Sabrena Silver
Biography
Overview
Sabrena has more than 20 years' experience in completing US domestic and cross-border financing transactions. She advises financial institutions and companies on complex financing transactions, including structured finance deals, acquisition financings, syndicated and bilateral loans, bridge loans, margin loans, investment grade loans, private equity and hedge fund financings, private banking transactions, debt restructurings, sovereign loans, trade financings, supplier financings, receivables purchases and non-performing loan (NPL) transactions.
Sabrena's broad international experience spans Europe, Asia and Latin America. She has a particular focus in Latin America, and has completed transactions in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru, as well as other Latin American jurisdictions.
Named by Chambers Global in 2022 as a Foreign Expert in Banking & Finance, Sabrena has led on many high-profile finance deals.
Experience
Representation of Citibank, Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and HSBC, as Lenders, in connection with a senior unsecured term loan provided to Nubank. The financing involved a three-year credit line in Mexican and Colombian pesos, in a total aggregate amount equivalent to US$650 million. The proceeds will be used for Nubank's expansion in Mexico and Colombia. Nubank is one of the largest financial institutions in Latin America and one of the fastest growing fintech companies in the world;
Representation of Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as sole Lead Arranger, in connection with a US$200 million senior unsecured term loan provided to Alicorp Uruguay S.R.L. and guaranteed by its parent company, Alicorp S.A.A.. Alicorp is the leading consumer goods company in Peru and one of the largest in Latin America;
Representation of the Lenders in connection with the restructuring of the financing among USAVFlow Limited, as Borrower, Avianca Holdings S.A. and its subsidiaries as guarantors and/or receivables sellers and the Lenders: in connection with the Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing of Avianca Holdings S.A. in May of 2020 amidst the historic airline industry disruption brought about by COVID-19;
Representation of Morgan Stanley, as lead arranger in connection with a US$125 million structured financing with Finsocial, a technology-based non-bank financial entity;
Representation of Bayport Management Ltd (BML), a leading emerging market financial services group, in connection with a US$200 million financing with US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), America's development bank, of their Mexico and Colombia operations;
Representation of Bayport Management Limited in connection with the restructuring of its South African business;
Representation of Wilmington Trust, N.A., as First Lien Agent and Second Lien Agent in connection with an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, which provides for the establishment of a second lien tranche of term loans and additional commitments of US$64.6 million to IBT Health S.A.C., a Peruvian company, for the purpose of financing the construction and maintenance of certain hospitals in Peru;
Representation Banco Santander, S.A. as Lender in connection with a US$100 million margin loan to Cementos Argos S.A., as Colombian Borrower, and Argos USA, LLC, as US Borrower. The loan is secured by shares in Grupo de Inversiones Suramericana SA and the proceeds of the loan will be used to finance the Borrowers' general corporate purposes;
Representation of The Bank of Nova Scotia as Lender with respect to its US$35 million unsecured loan to Hyundai Mobis Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.;
Representation of OPIC and Citibank in connection with a US$150 million unsecured loan to Banco Regional S.A.E.C.A.. The purpose of the financing was to finance new lending to small and medium enterprises of Banco Regional, with a particular focus on supporting women-led small and medium enterprises;
Representation of OPIC and Citibank in connection with a US$101.6 million loan facility to finance new lending to small and medium enterprise customers of Sudameris Bank S.A.E.C.A.;
Representation of Bayport Colombia S.A., a subsidiary of leading specialist credit provider Bayport Management Limited, in connection with its entry into a COP-denominated secured loan agreement of up to US$150 million through a Colombian trust established by Bayport Colombia S.A., as borrower, and a syndicate of leading international lenders;
Representation of Bayport Mexico (Financiera Fortaleza S.A. de C.V.), a subsidiary of leading specialist credit provider Bayport Management Limited, in connection with its entry into a MXN1.5 billion secured loan agreement with a syndicate of leading international lenders;
Representation of Joint Lead Arrangers and Bookrunners, and Scotiabank Peru S.A.A., as Administrative Agent in connection with Alicorp S.A.A.'s US$500 million senior unsecured bridge loan for the acquisition of Intradevco Industrial S.A.;
Representation of Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank,as lender, in connection with two separate bilateral facilities to finance the Argentine operations of Pan American Energy, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (PAE). The first was a US$12 million senior unsecured term loan facility for Parque Eólico del Sur S.A., an Argentine subsidiary of PAE, as borrower, with PAE acting as the guarantor, to be used to finance the construction of a 24.15 MW wind power project in the Province of Chubut in Argentina. The second was a US$38 million senior unsecured term loan facility for Pan American Energy LLC, Argentine Branch to be used for general corporate purposes; an
Representation of a leading global financial institution in connection with multiple domestic and international margin loans, for a broad range of borrowers in the US, Latin America, Europe and Asia, secured by US listed shares or American depositary receipts (ADRs) and non-US listed shares.
Co-author, "Acquisition Finance in Latin America: Navigating Diverse Legal Complexities in the Region", International Comparative Legal Guide, April 2020
Co-author, "Acquisition Finance in Latin America: Navigating Diverse Legal Complexities in the Region", International Comparative Legal Guide, April 2019
Co-author, "Acquisition Finance in Latin America: Navigating Diverse Legal Complexities in the Region", International Comparative Legal Guide, April 2018
Co-author, "Acquisition Finance in Latin America: Navigating Diverse Legal Complexities in the Region", LSTA 2018 Loan Market Chronicle, February 2018
Co-author, "US Country Report in the IFLR Cross-Border Financing Report 2014", International Financial Law Review, September 2014
Co-author, "Margin rules create smoother squeeze-outs", International Financial Law Review, May 2014
Author, "Let's Talk Margin Stock", Latin Lawyer, May 2013
Co-author, "How Can a Hedge Fund Investor Pledge Its Hedge Fund Interest as Collateral for a Loan Without Obtaining the Consent of the Hedge Fund's Manager or General Partner?", The Hedge Fund Law Report, June 2010
Leading Individual, Banking & Finance, Legal 500 Latin America, 2023
Banking & Finance: Foreign Expert, Chambers Global 2020 - 2022
GC Powerlist, Mexico, The Legal 500, 2017, 2018 and 2019
Leading Individual, Banking and Finance, Chambers Latin America, 2016 - 2022
Rising Star, IFLR1000 Leading Lawyer, 2022