IBM to run Companhia Siderurgica Nacional's IT infrastructure

Brazil's Companhia Siderurgica Nacional (CSN) recently selected IBM Power Systems to run its SAP HANA in-memory analytics applications. CSN is mainly known as an exporter of iron ore in South America. They also develop high value steel, as well as offer cement, mining, energy and logistics products that are used in the construction and automotive industries.  Read More »

First Cash acquires 211 pawn stores in Latin America

First Cash Financial Services said last week it is acquiring 211 pawn stores in Latin America from a private Mexico-based company. First Cash, based in Arlington, Texas, which operates pawn stores across Mexico, will be adding 166 stores in Mexico and 45 stores in Guatemala and El Salvador, which are new markets for the company. The new stores are being acquired for $45 million. Read More »

Verint Systems recognized with Latin American product leadership award

Analyst and consultancy firm Frost & Sullivan recently honored Verint Systems with the 2015 Latin American Contact Center Systems Product Leadership Award. The award is given to companies that have demonstrated high standards in product innovation and have experienced significant growth in the face of intense competition and increased customer demand. Read More »

Carl's Jr. opens 200th restaurant in Mexico

CKE Restaurants Holdings Inc. recently opened its 200th Carl's Jr. franchise in Mexico. CKE said it is now moving toward opening its 300th Carl's Jr. in Mexico by 2019. “Mexico is a vibrant food service market and our brand has a strong track record of success across the country thanks to a solid base of outstanding franchisees," CKE International Division President Ned Lyerly said. Read More »

Mexico's TYASA building steel plant in Veracruz

Mexican steelmaker TYASA recently began construction on a new steel facility near Orizaba, Veracruz, that will capable of churning out 500,000 tons of sheet steel on behalf of Castrip, a joint venture of Nucor Corporation, BlueScope Steel of Australia and IHI Corporation. The finished materials will be produced largely to supply the local construction and manufacturing markets. Read More »

Father and son rejoin Thompson & Knight law firm in Monterrey

Full-service law firm Thompson & Knight recently welcomed back a father and son attorney team to its Monterrey-based corporate and securities practice group. Alejandro F. Sanchez Mujica will become the firm's senior counsel, while his son Alejandro A. Sanchez-Mujica A. will serve as counsel. Both are licensed to practice law in Mexico and are fluent in English and Spanish. Read More »

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy tapped as advisers for Brazil-New York submarine cable project

International law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, which operates an office in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was chosen recently to advise Seaborn Networks on financing for a $500 million project to install a submarine communications cable to link New York and Sao Paulo. Equity financing for the project, Seabras-1, is being provided by private markets investment manager Partners Group.  Read More »

U.S. eases travel and trade restrictions with Cuba

Amendments in federal regulations announced Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security and U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control are expected to make it easier for air service, exports and travel to Cuba. The changes in the Cuban Assets Control Regulations and the Export Administration Regulations went into effect Wednesday.  Read More »

Smurfit Kappa Group acquires two Brazilian packaging businesses

Smurfit Kappa Group recently entered into the Brazilian packaging market through the purchase of two Brazil-based integrated packaging businesses. The paper-based packaging solutions provider acquired Industria de Embalagens Santana (INPA) and Paema Embalagens whose combined operations consist of three recycled container board mills and four corrugated facilities Read More »