Jurisdiction Update: Brazil

Mike Lange, Esq.
March 9, 2018

By Mike Lange, Securities Litigation Counsel, Financial Recovery Technologies

“If You Build It, They Will Come”
– Field of Dreams (1989)

Last year Brazil was added to a list of countries for resolving securities fraud claims. Its addition was not voluntary. In the U.S. class action case against Petrobras, the Honorable Judge Rakoff dismissed fraud claims on behalf of the common and preferred shareholders, forcing them to Brazil for arbitration in accordance with company bylaws. Groups of institutions launched rounds of arbitration proceedings, which are ongoing.

Does this signal a broader uptick in Brazilian recovery efforts?
Similar to Petrobras, efforts are being made to organize institutions for arbitration in the wake of a corruption scandal at JBS SA; and last month Vannin Capital said it plans to fund more commercial arbitration matters in that country. Other funders will surely follow. However, it is unknown whether the commercial matters they fund will include securities arbitrations. They aren’t involved in Petrobras or JBS SA.

Conditions are conducive. Funders enable investors to participate in a fully contingent basis and insure against the risk of the adverse party (loser pays) cost-shifting. Arbitration proceedings and their outcomes are confidential, so there’s little risk of public disclosure, and parties typically don’t have to provide discovery or participate in person. However, foreign investors may have concerns about impartiality when they sue domestic companies.

Much will depend on the results in Petrobras. Counsel and their clients should be buoyed by the company’s recent efforts to put the scandal behind it. Petrobras has announced a $2.95 billion settlement of the U.S. class action which, if approved by the court, will make it the fifth-largest in history. The company previously settled the majority of individual U.S. ‘opt-out’ suits against it.

If the Brazilian arbitrations also yield positive outcomes, the answer should be yes: having built it, the funders will come.

Jurisdiction Risk Profile for Brazil
Given the risks associated with the arbitration in Brazil, this jurisdiction is considered medium-high and investors should proceed with caution.

• Costs: Low
• Discovery: Medium
• Anonymity: High

Recent Cases in Brazil

  • Petróleo Brasilerio S.A. (Petrobras): An investigation dubbed “Operation Car Wash” by local Brazilian law enforcement authorities alleges that former Petrobras executives falsely inflated the value of construction projects for their own profit and paid kickbacks to politicians. Numerous Petrobras executives, politicians, and contractors have been arrested and jailed, while the revelations of this scandal have caused significant declines in Petrobras’s securities prices and massive investor losses.
  • JBS S.A.: Between May 15 and May 22 of 2017, JBS’ stock prices plummeted 45% in response to news that its controlling stockholders had admitted to paying approximately $150 million in bribes to Brazilian politicians to bypass inspections and overlook the processing of rotten meat/operating plants with traces of salmonella. On May 31, 2017, the controlling stockholders agreed to pay about $3.2 billion in fines over a period of 25 years.

Related Information

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To learn more about this jurisdiction or about FRT’s Global Group Litigations services, contact your FRT representative or email us at learnmore@frtservices.com.

About FRT

U.S. CLAIMS  I  GLOBAL GROUP LITIGATION  I  ANTITRUST  I  LITIGATION MONITORING  I  BUYOUTS

Founded in 2008, Financial Recovery Technologies (FRT) is a leading technology-based services firm that helps the investment community identify eligibility, file claims and collect funds made available in securities and other class action settlements. Offering the most comprehensive range of claim filing and monitoring services available, we provide best-in-class eligibility analysis, disbursement auditing and client reporting, and deliver the highest level of accuracy, accountability, and transparency available. For more information, go to www.frtservices.com.

This communication and the content found by following any link herein are being provided to you by Financial Recovery Technologies (FRT) for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. All material presented herein is believed to be reliable but FRT makes no representation or warranty with respect to this communication or such content and expressly disclaims any implied warranty under law. Opinions expressed in this communication may change without prior notice. Firms should always seek legal and financial advice specific to their unique situation and objectives.

ABOUT FINANCIAL RECOVERY TECHNOLOGIES
SETTLED  I  NON-US GLOBAL OPT-IN  I  ANTITRUST  I  GLOBAL PASSIVE  I  DIRECT OPT-OUT  I  BUYOUTS

Founded in 2008, Financial Recovery Technologies (FRT) is a leading technology-based services firm that helps the investment community identify eligibility, file claims and collect funds made available in securities and other class action settlements. Offering the most comprehensive range of claim filing and monitoring services available, we provide best-in-class eligibility analysis, disbursement auditing and client reporting, and deliver the highest level of accuracy, accountability and transparency available. For more information, go to www.frtservices.com.

 

This communication and the content found by following any link herein are being provided to you by Financial Recovery Technologies (FRT) for informational purposes only and does not constitute advice. All material presented herein is believed to be reliable but FRT makes no representation or warranty with respect to this communication or such content and expressly disclaims any implied warranty under law. Opinions expressed in this communication may change without prior notice. Firms should always seek legal and financial advice specific to their unique situation and objectives.