This full-service firm is a distinguished leader in banking and finance and commands a notable presence in the Chilean market. "Morales & Besa is one of the most frequent players in financing transactions," says one competitor....
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This full-service firm is a distinguished leader in banking and finance and commands a notable presence in the Chilean market. "Morales & Besa is one of the most frequent players in financing transactions," says one competitor. Another source notes, "They are normally involved in interesting deals in the financing area."
The Republic of Chile mandated the firm on two bond issuances, one denominated in US dollars valued at $1 billion and a second denominated in Chilean pesos valued at roughly $500 million. The latter issuance was noteworthy because it was the first time the government had issued a bond denominated in the country's national currency. The firm also helped Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (ENAP) establish a $6 billion-per-year currency cash management and purchase agreement with Banco Santander-Chile.
One rival remarks that Morales & Besa has a "good infrastructure practice". In September 2010, the firm assisted Cintra (Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte de Chile Limitada), a massive private developer of transport infrastructure, with its sale of a toll road concession. Cintra sold a 60% interest in the concession to ISA Interconexion Electrica in a $328 million transaction, which was complicated when February's earthquake damaged the highway after signing .
"Guillermo Morales is a very good lawyer," says one partner – a sentiment repeated by several in the market. "Morales is a very bright, very young attorney," says another.
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