MEET THE TEAM

We wanted to share a few institutional updates to keep LAVCA members and the greater Latin American private capital community informed.

TEAM: Following the transition of Cate Ambrose to the Board of LAVCA, Ivonne Cuello, former Director of Business Development who joined the organization in 2014, has now stepped up to the role of CEO. 

Simultaneously, and starting officially in March 2020, former Board Member and IDB Chief Susana Garcia-Robles has joined LAVCA as Executive Advisor.

Susana and Ivonne will be working closely with the team to develop and execute the organization's strategy and outputs.

Meet the team: 
✔️Susana Garcia-Robles, Executive Advisor 
✔️Ivonne Cuello, CEO
✔️Caitlin Mitchell, Chief Communications Officer
✔️Julie Ruvolo, Director, Venture Capital
✔️Miguel Algarin, Director, Research
✔️Kaela Kennedy, Director, Events
✔️Belgica De Los Santos, Director, Finance & Operations
✔️Joyce Berman, Director, Membership
✔️Catalina Santos, Senior Economic Analyst, Business Development & Communications
✔️Dina Kavaleuski, Senior Analyst, Finance & Operations
✔️Emanuel Hernandez, Analyst, Research
✔️Paulina Portilla, Executive Assistant, Office Manager
and more....

Susana Garcia-Robles: "I am delighted to be working alongside this talented team to maintain and grow LAVCA's reputation of delivering superior data, research, education, and networking opportunities for private capital investors active or interested in Latin America. Having been involved in the organization since its inception in the early 2000s, I am deeply aligned with LAVCA's mission and I look forward to this next phase."

CONTINUITY OF MEMBER BENEFITS & ACCESSIBILITY: In light of the spread of COVID-19 across the globe and to prioritize the health of our team, the LAVCA staff will be working remotely until further notice.

Due to the nature of the organization's calendar, we don't anticipate an interruption in service (with some limited exception for live meetings in the next few months). 

The team, while taking appropriate precautions, is still available via email and phone for ongoing member calls and connections, to provide access to data and reports (new and old), and to be a resource for GPs, LPs, and direct investors who need our support. Don't hesitate to be in touch.

Ivonne Cuello: "Amidst global uncertainty, we are now more than ever committed to bringing value to the private capital community. With the support of industry veteran Susana Garcia-Robles coupled with continued engagement from Cate Ambrose and the Board and team, I am looking forward to working with LAVCA members and the community to drive sustainable economic development in Latin America."

AWARD WINNERS

LAVCA recently announced the winners of the 2020 Latin American Private Equity Awards during a special Latin American presentation at the PEI/PRI Responsible Investment Forum. 

🏆 A panel of institutional investors selected Alta Growth Capital for the 2020 Private Equity Deal for their investment in Mexican semi-trailer manufacturer Fruehauf de México. Alta Growth Capital exited the investment with the sale of Fruehauf to Mexican conglomerate Fultra in March 2019 after only four years, doubling both the company’s sales and EBITDA and successfully reentering the US market following a 20-year absence.

🏆 Lafise Investment Management received the 2020 Social Responsibility in a Private Equity Deal award for their investment in Paradise Ingredients, a Costa Rican banana puree processing company with an occupational health and safety management system, including free medical services to women at the company’s clinic and provision of school supplies to single mothers. The company also offers 24-hour medical services and physical therapy, and employees receive food subsidies and transportation services.

🏆 Actis received the 2020 Environmental Responsibility in a Private Equity Deal award for their investment in Mexican renewable energy firm Zuma Energía. The company provides low-cost, clean power to communities in Mexico through its windfarms and solar plant projects, which contribute to the reduction of 1.35 million tons of CO2 emissions on a yearly basis. Zuma also implemented wild flora and fauna rescue and relocation programs, and achieved one of the lowest collision rates for wildlife at their windfarms compared to North American standards.

🏆 LAVCA awarded Axxon Group a 2020 Environmental Responsibility Private Equity Deal Honorable Mention for their investment in Brazil’s BR Marinas, the largest marina operator in South America. The company implemented a series of programs to reduce plastic consumption and to educate communities about the environment.

Read the press release.

These deal cases and others are highlighted in the 6th Edition of the Latin American Private Equity & ESG Deal Cases. More information below. 

DOWNLOAD

ACCESS the latest edition of The Latin American Private Equity Deal Book & ESG Cases which details 12 PE investments across stages, countries, and sectors, including:

Actis (Zuma Energía); Advent International (YDUQS); Alta Growth Capital (Fruehauf de México); AshmoreAVENIDA (72 HUB); Australis Partners (The Reve Group); Axxon (BR Marinas); Colony LatAm Partners (Selina); Kandeo Asset Management (Conix); L Catterton (Espaçolaser); MAS Equity Partners (Promota Medica Las Américas); Nexxus Capital (Grupo Turistore); Vinci Partners (Mundo do Cabeleireiro).

The 6th edition of the deal book illustrates real examples of the value add of private equity in Latin America. Case studies also have an environment, social, and governance (ESG) component as this has become increasingly important for institutional investors.

Over 70 deal cases have been published by LAVCA since 2014.

MORE INFO.

Thank you to all those who attended the EMPEA | LAVCA Private Equity Masterclass in association with ColCapital in Bogotá on March 4, 2020.

100+ LPs and GPs participated as discussion leaders and attendees including:

ACON Investments, Adobe Capital, Advent International, ALLVP, AlphaMundi, Altra Inversiones, Aqua Capital, Ashmore Colombia, Bamboo Capital Partners, Bancoldex, CAF Asset Management Corp., Capital Group Private Markets, CCLA Group, Cometa, Credicorp Capital Colombia, CrossBoundary, Darby Private Equity, FCP 4G | Credicorp - Sura AM, HarbourVest Partners, IFC, Incofin Americas, Inframco, Kandeo Investment Advisors, LACERA, LarrainVial, L Catterton MAS Equity Partners, Mountain Nazca, Nexus Capital Partners, NXTP Ventures, OLCSLA, ONP, Pactia, Pantheon, Pantheon Ventures, Portland Private Equity, SEAF, Seguros Bolivar, Seguros Generales Suramericana, SFC, SURA Asset Management, SWEN Capital Partners, TC Latam Colombia, Terranum, Upwelling Capital Group

Thank you to Debevoise & Plimpton and Brigard Urrutia for their support.