Matías Zegers focuses his practice on Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Governance and is considered one of the most experienced lawyers at Venture Capital in Chile, having advised local and foreign clients, both funds and large-scale ventures.
He is a reference at the local level of good Corporate Governance practices, advising leading national companies in different matters related to this subject, such as manuals, directors’ responsibilities, boards and committees, their evaluation, among others.
He has also participated in various purchase and sale operations of both open and closed companies, both domestic and foreign. He has also participated in Public Offers of Acquisition of Shares of diverse companies, privatization of electric and sanitary companies in Latin America, bond issues and commercial bills in the local market and in international markets, both registered and unregistered, representing fundamentally the issuers, and financing in the energy area.
Employment History
- Partner, 2006 to date
- Other majors chilean firms, 1993-2001 / 2003-2006
- Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, 2002-2003
Experience
M&A:
- Colbún: Advise on the acquisition of Efizity, an energy solutions company.
- Cornershop – Cencosud: Advise Cornershop on a long term Framework Agreement for Commercial Collaboration, in which the parties agreed an strategic alliance which will allows consumers to access, through the platform developed by Cornershop, to an important variety of products offered by Cencosud S.A. in the different countries in which it operates.
- Arch Daily: Advise the client on the sale of its digital architecture platform “ArchDaily” with operations in Chile, Mexico, USA, Hong Kong and China to the Swiss company, Architonic AG.
- Cornershop and Uber: Advise on the acquisition of a majority percentage of Cornershop by Uber.
- CarbonFree Chile SpA: Advise on the acquisition of more than 19 solar plant projects.
- Accionistas de Cornershop (Chile – México): Advise on the potential sale of Cornershop to Walmart (US$ 225 million).
- The Coca Cola Company – Andina – Embonor (USA – Chile): Advise on the purchase of 100% of Comercializadora Novaverde S.A.- “Guallarauco” (USD $80 million).
Venture Capital:
- Khosla Ventures: Reinvestment of the client through Khosla Ventures Aguamarina Holdings, LLC, in the Chilean company Aguamarina SpA.
- Odd Industries: Advise the client on the first round of the US$2 million Seed Round investment, which was held by four Chilean investors.
- FIP Fen Ventures II: Advise the client, an investment fund, which has a credit line with Corfo, in all the matters related with the daily functioning of the fund, including its relationship with CORFO.
- Praxis Biotech SpA: A California-based company focused in the development of biotechnology for the pharmaceutical sector, in its establishment in Chile and in a corporate reorganization with the United States company.
- Soluciones en Mineria y Energia SPA (Zyght): Advise in a Series A investment by VC firm Inversur
- GeneproDX Chile SpA: In the negotiation, structuring and closing of a Series Seed financing round by Inmobiliaria Las Agatas Limitada and Empresas UC S.A. (investment company of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile).
Corporate Governance:
- Empresas Copec S.A.: In creating its corporate governance structure, policies and framework.
- Empresas CMPC S.A.: In creating its corporate governance structure, policies and framework, as well as defining certain positions within the organization and its scope.
- Brotec S.A.: In creating its corporate governance structure, policies and framework, including new board composition and family protocol.
- Subsecretaria de Prevision Social: In creating a corporate governance framework for institutions which manage labor benefits.
- Viña Concha y Toro S.A.: In creating its corporate governance structure, policies and framework.
- Transelec: In creating its corporate governance structure, policies and framework.
- Colbun S.A.: In creating its corporate governance structure, policies and framework.
- SB Group: In creating its corporate governance structure, policies and framework.
- Board of directors of Agunsa: In determining the sale scheme of an entire line of business to Hamburg Sud jointly with its related company CCNI.
- Several listed companies: In processes of board evaluation, corporate governance policies and compliance programs.
Financing:
- CarbonFree Chile SpA: Finance the acquisition and/or development, construction, commissioning, testing, start-up, operation and maintenance of a portfolio of projects consisting of several photovoltaic solar energy projects with an aggregate capacity, once fully constructed and operational, of approximately 225 MW located in Chile. The lender was Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas.
- Oaktree Capital Management L.P.: Advise the client, as a creditor of Tranche A, for US$1,300,000,000, for the DIP (“Debtor-in-Possession”) Financing Contract in Latin America.
- Giddings Fruit S.A.: Assisted the client, as borrower, in a financing agreement governed by New York law called “Note Purchase and Guarantee Agreement” (“NPA”), by means of which certain foreign investors, as lenders, acquired promissory notes (“Notes”) that Giddings Fruit S.A. issued with the purpose of finance several corporate matters of Giddings Fruit S.A. and its subsidiaries, located in Chile, Mexico, Peru, United States of America, England and China.
- Itaú Corpbanca, Banco de Crédito del Perú S.A.S y Banco BICE: Advise the clients, as lenders, for the loan facility granted to three Atlantica Yield´s entities (Transmisora Baquedano S.A., Transmisora Mejillones S.A. and Palmucho S.A.) for the refinancing of two of the borrower´s debt governed under the laws of New York. In addition, advise for new investments necessary for the proper functioning of the acquired electric transmission line located at Vicuña, Chile.
- Banco BICE: Advise the client in the opening of the credit line for the issuance of the performance guarantees required by Sacyr Chile S.A. to guarantee the obligations derived from the construction contract with Sociedad Concesionaria Américo Vespucio Oriente S.A.; Assist Banco BICE in the drafting and execution of a Loan Agreement with BTG Pactual and Banco Internacional, in which the parties agreed on a collection and/or restitution mechanism pari passu for the issued Performance Obligations
- Colegios Federico Froebel S.A.: Counsel to the client as borrower for a loan facility granted by Banco Security for new infrastructure investments of the Las Condes and Chicureo educational establishments of the Deutsche Schule and for the pre-payment and termination of a precedent real estate leasing with Banco de Chile.
Energy
- Solarcentury Chile SpA: Advise the client submitted an offer in the bidding process carried out by the Ministry of National Assets, to obtain a concession of public lands for the development of three solar energy projects.
Admissions
- Chile (1995)
Recognitions
- Chambers – Global (Corporate and M&A 2019 – 2020)
- Chambers – Latam (Corporate and M&A 2019 – 2020 – 2021)
- Legal 500 (Corporate and M&A including compliance 2018, Corporate and M&A 2019 – 2021, Banking and Finance 2019 – 2021, Latin America: International Firms – Corporate and M&A 2019, Capital Markets 2021, Venture Capital 2021)
- IFLR 1000 (Practice Area: Capital Markets 2019 – 2020, Practice Area: Private Equity 2019 – 2020, Practice Area: M&A 2019 – 2020)
- Best Lawyers (Corporate and M&A Law 2019 – 2020, Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice 2019 – 2020, Private Equity Law 2020, Venture Capital Law 2019 – 2020)
- Latin Lawyer 250 (Corporate and M&A 2019 – 2020, Anticorruption investigation and compliance 2019 – 2020, Banking and Finance 2019 – 2020, Corporate Governance 2019 – 2020)
- LACCA Approved (Capital Markets 2019 – 2020 – 2021)
- Leaders League (Private Equity – Startups & Innovation – Excellent 2020, Banking and Finance – Recommended 2020, Corporate and M&A – Highly Recommended 2020)
- Latin Lawyer National (Corporate and M&A 2019 – 2020, Anticorruption investigations and compliance 2019 – 2020, Corporate Governance 2019 – 2020, Banking and Finance 2019 – 2020)
Languages
- Spanish and English
Education
- Law, School of Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 1994
- LL.M, School of Law, The University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), 2002
- Visiting Scholar Stanford University, 2016-2017
Academic Activity
- Professor of Commercial Law, School of Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 1997-present
- Professor of Mergers and Acquisitions in postgraduate program, School of Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- Professor of Corporate Governance in postgraduate program, School of Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
- Director of the Department of Commercial, Economic and Tax Law, School of Law, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2009-2019
- Executive Chaiman of the Corporate Governance Center UC, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2009 to date
- Visiting Scholar, School of Law, Standford University, 2016-2017
Membership
- Chilean Bar Association
- International Bar Association (“IBA”)
- Member of the Latin American Roundtable in Corporate Governance, OECD
- Member of the Task Force for Related Party Transactions, OECD
- Member of the Chilean American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) Finance and Capital Markets Committee
Pro Bono
Director in Fundación Carlos Vial Espantoso
Publications
- “Notas sobre la evolución del derecho societario en Chile” (co-author with Roberto Guerrero), Ed. Marcial Pons, 2019
- “Análisis del Primer Intento de Imponer Autorregulación sobre Gobierno Corporativo en Chile: Resultado de un oxímoron”. Co-author with Eduardo Walker and Maria Paz Godoy, to be published in Revista Chilena de Derecho
- “Grupos Empresariales e Información: ¿Es un Privilegio de los Directores del Controlador?”, Business Law Studies, Thomson Reuter, 2018
- “Existe un Deber de Cuidado Particular Para Los Directores Independientes”, Business Law Studies, UC Editions, 2017
- “Principio de Confianza en la Información presentada por la Sociedad a la Luz del Deber de Cuidado de los Directores”, Business Law Studies, Thomson Reuters, 2014
- “Manual sobre Derecho de Sociedades”, Ediciones UC, First Edition, 2014. Co-authored with Roberto Guerrero V.
- “Gobierno Corporativo en Latinoamérica: Un análisis comparativo entre Brasil, Chile, Colombia y México.” Research sponsored by the Instituto de Empresa, Madrid, Spain, December 2013. Co-authored with Josefina Consiglio
- “Interés social, Deber de Lealtad de los Directores y Conflictos de Interés en Empresas Multinacionales: Un análisis comparado con la Legislación de los Estados Unidos de América”, Chilean Law Gazette, Vol.31 N°2, 2004. Co-authored
- Getting the Deal Through, Corporate Governance, 2017 – 2018 – 2019
- Getting the Deal Through, Securities Finance, 2011 – 2012 – 2013 – 2014 – 2015 – 2017
News
- Latam Airlines consigue crédito DIP para enfrentar la crisis (Lex Latin – October 30, 2020)
- Voy a México: La nueva ruta de las startups (DF Mas – October 25, 2020)
- Los abogados de los emprendedores (DF Mas – October 11, 2020)
- Leading Lawyers elige a los abogados más influyentes y prometedores (Diario Financiero – October 6, 2020)
- Pandemia acelera actividad de capital de riesgo, pero expertos advierten trabas (Diario Financiero – September 8, 2020)
- Cornershop crea una alianza con Cencosud en Chile (Lex Latin – September 4, 2020)
- Los abogados tras el acuerdo de Cornershop y Cencosud (Diario Financiero – August 16, 2020)
- Latin Lawyer Elite 2020 (Latin Lawyer, August 13, 2020)
- TTR DealMaker Q&A with DLA Piper Partner Matías Zegers (TTR, August 10, 2020)
- Solarcentury adquiere terrenos del Gobierno chileno para tres parques solares (July 27, 2020)
- Venta de Cornershop a Uber sortea la valla de la FNE y solo resta la aprobación de México (Pulso – May 30, 2020)
- Architonic compra ArchDaily para crear la mayor plataforma de arquitectura en línea (Lex Latin – May 26, 2020)
- Los últimos movimientos de Cornershop para ganar ante la FNE (Pulso – May 24, 2020)
- Directorios y COVID: Meter la nariz, ¿y las manos? (El Mercurio – May 19, 2020)
- Fondos de capital de riesgo aseguran que industria chilena seguirá creciendo y vaticinan más “exits” de emprendimientos locales (El Mercurio – May 14, 2020)
- El comienzo de una nueva era entre ArchDaily y Architonic: sus protagonistas adelantan retos y planes de la fusión de ambas plataformas (El Mercurio – May 7, 2020)
- Giddings Fruit obtiene recursos para financiar compra de activos (Lex Latin – March 9, 2020)
- CarbonFree obtiene financiamiento para proyectos solares en Chile (Lex Latin – March 2, 2020)
- Best Lawyers 2020: baja presencia de mujeres marca última entrega de guía legal para Chile (Diario Financiero – December 3, 2019)
- Mazars y CGC UC reúnen a directores y analizan desafíos del contexto actual (Diario Financiero – November 18, 2019)
- Uber triunfa donde no pudo Walmart y compra participación en Cornershop (Lex Latin – November 14, 2019)
- Expertos enjuician plan de Luksic en sueldos: inviable para pymes y debe pasar por directorios (El Mercurio – October 25, 2019)
- La trastienda del acuerdo y los escenarios que enfrenta la compra de Cornershop a manos de Uber (El Mercurio – October 14, 2019)
- El equipo especialista en capital de riesgo detrás de la operación en Chile (Diario Financiero – October 14, 2019)
- Uber aceleraría expansión de Cornershop con su compra y app podría desembarcar en Europa (El Mercurio – October 12, 2019)
- Uber enciende el mercado del delivery con anuncio de ingreso a propiedad de Cornershop (Pulso – October 12, 2019)
- El quién es quién del mundo legal en Chile, según el ranking especializado Leaders League (Diario Financiero – September 24, 2019)
- Grenergy refuerza estrategia de rotación de activos en Chile con la venta de 27 plantas solares (Lex Latin – September 10, 2019)
- Matías Zegers, abogado de Cornershop (Revista Capital – August 30, 2019)
- Nuevo director en Link Capital Partners Administradora General de Fondos (Estrategia Online – August 21, 2019)
- Selina’s Expansion of operations in Chile (Global Chronicle – August 2, 2019)
- Selina llega a Chile con la ayuda de Grupo Patio (Lex Latin – August 1, 2019)
- Abogado de Cornershop: “Los grandes patrimonios deben atreverse a asumir más riesgos” (Diario Financiero – July 29, 2019)
- Matías Zegers: “Hoy las compañías se reúnen directamente con autoridades, porque está regulado y es público” (El Mercurio – July 21, 2019)
- Atlantica gets syndicated loan for Chilean transmission line (Latin Lawyer – July 19, 2019)
- Centro de Gobierno Corporativo UC y Mazars desarrollarán ciclo de conversaciones para comités de directores (Diario Financiero – June 24, 2019)
- Ser o parecer: Regulación en Gobierno Corporativo (El Mercurio – April 29, 2019)
- Enel Américas afirma que alza de capital no es una operación entre partes relacionadas (El Mercurio – March 1, 2019)