Brazil’s Azul Airlines Raises Over US$571m in IPO...

SP Ventures Invests in Brazilian Agribusiness Startup Aegro and Brazilian Drone Startup Horus Aeronaves...

Ford Foundation Commits US$1b to Impact Funds who invest in affordable housing in Developing Countries...

Brazil’s Azul Airlines Raises Over US$571m in IPO

(WSJ) Brazilian airline Azul Linhas Aéreas Brasileiras has raised US$571.2m in an initial public offering in the US and Brazil. Investors include TPG Growth. Read more

Atlas Discovery Raises MXN$780m to Invest in Mexico (en español)

(Press Release) Mexican private equity firm Atlas Discovery Americas has raised MXN$780m with the issuance of its CKD. Read more

Actis to Become Second Largest Renewable Energy Player in Brazil (em português)

(Valor Econômico) After entering the market four years ago, Private equity firm Actis is set to become the second largest investor in renewable energy in Brazil. Read more

L Catterton Asia Combines Newly Acquired Maaji with SEAFOLLY to Create Global Swimwear Business

(Press Release) L Catterton Asia acquired Colombian beachwear brand MAAJI and merged it with portfolio company SEAFOLLY. Read more

Castle Harlan’s CRI Expands into Mexico with Firehouse Subs

(Press Release) Caribbean Restaurant Inc. (CRI), the Puerto Rican Burger King franchisee acquired by private equity firm Castle Harlan, launched an expansion into Mexico as the master franchisee of Firehouse of America, owner of Firehouse Subs restaurant chain. Read more

Advent International’s GTM Acquires Brazilian Chemical Distributor quantiQ

(Press Release) GTM Holdings, a portfolio company of private equity firm Advent International, has acquired Brazilian chemical distributor quantiQ following approval from CADE. Read more

Grupo GTD Consolidates Operations in Peru and Acquires Netline (en español)

(Diario Financierio) GTD, the Chilean telecom company owned by the Casanueva family, has expanded its presence in Peru with the acquisition of telecommunications company, Netline. Read more

Nordic Power Partners Acquires Majority Stake in Brazilian Solar Energy Complex (em português)

(BOL Notícias) Nordic Power Partners, a joint venture between European Energy A/S and the Danish Climate Investment Fund, acquired a stake in a 90 megawatts solar complex to be developed by Rio Alto Energia in Brazil’s Northeast region. Read more

The Abraaj Group to Invest US$1.5b in Mexico and Latin America (en español)

(El Financiero) The Abraaj Group announced its plans to invest up to US$1.5b in businesses in Peru, Colombia, Chile, and Mexico within the next two years. Read more

BNDES to Provide US$272m in Financing for Rio Energy Wind Projects in Brazil

(Wind Power Monthly) Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) has agreed to provide US$272m in financing to Rio Energy with the aim of building eight wind sites in northeast Brazil. Read more

Aqua Capital’s Second Fund Nears US$350m Hard Cap

(El Financiero) Brazilian PE firm Aqua Capital has raised at least US$349.05m for its Agribusiness Latin America II Fund, which will focus on mid-market food and agribusinesses across Latin America. Read more

Balam Fund to Move Foward with Plans to Invest in Mexican Renewable Energy (en español)

(El Financiero) Following the launch of its CKD in 2016, Balam Fund is moving forward with its plans to utilize US$180m to finance renewable energy projects in Mexico. Read more

Nexxus Capital Announces Investment in IMMUNOTEC

(Press Release) Nexxus Capital signed an agreement to invest in Immuno Holding, a company focused on the development and commercialization of nutritional supplements via multilevel direct sales channels. Read more

Energy Giant Riverstone Holdings Sets Sights on Mexico (en español)

(El Financiero) Energy-focused private equity firm Riverstone Holdings is in talks with oil executive Miguel Galuccio to launch a global business to co-invest in Mexico’s energy sector. Read more

Equity International Closes First Investment in Telecom Infrastructure

(El Financiero) Equity International invested US$50m in Digital Bridge’s telecommunications company Andean Tower Partners (ATP), which has operations in Colombia and Peru, alongside other investors including The Olayan Group and TC Latin American Partners. Read more

Cypress M3 FIP Invests R$3.2m in Brazil’s Ubook (em português)

(Exame) Trivella M3 Investments’ fund, Cypress M3 FIP, has made a R$3.2m investment in the Brazilian audiobook company Ubook. Read more

Variv Capital Invests in MPower

(Press Release) VARIV Capital has invested in the Series A of MPower Financing, a lending platform for international students pursuing higher education degrees in the United States. Read more

SP Ventures Invests in Agribusiness Startup Aegro (em português)

(Baguete) SP Ventures made an undisclosed investment in Aegro, a Brazilian agribusiness technology startup. Read more

BlueOrange Capital Launches Impact Fund to Invest US$1b in Latin America and the Caribbean

(ImpactAlpha) BlueOrange Capital launched an impact fund that plans to mobilize US$1b for SMEs across Latin America and the Caribbean. Read more

Ley de FinTech in the Works (en español)

Mexico is in the process of passing Ley de FinTech. Read more

E.Bricks Ventures Makes Second Investment in Brazil’s Me Salva! (em português)

(Baguete) Brazilian venture capital firm, e.Bricks Ventures, has made an undisclosed second investment in the educational platform Me Salva! Read more

Cabify to Invest US$200m on Brazil Expansion (em português)

(Baguete) Cabify, the transportation app with a presence in 11 Latin American countries and Spain, announced plans to invest US$200m in Brazil to fortify its presence in the country. Read more

BNDES Invests R$2m in Brazilian Livestock Startup (em português)

(Valor Econômico) Criatec 3, a venture capital fund promoted by BNDES and managed by Inseed Investimentos, has invested R$2m in Brazilian livestock startup Chip Inside. Read more

SP Ventures Invests R$3m in Horus Aeronaves (em portugués)

(Valor Econômico) SP Ventures announced a R$3m investment in Brazilian drone startup Horus Aeronaves, which plans to expand its commercial network and launch new products geared toward agriculture. Read more

ALLVP and Coca-Cola Make Follow-on Investment in weex

(Press Release) ALLVP made a follow-on investment alongside Coca-Cola and other co-investors in weex, a mobile telco startup. Read more

DOMO Raises R$100m from Brazilian Family Offices to Invest in Startups (em português)

(Estadão PME) DOMO Invest, a venture capital fund launched by Buscapé Co-Founder Rodrigo Borges along with partners Gabriel Sidi and Felipe Andrade, closed R$100m from Brazilian family offices to make seed investments in 20 startups in Brazil. Read more

Grupo BMG Acquires Stake in Bossa Nova Investimentos (em português)

(Valor Econômico) BMG Grupo, owner of BMG bank, acquired a stake in Bossa Nova Investimentos, a startup investor based in São Paulo. Read more

Vox Capital Invests R$4m in Rio de Janeiro Education Startup (em português)

(Startupi) Impact investor Vox Capital announced an investment of R$4m in edtech startup, Aondê Educacional. Read more

DILA Capital Announces Close of Third Fund for MXN$400m (en español)

(AMEXCAP) DILA Capital has held a first close on MXN$400m for its third Fund, DILA Capital III, which will make seed and Series A venture capital investments in Mexico. Read more

Bzplan’s Fundo Sul Inovação Invests R$5m in Cata Company (em português)

(TI INSIDE Online) Fundo Sul Inovação, a VC fund co-managed by Brazilian firms FIR Capital and BZPlan, has made a R$5m follow on investment in fintech startup Cata Company. Read more

Seek Invests R$8m in Workana (em português)

(Baguete) Australian jobsite, Seek, along with existing shareholders, acquired a stake in Workana for R$8m. Previous investors include NXTP Labs and DMGT. Read more

Xpand Ventures Opens Applications for Early Stage Funding

(Press Release) Grupo Clarín’s Xpand Ventures has opened applications for their accelerator, seeking high-potential companies searching for early-stage funding. Read more

Ford Foundation Commits US$1b to Impact Funds in Developing Countries

(Bloomberg) The Ford Foundation will commit US$1b of its endowment to money managers who invest in affordable housing and financial services for people in developing countries over the next 10 years. Read more

HSI Will Invest in Residential Projects in São Paulo (em português)

(Valor Econômico) Brazilian private equity real estate firm Hemisfério Sul Investimentos (HSI) will invest for the first time in middle and high-income residential projects in São Paulo. Read more

QMS Capital to Focus on Tech and Real Estate (em português)

(Valor Econômico) Alternative investment firm QMS Capital announced it will begin to focus on the technology and real estate sectors of Brazil. Read more

Artha Capital to Launch MXN$6b CKD Vehicle for Real Estate Projects (en español)

(El Economista) Mexican alternative investment firm Artha Capital will issue a new CKD vehicle for MXN$6b through which it plans to invest in hotel and mixed-use projects in the coming years. Read more

Real Estate Funds in Mexico Move Forward with Development and Expect Higher Returns (en español)

(El Economista) After a brief pause following the U.S. election, private real estate funds investing in Mexico are re-mobilizing. Managers expect higher returns across retail, industrial, hotel, and office assets. Read more

Cuestamoras Exits Marriott with Sale to CPG Real Estate and Grupo Enjoy (en español)

(La Nación) CPG Real Estate and Enjoy Group acquired Marriott Los Sueños and Marriott Belén from Costa Rican multibusiness group Cuestamoras. Read more

Paladin Realty Confident in Brazilian Real Estate Market

(Press Release) Two additions to Paladin Realty’s São Paulo office reflect the firm’s positive outlook about emerging real estate opportunities in Brazil. Read more

HASTA Capital to Launch CKD in 2018 (en español)

(El Economista) Between 2018 and 2019, HASTA Capital, a Mexican real estate investment firm, plans to list on Mexico’s Bolsa Mexicana de Valores (BVM) a CKD vehicle aimed exclusively at rental housing. Read more

Equity International Closes First Investment in Telecom Infrastructure

(Press Release) Equity International invested US$50m in Digital Bridge’s telecommunications company Andean Tower Partners (ATP), which has operations in Colombia and Peru, alongside other investors including The Olayan Group and TC Latin American Partners. Read more

H.I.G. Enters Brazilian Real Estate Sector

(Press Release) H.I.G. private equity announced the appointment of Daniel Nader as Principal in the H.I.G. Latin America team, as part of a strategy to expand its investment activity into real estate assets in the region. Read more

Blackstone Buys Windsor Atlantica Hotel

(Press Release) Blackstone announced that funds managed by its real estate business have agreed to acquire the Windsor Atlantica Hotel on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Read more

Rio Bravo Initiates Direct Investments in Real Estate (em português)

(Investidor Institucional) After being acquired by the Fosun Group, Rio Bravo is seeking to invest in real estate assets with higher values using Fosun’s proprietary capital. Read more

Paladin Realty Partners Sees Opportunities in Peru and Brazil (en español)

(El Economista) Positive economic outlooks for Peru and Brazil have buoyed the spirits of real estate investors including Paladin. Read more

Thor Equities Aims to Raise US$400m for Mexican Real Estate

(IPE Real Estate) Thor Equities aims to raise up to US$400m for a Mexican real estate strategy. The NY-based firm’s Thor Urbana affiliate is looking to raise capital to target retail and mixed-use schemes in Mexico. Read more

GLL Latam Miracorp Buys Miracorp Corporate Center for US$47m (en español)

(LexLatin) GLL Latam Miracorp, a subsidiary of GLL Real Estate Partners, purchased Miracorp Corporate Center from Compass Fondo de Inversión Inmobiliario I, a Peruvian real estate investment fund, for US$47m. Read more

Pactia to Invest COL$1b in Colombian Real Estate (en español)

(Portafolio) Private real estate fund Pactia will invest COL$1b in corporate and commercial projects in Colombia. Read more