U.S. Project Development Funding Options: Traditional, Non-Traditional, EB-5 and other Foreign Sources of Capital
Back RegistrationTuesday begins with a discussion of all of the options available and at what stage of development those funding options are typically discussed, from Friends & Family to IPO. We have experts discussing the various forms of capital: debt & equity, the cost of capital and both typical and non-typical sources of funding. Commercial Bank lenders and Official at professionals familiar with public finance will be on hand to discuss typical lending and loan guarantee standards as will be providers of non-typical sources of capital including Venture, Private Equity and International sources of institutional and individual debt and equity.
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa program will be described in detail, what a Regional Center is, the requirements for filling for Regional Center designation, how to find investors overseas, working with overseas professionals and agents, as well as the filing the Immigrant Investor application, guidance and regulations from USCIS (the Federal Agency overseeing the EB-5 Visa program). Representatives from The Department of Homeland Security will also be on hand to discuss the current state of the program, recent developments and upcoming changes for the near future.
Wednesday offers a full day of putting together the Securities offering documents and team with experts from international law firms familiar with structuring the corporate and legal securities documents. Once the discussion on securities documents is complete we will discuss the process of getting those documents into lenders and investors hands without violating U.S. or foreign securities laws, general solicitation or payments of fees to non-registered persons. Presentations by registered Broker Dealers and EB-5 Regional Center operators will give valuable hands on experience on the issues facing U.S. entities looking to raise capital overseas.
Both days will be followed by plenty of 1-1 interactions, Q&A panels, receptions and networking events so there is ample opportunity to discuss case specific questions with the professionals who can answer those on site.
DAY 1: TUESDAY March 6, 2012
Traditional & Non-Traditional Funding Options


Traditional Bank Financing:
- Bank Loans
- U.S. Public Programs & Grants: SBA, HUD
- EDC / CDC Economic Development Assistance
Non-traditional Equity:
- Venture Capital, Private Equity
- EB-5 Immigrant Investor Visa Program
- Non-EB-5 Foreign Direct Investment / Foreign Capital (Equity)
- Foreign Debt
Marketing Your EB-5 Project- Where Immigration Practicalities and Securities Laws Intersect


This panel will discuss the realities of bringing an EB-5 offering from formation, through USCIS designation and then to market. It will offer participants "hands on" advice on how to spot and deal with the following issues:
- Choosing your EB-5 Team
- Common mistakes in SEC offering documents
- Material Changes and the Impact on the Immigration Filings
- Rights of Rescission
- Use of Internet Marketing
- Broker/ Dealer Issues
- Working with overseas marketing agents
- Investor Screening and Due Diligence
Lunch


Lunch hosted by NES Financial: Escrow Administration Solutions, EB-5 Investment Escrows
NES Financial (NESF) Escrow Administration Solutions provide Regional Centers and their clients with comprehensive, customizable, and fully compliant third party administration solutions for EB-5 transactions.
Overseas Funding: EB-5 & Foreign Direct Investment, Institutional & Non-Institutional


A discussion of the EB-5 and FDI funding
Securities Law: Distribution & Finder's Fees


This is a discussion of securities laws and finders fees. What does the law say regarding who you can and cannot pay and how the distribution, solicitation and marketing of the offering must go in order to satisfy U.S. securities laws, as well as those of the country in which the offering will be made. Finder's fees and payments to non-registered U.S. persons, the Broomberg Mackey Wall denial of no-action letter and other issues pertaining to the exemption of a Reg. D & S security and avoiding potential violations of solicitation or general advertising.
The Necessity for Due Diligence


Non Traditional Funding: Venture Capital, Private Equity


Steve Lux, Managing Director of Stonehenge Growth Capital will discuss financing of early to late stage businesses through Venture Capital, Private Equity and Mezzanine debt financing.
Dinner


Dinner
Fitness and Volleball Friendly


We are hosting a friendly Volleyball Tournament at the Orlando Magic Sportscomplex and Training Facility. More than just a gym, RDV offers the Central Florida community a complete fitness experience. The athletic club features over 450 pieces of strength and cardiovascular equipment, over 550 Group Membership classes and various adult and youth sports classes, leagues and programs. Facilities include basketball and tennis courts, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, and a children's center. You can relieve stress in one of our complimentary group classes in spinning, yoga, kickboxing and more! We also offer world class fitness training with personal trainers that are highly experienced, knowledgeable and friendly.
So come take a break from the Workshop get a workout or relax in the hot tub and join us for a fun & energetic evening out!
Sam Snead's Post Volleyball & Fitness Social



Sam Snead’s Taverns are part of a fine family of restaurants that specialize in great food and quality service. The menu provides fresh entrées of Certified Angus Beef, Chicken and Seafood, not to mention a wide variety of soups, salads and fresh homemade desserts.
Like every Sam Snead’s Tavern, our Orlando location is decorated with unique golf memorabilia. For each Tavern the Snead Family handpicks and places each piece of memorabilia to ensure authenticity and quality. This care is essential to the unique atmosphere created which highlights the illustrious career of the golfing legend Sam Snead.
Come in and roam from room to room, savoring the rich wood decor and all the memorabilia collected by Sam himself as he made his way into golf history, including photos with Tiger Woods, Bing Crosby, Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Andy Griffiths, Jackie Gleason and President George Bush.
Note: This event is not covered under the Seminar registration and is A la Carte.
Day 2: Wednesday March 7, 2012
Economic Job Creation: The Cornerstone of the EB-5 Program


Economic job creation is the cornerstone of the EB-5 Immigrant Investor program; the approvals of Regional Centers as well as I-526 and I-829 petitions are predicated on the fundamental task of job creation. In this presentation Dr. Scott Barnhart, Associate Professor of Finance at Florida Atlantic University and founder and principal of Barnhart Economic Services, LLC, discusses the fundamental concepts of regional economics as it pertains to job creation in the EB-5 program.
Topics outlined in this presentation include: what is needed in every Regional Center application with respect to the job creation report, what variables are used as inputs to the job creation study, what regional employment multipliers are and what they mean, examples of multipliers commonly used in EB-5 Regional Center projects, common issues raised in RFE’s with respect to job creation, TEAs and an example of the “gerrymandering” of census tracts, advantages of Regional Centers, common myths encountered about economic job creation methods and an example of what the client needs to provide the economist to commission a job creation study.
Securities and Legal Entities


James Goldsmith and Clem Turner will discuss Reg S, Reg D, other relevant securities issues and the "private placement memorandum" process. Tom Raleigh will discuss the structure of the legal entities that are involved in the capital raise for EB-5 projects and corporate law and governance issues generally.
Real Estate Structure and Tax Issues


Steve Polivy will discuss structuring the real estate investment and integrating the timing issues of EB-5 with the requirements of a real estate financing. Barbara Ruiz Gonzalez will discuss US taxation of various legal entities and of the foreign investors in EB5 projects, including timing and reporting obligations applicable to foreign investors.
Lunch


Lunch
Broker Dealer: Distribution and Placement of EB-5 and Other Securities Offerings


This discussion will be beneficial to USCIS-approved EB-5 Regional Centers, Regional Center applicants, project developers, business owners and key executives, and registered foreign and U.S. securities representatives. This panel will discuss the benefit and importance of using an SEC registered Broker Dealer firm to assist in the solicitation, distribution and successful placement of U.S. non-registered securities offerings, and for the direct payment of fees to finders and agents. This applies to traditional private equity placements as well as EB-5 funding.
The panel will also discuss the methodical and proven processes and resources Broker-Dealers use to assist the principals and senior executives of these entities in their efforts to access U.S. and international capital markets to successfully fund their project offerings, and ensure the entire transaction is completed in compliance with U.S. securities laws and guidelines, especially transaction solicitation and payment of agent referral fees.
Introduction to New Markets and Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits


Alan Pasternack of Kantor Taylor Nelson Boyd & Evatt will discuss New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) and Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits (HTC) and how they can be used as part of the Capital Stack in U.S. project financing. Topics include:
--Intro to the NMTC Program
--NMTC terminology: The “Q” words
--Technical Requirements
--Recapture Risk
--Transaction Structures
--Year 7 and the unwind
--HTC basics and qualification requirements
--Qualifying Expenditures
--Tax issues: allocations, basis reduction, recapture
--Transaction Structures
Risk Identification, Management and Transfer Using Specialty Insurance Products


David Souders will provide a presentation which will identify risks related to a capital raise and your options for mitigating these risks. David will begin with an overview of the various liability risks he and his underwriters have identified in regards to general capital raise activities and more specifically, raising capital through the EB5 program. He will then highlight various ways to minimize these risks by means of avoidance and by transfer to other parties involved in the capital raise.
Finally, David will discuss specialty insurance products designed for those who raise capital via a private offering. His discussion will include clarification as to what liability risks are insurable vs. uninsurable; as well as the specific coverage features a policy must have in order to properly protect your company.
EB-5 Regional Center Operator Experiences


Hear from Regional Center operators and project managers about their experiences in running an EB-5 Regional Center, putting together offerings, marketing to overseas investors and working with agents and finders. Also, how to construct Master Agent Agreements and payments to overseas agents and finders. What typical compensation is and a discussion of how to negotiate with overseas migration agents.
Akerman Senterfit Reception


Akerman serves clients throughout the United States and overseas from Florida, New York, Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Virginia, Nevada, Utah, and Texas. We are ranked among the top 100 law firms in the U.S. by The National Law Journal NLJ 250 (2011) in number of lawyers and we are the largest firm in Florida.
Our team has been recognized by Chambers USA and other industry publications for its market leading practices in the areas of corporate, banking, finance, bankruptcy, litigation, real estate, environmental, insurance, healthcare, taxation, and labor & employment.

"First-rate firm which has a steadfast presence throughout Florida. It has the most sizable team of corporate practitioners in the state, and is often seen handling the biggest deals." (Chambers USA) "Akerman Senterfitt is one of the top law firms in the U.S. in terms of quality of work." (The Legal 500)
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Michael Gibson
- USAdvisors.org is the source for news, projects and information about EB-5 Regional Centers and their investment projects.
- Associated With:
- USAdvisors.org
- Practice Areas:
- EB-5 Project Research, Due Diligence & Analysis, Financial Analysis, Mathematical Financial Analysis, FINRA Registered Investment Advisor
- Languages:
- English, French, Spanish
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Dr. Scott W. Barnhart
- Associated With:
- Florida Atlantic Univeristy and Barnhart Economic Services
- Practice Areas:
- Financial Analysis, Economist
- Languages:
- English
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Taher Kameli
- Associated With:
- Law Offices of Kameli & Associates
- Practice Areas:
- Business/Corporate, Criminal Defense, Immigration, Nationality and Consular Law, EB-5 Regional Center Application Submission Provider, Experienced EB-5 Attorney
- Languages:
- English, Farsi
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Robert P. Gaffney
- Associated With:
- Law Offices of Robert P. Gaffney
- Practice Areas:
- Immigration, Nationality and Consular Law, Experienced EB-5 Attorney, EB-5 Regional Center Application Submission Provider
- Languages:
- English, Chinese (Mandarin)
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Kate Kalmykov
- Associated With:
- Greenberg Traurig, LLP
- Practice Areas:
- Immigration, Nationality and Consular Law, Experienced EB-5 Attorney, EB-5 Regional Center Application Submission Provider, EB-1 Immigration Expert
- Languages:
- English, Russian
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Michael G. Homeier
- Homeier & Law, P.C. is a law firm devoted exclusively to corporate and business transactional law, including securities. Homeier & Law, P.C. represents a broad variety of clients, both domestically and internationally, from established and...
- Associated With:
- Homeier & Law, P.C.
- Practice Areas:
- Banking, Business/Corporate, Closely Held Business, Corporate Governance & Compliance, Mergers & Acquisitions, Non-Profit, Real Estate, Securities & Corporate Finance, Experienced EB-5 Attorney, EB-5 Regional Center Application Submission Provider
- Languages:
- English
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Clem Turner
- Homeier & Law, P.C. is a law firm devoted exclusively to corporate and business transactional law, including securities. Homeier & Law, P.C. represents a broad variety of clients, both domestically and internationally, from established and...
- Associated With:
- Homeier & Law, P.C.
- Practice Areas:
- Business/Corporate, Corporate Governance & Compliance, Securities & Corporate Finance, Experienced EB-5 Attorney
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Cletus M. Weber
- Associated With:
- Peng & Weber
- Practice Areas:
- Immigration, Nationality and Consular Law
- Languages:
- English
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Angelique Brunner
- With over 6 years in the industry and four projects across multiple Regional Centers, Angelique Brunner l is an industry leader among a small group of EB5 veterans. Ms. Brunner co-owns the DC Regional Center in Washington, D.C., and is President of...
- Associated With:
- Pettles Group
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Dave Souders
- Associated With:
- Todd Associates
- Practice Areas:
- Insurance
- Languages:
- English
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Steven Polivy
- Associated With:
- Akerman Senterfit
- Practice Areas:
- Tax Planning, Legal
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Steven Anapoell
- Associated With:
- Greenberg Traurig
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Tom Raleigh
- Associated With:
- Akerman Senterfitt
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Dave Maruca
- Associated With:
- Capital Placements LLC
- Languages:
- English
-
James Goldsmith
- Associated With:
- Akerman Senterfitt
-
Barbara Ruiz-Gonzalez
- Associated With:
- Akerman Senterfitt
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Doug Anacreonte
- Associated With:
- Capital Placements LLC
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Alan Pasternack
- Associated With:
- Kantor Taylor Nelson Boyd & Evatt PC
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Philip Marshall
- Advantage Capital Partners is an innovative group of venture capital partnerships with more than $1 billion under management. Founded in 1992, the firm has grown to include offices in Missouri, Louisiana, New York, Texas, California, Illinois, Mississippi,...
- Associated With:
- Advantage Capital Partners
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Steve Lux
- Associated With:
- Stonehenge Growth Capital
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Verne Bragg
- T
- Associated With:
- Grant Thorton
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Lynn Allen
- Our clients often have the technology, know-how and human capital to nurture new businesses and commercialize technologies. Our mission is to help them leverage their networks and relationships into new assets and capital growth. We are highly-accomplished...
- Associated With:
- Capital Innovations Inc.
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USAdvisors.org
- USAdvisors.org is the source for news, projects and information about EB-5 Regional Centers and their investment projects. We are analysts, economists, accountants, statisticians and mathematicians that produce EB-5 Regional Center project comparative...
- Practice Areas:
- EB-5 Project Research, Due Diligence & Analysis
- Languages:
- English, Spanish
- Web site:
- www.eb5info.com
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Homeier & Law, P.C.
- Homeier & Law, P.C. is a law firm devoted exclusively to corporate and business transactional law, including securities. Homeier & Law, P.C. represents a broad variety of clients, both domestically and internationally, from established and publicly traded...
- Practice Areas:
- Business/Corporate, Securities & Corporate Finance
- Languages:
- English
- Web site:
- http://www.homeierlaw.com/
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NES Financial
- Web site:
- www.nesf.com
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Todd Associates, Inc.
- Practice Areas:
- EB-5 Project Research, Due Diligence & Analysis, Insurance
- Languages:
- English
- Web site:
- www.toddassociates.com
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LCG Capital Advisors
- Practice Areas:
- Financial Analysis, Investment Broker, Securities & Corporate Finance, FINRA Registered Broker Dealer
- Languages:
- English, Spanish
- Web site:
- http://www.lcgcapital.com/
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Greenberg Traurig, LLP
- Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1800 attorneys serving clients from 34 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. In the U.S., the firm has more offices than any other...
- Practice Areas:
- EB-5 Regional Center Application Submission Provider, Experienced EB-5 Attorney, Immigration
- Languages:
- English, Russian, Spanish, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin)
- Web site:
- www.gtlaw.com
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Peng & Weber, PLLC
- Practice Areas:
- Immigration
- Languages:
- English, Spanish, Chinese (Mandarin)
- Web site:
- www.greencardlawyers.com
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Akerman Senterfitt
- Akerman serves clients throughout the United States and overseas from Florida, New York, Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Virginia, Nevada, Utah, and Texas. We are ranked among the top 100 law firms in the U.S. by The National Law Journal NLJ 250...
- Web site:
- www.akerman.com
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Law Offices of Robert P. Gaffney
- With nearly 20 years of experience in the EB5 field, Robert "Bob" Gaffney, has developed significant expertise and a strong practice focus representing alien entrepreneurs under the EB-5 visa program, and in counselling businesses seeking to...
- Web site:
- www.usvisanet.com
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Grant Thorton
- Web site:
- www.gt.com
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Capital Innovations, Inc.
- Our clients often have the technology, know-how and human capital to nurture new businesses and commercialize technologies. Our mission is to help them leverage their networks and relationships into new assets and capital growth. We are highly-accomplished...
- Web site:
- http://www.capitalinnovationsinc.com/