Talbert Navia
Recognized by Latinvex as a top 100 Lawyer in Latin America, Talbert is a seasoned attorney with more than 30 years of experience in transactions in the U.S. and Latin America. Taking time out from the practice of law, he founded and was co-head of investments for two private equity funds and a venture capital firm focused on U.S. and Latin America investments.
Key Matters
Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.
Representative Experience
- Represented A Colombian Company in a US$150M financing with MUFG.
- Represented Enel Chile, S.A. in connection with a credit facility provided by the European Investment Bank to finance the development, construction, and operation of multiple renewable energy generation and distribution projects by Enel in Chile as part of that country’s energy transition program with a guarantee provided by SACE S.p.A. Part of an overall agreement between EIB and Enel to develop green energy projects in Brazil, Peru, and Chile, with the support of SACE (Italian export credit agency). This transaction is an important example of cross-border support for the development of renewable energy production in Latin America.
- Represented Oria Fund III, L.P., a Brazilian venture capital fund that invests in B2B software companies.
- Representing Kapital Football Group in acquisition of Bordeaux.
- Represented Enel Chile, S.A. in connection with a confidential credit facility provided by the EIB.
- Enel Distribución Chile in its electricity receivables financing with the IDB Invest.
- Represented Total Play Telecommunications S.A. de C.V. (Total Play), based in Mexico in their US$45M bridge financing from Barclays.
- Represented Total Play Telecommunications S.A. de C.V. (Total Play) in connection with a confidential financing with Credit Suisse and five other banks.
- Represented Terold, a company owned by the Bemberg Family Group, a sixth-generation family business with deep experience in the wine and beverage industry, in its acquisition of a majority stake in California-based WX Brands, a leading global wine company. The Bemberg Family Group also owns Grupo Peñaflor, the leading winery in Argentina, accounting for 27% of Argentine wine exports. The acquisition by Terold of WX Brands is the result of several years of work on international expansion.
- Represented Sagoil Offshore Services S.A. de C.V. in its investments in Aethon III and Poco HoldCo, LLC.
- Represented Total Play Telecomunicaciones, S.A. de C.V., in connection with a Rule 144A/Regulation S offering of US$600M of notes due 2028 valued at US$600M.
- Represented Nueva Elektra del Milenio, S.A. de C.V. (“NEM”) and its parent, Grupo Elektra, S.A.B. de C.V., in an innovative “future flows” securitization financing involving interests in certain receivables related to personal money transfers from the U.S. to Mexico known as “remittances” processed by NEM’s money transfer business. US$500M of secured notes due 2028 were offered and sold by a special purpose entity in the U.S. under Rule 144A and outside the U.S. pursuant to Regulation S.
- Represented Total Play Telecomunicaciones S.A. de C.V. in connection with its offering of US$500M of notes pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Jefferies LLC and BCP Securities, LLC acted as initial purchasers of the notes. Total Play is a leading, high-growth Mexican telecommunications company dedicated to providing broadband, entertainment, and productivity services over the only 100% direct-to-home proprietary fiber-only network in Mexico.
- Represented Grupo Wiese, a consolidated economic and business group based in Peru, in connection with its sale of 98.04% of NISA Blindados S.A., which owns 14.76% of Hermes Transportes Blindados S.A., to CVC Group, an investment firm that seeks to invest in the commercial products, consumer durables, and retail sectors.
- Representing Pura Fibra, a Brazilian prebiotic / supplement water company, in expanding their operations into the US and related corporate matters.
- Representing Fazenda Futuro, the largest Brazilian plant-based meats company, in expanding their operations into the US and related corporate and labor matters.
- Represented Grupo Vilaseca—a multinational business group dedicated to developing products and services in the packaging, food, real estate, and supplies industries—in connection with the acquisition of Diana’s Bananas, a food company based in Chicago, Illinois.
- Represented Transportadora de Energía de Centroamérica S.A. (“TRECSA”), a subsidiary of Grupo Energia de Bogota (GEB), in connection with the negotiation and preparation of an amendment to a credit agreement between CITIBANK and Trecsa (the “Amendment”), including the issuance of an enforceability opinion in connection with the Amendment.
- Represented Pampa Energía, the obligors, in connection with a senior corporate loan to Greenwind S.A. by the IIC, and a syndicate of other senior lenders for the financing of the construction, operation, and maintenance of the El Corti wind farm and associated transmission facilities located near the city of Bahía Blanca, Argentina. This project was awarded “Power Finance Deal of the Year” by GFC Media in 2018.
- Represented EPM in the US$1B financing of the construction of the Ituango Hydroelectric Project in Medellín, Colombia. Financing provided by IIC, IDB and China Co-financing Fund for Latin America and the Caribbean. This project was nominated for LatinFinance’s 2019 "Project & Infrastructure Finance Awards" and is the largest renewable energy project in Colombia.
- Represented FDN in its US$1B joint venture with CDPQ to invest in energy and infrastructure projects in Colombia.
- Represented YPF, Argentina's national oil company, in capital markets offerings in excess of US$5B, financings, mergers and acquisitions, securities compliance and litigation matters.
- Represented Cornwall Capital Management LP in connection with the acquisition of mining rights in Colombia from Touchstone Gold Holdings S.A. and its affiliates.*
- Represented Innova Capital in its role as sponsor of a US$50M financing by Goldman Sachs in a tower development program for telecommunications in Colombia.*
- Represented U.S., European, and Latin American companies and investment funds in infrastructure and construction projects including energy plants, toll roads, airports, bridges, and tunnels in in the U.S. and Latin America.*
- Represented private equity and venture capital firms such as Southern Cross, LCatterton, Sur Capital, Siguler Guff, Alba Capital Partners, Tribeca Asset Management, Wamex, Latin Idea/LIV Capital, General American Capital Partners, Rio Bravo, Oria Capital, Performa Investimentos, Blue Caribbean, Tom’s Capital, and Miranda Capital, among others in the formation, capital raising, and mergers and acquisitions of the funds.*Represented U.S. companies in their investments outside the United States.*
- Represented and assisted entrepreneurs in capital raising, joint ventures, investments, and general corporate advice.*
- Represented underwriters in securities offerings of Latin America issuers in the United States.*
- Represented issuers throughout Latin America such as Nueva Elektra del Milenio, Total Play Telecomunicaciones, YPF, Camuzzi, IRSA, Cresud, EEB, Emgesa, among others in capital markets offerings in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.*
- Represented non-U.S. companies in their reorganizations.*