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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.
Morgan & Morgan advised First Quantum Minerals Ltd. in connection with a Senior Notes Offering for an amount of up to US$1.5 Billion
Panama, October 26, 2020. Morgan & Morgan acted as Panamanian counsel to First Quantum Minerals, Ltd. in its offering (under Rule 144A of the U.S. Securities Regulation) of US$1,500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.875% senior notes due 2027.
Partners Inocencio Galindo and Aristides Anguizola participated in this transaction.
Morgan & Morgan advised Panasolar Generation, S.A. in an issuance of corporate green bonds for US$15,500,000.00.
Panama, September 29, 2020. The green bonds are certified under the Climate Bonds Certification Scheme run by the Climate Bonds Initiative, an international, investor-focused non-profit organization, and the only organization working solely on mobilizing the $100 trillion bond market for climate change solutions.
The Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Scheme is a labelling scheme for bonds, loans & other debt instruments. Rigorous scientific criteria ensure that it is consistent with the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to under 2 degrees. The scheme is used globally by bond issuers, governments, investors, and financial markets to prioritize investments that genuinely contribute to addressing climate change. This certification is the main international award recognizing the best practices in green finance, covering green bonds, loans and significant market developments in climate and transition investments.
The green bonds also have a verification by Pacific Corporate Sustainability (PCS) of the Pacific Credit Ratings group.
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.
Partners Roberto Vidal, Kharla Aizpurua Olmos and Ricardo Arias, and associate Cristina De Roux participated in this transaction.
Morgan & Morgan advised in a US$40 million bond issuance by Banco Latinoamericano de Comercio Exterior (Bladex)
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$400,000,000.00 with a fixed coupon of 2.375%, under Rule 144A and Regulation S of the United States Securities Act of 1933.
Partners Francisco Arias G. and Roberto Vidal, and international associate Miguel Arias M. represented Morgan & Morgan in this transaction.
- Published in 2020, Banking Law, expertise, Francisco Arias, Miguel Arias_exp, Roberto Vidal, Securities and Capital Markets
Morgan & Morgan advised Electron Investment, S.A. in the public offering of corporate bonds for a sum of up to US$ 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 advised Parque Industrial y Corporativo Sur, S.A. in connection with the public offering of revolving corporate bonds for an amount of up to US$100 million
Panama, April 24, 2020.
Morgan & Morgan advised Parque Industrial y Corporativo Sur, SA, in relation to the public offering of revolving corporate bonds (hereinafter the “Bonds”), which will be issued in multiple series, which may be senior series or subordinated series under a revolving program in which the outstanding principal balance of the Bonds issued and owed, in a single moment, may not exceed One Hundred million Dollars (US $100,000,000.00), legal tender of the United States of America. The series A of the Bonds may be guaranteed with a guarantee trust that has the usual assets for this type of transaction, such as monies, assigned rights, mortgages, among others.
Parque Industrial y Corporativo Sur, S.A. is a 42-hectare multipurpose project with high-quality, first-world infrastructure and buildings that serve as a storage and logistics center.
Partners Roberto Vidal and Kharla Aizpurua Olmos participated in this transaction.
- Published in expertise, Kharla Aizpurua, Roberto Vidal, Securities and Capital Markets
Morgan & Morgan advised First Quantum Minerals Ltd. in connection with a Senior Notes Offering for an amount of up to US$750 million
Panama, January 13, 2020. Morgan & Morgan acted as Panamanian counsel to First Quantum Minerals, Ltd. in its offering (under Rule 144A of the U.S. Securities Regulation) of US$500,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.250% senior notes due 2023, and US$250,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 7.500% senior notes due 2025.
Partners Inocencio Galindo and Aristides Anguizola participated in this transaction.
- Published in Aristides Anguizola, expertise, Inocencio Galindo, Mining, Securities and Capital Markets
Morgan & Morgan advised in connection with a Senior Secured Convertible Securities Purchase Agreement for an amount of up to US$50 million
Panama, January 9, 2020. Morgan & Morgan acted as Panamanian counsel to Avianca Holdings, S.A., Latin Airways Corp., Taca, S.A., AV International Investments, S.A., AV International Holdings S.A., AV International Holdco S.A., AV International Ventures S.A., AV TACA International Holdco, S.A., and Aviacorp Enterprises, S.A., as Note Parties in connection with the transactions contemplated by that certain Senior Secured Convertible Securities Purchase Agreement for US$ 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.
Morgan & Morgan advised Avianca Holdings, S.A. in Exchange Offer of Senior Notes for US$550,000,000
Panama, November 1, 2019.
Morgan & Morgan advised Avianca Holdings, S.A., a company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Panama (the “Company”), in launch and consummation of an exchange offer of the Company’s previously issued US$550,000,000 8.375% Senior Notes due 2020 for newly issued US$550,000,000 8.375% Senior Secured Notes Due 2020 (the “Exchange Notes”). The Exchange Notes will have terms that are identical in all material respects to the terms of the Existing Notes, except that, among other differences, (1) the Exchange Notes will be issued by the Company and will be guaranteed by Avianca Leasing, LLC and Grupo Taca Holdings Limited (“Taca”), which were co-issuers of the previous notes, and will additionally be guaranteed by Avianca Ecuador S.A., Tampa Cargo S.A.S., Aviateca, S.A., Latin Logistics, LLC, International Trade Marks Agency Inc., and a newly created intermediate holding company (“Parent HoldCo”), which did not guarantee the previous notes, (2) the Exchange Notes will be secured by a pledge or assignment of (a) the AVIANCA brand and certain other intellectual property registered in different jurisdictions, including Panama, (b) certain unencumbered aircraft which are currently owned directly by or in trust for the benefit of Tampa Cargo S.A.S. or by Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A. – Avianca (“Aerovias”), and (c) the residual interest in substantially all aircraft which are owned and financed now or in the future by the Company and its subsidiaries, and (3) the Exchange Notes will automatically be exchanged (the “Mandatory Exchange”) for an equivalent principal amount of 9.00% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “New Notes”) on December 31, 2019 upon the closing of an investment of not less than U.S.$250 million of new equity or convertible debt in Avianca Holdings from United Airlines, Inc. (“United”), Kingsland Holdings Limited (“Kingsland”) and one or more financial institutions, of which at least U.S.$200 million thereof will be made by United and Kingsland (the “Stakeholder Investment”) and the receipt of such funds on or prior to December 31, 2019.
BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as the Dealer Managers of the Exchange Offer, with BofA Securities, Inc. acting as Global Coordinator of the Exchange Offer. Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, acted as indenture trustee and collateral trustee, Citibank, N.A. acted as transfer agent, registrar and principal paying agent, and Cititrust Colombia S.A., Sociedad Fiduciaria, acted as Colombian collateral agent.
Partner Ricardo Arias; senior associate Aristides Anguizola; and associates Allen Candanedo and Maria Eugenia Brenes, participated in the transaction.