Cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory
Experience as both client and advisor informs every engagement.
Cross-border M&A transactions can face risks between initial intent and closing, when the transaction is completed. Regulatory requirements can cause delays. Cultural assumptions can lead to misunderstandings. Execution can lose momentum. Bridgio helps clients manage this stage.
Advice to buyers and sellers in transactions across countries. We identify and develop transaction opportunities, then support the process through closing, when the transaction is completed.
Advice on joint ventures, in which two businesses share an operation; technology-transfer agreements, which allow a party to use specific technology or know-how; and strategic alliances between global companies and Latin American businesses.
We help founders and companies raise growth capital, funding used to expand the business, from international investors, family offices, and strategic partners.
Advice for international companies entering Latin American markets. We assess applicable regulations and plan local partnerships.
International companies entering Latin America and Brazilian companies expanding abroad. We combine local networks with a disciplined process to help complete transactions.
M&A · Market entry · Joint venturesPE and VC funds seeking selected investment opportunities, access to opportunities that are not broadly marketed, and local advice in Latin America.
Investment opportunities · Acquisitions · Portfolio companiesFamily offices, private firms that manage wealth for families, seeking direct investments and diversification across countries with discretion and a long-term perspective.
Direct investments · DiversificationFounders considering a sale, partnership, or funding round who need an experienced senior advisor and an international network.
Sale · Fundraising · M&ASelected transactions led or advised by Karolyna Schenk. In the transactions below, “buy-side” means advising the acquirer, “sell-side” means advising the seller, and “Head of M&A” means the executive responsible for acquisition and partnership strategy and execution.
At Bradesco BBI, provided financial advice to Green4T on the transaction. Legrand acquired a majority stake, meaning more than 50%, in Green4T. Green4T has approximately 750 employees in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay.
Sell-Side Advisor · Technology · Data centersAdvised Eletrobras on its R$218 million acquisition of 51% of Eletronet from LT Bandeirante. The acquisition gave Eletrobras 100% control of the approximately 17,000 km fiber-optic network.
Buy-Side Advisor · Energy · TelecommunicationsAdvised Dimensa on its R$115 million acquisition of Quiver, an insurance-technology software company serving approximately 2,500 clients.
Buy-Side Advisor · Technology · Insurance technology (InsurTech)Led TOTVS's R$380 million acquisition of Ahgora HCM and Webtraining. The transaction reinforced TOTVS's position as a human-resources technology platform in Brazil.
Head of M&A · TOTVS · Technology · Human capital management (HCM)Structured and led the joint venture, a business owned by two parties, between TOTVS and Itaú Unibanco. The venture was valued at over R$1 billion. It brought together Brazil's largest software company and its largest private bank.
Head of M&A · TOTVS · Technology · Financial servicesLed TOTVS's acquisition of RD Station, which had a R$2 billion valuation. It was one of Brazil's largest software M&A transactions.
Head of M&A · TOTVS · Technology · Software as a service (SaaS)Led the creation of Dimensa, a joint venture, or business owned by two parties, between TOTVS and B3. Dimensa provides business-to-business (B2B) technology solutions for the financial market.
Head of M&A · TOTVS · Technology · Financial servicesMany M&A advisors have worked on one side of a transaction. Karolyna has worked as both a client and an advisor. As a client, she made decisions involving capital. As an advisor, she structured transactions. As Chief M&A Officer, the executive responsible for mergers and acquisitions, at TOTVS, Experian, Eurofarma, and AC Camargo Cancer Center, she led more than 100 transactions. As Managing Director at Bradesco BBI and Senior Consultant at Deloitte, she advised companies in the same process. Bridgio combines her corporate and investment-banking experience.
"Karolyna and I worked together on some great complex deals in the past and she has always been impeccable in conducting the deal flow and negotiations in a very objective and fearless manner."
Juliana Reis, PhD
Global Senior Director M&A · Novartis
Cross-team collaboration
"Karolyna is one of those rare professionals who combines the objectivity and technical rigor required for her role with equally important business sensitivity and acuity, fostering bridges and convergence between all parties involved in a deal."
Cristiano Nobrega
Chief Data & AI Officer
Worked together on an acquisition; later a TOTVS executive
"Karolyna did a great job running our LatAm M&A activities for Experian during the couple years she was here. It was nice to have dedicated resources like her to support our activities in that key region."
J.P. Voisinet, CFA
M&A Team, Experian USA
Experian M&A teams in Latin America and the United States
"Karolyna is an excellent M&A professional. She has broad technical knowledge, is highly determined, results-focused, and a genuinely positive colleague."
Luis Schiriak
Former CFO, Eurofarma
M&A partner at Eurofarma
A senior advisor leads each client assignment from the first assessment through completion of the transaction. We welcome confidential inquiries from decision-makers and their advisors.
Discuss your transaction confidentially with a senior advisor.
Location: São Paulo, Brazil. Serving clients globally.
LinkedIn: Start a confidential conversation on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/karolynaguedes
WeChat: Available on request
Website: Visit Bridgio Advisory: www.bridgioadvisory.com