White & Case wins “Banking & Finance Legal Advisor of the Year” and eight “Deal of the Year” awards at Global Banking & Markets Latin America Awards 2024

Global Banking & Markets has named global law firm White & Case LLP "Banking & Finance Legal Advisor of the Year" at its 2024 Global Banking & Markets Latin America Awards (formerly the Bonds, Loans & ESG Capital Markets Awards), which recognize "the most innovative and groundbreaking deals from Latin America and the Caribbean."

White & Case was also honored with the following eight "Deal of the Year" awards:

• Corporate Bond Deal of the Year: JBS US$2.5 billion dual-tranche bonds

  White & Case advised JBS, the world's largest meat processing company, on their US$2.5 billion issuance of senior unsecured dual-tranche bonds. The notes consist of US$1.6 billion in 6.75% senior notes due in 2034, and US$900 million in 7.25% senior notes due in 2053. The notes were offered under Rule 144A/Regulation S of the Securities Act of 1933.

• High Yield Bond Deal of the Year: Minerva Luxembourg US$1 billion bond offering

  White & Case advised Minerva Luxembourg SA on its US$1 billion bond offering. Minerva, one of Latin America's largest meat processors, plans to use the proceeds to purchase beef processing assets.

• Debut Corporate Bonds Deal of the Year: 3R Lux US$500 million issuance of 9.750% senior secured notes

  White & Case advised Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Banco BTG Pactual S.A. – Cayman Branch, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Itaú BBA USA Securities, Inc., Santander US Capital Markets LLC and UBS Securities LLC, as initial purchasers, on 3R's issuance of US$500 million 9.750% senior secured notes due 2031. The notes were issued by 3R Lux, a wholly owned subsidiary of 3R Petroleum Óleo e Gás S.A., one of the largest publicly listed independent oil & gas producers in Latin America in terms of production volume, which focuses on the redevelopment of mature oil & gas fields.

• M&A Loan Deal of the Year: Banobras and FONADIN US$6 billion acquisition financing of 13 power plants

  White & Case advised Banco Nacional de Obras y Servicios Públicos, Sociedad Nacional de Crédito, Institución de Banca de Desarrollo (Banobras) and Fondo Nacional de Infraestructura (FONADIN) on the approximately US$6 billion acquisition financing of a portfolio of 13 power plants, with an aggregate capacity of 8,500 MWs, acquired from Iberdrola by an acquisition trust managed by Mexico Infrastructure Partners FF, S.A.P.I. de C.V.

• Water & Utilities Deal of the Year: R$1.5 billion financing for landmark clean water and sanitation initiative

  White & Case advised Aegea Saneamento e Participações S.A., Águas do Rio 1 and Águas do Rio 4 concessionaires (jointly Águas do Rio) on a R$1.5 billion (approximately US$300 million) financing provided by IDB Invest, including a R$500 million (approximately US$100 million) guarantee from Proparco for the benefit of IDB Invest, to strengthen water and sanitation services in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This financing is part of the largest project financing in the sanitation sector in Brazil.

• Energy Transition Deal of the Year: Sonnedix's US$624 million acquisition and project financing of solar PV assets

  White & Case advised Sonnedix, a leading energy producer that is majority owned by institutional investors, on the US$624 million acquisition and project financing of a portfolio of utility-scale solar PV assets from Enel Chile.

• Transport Finance Deal of the Year: InfraBridge acquisition of electric bus-leasing businesses

  White & Case advised InfraBridge, formerly AMP Capital, on the acquisition of three new electric bus-leasing businesses in Santiago, Chile, and on the related incremental term loan and DSRA LC facilities of approximately US$187 million.

• M&A Deal of the Year: Casino Group and GPA sale of stake in Grupo Éxito

  White & Case advised French retail conglomerate Casino Group and its subsidiary, Brazilian food retailer Grupo Pão de Açúcar (GPA), on the sale of their combined 47% stake in Grupo Éxito, a leading retailer in South America, to El Salvador–based food retailer Grupo Calleja, for an aggregate amount of approximately US$550 million.

"We are thrilled to be recognized as Banking & Finance Legal Advisor of the Year and to receive eight Deal of the Year awards from Global Banking & Markets," said Christian Hansen, head of White & Case's Latin America Practice. "These awards highlight our team's unmatched experience in advising clients on their most innovative banking, capital markets, energy, infrastructure and M&A deals. They also reflect our unwavering commitment to expanding our market presence in Latin America. Congratulations to our clients and team for another outstanding year."