Shearman & Sterling Partner Antonia Stolper Discusses Emerging Growth of Latin America's Capital Markets in an Exclusive LegalMindsTV Interview

New York, NY, May 4, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- While the U.S. and Europe have been facing significant economic challenges, growth in Latin American countries continues to exceed expectations.  After emerging from an economic slump in 2008-2009, the region’s economies grew at a rate of 6% in 2010 and continue to rise -- with the World Bank recently projecting 4-5% increases in 2011.

According to Antonia Stolper, a partner in the New York office of Shearman & Sterling LLP and head of the firm’s Latin America practice, "The impact of the current expansionary economic times in Latin America is having a range of important effects on our business and on the business of our clients.  As countries come out of the recession we are seeing the need to borrow, to issue equity, to raise money from the private equity markets, eagerness to do M&A transactions, to expand globally, and eagerness to invest throughout the chain."

In this exclusive LegalMindsTV interview, Ms. Stolper discusses the impact of Latin America’s growth on the global capital markets as the region has been investing in reducing its significant infrastructure deficit, taking advantage of an export boom - particularly in commodities sectors such as oil and gas, minerals and mining, and agricultural commodities - and benefiting from a strong banking system that has been the result of regulators watching many past crises and focusing on high liquidity and capital requirements.

Stolper also explores some of the key challenges for international companies and lending institutions working in the region -- from regulatory, environmental and social perspectives -- as well as private equity, M&A and public-private partnership opportunities.

Having dedicated a significant amount of her career on Latin America, Stolper observes that "what’s very exciting about the current investment boom is that it is focused on basic economic generating assets that both require a commitment to an investment horizon that’s many, many years long, as well as having economic benefits to the home country that’s many, many years long. That’s a positive spiral."

The interview can be viewed at http://legalminds.tv/stolper-latin-america-capital-markets and will also be published in the upcoming issue of LegalMinds® digital magazine, available at http://www.legalmindsmagazine.com.

About Shearman & Sterling LLP

Shearman & Sterling has been advising many of the world’s leading corporations and financial institutions, governments and governmental organizations for more than 135 years. The firm is committed to providing legal advice that is insightful and valuable to their clients, which has resulted in groundbreaking transactions in all major regions of the world.

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