CORPORATE AND M&A
Alcogal, as a mergers and acquisitions law firm in Panama, advises public and private corporations, financial institutions, investment banks, and government entities from around the world on almost any type of transaction or corporate matter. Our lawyers in Panama take a very pragmatic approach to our client’s needs: we seek to add value in any and every facet of our client’s businesses.
Our clients rely on our advice to help understand and assess these options and execute their most complex transactions.
Clients value our innovative approach and the high degree of individualized attention. Our goal is to deliver superior service, earn your trust and build our relationship.
Our knowledge and experience enable us to devise creative deal structures, win auctions, design acquisition and disposal programs and implement productive strategies for acquirers, sellers or acquisition targets.
Our Mergers and Acquisitions clients include leading multinationals and other corporations, major commercial and investment banks, private equity funds, entrepreneurs and smaller visionaries.
Our skilled team of corporate attorneys and professional staff advise on both domestic and international matters concerning, among others:
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Joint ventures
- Financial institutions
- Investment management.
- Natural resources, including energy
- Infrastructure
- Real estate
The firm’s M&A clients include:
- Public and private companies, ranging from multinational corporations to emerging companies
- Private equity and other financial sponsors, including venture capital and sovereign wealth funds
- Boards of directors and their special committees
- Financial advisors
Our Approach as a Mergers and Acquisitions law firm in Panama
Alcogal’s approach to M&A combines our corporate expertise with our deep understanding of regulated industries and our commercial approach. This combination enables our clients to structure their transactions most advantageously and with a view towards meeting their legal and business objectives.
Each client has access to Alcogal’s full resources, including industry expertise and substantive due diligence areas such as intellectual property, environmental, benefits, and tax with lawyers experienced in M&A processes and time demands.
Transactions
Alcogal continues to participate in most of Panama’s landmark business and financial transactions.
Representative transactions
- We advised Banco Panamá with its acquisition by Banco Aliado.
- We advised Grande Investment Corp. in the successful acquisition of a controlling interest.
- We advised Citigroup in the sale of its operations in Panama and Costa Rica to Scotiabank.
- We advised Banca de Inversión Bancolombia in the sale of the Soho Project.
- We advised Nord Anglia Education in its acquisition of The Metropolitan School of Panama.
- We advised The Bank of Nova Scotia in the sale of its subsidiary Panafinanzas, S.A.
- We advised Citibank, N.A. in the sale of Citibank (Panama) S.A. to The Bank of Nova Scotia.
- We advised The Bank of Nova Scotia in its acquisition of the substantially all of the assets and liabilities of BNP Paribas (Panama branch).
- We advised The Bank of Nova Scotia in its acquisition of the private banking and fiduciary activities of BNP Paribas Wealth Management (Panama branch).
- We advised Celsia S.A., E.S.P. as local counsel, in the acquisition of 51% of the issued and outstanding shares of Bahía Las Minas (the largest thermic power generator in Panama), as well as the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Alternergy, S.A., Suez Energy Central America, S.A. and Bontex, S.A., all property of Suez Energy International Luxembourg, a subsidiary of GDF Suez, for USD840 million, which is the largest private transaction in Panama in 2014.
- We advised Cable & Wireless Panama, S.A. in the acquisition of 12 corporations within Grupo Sonitel for USD41.3 million.
- We advised ICA in connection with all matters related to the construction of a ring road around Panama City.
- We advised Icatech Corporation in the sale of the Corredor Sur, one of the main highways of Panama City, to Empresa Nacional de Autopistas, S.A. (ENA), a government entity, for approximately USD420 million.
- We acted as local counsel to Equity International, a shareholder in the holding company Terranum Hotels S. de R.L, in the acquisition by this holding company of Decameron Hotels and six of its subsidiaries.
- We represented Julius Baer in Panama in relation to its global acquisition of Merrill Lynch’s International Wealth Management business (ex-US) from Bank of America.
- We represented OLAM International in its acquisition of several forestry assets throughout Panama.
- We represented Grupo Banistmo in HSBC’s acquisition of Banistmo for USD1.8 billion.
- We advised Spain’s Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA) in connection with the sale of its subsidiary bank in Panama to Colombia’s Grupo Aval.
- We represented Citibank on its acquisition of Grupo Cuscatlan for approximately USD1.4 billion.
- We represented Citibank on its acquisition of Grupo Financiero Uno for approximately USD1.3 billion.
- We advised a retail sector company in its incorporation of a strategic partner.
- We advised an international financial institution in its sale of its local broker dealer house.
