MEXICO CITY – June 12, 2015 – Shareholder Juan Manuel González and Of Counsel Pedro Reséndez in the Mexico City office of international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, as well as members of the firm’s Global Energy & Infrastructure Practice, joined discussions with leaders at the 11th Annual Mexican Energy and Infrastructure Finance Forum.
Due to energy deregulation and growing infrastructure demand in Mexico, this year’s sessions focused on identifying the best financing strategies to maximize deal value for the Mexican market and explored better integration between the United States and Mexico. Discussions included the implications associated with cross-border energy and infrastructure deals.
Mr. González moderated the panel that discussed,“Afore participation in energy and infrastructure financing: Analyzing different CKD models and requirements.” The panel focused on how Afore, Mexico’s pension fund, can use its assets known as Certificados de Capital de Desarrollo (“Structured Equity Securities” or “CKDs”) as investment vehicles to finance energy and infrastructure projects, including the evolution of CKD offerings and the regulatory amendments to date.
Mr. Reséndez delivered opening remarks on “Navigating uncertainty and planning ahead for electricity projects.” His speech addressed the challenges and opportunities of renewable energy and electricity projects within Mexico’s new regulatory framework.
The Mexican Energy and Infrastructure Finance Forum, which is hosted by IJGlobal and Euromoney Seminars, provides a venue for advancing innovative thinking around the financing of Mexican energy and infrastructure projects. Each year, the forum gathers senior-level executives from the region’s leading banks, corporations, government entities, private equity and infrastructure funds, law firms, energy and infrastructure developers, institutional investors, and other strategic advisors.
Mr. González focuses his practice on capital markets and project finance related to various sectors in Mexico, including roads, hydraulic rail, waste management and health. He has actively participated in capital markets transactions since 2000, including equity landmark transactions, such as the registration of Citigroup in the Mexican Stock Exchanges, several ICA’s public offerings and HSBC tender offer for Banco Bital. On the debt capital market, he has participated in several corporate issuances, including Grupo Aeroportuario Centro Norte (OMA) and Bimbo and structure financing in the Mexican public markets toll roads securitizations; the 2010 "Deal of the Year" securitization of the State of Mexico Public Registry; as well as cross-border banking and securities transactions, including INFONAVIT’s first cross-border deal and the so-called Europesos issuances.
Mr. Reséndez focuses his practice on governmental affairs, assisting companies in the process of implementing and contracting infrastructure projects in Mexico and other Latin American countries. His experience includes the drafting and negotiation of legal reforms, bidding guidelines and contracts required for project development and project financing, as well as compliance with regulatory controls. He is experienced in dispute resolution procedures related to infrastructure projects involving arbitration, dispute boards, mediation and courts. He also has wide-ranging corporate experience, particularly with regard to the incorporation of commercial entities and negotiation of shareholder agreements, mergers and acquisitions. He advises construction companies, venture capital funds, energy companies and lenders seeking to invest in the oil and gas, and electricity industries in Latin America.