We advise the International and Local Placement Agents on the exchange offer and international issuance of bonds for new funds from Edenor for US$183,789,286
Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (Edenor), Argentina’s largest electricity distribution company, issued Class 7 Notes denominated and payable in U.S. dollars, at a fixed annual nominal interest rate of 9.75% and maturing on October 24, 2030 (the “New Notes”), under its global issuance program of up to US$750 million (or its equivalent in other currencies) authorized by the Argentine Securities Commission (CNV).
The issuance of the New Notes was conducted pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act and structured through concurrent offers: on the one hand, a New Notes offering to be subscribed in U.S. dollars (the “New Notes Offering”), and on the other hand, an exchange offer through an in-kind contribution of Class 1 Notes at a 9.75% fixed annual nominal interest rate and maturing on May 12, 2025, previously issued by Edenor (the “Exchange Offer”).
As part of the New Notes Offering and the Exchange Offer, Edenor issued New Notes for an aggregate principal amount of U.S.$183,789,286, having achieved substantial investor confidence with a participation rate of 85.12% in the Exchange Offer.
The New Notes are listed on the Official List of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and traded on its Euro MTF Market, as well as on Bolsas y Mercados Argentinos S.A. and Mercado Abierto Electrónico S.A.
Banco BTG Pactual S.A. – Cayman Branch, BCP Securities, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., and UBS Securities LLC acted as global coordinators and joint book-runners in the New Notes Offering (the “Initial Purchasers”) and as international dealer managers in the Exchange Offer (the “International Dealer Managers”). Balanz Capital Valores S.A.U., Global Valores S.A., and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Argentina) S.A.U. acted as local placement agents in the New Notes Offering (the “Local Placement Agents”), while Balanz Capital Valores S.A.U. and Global Valores S.A. acted as Argentine dealer managers in the Exchange Offer (the “Local Dealer Managers”).
The Bank of New York Mellon acted as Trustee, Co-Registrar, Principal Paying Agent, and Transfer Agent under the Indenture (as supplemented from time to time) entered into with Edenor andBanco de Valores S.A. acting as Representative of the Trustee in Argentina, Registrar, Transfer Agent, and Paying Agent in Argentina.
Legal Advisors to Edenor under U.S. law
DLA Piper Argentina, through its New York Desk, acted as legal counsel to Edenor under U.S. law, with a team comprising Managing Partner Marcelo Etchebarne, Partners Christopher Paci (DLA Piper US) and Joaquín Eppens Echagüe, and Associate Daiana Suk.
Legal Advisors to Edenor under Argentine law
DLA Piper Argentina also acted as legal counsel to Edenor under Argentine law, with a team led by Partner Alejandro Noblía, and Associates Federico Vieyra and Mariana Carbajo.
In-House Legal Advisors to Edenor
Edenor’s in-house legal team included María José Pérez Van Morlegan (Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs), Federico Ponelli (Legal Advisory Manager), and Sabrina Belén Hernández (Senior Counsel).
Legal Advisors to the Initial Purchasers, the Local Placement Agents, and the International and Local Dealer Managers under U.S. law
Clifford Chance US LLP acted as legal advisor to the Initial Purchasers, the Local Placement Agents and the International and Local Dealer Managers under U.S. law, through its team led by Partner Hugo F. Triaca and Associates Fernando Liu, David Rondon, and Cristian Ragucci.
Legal Advisors to the Initial Purchasers, the Local Placement Agents, and the International and Local Dealer Managers under Argentine law
Bruchou & Funes de Rioja‘s Banking & Capital Markets Department acted as legal counsel to the Initial Purchasers, the Local Placement Agents and the International and Local Dealer Managers under Argentine law, through its team led by Partner Alejandro Perelsztein and Associates Pedro María Azumendi, Malena Tarrío, and Teo Panich.
Legal Advisors to the Trustee, Co-Registrar, Principal Paying Agent, and Transfer Agent
Reed Smith LLP acted as legal counsel to the Trustee, Co-Registrar, Principal Paying Agent, and Transfer Agent, with a team led by Partner Adam Solowsky.