KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Richard Beattie, chairman, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

With a growing demand for capital, the promise of high returns, stronger regulatory frameworks and better exit opportunities, Latin American nations are proving to be increasingly attractive options for private equity funds. Little surprise, then, that mega-funds and their smaller rivals are focusing more and more investment in the region.

But while investor appetite is growing, Latin America remains a diverse region with varying approaches to regulation and very different risk profiles. Brazil may be the current hot spot, but could moves towards stronger regulation there be a threat to investment? How can counsel help funds guard against the risks posed in under-represented economies, like Central America? Can funds formed and based in the region form more flexible investment plans, and how can counsel help structure those?

Latin Lawyer's Private Equity Conference 2010 offers a unique opportunity to answer these questions and more, and investigate the trends in investment, regulation, fund formation and exits across the region. Leading professionals from law firms, funds, banks and elsewhere, from the US and from across Latin America, will contribute to the debate, providing their specialist knowledge in a practical and approachable style.

Chair: Todd Crider, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Keynote speaker: Dick Beattie, chairman, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Speakers:

Nicolas Aguzin, CEO Latin America, JP Morgan

Horacio Bernardes-Neto, Xavier, Bernardes, Bragança, Sociedade de Advogados

Pedro Campos, Angra Partners

Richard Cooper, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Eduardo de Alba, Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega

Jean Michel Enriquez, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, SC

Carlos Fradique-Mendez, Brigard & Urrutia Abogados

Pablo Guerrero, Barros & Errázuriz Abogados

Ricardo Kanitz, Ocroma Investments

Luis Nicolau, Ritch Mueller SC

Adil Haque, Apax Partners

Luis Lora, Palladium Equity Partners

Daniel Pine, Marathon Asset Management

Jose Eduardo Queiroz, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados

Federico Ravazzani, Eton Park Managament

Alberto Rebaza, Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas Abogados Financieros

Marc Rossell, Chadbourne & Parke

George Sampas, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP

Martin Sanchez, head of Latin American M&A, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Glenn Sarno, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Diego Serrano Redonnet, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites, Arntsen & Martínez de Hoz (h)

Ann Beth Stebbins, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

Henry Sztutman, Pinheiro Neto Advogados

8-8.30am - arrival and registration

8:30am - Welcoming remarks

Todd Crider, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Clare Bolton, Latin Lawyer

• The Northern and Southern hemispheres - convergence or divergence?

In separate panels, bankers and lawyers present their outlook for the private equity industry in the region, commenting on whether the business and legal trends for private equity between the emerging and developed worlds are growing together, or apart.

The banking panel

8.45am Nicolas Aguzin, CEO Latin America at JP Morgan, presents his view on the state of play for private equity in the region.

9am – 10am A panel of bankers from the US and from Latin America present a discussion session on the differences in market behaviour between the two hemispheres, as well as differences in identifying targets and financing in the region and beyond.

Nicolas Aguzin, CEO Latin America, JP Morgan, US
Pedro Campos, Angra Partners, Brazil
Adil Haque, Apax Partners, US
Ricardo Kanitz, Ocroma Investments, Brazil
Luis Lora, Palladium Equity Partners

The legal panel

10 – 11am This panel will respond to the trends and ideas raised by the bankers, and provide updates on the legal framework for making private equity deals happen across the region, including governance issues, shareholder arrangements, enforceability, dispute resolution and exit strategies.

Richard Cooper, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, US
Henry Sztutman, Pinheiro Neto Advogados, Brazil
Alberto Rebaza, Rebaza, Alcázar & De Las Casas Abogados Financieros, Peru
Carlos Fradique-Mendez, Brigard & Urrutia Abogados, Colombia

COFFEE BREAK – 11 - 11.30am

• 11.30- 12.30pm - Regulatory outlook and fund formation

As the pendulum internationally swings towards greater regulation of the private equity industry, how are these trends playing out in the major jurisdictions in Latin America? Will the global economic crisis prompt more state involvement in the local economies, even though these nations escaped the worst of the downturn? What are the protocols for fund formation in those countries, and what structures are available for raising capital?

George Sampas, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, US
Jose Eduardo Queiroz, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr e Quiroga Advogados, Brazil
Pablo Guerrero, Barros & Errázuriz Abogados, Chile
Luis Nicolau, Ritch Mueller SC, Mexico
Glenn Sarno, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, US

LUNCH 12:30 - 1:30pm

1.30pm - KEYNOTE SPEECH - RICHARD BEATTIE, CHAIRMAN, SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

• 2pm – 3 pm Making deals happen in Brazil

Brazil may be the darling of regional private equity investment at the moment, but it remains a complex jurisdiction in which to make deals happen, requiring detailed knowledge of the environment to ensure safe and profitable investments. This panel of noted Brazilian private equity lawyers and bankers discuss a case study of a deal, negotiating how it would work, and noting how to avoid key pitfalls.

Horacio Bernardes Neto, Xavier, Bernardes, Bragança, Sociedade de Advogados, Brazil
Daniel Pine, Marathon Asset Management, US
Martin Sanchez, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, US
Ricardo Kanitz, Ocroma Investments, Brazil
Ann Beth Stebbins, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, US

3 – 3.15pm COFFEE BREAK

• 3.15- 4pm The next hot spots

Latin America offers investors a range of opportunities, including those with very good returns in less obvious jurisdictions. In this panel, leading lawyers from some of those countries describe the outlook for private equity, including key sectors for investment, the legal framework, and tips for helping funds structure strong deals with high returns.

Marc Rossell, Chadbourne & Parke LLP
Federico Ravazzani, Eton Park Management
Jean Michel Enriquez, Creel, García-Cuéllar, Aiza y Enríquez, SC, Mexico
Diego Serrano Redonnet, Pérez Alati, Grondona, Benites,Arntsen & Martínez de Hoz (h), Argentina
Eduardo de Alba, Arias, Fábrega & Fábrega, Panama

4pm CLOSE

Sponsors and media partners

Media partner: Getting the Deal Through

The Getting The Deal Through series provides international comparative guides to law and regulation in 43 practice areas and more than 100 jurisdictions. The guides contain concise explanations to the most important legal and regulatory matters that arise in business deals and disputes worldwide.

The Private Equity guide is split into two key areas - Fund Formation and Transactions - which both feature Casey Cogut of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP as the contributing editor.

Media partner: Who's Who Legal