Sojitz Acquires Petroautos for Strategic Expansion in Panama

Deal News | Jun 17, 2025 | Hogan Lovells

Sojitz Corporation is taking a strategic leap in the automotive market of Central and South America with the full acquisition of Petroautos, S.A. The acquisition aligns with Sojitz’s strategy to enhance customer service in Panama while expanding its footprint in the broader region. Legal advisory in this cross-border M&A transaction was provided by Hogan Lovells, with partners and associates based both in Tokyo and locally in Panama. Hogan Lovells' partner, Jacky Scanlan-Dyas, highlighted the firm's expertise in the automotive sector and cross-border M&A, underscoring the significance of this acquisition in a growth-focused market.

Sectors

Automotive
Legal Services
Mergers and Acquisitions

Geography

Japan – Sojitz Corporation, the acquiring company, is based in Japan.
Panama – Petroautos, S.A., the target company, is based in Panama.
Central and South America – The acquisition is part of Sojitz Corporation's strategic expansion into the Central and South American automotive markets.

Industry

Automotive – The article discusses Sojitz Corporation's expansion in the automotive market through its acquisition of Petroautos, S.A.
Legal Services – Hogan Lovells and Morgan & Morgan Legal provided legal advisory services for the acquisition transaction.
Mergers and Acquisitions – The article centers around the acquisition of Petroautos, S.A. by Sojitz Corporation, a cross-border M&A transaction.

Financials

Participants

Name	Role	Type	Description
Sojitz Corporation	Acquiring Company	Company	A Japanese corporation with strategic interests in the automotive sector, particularly in Central and South America.
Petroautos, S.A.	Target Company	Company	An automotive company based in Panama, targeted by Sojitz Corporation for full acquisition.
Hogan Lovells	Legal Advisor	Company	An international law firm advising Sojitz Corporation on the acquisition transaction.
Morgan & Morgan Legal	Local Counsel	Company	Provided local legal advisory support for the acquisition in Panama.
Jacky Scanlan-Dyas	Partner and APAC Regional Lead for Corporate & Finance at Hogan Lovells	Person	Led the Hogan Lovells team advising Sojitz on the transaction.