Professional Summary
Mauricio Salgueiro is a highly skilled transactional attorney specializing in banking and finance, corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, start-ups, and project finance. With extensive experience in both local and cross-border transactions, he provides practical and innovative solutions for complex legal matters.
Recognized for his active role in negotiations, in-depth knowledge of financial systems, and ability to structure high-impact projects, Mauricio has been instrumental in advancing economic growth in Paraguay and the region.
Mauricio has played a pivotal role in high-profile transactions. He advised Atome Paraguay S.A.E. on the development of a 145 MW green hydrogen and ammonia plant, managing critical aspects such as securing Paraguay’s largest PPA for an industrial user, negotiating free trade zone agreements, structuring tax plans, and obtaining environmental authorizations for the USD 500 million project. This work underscores his ability to navigate complex regulatory and corporate challenges in the renewable energy sector.
He also contributed to Paraguay’s first public-private partnership (PPP) project for the USD 250 million financing and operation of Route PY02. Acting as an advisor to IDB and IDB Invest, Mauricio oversaw structuring, refinancing, and construction, setting a benchmark for infrastructure financing in Paraguay. In the energy sector, he supported President Energy Paraguay S.A. in oil and gas exploration, including managing government relations and a strategic alliance with Taiwan’s OPIC for a USD 100 million project, marking a milestone in resource exploration initiatives.
Mauricio has proven track record of advising startups and technology companies. Known for providing strategic and innovative legal guidance, Mauricio has become a trusted advisor to leading players in Paraguay’s startup ecosystem, including Prex, Reva, Morphware, Mobi Latam, Mas Money, and Helpers.
With extensive experience in venture capital transactions, corporate structuring, and cross-border deals, Mauricio has been instrumental in supporting the growth and success of some of the region’s most dynamic and forward-thinking businesses.
Representative Transactions
Banking & Finance
- Advising IDB and IDB Invest in a USD 240 million refinancing to Rutas del Este S.A. by way of a Section 4(a)(2) private placement under US Law in connection with the public partnership in Paraguay for the construction, refurbishing, and maintenance of Route PY02 (2021).
- Advising IDB and IDB Invest, as guarantors and lenders, in the long-term financing of the Public-Private Partnership Project for the construction, refurbishing, management, and operation of Routes 2 and 7 for an amount of USD 200 Million (2019).
- Advising Atome Energy PLC as sponsor to a USD 500 project financing to set up a 145 MW world-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production plant in Villeta, Paraguay
- Advised the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (US DFC) together with JPMorgan and Citibank N.A. in several onlending transactions to Paraguayan financial institutions.
- Advising the Moisés Bertoni Foundation, custodian of the Mbaracayú Forest Nature Reserve (over 60,000 hectares of protected forests), on the restructuring of its endowment.
- Advising Sudameris Bank as arranger and lender of a secured syndicated loan facility of USD 100 million for the construction of a cement factory – Cecon (2020).
- Advising Citibank N.A., as arranger and lender, in the structuring and execution of a secured syndicated loan of USD 75 million for the construction and development of an ethanol processing plant for INPASA del Paraguay S.A., secured with offtake and property pledges and mortgages (2019).
- Advised IDB Invest on financing Paraguay’s first public-private partnership (PPP) project for USD 500 million, constructing and managing key national routes.
- Advised Citibank N.A. on a USD 130 million syndicated loan for the acquisition of Petrobras assets in Paraguay, the largest acquisition financing in Paraguayan history.
Capital Markets
- Advising BofA Securities Inc. as sole book-runner and manager in Frigorífico Concepción’s USD 300 million, 7.7% senior secured notes due 2028, and the repurchase of its USD 161 million, 10.25% senior secured notes due 2025.
- Advising Millicom’s local subsidiary (Telefónica Celular del Paraguay S.A.E.) in the first private bond issuance by a corporate in Paraguay for USD 300 million, 6.750% Senior Notes due 2022 (2013), and subsequent issuances totaling USD 600 million, including 5.875% Senior Notes due 2027 (2018) and further retap for USD 250 million (2019)
- Advising Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Itaú BBA and Santander, as joint book-runners, in the Republic of Paraguay’s USD 225,858,000principal amount of a further issuance of the Republic’s 5,400% bonds due 2050 (2021)
- Advising Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Itaú BBA y Santander, as joint book-runners, in the Republic of Paraguay’s USD 600,000,000 principal amount of the Republic’s 2.739% bonds due 2033 (2021)
- Advising Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Itaú BBA y Santander, as dealer managers in connection with the repurchase of the Republic’s 4.625% bonds due 2023 for a maximum amount of USD 338,506,000, under Reg S/Rule 144A (2021)
- Advising Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Itaú BBA and Morgan Stanley, as joint book-runners, in the Republic of Paraguay’s USD 500 million 5.400% bonds due 2050, under Reg S/Rule 144A (2020)
- Advising Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Itaú BBA, Citigroup and Santander, as joint book-runners, in the Republic of Paraguay’s USD 1 billion 4.950% bonds due 2031, under Reg S/Rule 144A (2020)
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Advising Industrias Creativas ON S.A.E.C.A. (Grupo ICON) on corporate restructuring and the merger by absorption of Koga, Brandon, YN, Viento Sur, and Miut, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and simplifying governance.
- Advised Mas Money in securing an investment from ITTI S.A.E.C.A. (2024).
- Advised on the purchase of Domenica S.A., an oil drilling operator, by Molecular Energies PLC (2023).
- Advised Torrecom Partners LP in acquiring 100% of the local companies of Grupo Innovattel: Torresce Paraguay S.A. and Torredevel Paraguay S.A. (2021).
- Advised BBVA Group in selling 100% of its shares in BBVA Paraguay S.A. to Banco GNB (2019).
- Advised Empresa Distribuidora Especializada in its corporate reorganization for the sale of 100% of its shares to Distribuidora Gloria S.A. (2020).
- Advised Gunvor Group Ltd. on the sale of its 40% stake in Monte Alegre S.A. (2023).
- Advised Pharma Industries on acquiring a 50% stake in a local pharmaceutical laboratory to develop, process, and export cannabis oil (cannabidiol) and its subsequent corporate restructuring (2018).
Professional Affiliations
- Paraguayan Bar Association
- Columbia Alumni Association
Professional Philosophy
Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion. – Michael Jordan
Leadership
- Director of the Paraguayan Venture Capital Association – Parcapy
- Mentor for the InnovandoPY program, organized by the Ministry of Information and Communication Technologies (MITIC)
- Mentor for the Tribu Program, developed by the Startup Lab of the Polytechnic Faculty at the National University of Asunción
Education
- LL.M., Columbia University, New York, 2017
- Abogado (cum laude), National University of Asunción, Paraguay, 2014
Languages
- Spanish
- English
Awards & Recognitions
Ranked in:
- Chambers & Partners Latin America
- Chambers & Partners Global
- IFLR1000
- The Legal 500
