The restructuring of Satélites Mexicanos, S.A. de C.V. (Satmex), a Mexican satellite operator, was recognized as a 2012 “Deal of the Year” by Latin Lawyer. Latham & Watkins LLP advised Jefferies as initial purchaser in the company’s offering of senior secured notes through a bankruptcy remote escrow subsidiary. Latin Lawyer’s award-winning deals are selected based on value, complexity and legal creativity, among other factors.
As one of the few options left for the company, the Satmex restructuring was described by lawyers as the "most complex and multifaceted ever implemented in Mexico." The successful offering, which was also recognized by Reuters as one of the largest debt deals in Mexico in 2011, partly financed the company’s exit from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, and was unique in that the bridge/bond exit financing was committed pre-filing and was also the first exit financing for a Latin American company through a bond offering. The Latham team was led by partners Marc Jaffe, Wesley Holmes and Mitchell Seider, with partners Jiyeon Lee-Lim and John Janka and associates Lewis Kneib, David Hammerman, Chase Leavitt, Mathew Davis-Ratner, Kevin Brogan, Katherine Page and Jarett Taubman.