RodrigoGómez Ballina

Partner-in-Charge Mexico City

Mexico City + 52.55.3000.4034

Rodrigo Gómez Ballina has more than 23 years of experience advising on all aspects of Mexican federal and international taxation, including the tax aspects related to M&A transactions, restructurings, and intellectual property licensing. He also counsels clients in defending tax disputes, including tax audits, appeals, and settlement process. Several of the cases he has handled constituted case law issued by the Mexican Supreme Court of Justice. Rodrigo serves as Partner-in-Charge for the Mexico City Office.

Rodrigo's primary focus is on the Mexican-side of cross-border taxation, and he typically works with Mexican subsidiaries of foreign clients regarding their investments in Mexico. He also works with private equity clients, sovereign investors, and funds to structure their investments in the most tax-efficient manner.

Representative engagements include counsel for NII Holdings for all the Mexican tax aspects in connection with the sale of its Mexican operations managed by its indirect subsidiary, Nextel de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., to AT&T for $1.875 billion, less the outstanding net debt of the business at closing.

Rodrigo has published several articles in tax journals in Mexico and abroad. He is author of two chapters on international tax issues in two books, both published in Austria. He is a member of the International Fiscal Association and of the American Chamber of Commerce and has been involved with their fiscal commission.

Experience

  • Flottec sold to Nalco WaterJones Day represented Flottec, LLC, a company focused on the development of advanced flotation technology and the supply of flotation reagents and mineral processing chemicals, in connection with its sale to Nalco Company LLC, an Illinois-based supplier of water, energy and air improvement solutions and services for industrial markets and Ecolab Inc. company.
  • WEG acquires industrial electric motors and generators business from Regal Rexnord CorporationJones Day is advising WEG S.A. in the $400 million acquisition of the industrial electric motors and generators business of Regal Rexnord Corporation.
  • The Mexican Ministry of Defense completes its companies merge to GAFSACOMMJones Day advised the Mexican Ministry of Defense (Sedena), through Grupo Aeroportuario, Ferroviario, de Servicios Auxiliares y Conexos, Olmeca-Maya-Mexica (GAFSACOMM), in the merger of the govermental companies Aeropuerto Internacional de Palenque, Señor Pakal, Aeropuerto Internacional de Chetumal, Cuna del Mestizaje, Aeropuerto Internacional de Tulum, Zamá, and Aerolínea del Estado Mexicano, with GAFSACOMM.
  • Citigroup Global Markets and Scotiabank-led syndicate purchases 117,049,735 CBFIs in global offering by FIBRA PrologisJones Day represented Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as representatives of the several initial purchasers, as U.S. securities counsel in connection with the global offering by FIBRA Prologis of 117,049,735 real estate trust certificates (certificados bursátiles fiduciarios inmobiliarios, or “CBFIs”).
  • Avient divests distribution business to H.I.G. CapitalJones Day advised Avient Corporation in the $950 million sale of its Distribution business to an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital.
  • Sonepar sells Vallen Distribution to Nautic PartnersJones Day represented the Sonepar Group – a Paris-headquartered global leader in B-to-B distribution of electrical products, solutions and related services – in the sale of Sonepar's subsidiary business, Vallen Distribution, to Nautic Partners, a middle-market private equity firm based in Rhode Island.
  • The Duchossois Group sells The Chamberlain Group LLC to BlackstoneJones Day advised The Duchossois Group, Inc. in the sale of The Chamberlain Group LLC, a global leader in smart access solutions, to private equity funds managed by Blackstone.
  • Tekni-Plex acquires Johnson Plastic GroupJones Day advised Tekni-Plex, Inc., a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, in its acquisition of Johnson Plastic Group, a precision extrusion manufacturer who specializes in medical device applications, as part of a strategy to expand the company's medical device footprint.
  • ARMOR USA acquires industrial segment of International Imaging Materials, Inc.Jones Day represented Armor SAS and ARMOR USA, Inc., a French-based company that specializes in the industrial formulation of inks and the coating of thin layers onto thin films, in the acquisition and financing of International Imaging Materials, Inc. ("IIMAK"), a global developer and manufacturer of value-added consumable solutions for industrial applications.
  • Grupo Gigante refinances more than MXN$10 billion peso banking debt in multi-phase transactionJones Day represented Grupo Gigante in connection with a multi-phase refinancing of its more than MXN$10 billion peso banking debt, which included the banking debt of Grupo Gigante (parent company), and its principal subsidiaries, Grupo Restaurantero Gigante (formerly known as Grupo Toks), Office Depot de México, and Gigante Grupo Inmobiliario.
  • Solvay sells barium, strontium and sodium percarbonate businesses to Latour CapitalJones Day advised Solvay S.A., a publicly listed chemical company based in Brussels, Belgium, on the combined sale of its technical-grade barium and strontium business in Germany, Spain and Mexico, and its sodium percarbonate business in Germany to Latour Capital.
  • Laureate Education divests operations in Chile to Fundación Educación y Cultura and sale of its for-profit operations for $218.2 millionJones Day acted as special tax counsel in the divestiture of its operations in Chile through the transfer of control of its not-for-profit institutions to Fundación Educación y Cultura and the sale of its for-profit operations.
  • Grupo Gigante obtains MXN$1.8 billion syndicated credit facilityJones Day assisted Grupo Gigante, S.A.B. de C.V., a large Mexican conglomerate with operations in specialized retail, casual dining restaurants, and real estate, in connection with a new MXN$1.8 billion syndicated credit facility which is secured by a security trust arrangement.
  • Opdenergy divests majority stake in two solar photovoltaic plants in Mexico totaling 144MWp and forms Vera RenovablesJones Day represented Otras Producciones de Energía Photovoltaica, S.L. ("OPDE"), a member of the OPDE Group, in connection with the sale of 80% of its equity interests in two photovoltaic power plants, and associated electrical substations and interconnection lines, located in the Mexican states of Aguascalientes (34.2 MW) and Coahuila (82.5 MW) to an affiliate of Riverstone Holdings, an energy and power-focused private investment firm.
  • Crédito Real establishes $1.5 billion medium-term notes programJones Day's México City Office acted as special local counsel to Crédito Real, S.A.B. de C.V. Sofom, E.N.R., as issuer, in the establishment of a $1.5 billion medium-term notes program.
  • JinkoSolar sold two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Mexico to White River RenewablesJones Day advised JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd., one of the world's largest and most innovative solar panel manufacturers, in the sale of two solar photovoltaic (PV) plants in Mexico to White River Renewables.
  • Grupo Gigante acquires El FarolitoJones Day advised Grupo Gigante, S.A.B. de C.V. in its acquisition of El Farolito, a taqueria chain.
  • Seal for Life acquires Flame Control Coatings, Highland International, LifeLast, and US CoatingsJones Day advised Arsenal Capital Partners ("ACP") on the four acquisitions by portfolio company Seal for Life of Flame Control Coatings, Highland International, LifeLast, and US Coatings, manufacturers of protective coating technologies.
  • PolyOne sells its Performance Products and Solutions business to SK Capital Partners for $775 millionJones Day advised PolyOne Corporation (NYSE: POL), a leading global provider of specialized polymer materials, services and solutions, in its $775 million cash sale of its Performance Products and Solutions business to SK Capital Partners.
  • Sinohydro Mexico negotiates EPC contract for 330 MW solar power plant in Puebla, MexicoJones Day advised Sinohydro Mexico, S.A. de C.V., a subsidiary of Powerchina International, in the preparation, negotiation, and execution of an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contract for a 330 MW solar power plant in Puebla, Mexico, including supply agreements with subcontractors.