full recourse obligations of BLH with dual recourse to a pool of residential mortgages granted to debtors in Panama assigned by BLH to a Panamanian collateral trust, with BG Trust, Inc., an affiliate of Banco General, S.A., acting as collateral trustee thereof.
The pool of mortgages assigned by BLH to the Panamanian collateral trust must comply with certain pool ratio requirements. KPMG has been engaged as asset monitor in order to periodically review the mortgages and confirm if they are complying with said requirements or not. BG Trust, Inc., as trustee of the collateral trust, is entitled to receive, through BLH as servicer of the loans, all payments of principal and interest that the debtors of the pool of mortgages are obligated to pay under the loan agreements. If BLH complies with certain conditions, it may request the collateral trustee to return to BLH the interest payments (but not the principal) received by the collateral trustee from the debtors. In case BLH defaults on its payments of interest or principal under the covered bonds, the flows generated by the pool of mortgages will be used to pay interest and/or principal to the bondholders and the pool of mortgages may be even sold by the collateral trustee and the proceeds of said sale would be used to pay interest and principal due under the covered bonds.
The net proceeds from the issue of each series of covered bonds will be applied by BLH for its general corporate purposes. Brean Capital acted as arranger and sole book-running manager of the covered bonds. The covered bonds have not been registered under the securities laws of the United States, Panama or any other jurisdiction and may not be offered or sold in the United States, Panama or other jurisdictions absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.
Partners Ricardo Arias and Kharla Aizpurua Olmos, and associate Pablo Epifanio, participated in the transaction.