English 
Español 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
Morgan & Morgan advised Electron Investment, S.A. in the public offering of corporate bonds for a sum of up to US$ 205 million
Panama, July 15, 2020.
Morgan & Morgan represented Panamanian company Electron Investment, S.A. (the “Issuer”) in the public offering of corporate bonds for a sum of up to US$ 205,000,000 (the “Bonds”) in relation to Pando and Monte Lirio, two hydropower generating facilities that it owns and operates. For purposes of the public offering, Electron Investment, S.A. registered the Bonds with the Superintendence of the Securities Market of Panama under an abbreviated registration procedure for recurring registered issuers pursuant to Agreement 1-2019. The Bonds were successfully offered through Panama Stock Exchange, S.A. and were acquired by a group of institutional investors led by Banco General. The Issuer used the funds derived from the sale of the Bonds mainly to cancel the Series A of the corporate bonds issued under a public offering of bonds which is registered with the Superintendence of the Securities Market under Resolution No. SMV-407-15 of June 30, 2015 (the “2015 Bonds”), and to cancel a subordinated loan with Banco General.
The Issuer’s obligations derived from the Bonds are guaranteed by a guaranty trust (the “Trust”) that was constituted in 2015 by the Issuer and BG Trust, Inc., the latter in its capacity as trustee, to guarantee the Issuer’s obligations arising from the 2015 Bonds, and which was modified on May 14, 2020 pursuant to the approval of a super majority of the holders of said bonds. Such amendment was registered before the Superintendence of the Securities Market under Resolution No. SMV-212-20 of May 15, 2020, mainly for the purpose of establishing that, once the obligations arising from the 2015 Bonds have been canceled, the Trust will continue to be in full force so as to guarantee the Issuer’s obligations under the Bonds. The assets of the Trust consist mainly of revenue flows that the Issuer is entitled to receive pursuant to energy and/or power purchase agreements and transactions in the spot market. A pledge over the issued shares of the Issuer and mortgages on both movable and immovable property owned by the Issuer and related to the hydropower facilities have also been created in favor of the trustee.
Partners Ramon Varela and Ricardo Arias, senior associate Ana Carolina Castillo and international associate Miguel Arias M., participated in this transaction.
Morgan & Morgan is nominated at the Latin American Energy and Infrastructure Awards
Morgan & Morgan and 3 lawyers of the firm are nominated in the first edition of the Latin American Energy and Infrastructure Awards, an event organized by the Iberian Legal Group and its publication The Latin American Lawyer, with the aim to recognize the excellence and achievements of professionals in the energy and infrastructure sector in the region.
The nominations include the following categories:
Law firm of the Year – Panama.
Lawyer of the Year – Inocencio Galindo, Ramón Varela.
Up and Coming – Kharla Aizpurúa Olmos.
Morgan & Morgan is characterized by its participation as legal advisors in the most important infrastructure projects in the country. The mining project Cobre Panama, the Panama Metro system, the hydroelectric power plant Changuinola I, the country’s first wind farm, among others; are just a few in which our team of lawyers has participated in all phases from its development to its financing.
The awards gala will take place on October 24 in Mexico City.
- Published in Energy_publi, Inocencio Galindo, News, Projects, Projects-es, Ramon Varela
Morgan & Morgan represented Electron Investment, S.A. in an arbitration process filed by Constructora Seli Panamá, S.A. before the International Chamber of Commerce
Morgan & Morgan was part of the team of lawyers that represented Electron Investment, S.A. (“EISA”), in an arbitration process filed by Constructora Seli Panamá, S.A. (“SELI”), before the International Chamber of Commerce (“ICC”).
The request for arbitration was filed by SELI following certain disputes related to the contract for the construction of the tunnels of Pando and Monte Lirio Hydroelectric Projects, a contract that had been terminated by EISA as a result of a series of breaches by SELI, mainly due to failure to meet the deadline for the completion of the works. The construction contract was an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) using the silver book of the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC, by its initials French), where the contractor assumes responsibility for the design and construction of the project, in this case, of the tunnels of the hydroelectric power plants.
The process was under arbitration at law, according to Panamanian law and according to the rules of procedure of the ICC, having seat in Panama City, Republic of Panama. The total sum of the claim filed by SELI amounted to US$94,065,202.00; and EISA, for its part, filed a counterclaim for an amount of US$110,000,000.00.
After the evidence was heard and the corresponding steps of procedure were concluded, the arbitral tribunal issued the final award dated January 29, 2018, communicated to the parties on February 14, 2018, accepting most of the EISA’s claims and ordering SELI to pay EISA the sum of US$22,524,862.58; that after compensating the sums recognized in favor of SELI, results in an amount in favor of EISA of US$14,653,362.12, plus costs and expenses.
SELI subsequently filed a motion for annulment of the award before the Fourth Chamber of General Businesses of the Supreme Court of Justice, which is pending resolution.
EISA is a Panamanian company whose shareholders are Aurel, S.A. (a Panamanian company owned by Grupo Eleta), Compañía Española de Financiación del Desarrollo, COFIDES, S.A. (a Spanish company whose purpose is to provide medium and long-term financing for viable private investment projects abroad in which there is Spanish interest), and Genera Avante, S.L. (a Spanish owned company of Grupo Inveravante).
EISA has two hydroelectric generation concessions that use of the waters of the Chiriqui Viejo, Pando and Monte Lirio Rivers, which together have an installed capacity of 85MW. Monte Lirio started operations in October of 2014, while Pando is still under construction due to delays in the excavation of the tunnel.
José Carrizo and Ramón Varela, partners; and the associates Mayte Sánchez, Ana Carolina Castillo Solís and Analissa Carles, participated in this process.
Morgan & Morgan distinguished as a Panamanian top law firm in Chambers Latin America 2019
Panama, September 25, 2018. Morgan & Morgan and sixteen attorneys of the firm were recognized in the Chambers Latin America 2019, guide of the best lawyers and law firms across 20 countries of Central America, the Caribbean, South America and Mexico.
The firm has been ranked in the first Bands within the areas of Banking & Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Dispute Resolution, Energy & Natural Resources, Intellectual Property, Offshore, Projects, Real Estate, Shipping and Shipping Litigation.
Likewise, the publication noted as leaders in their areas attorneys Inocencio Galindo, Francisco Arias, Ramon Varela, Roberto Vidal, Simon Tejeira, Jose Carrizo, Luis Vallarino, Ana Carolina Castillo, Allen Candanedo, Maria Eugenia Brenes, Roberto Lewis, Luis Manzanares, Enrique De Alba, Jazmina Rovi, Juan David Morgan Jr. and Francisco Linares.
One of the clients interviewed stated that “Judging by the results that the firm achieves, I can say that their advice is effective and arrives in a timely manner. I would highlight their availability and technical competence”.
About Morgan & Morgan
With over 80 lawyers and 20 practice areas, Morgan & Morgan is a full service Panamanian law firm, regularly assisting local and foreign corporations from different industries, as well as recognized financial institutions, government agencies and individual clients. Of particular note is our continuous advice for clients involved in all stages of the development of important projects related to energy, water supply, construction, oil, mining, public infrastructure, retail, ports, transportation, among others. Learn more at www.morimor.com.
- Published in 2018, Allen Candanedo, Ana Castillo, Banking Law, Banking Law_publi, Energia_publi_es, Energy_publi, Enrique De Alba, Estate Planning_publi, Estate Planning-es_publi, Francisco Arias, Francisco Linares, Inocencio Galindo, Jazmina Rovi, Jose Carrizo, Juan David Morgan Jr, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Litigios y Resolución de Conflictos, Luis Manzanares, Luis Vallarino, Maria Brenes, Mergers & Acquisitios, News, Projects, Projects-es, Ramon Varela, Real Estate, Real Estate-es, Roberto Lewis, Roberto Vidal, Securities and Capital Markets, Securities and Capital Markets-es, Shipping and Admiralty Ligitation, Simon Tejeira