John Guzman
Biography
Overview
John's award-winning practice focuses on representing issuers and investment banks in debt and equity offerings, including initial public offerings, follow-ons, Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings and private placements. He regularly advises issuers and dealer managers in concurrent and stand-alone liability management exercises, and he has experience representing shareholders, companies and financial institutions in acquisitions, equity investments and sales transactions. His extensive experience spans general securities and corporate matters, including governance and compliance matters.
John worked for a year in White & Case's New York office before relocating to São Paulo in 2008. He is fluent in Portuguese, Spanish and English and works closely with companies looking to raise capital in Brazil and in other countries in Latin America, including Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Mexico.
Experience
Pulp company Shareholder stake sale
Representation of Votorantim Participacoes S.A., as selling shareholder, in the approximately US$11 billion sale of Fibria Celulose S.A. (NYSE: FBR), the world's largest producer of market pulp, to Suzano Papel e Celulose S.A. (OTCMKTS: SUZBY), the largest paper and pulp company in Latin America.
Award-winning Green Bond
Representation of the arrangers in the Rule 144A and Regulation S offer and sale of US$500 million 4.875% notes due 2027 by Klabin Finance S.A. a Luxembourg subsidiary of Klabin S.A. Klabin is the largest producer, exporter and recycler of packaging paper in Brazil and one of the largest integrated paper producers in Latin America. The notes proceeds were used to finance and/or refinance eligible green projects. This issuance was named Corporate High-Yield Bond of the Year 2017 by LatinFinance.
Award-winning Innovative Exchange Offer
Representation of U.S.J. – Açúcar e Álcool S.A. in an exchange offer and consent solicitation of its old notes for newly issued senior secured PIK toggle notes with an extended maturity. The exchange offer was innovative in Brazil in that USJ sought solicitation of approvals from an extrajudicial restructuring plan concurrently with the exchange offer. This exchange offer won Restructuring Deal of the Year 2016 from LatinFinance.
Significant Argentine IPO
Representation of Loma Negra, a leading cement company in Argentina, in its US$1.1 billion dual listing of American Depositary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange and ordinary shares on the Bolsas y Mercados Argentina (BYMA). This is the largest cement company IPO in history, the largest US IPO by a Latin American issuer in 2017 and the second-largest ever by an Argentine issuer. Loma Negra is part of a larger Brazilian cement company, InterCement.
Award-winning offering by Minerva
Representation of Minerva S.A., one of the largest Brazilian exporters of beef products, in connection with various debt and equity offerings as well as liability management exercises, including US$1.0 billion Rule 144A and Regulation S issuance which was named Corporate High-Yield Bond Deal of the Year 2016 by LatinFinance.
Republic of Peru Liability Management Transaction
John advised the Republic of Peru, as issuer, in a registered offering of 5.625% U.S. Dollar-Denominated Global Notes due 2050, a 144A and Regulation S offer and sale of 6.95% Bonos Soberanos due 2031 and concurrent cash tender offer that included a preferred tender for "switches". This was one of the few "switch" tender offers executed by a sovereign in Latin America.
Follow-On Offering by a Mexican Financial Institution
Representation of Grupo Financiero Banorte S.A.B. de C.V. (GFNorte), the third largest financial services group in Mexico, in its US$2.56 billion equity follow-on offering of common shares which were concurrently offered in Mexico through a public offering and the United States to qualified institutional buyers (as defined in Rule 144A) and outside the United States pursuant to Regulation S.
Award-winning Investment Grade Issuance
Representation of Braskem Netherlands Finance B.V., as issuer, on a Rule 144A and Regulation S offer and sale of US$500 million 3.500% notes due 2023 and US$1.25 billion 4.500% notes due 2028. The notes were guaranteed by Braskem S.A., the largest producer of thermoplastic resins in the Americas. This transaction was named Investment Grade Corporate Bond Deal of the Year 2017 by Bonds & Loans Latin America.
Offerings by the Votorantim Group
Over the past decade, John has advised the Votorantim Group on various debt offerings as well as liability management exercises.
Acquisition of Stake in Brazilian Education Company
Representation of a sovereign wealth fund in connection with its acquisition of a controlling stake in Abril Educação S.A., one of the largest primary and secondary education companies in Brazil.
John spoke at "DCM Day" at an event hosted by a large global financial institution in February 2018.
John presented on "Compliance and Investigations" at an event hosted by the Compliance and Risk Management Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce for Brazil (AMCHAM), October 2016, São Paulo.
John spoke as part of a panel at a Euromoney Conference event focused on Brazilian Energy and Infrastructure, November 2015, São Paulo.
Band 3 , Chambers Latin America, 2018
Brazil, Capital Markets: International
Recommended Lawyer in The Legal 500
