EMTA Special Seminar: Cuba – The New Frontier? (NY) - Dec. 8

EMTA SPECIAL SEMINAR: CUBA – THE NEW FRONTIER?
Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Sponsored by 

EMTA
360 Madison Avenue, 17th floor
(on 45th St. between Madison and 5th Aves.)
New York City 

This EMTA Special Seminar will provide analysis and commentary by a panel of experts on the prospects and challenges of doing business in Cuba.  Specific topics will include:  

A. What is the macro situation in Cuba?

B. What is the present state of international capital markets transactions in Cuba? 

• Kinds and volume of transactions? What are the attendant risks and how are they mitigated? Who are the Cuban participants? Who are their foreign counterparties? 
• What has been the recent track record of foreign investment in Cuba? Winners? Losers? Lessons learned? 
• Economic impediments: (i) lack of Cuban private capital formation, (ii) undeveloped private sector markets and (iii) forex capital and employment controls. 
• What areas of investment are most welcomed by the Government of Cuba? 
• What is the outlook for international capital markets transactions with Cuba if existing US government restrictions to be discussed are removed? 

C. What important impediments exist in the US and Cuba to US citizens and entities doing other business with Cuban citizens or entities? 

• Legal barriers: (i) Trading with the Enemy Act, Helms-Burton, and other sanctions laws and regulations, (ii) immigration laws, (iii) USA anti-money laundering regulations and (iv) questionable enforceability of property rights in Cuba. 
• Legal liabilities: (i) expropriated property claims of U.S. citizens and (ii) embargo damage claims of Cuba. 
• What commercial and financial relationships are presently permitted by US and Cuban law between citizens/entities of the two countries? 
• Cultural: variant attitudes vis-a-vis performance and enforcement of commercial agreements. 
• Political: bureaucratic resistance to state-owned companies. 
• Which impediments are likely to be removed/weakened during the next 4 years? 
• What is the outlook for foreign investment in Cuba if existing US government restrictions on the foregoing are removed? 

D. With reference to precedents in the political-economic evolution of Eastern Europe, Nicaragua and other countries, what is the likely path of transformation of the US-Cuba relationship?

11:45 a.m. Registration 

12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. Market Panel Discussion
Fernando Alvarez de la Viesca (TPCG Group) - Moderator
Rupert Clifford (Oxford Portfolio Advisors)
Sudeep Singh (Redux)
Augusto de la Torre (World Bank)

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Legal Panel Discussion
Danforth Newcomb (Shearman & Sterling) - Moderator
Julissa Reynoso (Chadbourne & Parke LLP)
Jason Poblete (Poblete Tamargo LLP)
James D. Whisenand (Whisenand & Turner P.A.)

Lunch will be provided 

Additional support provided by Capital Markets Financial Services, Inc. 

Registration fee for EMTA Members US$95 / US$695 for non-members.

REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT