DealMaker Q&A

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TTR DealMaker Q&A with

 TozziniFreire Advogados Partner

Francisco Eumene Machado de Oliveira Neto

How would you describe the performance of the Brazilian M&A market so far in 2018?

We had a very positive outcome so far this year. After years observing transactions involving assets of companies in financial difficulty (distressed assets) we are moving forward into a more stable scenario, where solid companies are merging in order to grow in size and benefit from synergy. We can see that in some recently disclosed M&A transactions, such as Fibria-Suzano, M. Dias Branco-Piraquê, as well as the merger of Somos with Kroton.

 What can we expect from the M&A market for the remainder of a year that still promises political and economic instability?

A busier first semester was expected. There still are important ongoing M&A operations, which should increase the figures for the coming months. The market should seize this window of opportunity while it lasts.

As for the rest of the year, political and economic instability will set the pace for both M&A and capital markets operations. The market should be defined not only by local uncertainties, but also by external ones.   

There were high expectations around the Capital Market for the country in 2018, after what was considered a year of recovery in 2017. In your point of view, what evaluation can be made of the Brazilian Capital Market at that beginning of year? And what are the expectations now?

The capital markets have yielded good results when it comes to fixed-income instruments. After a slow start, last month we saw a few IPOs coming through, such as Notre Dame’s, HappyVida’s and Banco Inter’s, which could be a sign of improvement.

Considering an unstable international scenario and the Brazilian elections taking place in October, we do expect things to cool down in the second semester comparing to the first, as caution shall prevail.

TozziniFreire has advised several Venture Capital operations, including investments in fintechs. How do you see this market today in terms of challenges and what does the rest of the may look like?

Venture capital operations have gained strength and should become increasingly common. This consolidation process is a natural next step following the establishment of numerous fintechs over the past years, and it is inherent to the very own dynamics of the sector.

The Fibria/Suzano deal is certainly one of the most outstanding operations of the year. What were the biggest challenges in advising such a complex transaction that combined the operations of the two companies, thatresulted in the control of 49% of the world’s pulp market?

The transaction involving Fibria and Suzano was highly complex due to the nature of the companies. We were dealing with two major publicly-held competing companies from the pulp industry. Secrecy and expedition were critical to the operation’s success.

Entrevista com Francisco Eumene Machado de Oliveira Neto, sócio do TozziniFreire Advogados.

TTR – Fazendo um balanço dos quatro primeiros meses do ano, como avalia a performance do mercado brasileiro de M&A até o momento?

F.E.M. – O balanço deste início de ano é bastante positivo. Depois de termos visto nos últimos anos operações com ativos de grupos econômicos em situação financeira difícil (distressed assets), estamos passando para um movimento de mais normalidade com empresas sólidas se unindo para ganhar escala e aproveitar sinergias. Reflexo disso são as operações de M&A já divulgadas, como a da Fibria e Suzano, a da M. Dias Branco e Piraquê.

TTR – Quais as perspectivas para o mercado de M&A em 2018 em um contexto ainda de instabilidade política e econômica?

F.E.M. – Já se esperava um primeiro semestre mais movimentado que o segundo. Para os próximos meses, ainda devemos ter outras operações de M&A relevantes que estão em andamento e que devem fazer esses números aumentarem. O mercado deve aproveitar enquanto a janela ainda está aberta. Para o restante do ano, a instabilidade política e econômica deve ditar o ritmo das operações tanto de M&A como de mercado de capitais. Não só as instabilidades locais, mas as externas também deverão balizar o mercado.

TTR – Havia uma grande expectativa em torno da área de mercado de capitais para o país em 2018, após o que foi considerado um ano de retomada em 2017. Do seu ponto
de vista, qual a avaliação que pode ser feita do Mercado de Capitais brasileiro nesse início de ano? E quais as expectativas agora?

F.E.M. – O mercado de capitais também tem apresentado bons números no que se refere às captações com base em instrumentos de renda fixa. Após um início fraco, no último mês, vimos alguns IPOs saindo, como os da Notre Dame, HappyVida e Banco Inter, que podem trazer alguma indicação de melhora. Estamos vendo ainda um cenário externo um pouco instável e, no segundo semestre, teremos eleições no país; assim as expectativas, como me referi acima, são de um segundo semestre mais arrefecido em relação ao primeiro, em que a cautela deverá prevalecer.

TTR – TozziniFreire tem assessorado diversos clientes em operações de Venture Capital, incluindo investimentos realizados em fintechs. Como vê esse mercado hoje em termos de desafios e o que se pode
esperar para o restante do ano?

F.E.M. – As operações de venture capital têm se intensificado e devem ser cada vez mais frequentes. O processo de consolidação é natural depois do surgimento de várias fintechs ao longo dos anos e da própria dinâmica desse segmento.

TTR – A aquisição da Fibria pela Suzano é, certamente, uma das operações de maior destaque do ano. Considerando sua atuação e de TozziniFreire, quais foram os maiores
desafios ao atuar em uma transação tão complexa que combinou as operações das duas companhias, e que resultará no controle de 49% do mercado mundial de celulose.

F.E.M. – A operação da Fibria com a Suzano foi complexa pelas características das empresas. Estávamos lidando com duas grandes empresas do setor de celulose, competidoras entre si e ambas empresas abertas. O sigilo e a velocidade foram fundamentais para o sucesso da operação.

Entrevista con Mikel Echavarren, CEO de Colliers International Spain

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Entrevista con Mikel Echavarren, CEO de Colliers International Spain.   

Mikel Echavarren es CEO de Colliers International Spain. Fue Presidente y Consejero Delegado de irea desde su fundación en 2002 hasta marzo de 2018, momento en el que irea se integra en Colliers International. Anteriormente fue socio de Arthur Andersen responsable de la división de Real Estate Corporate Finance en España y Portugal.

 

TTR – Desde el ámbito de actuación de Colliers International, ¿cómo definiría la actividad transaccional en los cuatro primeros meses del año?
El arranque del año 2018 mantiene la intensidad de la inversión en todos los segmentos del mercado inmobiliario, con una preponderancia significativa de las operaciones corporativas en el sector hotelero e inmobiliario y la puesta en el mercado de carteras de deuda hipotecaria y REO´s.

Los fondos de inversión core incrementan su presencia en nuestro mercado, sustituyendo a inversores oportunistas y aprovechando la rotación de los portfolios de activos de las Socimis.

La preparación de operaciones corporativas en este primer trimestre augura una intensa actividad en fusiones y adquisiciones de sociedades inmobiliarias y hoteleras en el segundo semestre del año 2018.

TTR – El sector inmobiliario históricamente ha sido el más destacado del mercado transaccional español. ¿A qué cree que se debe esta circunstancia? ¿Cuáles son las características principales que definen al sector en España?
El mercado inmobiliario español es uno de los más avanzados de Europa en cuanto a la oferta y seguridad de su mercado hipotecario. Este factor ha facilitado que la actividad de promoción residencial y de la inversión que se deriva de este segmento, siempre hayan sido muy pujantes.

Adicionalmente, España es un país que cuenta con un porcentaje de la actividad de promoción residencial muy elevado, en torno a un 20-30%, relacionado con la compra de vivienda por parte de extranjeros no residentes, derivada de la extraordinaria potencia de nuestro mercado turístico y la eliminación en los últimos 15 años de la competencia de los destinos ubicados en el norte de África.

En cuanto a la inversión de los fondos institucionales, el mercado de oficinas y de centros y parques comerciales se ha desarrollado ampliamente en los últimos años, cumpliendo los estándares de calidad y de transparencia europeos, lo que ha permitido a dichos inversores actuar en nuestro mercado de una forma eficiente y transparente.

Del mismo modo, la inversión en la adquisición de hoteles ubicados en España es una consecuencia lógica de la consolidación y desarrollo de uno de los principales destinos turísticos del mundo, el primero en términos de eficiencia de su gestión.

Todos estos factores, unidos al desarrollo extraordinario de las infraestructuras de transporte y servicios de nuestro país, han sido los motores del crecimiento de la inversión en inmobiliario.
TTR – En los últimos años, incluyendo a 2018, hemos podido ver un notable y creciente interés de fondos internacionales en el ladrillo español. ¿Diría usted que esta circunstancia favorece o perjudica al sector inmobiliario en España? ¿Podría esta proliferación de fondos internacionales estar reduciendo las oportunidades de los players locales?

La actividad de los fondos internacionales ha sido fundamental para la recuperación del mercado inmobiliario español.

En una primera etapa, desde 2013 a 2015, contribuyeron a facilitar liquidez al mercado y a establecer referencias creíbles sobre precios transaccionables, desde una perspectiva de aprovechamiento de las oportunidades de un mercado potente pero ilíquido.

Desde entonces los fondos internacionales han evolucionado hacia todos los nichos del mercado inmobiliario, desde los activos comerciales a la inversión en suelo residencial, y lo han hecho en muchos casos a través de alianzas con operadores y promotores locales.

En la actualidad están entrando otros fondos con estrategias diferentes y con costes de capital significativamente inferiores.

La conclusión de estos movimientos es, en mi opinión, que los fondos han venido para quedarse y que seguirán siendo protagonistas de la inversión en nuestro mercado inmobiliario por mucho tiempo. Ese protagonismo, convive con la actividad inversora de players locales, que con menores exigencias de rentabilidad y con capacidades crecientes de capital, compiten con fuerza en muchos segmentos del mercado.

 

TTR – Dentro del sector inmobiliario, ¿Qué segmentos de mercado considera usted que cuentan con un mayor potencial en la actualidad?

Claramente, el sector de promoción residencial y dentro de éste la inversión en carteras de suelo en desarrollo y su gestión hasta transformarlo en suelo finalista.

La promoción residencial, sobre todo en mercados secundarios que todavía no se han recuperado de forma significativa, seguirá ofreciendo rentabilidades anuales superiores al 10% y unos múltiplos atractivos por la financiación de los costes de construcción y desarrollo.

 

TTR – ¿Cuáles son las herramientas de financiación más habituales para la adquisición de activos inmobiliarios?

La financiación hipotecaria es la protagonista de las operaciones de inversión, con más participación de banca extranjera en activos comerciales y con un dominio absoluto de la banca comercial española en la financiación a la promoción residencial.

Adicionalmente, existen alternativas de financiación para los tramos de inversión no cubiertos por la banca comercial otorgadas por fondos de inversión internacionales.

Colliers International Spain, por ejemplo, es el Loan Manager de un fondo de financiación alternativa de Marathon Asset Management destinado a financiar la adquisición de suelo residencial y dirigido a promotores especializados en residencial.

La financiación corporativa o la emisión de bonos está restringida a las empresas con grandes balances, muchas de ellas cotizadas en bolsa.

 

TTR – Otra demostración del auge del sector inmobiliario es sin duda la cantidad de SOCIMIs que han comenzado a cotizar en el Mercado Alternativo Bursátil en los últimos dos años. ¿Qué ventajas aporta este mercado a las SOCIMIs?

El MAB es una alternativa para el cumplimiento de los requisitos de liquidez y de composición accionarial de las SOCIMIs, sobre todo para aquellas de tamaño medio o pequeñas o para quienes sólo aspiran a cumplir los requisitos que facilitan una fiscalidad óptima.

A futuro, creemos que muchas de ellas entrarán en el juego de fusiones y adquisiciones con el objetivo de alcanzar una mayor dimensión que posibilite su mayor liquidez en el mercado y ofrecerse como alternativa a la inversión el ahorro familiar, con un menor coste de capital.

Interview with Mikel Echavarren, CEO at Colliers International Spain

 

TTR – How would you at Colliers International describe the level of deal activity over the first four months of the year?

So far 2018 has continued to see strong levels of investment across all segments of the real estate market. There has been a marked preference for corporate deals in the hotel and real estate sector, whilst mortgage loan and REO portfolios have also started to come onto the market.

The Spanish market is seeing an ever-growing number of core investment funds, that have taken the place of opportunistic investors and are capitalising on Socimi property portfolio rotations.

The preparation of corporate deals in Q1 2018, suggests that we will see considerable M&A activity among real estate and hotel companies in H2 2018.

 

TTR – The real estate sector has traditionally always been the biggest transaction market in Spain. Why do you think this is? What are the defining characteristics of the sector in Spain?
In terms of supply and the level of mortgage security, the Spanish real estate market is one of the most advanced in Europe. This factor has meant that residential development and investment, have always played a defining role.

Spain also has a very high percentage of residential development activity (circa 20-30%), which is primarily thanks to the purchase of homes by non-resident foreigners, as a result of Spain’s highly attractive tourist market and the fact that over the past 15 years competition from destinations in Northern Africa has virtually disappeared.

In terms of investment by institutional funds, the office and shopping centre and retail park markets have expanded significantly in recent years, meeting European standards of quality and transparency, which has allowed these players to invest in Spain efficiently and transparently.

Investment in hotels located in Spain is also a logical result of the consolidation and development of one of the world’s primary tourist destinations, and the leading destination in terms of efficient management.

All this, together with the extraordinary development of Spain’s transport and services infrastructure, have driven real estate investment growth.

 

TTR – In recent years, including 2018 to date, we have seen international funds show a considerable and growing interest in Spanish real estate. Would you say that this favours or jeopardises the Spanish property sector? Could this increasing number of international funds be reducing the number of opportunities open to local players?

International funds were key for the recovery of Spain’s real estate market.

Between 2013 and 2015, these funds identified an opening which would allow them to take advantage of the opportunities in a strong, but illiquid market. They therefore not only injected much-needed capital into the market, but also helped to establish credible transaction price references.

Since then international funds have explored all real estate market niches, from retail properties to investing in residential-use land, in many cases investing via joint ventures with local operator and developers.

Funds with different strategies and significantly lower capital costs are now entering the market.

In my view, the conclusion we can draw from the activity of recent years is that funds are here to stay and will remain key players in our real estate market for some time to come. However, they will share the limelight with local players who, with less-demanding yield requirements and growing capital strength, pose stiff competition for international funds in many market segments.

 

TTR – What do you see as the highest-potential market segments in the real estate sector at the moment?

Without doubt, the residential development sector and, within this, investment in portfolios comprising land in the planning process and its management through to obtaining serviced development land status.

Residential development, especially in secondary markets that still have a long way to go before recovering pre-crisis levels, will continue offering annual yields in excess of 10% and attractive terms and conditions for financing construction and development costs.

 

TTR – What are the most common forms of financing used to acquire real estate assets?

The lion’s share of investment transactions are completed using mortgage financing, with international banks tending to focus on retail assets and Spanish commercial banks dominating the residential development financing market.

International investment funds offer financing alternatives for investment tranches that are not covered by commercial banks.

Colliers International Spain, for example, is the Loan Manager of an alternative financing fund belonging to Marathon Asset Management aimed at financing the acquisition of residential land and directed at specialist residential developers.

Corporate financing and bond issues are restricted to companies with big balance sheets, mainly listed companies.

 

TTR – Another sign of the real estate sector’s strength is without doubt the amount of SOCIMIs that have listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange (MAB) over the past two years. What advantages do SOCIMIs bring to the market?

The MAB is an alternative option for SOCIMIs to meet their liquidity and shareholder requirements, especially for SMEs or companies looking to achieve an optimised fiscal structure.

Going forwards, we believe that many of them will be subject to Mergers & Acquisitions, with companies looking to optimise their structure in order to increase their liquidity in the market and offer an alternative to the traditional investment option, with a lower capital cost.

Entrevista con Carlos Fuenzalida, Vice Presidente en Landmark Alantra Group

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Entrevista con Carlos Fuenzalida,  Vice Presidente en Landmark Alantra Group y con amplia experiencia en finanzas corporativas, acerca de las operaciones de fusiones y adquisiciones de empresas en América Latina.

 

TTR –  Sr. Fuenzalida, en primer lugar, ¿podría brindarnos a grandes rasgos su punto de vista en cuanto a la marcha del mercado transaccional latinoamericano los tres primeros meses de 2018?

CF – El primer trimestre de 2018, en general, el mercado transaccional latinoamericano ha sido similar o con un poco menos de dinamismo que 2017, en especial si aislamos el efecto de la mega transacción anunciada en Brasil en marzo de 2018, la adquisición de Fibria Celulose por Suzano Papel e Celulose por más de US$15.300 millones. Argentina, Colombia y México son los únicos países con un récord positivo en números de transacciones, sin embargo, el resto de Latinoamérica no debiese quedarse atrás y aumentar su ritmo a medida que avance el año.

TTR – Según los datos registrados por TTR, por el momento Argentina es uno de los países que ha manifestado un mayor incremento en el volumen e importe de operaciones respecto al mismo periodo del año anterior ¿a qué cree que se ha debido este adelantamiento?

CF – Argentina siempre ha sido un país con un gran potencial económico. En el pasado las condiciones políticas y las restricciones al flujo de capitales alejaron a gran parte de los inversionistas internacionales dejando un espacio vacío en el mid-market de fusiones y adquisiciones. Hoy el nuevo escenario político ha reabierto el interés por parte de inversionistas extranjeros, incrementando operaciones en industrias o sectores favorecidos como el litio y energía (particularmente renovables), y abriendo las puertas a industrias que por años estuvieron rezagadas a un segundo plano.

TTR –  Chile en particular, ha manifestado un interesante crecimiento en el sector tecnológico ¿Cree que se trata de algo circunstancial o que refleja una evolución y tendencia de mercado en el país? 

CF – Las transacciones en el sector tecnológico han tenido un importante crecimiento en los últimos años, no solo en Chile sino en todo Latinoamérica. La creciente actividad de private equities, o fondos de inversión, y de inversionistas estratégicos en busca de crecimiento inorgánico ha potenciado esta industria a nivel global, y será una tendencia que se mantendrá en la región.

En Chile en 2017 podemos destacar la venta por parte de Banmédica, Sonda e ILC de I-Med al fondo norteamericano Accel-KKR, y las variadas adquisiciones que realizó la firma de tecnología y telecomunicaciones Grupo GTD.

TTR – De nuevo, según su experiencia en el mercado chileno concretamente, ¿qué sectores opina que van a resultar más activos, y atractivos para los inversores, a lo largo de 2018? ¿Por qué motivos?

CF – Energía, infraestructura, minería, retail y alimentos son los sectores que mayor dinamismo tendrán este año. La perspectiva de un mayor crecimiento país, la reactivación de la economía, la posibilidad de una simplificación de la reforma tributaria y la visión de mercado del nuevo gobierno de Sebastian Piñera, hacen que las condiciones sean propicias para un aumento en el número de fusiones y adquisiciones.

TTR – Por último, su firma cuenta con oficinas (además de en Chile y en Argentina) también en Colombia y Brasil, ¿cuáles de estos cuatro países son los que cree que tienen hoy en día un mayor potencial de crecimiento para este año y por qué?

CF – Brasil continuará teniendo un gran número de grandes transacciones debido al tamaño de su economía, pero continuará bajo sus récords históricos, lo problemas de corrupción sigue muy vigentes.

Colombia mantiene su posicionamiento en la región como un destino favorable para la inversión, si bien perdiendo algo de momentum afectado por un entorno macro desafiante con la implementación de la reforma tributaria y las elecciones presidenciales en mayo de este año.

En Chile la actividad de M&A debiese ser más dinámica respecto a 2017, el escenario de mayor crecimiento y un gobierno más pro mercado debiese impulsar el número de transacciones.

Argentina se ve como el mercado con mayor dinamismo de la región, las confianzas se han recuperado y el flujo de inversión extrajera esta regresado al país. Aun cuando el impacto en M&A puede que se tarde en llegar las condiciones esta dadas para una importante alza en transacciones.

 

 

Interview with Philip Whitchelo, VP for Strategic Business Development at Intralinks

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Interview with Philip Whitchelo, Vice President for Strategic Business Development, Intralinks

Philip is responsible for business and corporate development at Intralinks, a provider of software and services to the global M&A, private equity and banking communities.

 

TTR – How would you describe the performance of the Spanish M&A market? Do you think the results of 2018 could beat those of 2017?

After a flat 2015 and a decline in 2016, the Spanish MA& market came roaring back in 2017: there were over 1,000 announced M&A deals for Spanish targets in 2017, a 14% increase over 2016. The conditions for M&A in 2018 are also supportive: improving global economic growth, low inflation, low interest rates, ready availability of debt finance, lots of corporate and private equity capital looking for acquisition opportunities. Our own Intralinks Deal Flow Predictor is forecasting worldwide M&A growth of up to 10% in 1H 2018, so it is entirely possible that 2018 could exceed 2017 for Spanish M&A announcements.

 

TTR – In which position, based on importance and size, would you place Spain’s M&A market among the European countries? Could you point some differences between Spain and the top ones?

In Europe, Spain is the fourth or fifth largest target M&A market by both volume (number) and value. This is the same as Spain’s ranking as the fifth largest European economy. Spain has a relatively open M&A market and has the highest proportion of industrials, real estate and energy & power M&A among the top 5 European countries: these three sectors have accounted for over 60% of Spanish target M&A by value since 2013.

 

TTR – In general terms, would you say Spanish companies are highly demanded by foreign companies?  Why?

Yes, I would say so. Spain has a relatively open M&A market with a high level of cross-border M&A activity: since 2013, over 74% of Spanish target M&A by value has involved a foreign acquirer, the second highest percentage (after the UK) among the top 5 European countries. The Spanish economy is faster growing than the Euro area as a whole, although it is also more volatile: among the top 5 European economies, it is the one with the most “emerging market” characteristics.

 

TTR – You were recently involved in a study regarding cancelled deals worldwide in the last 25 years. Roughly speaking, which are the main reasons for deal failures?

Our study, which we conducted in partnership with the University of London’s Cass Business School, examined over 78,000 announced M&A deals including over 1,800 involving Spanish acquirers and targets. We identified several significant predictors of deal failure and deal success. Acquirers could increase their chances of deal success by negotiating target break fees, avoiding very large, transformational deals in favour of smaller strategic acquisitions, paying for multiple advisers, offering cash-only consideration and avoiding hostile and unsolicited acquisitions in favour of agreed deals.

 

TTR – In the specific case of Spain, how high is the rate of abandoned acquisitions? Are there specific circumstances that account for that figure?

Since 2010, Spain has the second highest rate of abandoned acquisitions, at 3.8%, among the major European countries, with only the UK (3.9%) being higher.

 

As an M&A analyst, do you think Donald Trump’s protective measures could have a strong impact in the European M&A markets or are they large enough to not be affected?

In 2018, the risks to the scenario of a fifth consecutive year of increasing M&A activity are twofold: political and financial. Increases in economic nationalism, protectionism and restrictions on global trade and cross-border economic integration all have the potential to negatively affect dealmaking sentiment. With global equity markets recently at record highs, and nine years since the last major trough, a correction that turns into a more serious sell-off could also prove negative for dealmaking confidence.

We may be seeing the start of such a protectionist trend, with the latest example being the blocking by US President Trump of Broadcom’s acquisition of US semiconductor manufacturer Qualcomm. Other countries, such as Germany, Australia and the UK, are also becoming more resistant to perceived foreign takeovers (especially from China and Asia) in sensitive industries such as technology, robotics, semiconductors, energy and land.

Rising protectionism in M&A would disproportionately affect countries which have a high volume of outbound (cross-border) M&A activity. In Europe, the UK and Germany have the highest proportion of outbound, cross-border acquisitions. The danger is that once the US becomes more protectionist, other countries could feel obliged to follow suit and protect their companies from foreign takeover.

 

Entrevista com Guilherme Sampaio Monteiro, sócio do Pinheiro Neto Advogados, sobre o mercado de capitais brasileiro em 2018

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Guilherme Sampaio Monteiro, sócio do Pinheiro Neto Advogados desde 2011, fala com o TTR sobre o cenário do mercado de capitais brasileiro em 2018.

Depois de três anos de estagnação, em 2017 o mercado de capitais brasileiro deu sinais positivos de retomada. Para 2018, pode-se esperar uma continuidade desse cenário? Como descreveria a performance do primeiro trimestre de 2018?

2018 promete ser um bom ano ao mercado de capitais. Entretanto, a volatilidade trazida pelas eleições e cenário externo complexo irão impactar a performance dos IPOs. Além disso, estamos vendo um menor número de follow ons, que foram parte importante do mercado de ações no ano passado.

Os valores alcançados com os IPO’s em 2017 ficaram aquém das expectativas, visto que apenas a oferta do Burger King saiu no topo da faixa indicativa? Para o ano, quais são as expectativas em termos de valorização de ativos e de novas aberturas de capital? A volatilidade do mercado e a instabilidade política preocupam?

Eu não diria. Se o IPO foi concretizado, significa que Companhia e Controladores, de certa forma, estavam satisfeitos com os valores obtidos. Entretanto, apesar de não ser nossa área de expertise, nos parece que os ranges dos IPOs deste ano já estão considerando o histórico do ano passado. Como disse acima, a instabilidade política preocupa.

O Pinheiro Neto atuou no IPO do PagSeguro, o primeiro a ser completado no mercado brasileiro em 2018, e que foi finalizado acima da faixa indicativa. Como descreveria essa operação em termos de importância para mercado nacional?

É uma operação muito importante para a economia brasileira, que evidenciou a possibilidade de empresas brasileiras de tecnologia acessarem o mercado americano, que está mais acostumado com esse tipo de companhia, num valuation adequado. Sem dúvida estimula outras companhias a seguirem o mesmo caminho. Por outro lado, o sucesso de uma operação não realizada no Brasil é algo que deve ser bem analisado internamente. Como país, temos que pensar em como internacionalizar nossos mercados e torná-los mais atraente a investidores do mundo todo.

De 2016 para 2017, houve um incremento também nos números de operações de “Follow-on” em termos de aporte. Quais foram os fatores que mais influenciaram essas movimentações e quais as expectativas para o decorrer de 2018?

Acredito que em 2016 e 2017 havia uma grande demanada reprimida de empresas nacionais que buscavam uma oferta de ações. Com a abertura de mercado, as empresas abertas jpa consolidadas e grandeporte foram um destino óbvio para os investidores. Para 2018, nos parece que as opção são um pouco menores, mas ainda esperamos alguns follow ons para o ano.

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Guilherme Sampaio Monteiro, partner at Pinheiro Neto Advogados since 2011, talks to TTR about the Brazilian capital market scenarios for 2018.

After three years of economic stagnation, the Brazilian capital market showed signs of recovery in 2017.  Could this promising scenario be expected for 2018 as well? How would you describe the performance levels in the first quarter of 2018?

PN: 2018 promises to be a good year for the capital markets. However, the uncertainties brought by the coming elections and by such a complex international scenario are likely to have an impact on the performance of IPOs. Besides, there has been a slowdown in follow-ons, which were an important element in the stock market performance last year.

Were the IPO values in 2017 below expectation, as only the Burger King offer was priced at the top end of indicative range? What are the expectations for the year in terms of asset appreciation and new IPOs? Are market volatility and political instability worrisome?

PN: I wouldn’t say so. If an IPO is priced, it means that the company and its controlling shareholders were somehow satisfied with the values. Nevertheless, although this is not our area of expertise, we believe that the IPO ranges this year are already taking last year’s history into account. As I said, political instability is a matter of concern.

Pinheiro Neto has acted in the IPO of PagSeguro, the first to be completed in the Brazilian market in 2018, and eventually priced above indicative range. How would you describe this transaction in terms of its importance for the Brazilian market?

PN: This is an extremely important transaction for the Brazilian economy in that it showed the possibility of Brazilian tech companies accessing the US market, which is much more comfortable with such types of companies, at an adequate valuation. This will undoubtedly encourage other companies to follow suit. On the other hand, the successful outcome for a transaction not carried out in Brazil should deserve careful consideration locally. At country level, we must think of how to make our markets more open and attractive to international investors.

From 2016 to 2017, the number of follow-ons also picked up in terms of contribution. Which were the factors that most influenced those moves, and what could be expected for 2018?

PN: I believe that in 2016 and 2017 there was a pent up demand for follow-on public offers by local companies. As the markets opened up, large-sized and well-settled listed companies were a natural bet for investors. For 2018, it seems that the options will not be so plentiful, but we still expect some follow-on along the year.