Mónica Martín de Vidales- Garrigues (Es/En)

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Mónica Martín de Vidales habla de las operaciones de M&A en España

Codirige el departamento mercantil de Garrigues, firma donde ha desarrollado su carrera profesional tras su paso por Arthur Andersen y un periodo entre 2001 y 2004 como Secretaria General y del Consejo de la sociedad Telefónica Media, y las sociedades de su grupo (Antena 3 TV, Onda Cero, Via Digital, etc.) cabecera entonces del grupo de medios de comunicación del Grupo Telefónica. Actualmente es secretaria no consejera y letrada asesora del Consejo de Administración de varias sociedades españolas, en particular de Merlin Properties Socimi.

Especializada en Derecho Mercantil, fundamentalmente en temas relacionados con M&A, con el Derecho Societario, gobierno corporativo y reordenaciones empresariales tanto de sociedades privadas como de sociedades cotizadas. Mónica ha liderado algunas de las operaciones más relevantes de M&A tanto a nivel nacional como internacional a lo largo de los últimos treinta años.

¿Cómo calificaría la situación del mercado transaccional español en 2017? ¿Cree que ha sido un año positivo?

El año 2017 ha sido y está siendo un año, sin duda, positivo. Con carácter general, para toda España, la primera parte del año fue excepcional, con un elevado volumen de operaciones, una clara mejora en el acceso a la financiación y una actividad intensa que auguraba un año de recuperación y crecimiento claros y rotundos. La segunda parte del año ha sido y está siendo quizá algo menos homogénea, con áreas y sectores que mantienen el nivel de transacciones muy alto (en algunos casos el mejor periodo de los últimos 10 años) mientras que otras zonas parece que se sufre cierta ralentización; no obstante, en estos casos en los que parece que el segundo semestre ha podido ser más complejo, lo que se advierte es que la complejidad se ha centrado más en el impacto sobre el cierre de operaciones (con una posible desaceleración en la adopción de decisiones) que sobre el hecho de que se sigan analizando transacciones. En estas zonas o áreas el volumen de transacciones estudiadas se ha mantenido en niveles acordes con la recuperación económica. 

A raíz de su dilatada experiencia en operaciones de M&A, ¿qué sectores considera que han sido los más importantes para el mercado transaccional español en los últimos años? ¿A qué cree que se debe?

Dejando al margen las operaciones “distressed” que tuvieron lugar en los años de la crisis y los inmediatamente posteriores, sin duda en los últimos 3 años y, en particular, en este último año, se ha apreciado el papel muy relevante de las operaciones del sector inmobiliario (bien de carteras completas de activos, bien de edificios singulares), o relacionadas con carteras de créditos vendidas por entidades financieras o por SAREB, operaciones que, sin duda, han sido líderes del M&A de estos años. Adicionalmente a esto, a estas operaciones más “tradicionales” del sector se añade la novedad protagonizada por las interesantes transacciones de M&A consistentes en la integración de sociedades en las que la base es la tenencia de inmuebles del más variado tipo (oficinas, centros comerciales, residencial, hoteles…) para lanzar, tras procesos de fusiones, escisiones o compras, entidades que luego se han vendido en los mercados de valores (las famosas Socimis que han proliferado en estos últimos años)

Pero lo importante, en mi opinión, del esperado arranque del M&A, que no sé si calificar de causa o de consecuencia del crecimiento económico y de la salida de la crisis, es la recuperación, en este periodo, de las transacciones en casi todos los sectores de actividad, realizadas por fondos de inversión y por industriales, sin que se pueda asegurar que unas preponderen sobre las otras. Depende del sector y de la zona en que se realiza la operación. En estos años hemos visto operaciones en el sector de la alimentación, en el sector tecnológico, en el sector financiero, en las concesionarias, en las telecomunicaciones, ventas de fábricas y actividad industrial, en los hospitales, en el sector del automóvil…. Sinceramente creo que ha habido transacciones en casi todos los sectores que constituyen el entramado empresarial europeo. Es cierto que depende de las zonas y que el tamaño medio de operaciones es muy variable con mega transacciones para lo que suele ser la media en España (la OPA sobre Abertis, la venta de Telxius por Telefónica, la integración de Opel y PSA…) y un relevante número de transacciones de tamaños menores, incluso mediando o pequeños.

Una de las últimas operaciones de M&A en las que ha participado finalizará con un private equity estadounidense, Rhône Capital, controlando una participación minoritaria, aunque muy significativa de un grupo español que surgirá de la integración de Zodiac Pool Solutions en Fluidra. ¿Cree usted que en estos años se ha incrementado el interés de firmas de private equity en empresas españolas que operan sectores históricamente menos relevantes en el país, como es el caso del sector de las piscinas? ¿Por qué?

En mi opinión, una vez que España se recupera económicamente y demuestra que es un país en el que resulta interesante invertir y en el que hay oportunidades de inversión, se atrae de forma inmediata el interés tanto de los fondos de private equity como de los operadores de cualquier sector en el que en España tenga una empresa que le pueda servir para crear un líder; da igual de a qué sector nos estemos refiriendo.

Y eso es el caso de una operación como la de Zodiac con Fluidra. No son operaciones que responden a la nacionalidad en sí de las empresas que participan, sino al hecho de que se están uniendo dos de los mayores operadores mundiales de un sector. Me explico, Zodiac se fija en Fluidra o Fluidra se fija en Zodiac porque ambas pueden crear un grupo unido que pueda ocupar el liderazgo del sector de fabricación y comercialización de productos y soluciones para piscinas. Es irrelevante en una operación de este tipo la nacionalidad de las empresas.  Lo bueno para la actividad en España es que, en este caso, uno de los participantes es una empresa española.

Es cierto que hace unos años, cuando España fue casi vetado por la inversión extranjera como consecuencia de la crisis, esto era impensable, pero una vez que el país es reconocido como lugar de destino de inversiones, cualquier operación de M&A es posible; depende de que tengamos aquí líderes de un sector o el complemento preciso para que se consolide un líder y, seamos optimistas y realistas, en España hay muy buenas empresas y muy buenos empresarios.

Cuenta usted también con experiencia en la reordenación de grupos mercantiles, a nivel nacional y a nivel internacional. Al tener que coordinarse en muchos casos con empresas, organismos y despachos de otras jurisdicciones, ¿qué áreas del derecho considera usted que entrañan más dificultad en estos procesos? ¿Cuál es el motivo?

No podemos negar que las operaciones tradicionales de M&A, en lo que se refiere al esquema básico de los contratos de compraventa de acciones o de activos suelen ser bastante estándar, formando parte de cualquier proceso la habitual negociación del alcance de las declaraciones y garantías, de las limitaciones de la responsabilidad sobre hechos pasados, de la necesidad de prever condiciones suspensivas entre firma y cierre de la operación y la consecuente discusión sobre cómo actuar en el periodo intermedio… pero dicho esto, es evidente que hay áreas en las que las transacciones en las que se involucran varias jurisdicciones producen más problemas. La causa es la falta de homogeneización de las regulaciones. Esas áreas son las relacionadas con el Derecho Público (sectores altamente regulados como las telecomunicaciones, la energía, el sector financiero…), el Derecho Laboral o el Derecho Fiscal.

A esto hay que añadir, y hemos aprendido mucho en estos últimos años, la gran complejidad jurídica que es precisa para intentar coordinar los procedimientos de insolvencia en diferentes jurisdicciones. Como un paso preventivo a esas situaciones, son también áreas que entrañas gran dificultad en transacciones internacionales las relacionadas con la constitución y ejecución de garantías.

Aparte de abogada ha desempeñado usted labores de profesora también, por supuesto en el sector del derecho. ¿Qué diferencias, aparte de las tecnológicas, cree usted que existen entre el mundo laboral del derecho al que accedió usted y el que se presenta en la actualidad para los nuevos/as abogados/as?

En mi opinión, los futuros abogados se enfrentan un mundo empresarial mucho más complejo que el que existía en España en 1987 (es el año en el que yo empecé a ejercer como abogado). Yo no creo que para los nuevos abogados sea un problema el avance tecnológico; en realidad, los nuevos abogados casi son lo que yo considero nativos digitales, esto es, personas que han nacido en una etapa de presencia tecnológica intensa o que han crecido rodeados de todas esas herramientas y capacidades tecnológicas. La digitalización es más bien una prueba para los que tenemos cierta edad.

La dificultad que tienen los nuevos abogados (y obviamente también los “viejos” abogados) es que el desarrollo tecnológico debe permitirnos ser más eficaces y, en la medida en que te da acceso a un mundo casi infinito de información, mejor preparados. Además, el acceso a la información es universal y si el abogado puede hacerlo, el cliente también, y esto implica un nivel de formación, de estudio y de especialización riguroso y profundo. Ya ningún cliente (al menos en las operaciones de M&A) necesita un asesoramiento “sencillo”.

A ello hay que añadir el cambio cultural que ha supuesto una vida empresarial con un nivel de regulación bastante intensivo (a veces invasivo) y un riesgo cierto de exigencia de responsabilidad personal a los empresarios. No podemos olvidar que estos empresarios son los clientes de las operaciones de M&A, y este nuevo ambiente los lleva a requerir un asesoramiento sólido en el que el abogado de M&A sea capaz de detectar las especialidades con las que debe consultar para eliminar o minimizar riesgos. Nadie aspira ni puede aspirar a que su abogado sea “enciclopédico” y sepa de todo, pero sí que sepa a qué especialista hay que invitar a incorporarse al equipo que asesora en la transacción.

Yo creo que ahí están las grandes diferencias.

Para saber más de las transacciones en las que Mónica Martín ha participado, haz click aquí.

Para saber sobre las transacciones en las que la firma Garrigues ha participado, haz click aquí.

Mónica Martín de Vidales co-directs the Corporate Law Department at Garrigues, where she has spent her entire professional career after a period at Arthur Andersen and a period between 2001 and 2004 as general and board secretary of Telefónica Media, and the companies in its group (Antena 3 TV, Onda Cero, Vía Digital, etc.), at that time the leader of the communications group of Grupo Telefónica. She is currently the nondirector secretary and legal advisor to the board of directors of several Spanish companies, in particular, of Merlin Properties Socimi

Specializing in corporate/commercial law, fundamentally in M&A, company law, corporate governance and business restructuring of private and of listed companies alike, Monica has led some of the most significant M&A transactions of the last 30 years, both at national and at international level.

How would you classify the situation of the Spanish transactional market in 2017?  Do you think it has been a positive year?

Without a doubt, 2017 has been, and continues to be, a positive year. In general, for all of Spain, the first part of the year was exceptional, with a high volume of transactions, a definite improvement in access to funding and intense activity that foretold a year of clear and unequivocal recovery and growth. The second part of the year has been, and still is, somewhat less homogeneous, with some areas and industries maintaining a very high level of transactions (in some cases the best period of the last 10 years), while other areas appear to be slowing down a bit; nonetheless, in cases in which the second semester appears to have been more complex, such complexity has notably been focused more on the impact on the close of transactions (with a possible deceleration in decision-making), than on the fact that transactions continue to be analyzed.  In these areas, the volume of transactions studied has remained at levels consistent with economic recovery.

Having regard to your wide experience with M&A transactions, what industries do you think have been the most important for the Spanish transactional market in recent years, and why?

Apart from the “distressed” transactions that took place during the crisis years and those immediately thereafter, in the last 3 years and, in particular, in this last year, a very significant role has doubtless been played by transactions in the real estate industry (either with complete asset portfolios or with individual buildings), or by transactions related to credit portfolios sold by financial institutions or by SAREB. These transactions have without a doubt been at the forefront of M&A during these years. Added to these more “traditional” transactions in the industry has been the novelty created by interesting M&A transactions consisting of the merger of companies in which the base is the holding of a greater variety of real estate (offices, shopping malls, residences, hotels …), with a view to launching, following mergers, spin-offs or purchases, entities that are later sold on securities markets (the famous Socimis that have multiplied in recent years).

In my opinion, however, the important part of the long-awaited resurgence of M&A, which I don’t know whether to classify as a cause or an effect of the economic growth and of the end of the crisis, is the recovery, during this period, of transactions in practically all industries, carried on by investment funds and by industrialists, without it being possible to say that there are more in one industry than in another.  Rather it depends on the industry and on the area in which the transaction is carried out.  In recent years we have seen transactions in the food industry, the technology industry, the financial industry, in concessionaires, in telecommunications, factory sales and industrial activity, at hospitals, in the automobile industry …. I sincerely believe that there have been transactions in nearly all the industries making up the European business fabric.  It is true that it depends on the area, and that the average transaction size is extremely variable, with mega-transactions for what is usually the average in Spain (the takeover bid on Abertis, the sale of Telxius by Telefónica, the integration of Opel and PSA….) and a significant number of transactions of a smaller size, including medium- or small-size transactions.

One of the last M&A transactions in which you took part will end with a US private equity firm, Rhône Capital, controlling a minority but very significant holding in a Spanish group that will result from the merger of Zodiac Pool Solutions and Fluidra. Do you believe that, at present, there has been an increase in the interest of private equity firms in Spanish companies operating in industries traditionally less significant in Spain, such as the swimming pool industry?  If so, why?

In my opinion, once Spain has recovered economically and proves that it is a country in which it is of interest to invest, private equity funds and operators in any industry in which Spain has a company that could serve to create a leader will show an immediate interest, regardless of the industry.

This is the case of a transaction such as that of Zodiac with Fluidra.  These are not transactions that relate to the nationality, as such, of the merging companies, but rather to the fact that two of the largest global operators in an industry are merging.  What I mean is, Zodiac notices Fluidra or Fluidra notices Zodiac because, together, the two could create a unified group that could become the leader of the swimming pool products and solutions manufacturing and marketing industry.  The nationality of the companies is irrelevant in a transaction of this type.  What is good for the activity in Spain is that, in this case, one of the merging companies is a Spanish company.

This was, in fact, unthinkable a few years ago, when Spain was practically barred to foreign investment as a result of the crisis, but once the country is recognized as a place in which to invest, any M&A transaction is possible; it will depend on our having industry leaders here, or precisely what is needed for a leader to arise, and, let’s be optimists and realists, in Spain there are very sound enterprises and very good entrepreneurs.

You also have experience in the restructuring of groups of companies, at national and at international level.  By having to coordinate, in many cases, with companies, bodies and firms from other jurisdictions, what areas of law do you think involve the greatest difficulty in these processes, and why?

We cannot deny that the traditional M&A transactions are usually quite standard, in terms of the basic scheme of share or asset purchase agreements, and the negotiation of the scope of representations and warranties, limitations on liability for past events, the need to foresee conditions precedent between execution and completion of the transaction and the resulting discussion of how to act during that interim period, form part of any process … but having said that, it is clear that there are areas in which transactions involving various jurisdictions give rise to greater difficulties. The reason is the absence of standardized regulations. These areas relate to public law (highly regulated industries such as telecommunications, energy, finance…), labor law or tax law.  To this we must add, and we have learned a lot over the last few years, the major legal complexity required in order to coordinate insolvency proceedings in different jurisdictions.  As a preventive step to such situations, areas which entail major difficulties in international transactions are those connected with the creation and enforcement of guarantees.

Apart from practicing as a lawyer, you have also worked as a teacher, of course in the field of law.  What difference, apart from technological differences, do you think exist between the legal profession you entered and that being accessed today by new lawyers?

In my opinion, future lawyers are faced with a business world that is much more complex that that existing in Spain in 1987 (the year in which I began to practice as a lawyer). I do not see technological advances as a problem for new lawyers; in fact, new lawyers are almost what I regard as digital natives, i.e., persons who were born in a time of intense technological presence or who have grown up surrounded by all of these technological tools and capacities. Digitalization is more of a trial for those of us of a certain age.

The difficulty for new lawyers (and of course for “old” lawyers as well) is that technological development should enable us to be more efficient, and, insofar as it gives us access to an almost infinite world of information, better prepared.  Furthermore, access to information is universal, and if the lawyer can do it, so can the client, and this requires a level of training, study and specialization that is thorough and far-reaching.  No client (at least in M&A transactions) needs “simple” advice.

To this we have to add the cultural change entailed by a business life with a fairly intensive (and at times even invasive) level of regulation and a definite risk of the demand of personal liability from entrepreneurs.  We cannot forget that these entrepreneurs are the clients of M&A transactions, and this new atmosphere means that they will require sound advice in which the M&A lawyer is capable of detecting the special features that must be consulted in order to eliminate or minimize risk.  No client can or should require his lawyer to be “encyclopedic” and to know everything, but clients do want him to know which specialist he can invite to join the team providing advice on the transaction.

It is here that I think the major differences are found.

To know about Mónica Martín and transactions that she has participated in, click here.

To know about the transactions the law firm Garrigues has participated in, click here. 

Eduardo Paulino fala do desenvolvimento do mercado M&A em Portugal

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Eduardo Paulino – sócio Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva e Associados

Desenvolve a sua atividade essencialmente em matéria de operações de fusão, aquisição e parceria, ofertas públicas de distribuição e de aquisição, project finance/parcerias público-privadas e privatizações. Tem igualmente experiência em matérias de direito bancário e financeiro e de compliance.

Com o fim de 2017 se aproximando, como avalia a performance do mercado de M&A em Portugal no decorrer do ano?

Contrariamente ao que eram as perspectivas mais pessimistas no final de 2016, considerando alguma incerteza residual no plano interno quanto à estabilidade da solução de governo e, em especial, a incerteza no plano internacional associado às vitórias eleitorais de projectos de matriz menos internacionalista e multilateral, o ano de 2017 tem vindo a ultrapassar as nossas melhores expectativas, não só em termos de número, mas também de valor das transacções.

Em 2017, o senhor teve uma atuação destacada em transações no setor bancário. Como vê as tendências e expectativas para esse sector em 2018?

O sector bancário português sofreu uma transformação radical em resultado da crise financeira internacional e, estou em crer, saiu consideravelmente robustecido do processo de ajustamento a que – tal como a generalidade dos sectores de actividade em Portugal – foi submetido. Em geral, os níveis de capitalização e de liquidez são agora muito mais confortáveis e genericamente alinhados com os de muitos bancos europeus.

Estabilizados os níveis de capital e liquidez principais bancos, num processo que se concluiu com a recapitalização da Caixa Geral de Depósitos e a alienação da maioria do capital do Novo Banco (que deixou de ser um banco de transição, com todas as limitações associadas à respectiva actividade), os maiores bancos nacionais continuam obrigados a prosseguir o esforço de reforço da rentabilidade, designadamente pelo aumento dos níveis eficiência (contando-se já em Portugal com alguns dos bancos mais eficientes na Europa), especialmente num ambiente social e político cada vez menos receptivo a políticas de contenção.

Neste contexto, considerando igualmente algumas medidas patrocinadas pelo Governo e pelo Banco de Portugal com vista à criação de uma “plataforma” que apoie o desenvolvimento deste tipo de processos, perspectiva-se que o esforço de redução da exposição dos principais bancos a activos não produtivos (“NPAs”) e, em especial, a créditos em situação de incumprimento (“NPLs”) contribua para a continuação de um volume cada vez mais significativo de actividade de alienação de carteiras de crédito.

É possível reconhecer alterações ou inovações nos últimos anos em relação às transações realizadas no sector?

Claramente. O enquadramento regulatório do sector obrigou a uma cuidadosa adaptação dos modelos de avaliação e isso levou também a uma diferente abordagem em todo o processo que leva à conclusão com sucesso uma transacção.

A densa floresta de regras aplicáveis à actividade (seja no que respeita a requisitos crescentes de capital e de “tipos” de capital regulatório, seja no que respeita à conformação da actividade das instituições financeiras e dos próprios produtos financeiros) exige um cuidado redobrado no planeamento, negociação e implementação de transacções neste sector, sendo absolutamente crucial o envolvimento desde a primeira fase de equipas multidisciplinares que permitam identificar e tratar tão cedo quanto possível factores de risco e incerteza, muitas vezes com efeitos muito relevantes em termos de valor e/ou reputação.

O senhor tem participado em processos de ofertas públicas e particulares de capital, ações e de dívida, bem como OPAs, sendo a mais recente a oferta de aquisição sobre as ações do Montepio realizada pela Associação Mutualista. Poderia fazer um panorama de quais são os maiores desafios ao atuar nessas transações, levando em consideração as particularidades do mercado de capitais português?

O mercado de capitais atingiu níveis razoavelmente altos de integração no espaço europeu, não só no plano do enquadramento regulatório, mas também na prática de mercado, não sendo ousado dizer que, em geral, as operações que envolvem emitentes nacionais tendem a decorrer de acordo com o que de melhor e mais sofisticado se faz internacionalmente.

Permanecem, porém, alguns desafios, em especial no que respeita à necessidade de reforçar a imagem de clareza e previsibilidade na actuação de alguns dos agentes do mercado, bem como, em geral, a credibilidade do nosso mercado depois de alguns eventos geradores de incerteza (e de perdas relevantes para investidores nacionais e internacionais), o que levará ainda algum tempo a atingir definitivamente.

Quais cenários ou tendências já podem ser identificados no mercado de M&A em Portugal para 2018, e quais sectores possuem, na sua opinião, maior potencial de crescimento?

Apesar de algumas ameaças e incertezas, as perspectivas genericamente favoráveis da generalidade da comunidade de investidores com relação ao ambiente económico português têm vindo a contribuir significativamente para que diversos investidores que tradicionalmente não considerariam investir em Portugal tenham incluído o país no seu ”radar” e as expectativas de que o processo de normalização do “rating” da República Portuguesa para níveis ditos de “grau de investimento”, que poderá trazer melhorias na capacidade de financiamento do Estado e, directa e indirectamente, das empresas, permitem que mantenha o optimismo quanto à manutenção desta situação de crescimento por mais alguns trimestres, em especial nos sectores da energia e do imobiliário, que têm revelado um forte dinamismo nos meses recentes.

Leia mais sobre as transações de Eduardo Paulino aqui. 

Saiba sobre as transações do escritório Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva e Associados aqui.

Partner at MLGTS, Eduardo Paulino’s main areas of practice include capital markets, company and corporate law and banking and finance, focusing on M&A, public offerings, project finance and privatisations.

With 2017 drawing to a close, how would you rate the performance of the M&A market during the year?

In contrast to the more pessimistic perspectives at the end of 2016, owing to a certain degree of residual uncertainty on an internal level as to the stability of the government’s solution and, especially, uncertainty on the international stage following electoral victories of less internationalist and multilateral projects, 2017 has exceeded our most optimistic expectations, not only in terms of number also in terms of transaction value.

In 2017, you were extensively involved in banking sector transactions. What is your view of the trends and expectations for this sector in 2018?

The Portuguese banking sector has undergone radical transformation as a result of the international financial crisis and, in my view, like Portuguese sectors of activity in general, it has exited the adjustment process to which it was subjected considerably stronger. Generally speaking, capitalisation and liquidity levels are now far more comfortable and in line with those of many European banks.

Now that the capital and liquidity levels of the main banks have been stabilised in a process that was finalised with the recapitalisation of Caixa Geral de Depósitos and the sale of the majority of the capital of Novo Banco (which is no longer a bridge bank, with all the inherent restrictions on its activity), the largest national banks are still obliged to work towards boosting profitability, specifically by increasing efficiency levels (although Portugal already has some of the most efficient banks in Europe), particularly in a socio-political environment which is becoming increasingly less receptive to austerity policies.

Within this context, and also taking into account certain measures sponsored by the Government and the Bank of Portugal with a view to creating a “platform” that will support the development of this kind of process, it is expected that the work towards reducing the exposure of the main banks to non-performing assets “NPAs”) and, especially, to non-performing loans (“NPLs”), will contribute to increasingly more significant sales of credit portfolios.

Have there been recognizable changes or innovations in recent years in relation to transactions conducted in the sector?

Certainly. The regulatory framework for the sector called for a careful adaptation of valuation models and this also brought about a different approach in the entire process that leads to successful completion of a transaction.

The litany of rules governing the activity (whether with respect to growing equity requirements and classes of regulatory capital, or to shaping the activity of financial institutions and financial products themselves) requires redoubled care in the planning, negotiation and implementation of transactions in this sector. It is absolutely crucial that multidisciplinary teams are involved from the early stages so as to enable possible risk and uncertainty factors, which very frequently have very significant effects in terms of value and/or reputation, to be identified and addressed as quickly as possible.

You have taken part in public and private capital offerings, share and debt operations, as well as takeover bids, with the most recent being the offer made by the Mutual Association for the acquisition of Montepio shares. Could you give us an overview of the major challenges involved in such transactions, given the particularities of the Portuguese capital market?

Capital markets have reached reasonably high levels of integration in Europe, not only in terms of the regulatory framework but also in terms of market practice. It would not be bold to say that, in general, operations involving national issuers tend to be carried out in line with the best and most sophisticated international operations.

Some challenges remain, however, especially with regard to the need to bolster the image of clarity and predictability in the actions of some market agents, as well as, in general, the credibility of our market in the wake of events that generated uncertainty (and significant losses for national and international investors), which will still take some time to achieve.

What scenarios and trends can already be identified in the M&A market in Portugal for 2018 and, in your opinion, which sectors have the greatest growth potential?

Despite some threats and uncertainties, the generally favourable perspectives of the community of investors that have a relationship with the Portuguese economic environment have been making a significant contribution to the fact that different investors who would not traditionally consider investing in Portugal have included the country on their “radar” while the expectations that the process of bringing the rating of the Portuguese Republic back to investment level, which could improve the ability of the State and, directly or indirectly, companies to arrange financing, enable continued optimism regarding the continuation of this growth for a few more quarters, especially in the energy and real estate sectors, which have proven to be very dynamic in recent months.

To know about Eduardo Paulino and his transactions, click here.

To read about the firm Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva e Associados and the transactions it has been involved in, click here. 

Mariano Ucar habla del sector farmacéutico en México (Es/En)

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Mariano Ucar– Socio de Cuatrecasas en México

Cuenta con amplia experiencia asesorando en operaciones complejas de fusiones y adquisiciones privadas, y en derecho mercantil y societario, así como en transacciones vinculadas en México y el resto de América Latina. Está especializado en los sectores farmacéutico, de la energía, transporte y telecomunicaciones.

Sr. Ucar ¿podría comenzar brindándonos una visión general de la situación del mercado transaccional mexicano hoy en día?

En mi opinión el mercado transaccional mexicano está razonablemente desarrollado, con excelentes agentes y profesionales, que conviven en algunos casos con asesores poco especializados. Estamos observando empresas internacionales del sector que se están estableciendo en México. Esta creciente competencia va a ayudar a un mayor desarrollo, profesionalidad, trasparencia, dinamismo y calidad en el mercado.

En cuanto al nivel de actividad, a principios de año había cierta precaución en el mercado a raíz de la elección de Trump y las medidas que podía aprobar, lo que ralentizó algo el mercado de M&A en México. Creo que esta precaución se ha disipado en gran medida y que hemos vuelto a un nivel de operaciones en línea con años anteriores.

Como experto en operaciones del sector farmacéutico, ¿qué peso considera que tiene actualmente dicho sector en la economía del país? ¿Cree que ha existido una evolución en cuanto al volumen de inversión en esta área en los últimos años? ¿Por qué?

El mercado farmacéutico mexicano está entre los primeros 15 del mundo, y es el segundo de América Latina. En proporción a la economía del país y su población es un mercado menor que en Europa, donde el gasto farmacéutico por habitante es muy superior y donde el sector representa un porcentaje más relevante de la economía de la zona.

México, como pasa en otros países de Latinoamérica, tiene un gasto farmacéutico público relativamente pequeño y un tipo de productos distinto a los mercados farmacéuticos maduros. Cuenta con poca presencia de productos crónicos y una proporción de productos de bajo costo como analgésicos y antibióticos mucho mayor. Esta proporción se irá corrigiendo a medida que la economía de México avance, aumente la clase media, y se vaya produciendo un paulatino envejecimiento de su población, lo que debería llevar a un crecimiento del sector a tasas superiores a la media mundial.

Estas buenas perspectivas hacen que exista un gran interés de las empresas farmacéuticas extranjeras en adquirir compañías del sector en México. En los últimos años hemos visto alguna operación relevante en el sector. El problema es que quedan muy pocas farmacéuticas mexicanas independientes con un tamaño y calidad interesante. Cuando se pongan a la venta, si se ponen, veremos un gran interés y múltiplos altos.

Por el contrario, existen un gran número de pequeñas compañías farmacéuticas por las que, aunque existe, el interés comprador es menor. Suelen ofrecer escasa calidad de producto cuando el mercado demanda cada día más productos innovadores. Cuentan también en ocasiones con problemas de cumplimiento regulatorio; algo difícil de detectar si no se realiza una due diligence on site profunda. Esta menor calidad de los activos, mayor riesgo y costes de ejecución proporcionalmente superiores en compañías de pequeño tamaño, reducen el interés comprador y las valoraciones. Los vendedores tienen muchas veces una idea de valor basada en los múltiplos publicados de las grandes operaciones, lo que dificulta el acuerdo en precio.

Sabemos que también tiene experiencia en el sector energético, son muchas las compañías extranjeras interesadas en realizar negocios en Latinoamérica ¿A qué cree que se debe este interés? ¿Considera que la legislación actualmente vigente facilita la relacionales comerciales internacionales?

La reforma energética llevada a cabo por México ha sido clave. La liberalización del sector ha traído un volumen considerable de inversión que de otra forma no se hubiese destinado al mercado mexicano. Esta inversión va a incrementar la producción en México y reducir los costes de la energía de una manera relevante. Es algo que ahora no se está percibiendo, pero que se verá cuando los proyectos se pongan en producción. Esto es algo clave. Una reducción de los costes energéticos hará más competitiva la economía mexicana, especialmente en aquellos sectores más dependientes de los costes energéticos.

La trasparencia y objetividad con la que se han realizado las diferentes rondas también ha ayudado significativamente a que se incremente el interés inversor en el sector, al proyectar una imagen de seriedad del país y reducir así la percepción de riesgo país. Creo no obstante que se debería profundizar en la reforma para consolidarla, simplificar algunos procedimientos y regulación, y ajustar algunos problemas que se han podido identificar durante la aplicación del actual marco legal.

En cuanto a joint venture, otra de sus áreas de actuación, ¿podría explicarnos brevemente qué razones motivan a las sociedades para la constitución de este tipo de alianzas? ¿Cuáles son las ventajas que consiguen y/o qué barreras les resulta más fácil flanquear?

Aparte de lo obvio, que una joint-venture sirve para unir a empresas con diferentes capacidades (económicas, tecnológicas, comerciales, etc.) para desarrollar un proyecto común que, por sí solas, no podrían o les resultaría más difícil acometer, las joint-ventures sirven en muchas ocasiones también como forma de establecerse en una nueva jurisdicción.

Empresas con clientes, tecnología o una cartera de productos de calidad en sus jurisdicciones de origen ven las joint-ventures con un socio local como una forma de sumar a sus capacidades una presencia y conocimiento de la jurisdicción donde se implantan, fundamental en muchas ocasiones para iniciar operaciones.

Si bien son muchas las ventajas, se debe ser consciente de los problemas que puede acarrear una sociedad conjunta. En ocasiones las expectativas iniciales no se cumplen o la diferente cultura de cada empresa dificulta el trabajo conjunto. Es importante por ello realizar un análisis profundo y sincero de las expectativas y capacidades propias y de tu socio antes de iniciar el proyecto, y prever en el contrato una hoja de ruta que permita a ambos socios una salida razonable en el supuesto de que el proyecto no salga como se esperaba.

En su trayectoria profesional también ha prestado asesoramiento a compañías españolas, según su experiencia ¿En qué punto se encuentran las relaciones bilaterales en materia de negocios entre España y México? ¿Cree que sería positivo promover más su interactuación?

Las relaciones entre España y México se encuentran en un momento excelente. España es el segundo mayor inversor en México después de EEUU, y México se ha convertido en los últimos años en un inversor muy relevante en España y uno de los destinos preferidos por los mexicanos para sus inversiones. Existe un gran interés mutuo entre ambos países, relaciones comerciales muy fluidas y una muy considerable presencia de empresas españolas en sectores muy relevantes de la economía mexicana. México también está adquiriendo una presencia destacable en España.

En nuestro despacho hemos estado presentes en varias operaciones cross-border entre México y España en sectores tan diversos como la energía, infraestructuras, restauración, hotelero, inmobiliario y farmacéutico. Recibimos constantemente inversores interesados en explorar potenciales transacciones entre ambos países. Los españoles nos sentimos muy cómodos en México y creo que al contrario ocurre lo mismo. Tenemos un idioma que nos une y elementos culturales comunes que nos acercan.

Creo que las instituciones están realizando un muy buen trabajo para promover esta interactuación. En este sentido, sería muy positivo si se alcanzase a firmar dentro de esta legislatura el nuevo tratado de libre comercio entre México y la Unión Europea. Sabemos que los representantes de ambas partes negociadoras están trabajando intensamente para lograrlo.

Mariano Ucar– partner at the law firm Cuatrecasas in México

He has extensive experience advising on complex private mergers and acquisitions, on trade and corporate law, and on related transactions in Mexico and the rest of Latin America. He specializes in the pharmaceutical, energy, transport, and telecommunications industries.

Mr. Ucar, could you start by providing us with an overview of the current situation of the Mexican transactional market?

In my view, the Mexican transactional market is reasonably developed, with excellent agents and professionals, who sometimes coexist with non-specialized advisors. We are seeing that international companies from the sector are establishing themselves in Mexico. This growing competition will encourage greater development, professionalism, transparency, dynamism, and quality in the market.

As for the activity level, early this year the market was cautious after Trump’s election and the measures that he might approved, which somewhat slowed down the M&A in Mexico. I believe that this precaution has dissipated to a large extent, and we have returned to an operations level in line with previous years.

As an expert in pharmaceutical industry transactions, what weight do you think this sector currently has on the Mexican economy? Do you think there has been an evolution in terms of the investment volume in this area in recent years? Why?

The Mexican pharmaceutical market ranks among the top 15 in the world, and is the second largest in Latin America. Proportionally to the Mexican economy and population, it is a smaller market than that in Europe, where pharmaceutical expenditure per person is much higher, and where the industry represents a much larger percentage of the local economy.

Mexico, like other Latin American countries, has a relatively small public pharmaceutical expenditure, and different product types from those in mature pharmaceutical markets. It has a low presence of chronic products and a much larger proportion of low-cost products such as painkillers and antibiotics. This proportion will be gradually corrected as the Mexican economy advances, the middle class grows, and its population gradually ages, which should lead to sector growth at a higher rate than the world average.

These good prospects mean that foreign pharmaceutical companies have great interest in acquiring Mexican companies in the industry. In recent years, we have seen some large transactions in the sector. The problem is that there are very few Mexican independent pharma companies left of interesting size and quality. When they go on sale (if they go on sale), we will see a great interest and high figures.

By contrast, there are many small pharma companies that generate much lower interest in buying, even though it exists. They usually offer a low-quality product, when the market is increasingly demanding innovative products. Sometimes they also have regulatory compliance issues, something that is hard to detect if an in-depth on-site due diligence process is not conducted. This lower quality assets, higher risk, and proportionally higher execution costs in small companies reduce the interest in buying and appraisals. Sellers often have an idea of their value based on the published figures for large transactions, which makes it difficult to agree on the price.

We know that you also have experience in the energy industry. Many foreign companies are interested in doing business in Latin America. What do you think is the reason for that interest? Do you think that the legislation currently in force facilitates international trade relations?

The energy reform carried out by Mexico has been crucial. The liberalization of the industry has attracted a significant volume of investment that would have otherwise not focused on the Mexican market. This investment will increase production in Mexico and significantly reduce energy costs. This is something that is not being perceived right now, but will be perceived when the projects start to produce. This is crucial. A reduction of energy costs will make the Mexican economy more competitive, particularly in those sectors that are most dependent on energy costs.

The transparency and objectivity with which the various investment rounds have taken place have also significantly contributed to the increase in investors’ interest in the industry, by projecting an image of Mexico as a serious country, thus reducing its perceived risk.

However, I believe that the reform should be more in-depth in order to be consolidated, by simplifying some procedures and regulations and adjusting some problems identified in the application of the current legal framework.

As for joint ventures, another one of your fields of expertise, could you briefly explain what motivates companies to establish this kind of alliance? What advantages do they achieve and what barriers do they find easier to overcome?

In addition to the obvious -the fact that a joint venture brings together companies with different capacities (e.g., financial, technological, commercial) to develop a joint project that they would be unable or would find harder to execute by themselves, joint ventures often also serve as a way to become established in a new jurisdiction.

Companies with customers, technology, or a quality product portfolio in their jurisdictions of origin see joint ventures with a local partner as a way to add a presence and knowledge of the jurisdiction in which they are establishing themselves to their capacities, something that is often crucial to initiate operations.

Although there are many benefits, we should keep in mind the problems that can be generated by a joint venture. Sometimes initial expectations are not met, or each company’s different culture hinders joint work. For this reason, it is important to conduct an in-depth, honest analysis of your own and your partner’s expectations and capacities before the project starts, establishing a roadmap in the agreement that provides the partners with a reasonable exit, should the project not turn out as expected.

Over your professional career, you have also advised Spanish companies. In your experience, where are bilateral business relations between Spain and Mexico at this poing? Do you think that promoting greater interaction would be positive?

Relations between Spain and Mexico are currently excellent. Spain is the second largest investor in Mexico after the United States, and Mexico has become in recent years a very strong investor in Spain and one of the preferred investments destinations for Mexicans.

There is considerable mutual interest between both countries, very smooth trade relations, and a considerable presence of Spanish companies in very strong sectors of the Mexican economy. Mexico is also acquiring a strong presence in Spain. In our firm, we have taken part in several cross-border transactions between Mexico and Spain, in such diverse sectors as energy, infrastructures, catering, hospitality, real estate, and pharma. We constantly meet with investors who are interested in exploring potential transactions between both countries.

Spaniards are very comfortable in Mexico, and vice versa. We are linked by a common language and culture that bring us together. I believe that institutions are doing a great work promoting this interaction. In this respect, it would be very positive if the new free trade agreement between Mexico and the European Union could be signed during this term of office. We know that the representatives of both parties in the negotiations are working hard to achieve it.

 

Carlos Lobo fala da economia do Brasil na área de fusões e aquisições

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Carlos Lobo é sócio do Veirano Advogados e atua principalmente nas áreas de fusões e aquisições, private equity e mercado de capitais. Lobo fala com a TTR sobre a economia brasileira em relação ao mercado de fusões e aquisições

Com o fim de 2017 se aproximando, poderia nos dar uma visão geral do estado atual do mercado brasileiro de fusões e aquisições? Como avalia a performance de 2017?

O ano de 2017 me pareceu um ano bem mais ativo que 2016. O ano passado foi impactado negativamente pela paralisia provocada pelo processo de impeachment e a crise econômica. Este ano, apesar de um ambiente político ainda bastante instável, temos um cenário macro econômico mais favorável e as perspectivas são positivas, de uma recuperação gradual. Isto tem contribuído para melhorar o humor dos investidores, principalmente os estrangeiros, animando-os para fazer investimentos de longo prazo.

Em paralelo, temos uma situação em que grandes empresas estatais e conglomerados nacionais estão em situação financeira bastante difícil, como resultado da operação Lava Jato, dos anos de recessão e do aperto no crédito. Esta situação está impulsionando um amplo processo de venda de ativos que só encontra paralelo nas privatizações da década de 90. A oferta de bons ativos a preços atrativos está contribuindo de forma significativa para impulsionar o mercado de fusões e aquisições

O senhor possui vasta experiência na assessoria a emissores e subscritores em IPOs, follow-ons e emissão de títulos de dívidas em mercados de capitais nacional e internacional, do seu ponto de vista, qual a avaliação que pode ser feita do Mercado de Capitais brasileiro em 2017? E quais as expectativas para o próximo ano?

Estamos observando uma recuperação do mercado de capitais este ano, com o número de ofertas superando de forma significativa os anos anteriores. Acredito que é uma consequência natural do início da recuperação econômica, ocasião em que as companhias voltam a ter necessidade de recursos para investir em crescimento e os investidores voltam a apostar no potencial de retorno do mercado e da economia brasileira.

Além disso, temos um fato novo, que a redução do papel do BNDES como financiador de grandes empresas. Com as limitações fiscais do atual governo, o mercado de dívida brasileiro volta desempenhar o seu papel de prover recursos de longo prazo para as empresas brasileiras. Vejo isto como uma tendência extremamente salutar para o dinamismo da nossa economia. Acredito que o próximo ano pode ser impactado pelo calendário eleitoral. Os investidores estão apostando que o próximo presidente será alguém alinhado com políticas mais conservadoras do ponto de vista fiscal e que busque estimular o investimento privado. Em se confirmando essa expectativa, podemos ter um ano bastante positivo. Caso contrário, espero um cenário de muita volatilidade.

Em 2017, o senhor teve uma atuação destacada em transações no setor de energia. Quão importante é este setor hoje para a economia brasileira? É possível reconhecer alterações ou inovações nos últimos anos em relação às transações realizadas no setor? Quais são as tendências para 2018?

O setor de energia sempre foi um setor de destaque na economia brasileira, tendo em vista sua importância estratégica para o crescimento do país. Atualmente, o setor está em evidência pela fase de transição que está passando. Estamos saindo de um modelo com forte presença estatal para um cenário em que novas empresas privadas e fundos de investimento, especialmente estrangeiros, ganham papel protagonista.

O aprimoramento do marco regulatório e a diversificação da matriz energética também contribuem para dar dinamismo a esse setor, estimulando operações de fusões e aquisições. Os recentes leilões de linhas de transmissão também trazem novos projetos para o mercado. Para o próximo ano vejo perspectivas bastante positivas. Alguns desinvestimentos bastante relevantes devem acontecer, mudando o perfil do setor no Brasil.

Após se tornarem os maiores investidores estrangeiros em fusões e aquisições no País, os chineses mantêm o apetite por ativos brasileiros e estiveram entre os maiores compradores dos leilões ligados ao setor de energia do governo federal. Acredita que esse apetite se manterá em 2018?

Acredito que sim. As empresas chinesas do setor de energia estão bem capitalizadas e tomaram a decisão estratégica de expandir para outros países. Nesse cenário, o Brasil tem se mostrado um país amigável, com marco regulatório moderno e um mercado em expansão. É natural que canalizem para cá seus investimentos.

É possível que estejamos ainda no início desse processo, já que os investimentos bem sucedidos feitos pelas líderes nacionais abrem caminho para outras empresas chinesas se interessarem pelo nosso mercado.

Acredita que em 2018 possa ocorrer uma intensificação das operações de M&A? Quais cenários ou tendências já podem ser identificados, e quais setores possuem, na sua opinião, maior potencial de crescimento?

Acredito que sim. Em se mantendo a tendência de recuperação da economia e com um cenário político mais estável, acredito que podemos esperar um ano bastante aquecido para fusões e aquisições. Devemos observar uma continuação de algumas tendências já manifestadas este ano, com empresas estatais e grandes conglomerados nacionais vendendo empresas relevantes para investidores estratégicos estrangeiros e fundos de private equity, principalmente dos EUA, Canadá, França, China e Japão. Setores que estão e devem continuar aquecidos incluem o setor de energia, infraestrutura, óleo e gás, educação, saúde, tecnologia e varejo.

Leia sobre as transações de Carlos Lobo aqui.

Para saber mais sobre o escritório Veirano Advogados, clicke aqui.

Rodrigo Rojas, socio de la firma González Calvillo (Español/English)

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Rodrigo Rojas, socio de la firma González Calvillo en México, ha participado y asesorado en múltiples transacciones durante los últimos 19 años. Su práctica se encuentra enfocada en el área bancaria, de financiamiento de proyectos y fusiones y adquisiciones, así como en el área corporativa y de inversiones extranjeras.

Sr. Rojas, en primer lugar, para ponernos en situación ¿podría hacernos un pequeño resumen de la situación del mercado de M&A en México actualmente en relación con ejercicios anteriores? 

Aunque la situación política y económica en México durante el ejercicio actual es compleja –por factores tanto internos como externos-, desde mi perspectiva, las transacciones del mercado de M&A en México han resurgido en fechas recientes y de manera importante. Pareciera que los jugadores del mercado comprenden que, por un lado, la situación política y económica no solo en México sino en el resto del mundo no puede ni debe detener los negocios y proyectos, y por el otro, que las reformas estructurales y de negocios emprendidas durante este sexenio han propiciado las condiciones para que el país sea una jurisdicción atractiva para los negocios.

Según su experiencia como asesor en operaciones de M&A relacionadas con el sector energético ¿qué importancia considera que tiene este segmento en la economía mexicana? ¿Ha percibido en los últimos años cambios en cuánto a las transacciones realizadas? 

No cabe duda de que, a raíz de la profunda reforma en el sector energético, éste se ha convertido quizá en el sector más activo y pujante en México. Por esta misma razón, las transacciones en materia energética se han vuelto ciertamente novedosas. La casi total apertura del sector y la gran cantidad de legislación primaria y secundaria emitida por las distintas instancias gubernamentales, han causado que las transacciones en materia energética contengan nuevos temas, aspectos y oportunidades, y también ha causado que los profesionales que nos desempeñamos de alguna u otra forma en el sector debamos reinventarnos y regresar al estudio constante y directo de esta materia.

También ha participado en la asesoría de operaciones Project Finance, ¿podría explicarnos brevemente el proceso para la obtención de financiación que siguen las empresas en México para el desarrollo de sus proyectos, así como la dificultad que entraña? ¿Han existido cambios, o cree usted que deberían producirse, para facilitar el acceso a este tipo de financiación?

El proceso de obtención de financiación para proyectos en México no es diametralmente distinto al de otras jurisdicciones, pero tiene sus particularidades. La forma en que se estructura y obtiene un financiamiento depende de diversas variables típicamente asociadas al proyecto específico y a sus participantes, pero en condiciones normales y en términos muy generales:

  • la empresa o consorcio en cuestión identifica el proyecto específico de que se trate, determinando si se trata de un proyecto derivado de procesos de licitación pública, asignación directa, procesos de asociación público-privada o proyectos de inversión privada sujetos a permiso o autorización gubernamental específica;
  • durante el proceso de asignación del proyecto, la empresa o consorcio (directamente o a través de asesores y estructuradores financieros y legales) acude a instituciones financieras nacionales o extranjeras (incluyendo, en su caso, banca de desarrollo) para determinar conjuntamente, entre otras cosas,  (i) el monto total de inversión requerido para el proyecto, (ii) el monto de inversión directa o indirecta de los socios del proyecto (equity) y el monto a financiarse, (iii) los términos y condiciones esenciales de plazo, pago, condiciones y obligaciones, y (iv) el esquema y mecanismo de garantías y pagos del financiamiento; y
  • durante o una vez concluido el proceso de asignación y autorización del proyecto, las instituciones financieras participantes y la empresa o consorcio negocian los documentos de crédito y garantía que forman parte del paquete de financiamiento, hasta su firma y hasta el eventual desembolso del financiamiento respectivo.

Desde luego que cada proceso es individual y único, y no puede pensarse que la estructuración y cierre de estos financiamientos es igual en cada caso.

Las dificultades más frecuentes en la estructuración de estas transacciones suelen ser, entre otras, la implementación adecuada de mecanismos de garantía sólidos, la obtención de autorizaciones gubernamentales relacionadas con los proyectos para permitir la adecuada implementación de los financiamientos, y la negociación de condiciones que permitan a los inversionistas materializar adecuadamente los beneficios buscados al participar en estos proyectos.

En épocas recientes y dado el importante flujo de proyectos de financiamiento en México, los documentos y modelos que conforman financiamiento de proyectos se han estandarizado hasta cierto punto. Sin embargo, sería un error concluir que esta estandarización parcial implica una recomendación a los participantes para evitar involucrar asesores financieros y legales experimentados que profundicen en los temas específicos, aunque en ocasiones esta pareciera ser una tendencia. Como hemos señalado, los profundos y constantes ajustes a la regulación aplicable naturalmente implican la necesidad de crear esquemas y procesos novedosos y adaptables a las necesidades específicas del proyecto de que se trate. En mi opinión, algunos ajustes en estos procesos que ayudarían al desarrollo de proyectos y a otorgar agilidad a los procesos de financiamiento de proyectos en México serían los siguientes:

  • Que la regulación aplicable a los proyectos de energía e infraestructura base su desarrollo en esquemas que permitan flexibilidad a los participantes en la financiación de los proyectos, haciendo a estos “bancables”; aunque ciertamente la regulación reciente intenta permitir la adecuada financiación de los proyectos, en muchas ocasiones las reglas son contradictorias, limitadas y/o no regulan de forma comprensiva los distintos escenarios posibles, y eso puede causar incertidumbre en los inversionistas y en las instituciones financieras participantes; y
  • Dada la gran cantidad de nuevos participantes en proyectos de energía en México, que las instituciones financieras flexibilicen sus procesos de aprobación y términos de financiamiento. Es verdad que con el paso del tiempo las instituciones financieras (incluyendo las extranjeras) han hecho esfuerzos importantes por modificar sus procesos para permitir mayor apertura a los proyectos que financian, pero en mi experiencia aún existe cierto retraso al respecto.

En lo que llevamos de año, sectores como el del transporte, la alimentación y el del agua y saneamiento, entre otros, también han registrado importantes transacciones ¿Cuál o cuáles de ellos cree que ha experimentado un mayor crecimiento en un periodo reciente? ¿Cuáles considera que han sido los motivos? 

Evidentemente el sector con mayor publicidad es el energético. Sin embargo, las reformas estructurales de la administración actual en ninguna forma se limitan a dicho sector. Además del energético, quizá el sector que más llama la atención es el de telecomunicaciones y transportes. Reformas profundas en estos sectores, además de la necesidad evidente de infraestructura de telecomunicaciones y transportes en México y la consecuente atención específica de la administración en turno a este sector, son las causas principales del incremento en transacciones en estos sectores en últimas fechas. Como ejemplo, recientemente se logró el financiamiento al proyecto “Red Compartida”, que es el primer proyecto público privado relevante en la industria de telecomunicaciones en México, por un monto aproximado de USD$1.9 mil millones, y que sin duda representa un hito en los proyectos de telecomunicaciones bajo la reforma del sector.

Siguiendo con la dinámica de la cuestión anterior, según su parecer ¿Qué sectores cree que tienen todavía un gran potencial de crecimiento? ¿Cuáles cree que en lo que resta de año e inicios del próximo podrían sorprendernos?

Creo que sin duda los proyectos en el sector energético y de infraestructura continuarán siendo los de mayor desarrollo, seguidos por transporte y telecomunicaciones. Como efecto de las multicitadas reformas, apenas estamos comenzando a materializar el enorme potencial de estos sectores.

Para leer sobre Rodrigo Rojas y sus transacciones, haz click aquí. 

Para saber de la firma González Calvillo, haz click aquí. 

Rodrigo Rojas is a partner at González Calvillo, S.C. Rodrigo has participated and advised in multiple transactions during the past 19 years. His main practice is in the banking, project finance and mergers & acquisitions areas, as well as in the areas of corporate and foreign investment.

Mr. Rojas, to begin with, could you give us an overview of the current state of the Mexican M&A market compared with previous years? 

Although the political and economic situation in Mexico during the current year is complex – as an effect of both domestic and foreign factors-, from my perspective, the M&A transactional market in Mexico has had an important resurgence in recent dates. It seems that the market players understand that, on the one hand, the world and Mexican political and economic situation must not and cannot stop business and projects, and on the other hand that the structural legal and business reforms ignited and performed during the current administration have fostered the conditions to make the country an attractive destination for business.

Based on your experience as an advisor in M&A transactions in the energy sector, how important is this sector in the Mexican economy? Have you perceived changes in the last few years regarding transactions made?

There is hardly an argument against the fact that the profound reform in the energy sector in Mexico has caused the latter to probably become the most active and burgeoning sector in the Mexican economy. For this same reason, transactions related to the energy sector have become quite innovative.  The practically complete opening of this sector to private investment and the vast amount of primary and secondary legislation that such opening has forced the Mexican governmental instances to enact has caused transactions related to the energy sector to be full of new areas, aspects and opportunities, and has also caused professionals that are in one way or another involved in this sector to reinvent themselves and return to direct and constant learning of these matters.

You have also been an advisor in Project Finance transactions: could you briefly explain the process followed by companies in Mexico to obtain funding to develop their projects, as well as the difficulties it poses? Have there been changes or do you think there should be changes to make that type of funding more accessible?

The process for obtaining project financing in Mexico is not substantially different to that from other jurisdictions, but it does have its peculiarities.  The way a financing is structured and closed depends on multiple variables typically associated with the specific project and its participants, but in normal conditions and in very general terms:

  • the relevant company or joint venture identifies the specific Project, determining whether such Project is associated with a public bidding or government procurement process, a direct award, public private partnerships (PPP) or private investment projects subject to government specific authorizations or permits;
  • during the awarding process of the project, the company or joint venture (directly or through financial and legal advisors and agents) seeks domestic or foreign financial institutions (including, if applicable, development banks and institutions) to jointly determine, amongst other aspects, (i) the total amount of the investment required for the project, (ii) the amount of direct or indirect investment for the partners of the project (equity) and the percentage of the total investment to be financed, (iii) the general terms and conditions of term, payment, covenants and conditions, and (iv) the financing’s payment, security packages and mechanisms; and
  • during or upon completion of the process of awarding and authorization of the project, the participating financial institutions and the company or joint venture negotiate and execute the relevant financing and security documents, until closing and disbursement of the financing.

Each process is obviously individual ad unique, and therefore it cannot be stated that the structuring and closing of these financings is the same in each case.

The most frequent difficulties found in the structuring of these transactions are usually, among others, the correct implementation of solid security packages and mechanisms, the timely and proper obtaining of governmental authorizations and clearances related to these projects that allow the functional implementation of the relevant financing, and the negotiation of conditions that allow investors to adequately materialize the benefits intended by investing in these projects.

In recent times and as a consequence of the relevant flow of project financings in Mexico, the models and documents conforming a project financing deal have been standardized to a certain degree. However, it would be a mistake to conclude that this partial standardization implies a recommendation to the relevant participants to avoid involving experienced financial and legal advisors that do make detailed work for specific matters, although this seems to be a tendency in certain cases.  As pointed out already, the profound and constant adjustment to the applicable rules naturally imply the need to create innovative schemes and processes that are adaptable to the specific circumstances of the project at hand.  In my opinion, a couple of adjustments to these processes that would aid development of the deals and would give agility to project financing in Mexico are the following:

  • That the regulation applicable to energy and investment projects is developed under a basis that allows flexibility to the participants in the financing of projects, so that the projects are indeed bankable; although recent regulation does intend to allow proper financing for projects, in many occasions the rules are incomplete, contradictory and/or do not regulate the different scenarios on a comprehensive manner, which can logically cause uncertainty for the investors and participating financial institutions; and
  • Considering the vast number of new participants in energy projects in Mexico, that the participating financial institutions make their approval processes and terms of financing more flexible. It is true that as time has passed the financial institutions (including foreign financial institutions) have made important efforts to modify their processes to allow greater participation and targets, but in my experience, there are still some barriers.

So far this year, sectors such as transport, food, and water and sanitation, among others, have registered significant transactions. Which of these underwent a greater growth in a recent period? What do you think were the reasons?

The energy sector is obviously the most publicized sector in recent times. However, the structural reforms of the current administration are in no way limited to such sector. Aside from energy, the sector that probably gains more attention is the telecommunications and transport areas. Profound reforms in these sectors, as well as the inevitable need to procure telecommunications and transport infrastructure in Mexico and the consequent specific attention of the current administration, are the main reasons of the increase in transactions related to these sectors lately. As an example, the implementation and closing of the “Red Compartida” project finance, which is the first relevant PPP project in the telecoms sector in Mexico, was completed for an amount of approximately USD$1.9 billion, and which without a doubt represents a turning point for telecom projects under relevant sector’s reform.

Following the previous question, in your opinion, which sectors still have high potential for growth? Which could surprise us in the rest of 2017 or at the beginning of 2018?

I believe, without a doubt, that projects in the energy sector and infrastructure in general will continue to be the ones of greater development, followed by projects in the telecommunications and transport sectors. We are only beginning to materialize the enormous potential of these sectors under the structural reforms.

To read more about Rodrigo Rojas and his transactions, click here.

To know about the law firm González Calvillo, click here.