Akerman/Mackrell International Latin American Business Initiative

Update on Nexsen Pruet and Carolinas

February 28, 2012

David Dubberly

The Carolinas in the Global Economy

• Combined GDP of $589B in 2010

• Would rank as world’s 19th largest economy

• Behind Indonesia and ahead of Switzerland

Sources: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis; CIA World Factbook

Major Exporters

• Almost 4,000 SC companies exported $25B of goods in 2009– Main markets: Germany, Canada, China, Mexico, UK– Main exports: transportation equipment, machinery,

chemicals, plastics and rubber products, computers and electronic products

• Over 8,000 NC companies exported $27B of goods in 2009– Main markets: Canada, China, Mexico, Japan, Germany– Main exports: chemicals, machinery, transportation

equipment, computers and electronic products, textilesSource: U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration

Trade Drivers

• Port of Charleston– Major player in international

trade since colonial days– 4th largest container port in

U.S.– Customers in 24 states– Directly serves more than

150 countriesSource: Port of Charleston

Trade Drivers

• Major banks– BOA 2nd largest in U.S.– Wells Fargo (East Coast) 4th largest – BB&T 18th largest

• Charlotte Airport– 7th largest in U.S.– 35 international nonstops– 20% of cargo is internationalSources: Federal Reserve System, National

Information Center; Charlotte-Douglas International Airport

Sizeable Share of Workers Employed by Foreign Subsidiaries

• SC 4th of 50 states in 2009– 6.9% of state workforce– Main investors: Germany,

France, Japan, and UK

• NC 6th of 50 states in 2009– 5.8% of state workforce– Main investors: Germany,

UK, Switzerland, and JapanSource: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau

of Economic Analysis

Some Publications Recognizing Carolinas for Economic Development

• Area Development• Business Facilities• Chief Executive• Forbes Best States for

Business and Careers• IBM Global Location Trends• Pollina Corporate Real Estate• Site Selection

• Southern Business & Development

• Trade & Industry Development

• Development Counsellors International

• CNBC America’s Top States for Business

Forbes Global 2000 for 2011

– Lowe’s– Duke Energy– BB&T– Bank of America– Progress Energy– Reynolds American– Nucor

– Goodrich– VF– Lorillard– Labcorp– Family Dollar Stores– SCANA– First Citizens

Other World-Class Assets

• Research universities• IMBA program• Technical college systems• 4 of top 50 high schools• RTP and NC Research Campus• CU-ICAR

Other World-Class Assets

• Transportation network

• Foreign trade zones• Cargo hubs

• Healthcare

• Tourism/natural beauty/golf

Nexsen Pruet

• 180 attorneys in 8 offices • Represent companies from approx. 25 countries doing business in U.S.

• Regional clients doing business worldwide

• And many of the region’s main banks, developers, hospitals, manufacturers, and universities

Selected Practice Areas

– Antitrust– Bankruptcy– Business litigation– Economic

development– Employment and

labor – Environmental– Financial services

– Governmental affairs– Healthcare– Immigration– Intellectual Property– Mergers and

acquisitions– Real estate– Tax

Some Recent Recognitions

• Only firm recognized for a top economic development practice in both NC and SC by Southern Business and Development

• Only SC firm ranked in Band 1 in each area rated by Chambers USA

Some of Recent Recognitions

• Most first-tier rankings in SC in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”

• Over one-third of attorneys in Best Lawyers®