Bio

Benedicto Panigbatan is a member of the firm's Corporate Services, Tax, Special Projects, and Banking, Finance & Securities groups. His practice areas cover mergers and acquisitions, foreign investments, corporate structuring and reorganization, sale and purchase of non-performing/distressed assets of banks and financial institutions, securities regulation, documentation of loans and security arrangements, taxation (including estate planning, availment of reliefs and exemptions under various tax treaties), joint ventures and financing for real estate projects, mining and construction projects, general corporate services, legal due diligence exercises, and general contract drafting, review and negotiations. Included among the transactions in which he was involved are the divestment by Sara Lee Corporation (USA) of its hair care, household care and body care business in the Philippines as part of a global divestment in 2010 to 2011; the merger of an animal health company in the Philippines into the Philippine of a major global pharmaceutical company in 2011 to 2012; the acquisition by Bumrungrad International Limited (Thailand) of all the interests of the Vista Medical Management group in Asian Hospital Inc. in 2005; the divestment by Bumrungrad International Limited (Thailand) of all its interests in Asian Hospital, Inc. in 2011 to 2012; and the acquisition by Marubeni Corporation (Japan) of a 40% interest in Maxima Equipment Company, Inc. in 2007. Mr. Panigbatan is acting as corporate secretary or assistant corporate secretary in various companies in the fields of real estate, pharmaceuticals, tollroad business, mining, business process outsourcing, and investment house business. He was a lecturer on “Contract Writing and Contract Review” for the firm's Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Program accredited by the Supreme Court. He has also contributed legal articles on banking, finance and securities to several international publications.