LAN Argentina

Non-stop air service has been introduced from Buenos Aires to Miami. It will be the first international flight for LAN Argentina, the Argentine subsidiary of the Chilean airline.

Unilever

The consumer products giant Unilever is increasing Hispanic advertising and promotional budget for this year by a whopping 47%, showing the increasing interest in the Hispanic market by US firms.

North-South Food & Beverage

North-South Consulting has incorporated to its group of companies North-South Food & Beverage. The company will focus on representing Latin American food and beverage companies in the US, helping them break into the mainstream US market. Being a clear alternative to opening a commercial office in the US.

Repsol YPF

The Spanish oil company Repsol YPF won 16 contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Brazil. It is the second-largest Brazilian company after Petrobras, the state-run company. The terms of the contracts have not yet been disclosed.

TAM

TAM, a Brazilian Airline company, has introduced New York- Sao Paulo flights on their Airbus 330-200 four times a week. They expect to increase the service to daily flights by 2006.

US Hispanic Full-Service Ad Agencies

Contrary to the way the industry in the mainstream market has been working for at least 10 years, the $3.4B Hispanic media buying market is still dominated by full-service ad agencies,  specialty agencies dominate the mainstream market.

GOL

A Brazilian low-cost airline, GOL LINHAS AEREAS INTELIGENTES,, now flies a new international route linking Campo Grande in Mato Grosso do Sul state to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Their first international destination was Argentina, and they are growing steadily. The airline purchased five 737-800 aircrafts from Boeing, the US aircraft maker. GOL will have 65 planes flying through 2012. They will fly four times a week from Sao Paulo to Asuncion, Paraguay, which is the fifth most popular international destination among Brazilians.

North-South Consulting

In order to improve on this newsletter as we reach close to 1000 readers in 12 countries of the Americas from the Business and Political worlds. North-South Consulting is considering opening the Newsletter for Sponsorship opportunities.

MASISA

A Chilean forestry company, MASISA, will pay US $ 59.2 million in raising its stakes for two timber subsidiaries: Chilean Forestal Tornagaleones and Forestal Argentina. These two subsidiaries belonged to a US public-pension fund, the Ohio Public Employee’s Retirement System.

Comicrom

Comicrom, a Chilean technology outsourcer, was sold to TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES in India for US$ 23 million. They will continue catering to banks, insurance companies and pension funds.

Bombardier

BOMBARDIER, a Canadian aircraft manufacturer, is investing $200 million in a new manufacturing facility in Mexico. The opening is scheduled for May 2006, and it is expected to hit full production capacity in 2007.

Nike

NIKE, the world famous sports-apparel and footwear corporation, will build a new facility in Guanajuato state, Mexico. QUIRELLI, a Nike supplier in Mexico, will manufacture Nike products there.

Bank of America

The Mexican asset-management subsidiary of Bank of America, has been sold to GRUPO FINANCIERO SANTANDER SERFIN. The terms have not yet been disclosed.

ADVENT

A US$375M Latin-American investment fund has been established by ADVENT INTERNATIONAL, the US private equity firm. It will focus on companies on the service sector, as well as outsourcing, travel, airport and financial services industries.

SACYR

SACYR VALLEHERMOSO, a Spanish construction company and owner of five Chilean highways, will build a new highway for US$189 million in Chile.

EMBRAER

The Colombian government signed a contract with EMBRAER, a Brazilian aircraft manufacturer. They purchased 25 Super Tucano airplanes for US$235 million. It will be the first export ever of that model of aircraft.

American Hospital Management Company

American Hospital Management Company, a US medical-facilities facilitator, will take over the administrative duties of a second hospital in Ecuador, the Hospital Millennium.

Cablemas

CABLEMAS, a Mexican cable company in the Tijuana area, will buy broadband network equipment from Arris, a US supplier. They will provide 1.5 million customers with voice services over Internet Protocol.

Scotiabank

BANK WIESE SUDAMERIS, the third’s largest bank of Peru, was bought in a 80 % stake by the Canadian bank Scotiabank forUS$ 330M. Scotiabank will most likely take control of Banco Sudamericano, another Peruvian financial institution that they already own in part.