Private Equity and Venture Capital

Interviews leading venture capitalists in Latin America

2012-02-04T19:01:00.003-05:00

Topspin LBO Acquires Stagnito Media, Operator of Hispanic Retail 360

2012-01-24T07:57:00.001-05:00

Topspin LBO, a Long Island, New York based private equity fund, has acquired Stagnito Media for an undisclosed amount.

Deerfield, Illinois based Stagnito Media, a business-to-business media company, operates several industry-leading trade publications including Convenience Store News, (CSN for the single store owner), Progressive Grocer, (PG’s Store Brands), The Gourmet Retailer, Hispanic Retail 360 and Retail Leader.

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CT/KDF Community development partners announce financing of Northgate Gonzalez Market in Barrio Logan, San Diego

2012-01-11T06:57:00.000-05:00

SAN DIEGO, CA – January 10, 2012 – (RealEstateRama) — Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based CT/KDF Community Development Partners, a joint venture between CT Realty Investors and KDF Communities, has placed $10.45 million of its New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation to develop a 36,000-square-foot, freestanding market in the Mercado del Barrio project in Downtown San Diego in concert with its investment partner, Wells Fargo.

The Northgate Gonzalez Market will be located at 1950 Main St. near Chicano Park in a predominantly Latino community near the base of the Coronado Bridge. Encompassing two city blocks on approximately 6.8 acres, the Mercado project is a collaborative effort between San Diego’s Redevelopment Agency, the San Diego Housing Commission and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, along with private entities Shea Homes, Chelsea Investment and Northgate Markets.

Opening of the store is planned for the summer of 2012. The new market will add approximately 150 construction jobs as well as 150 permanent jobs to this underserved area at a critical time of high unemployment in the area.

Northgate Gonzalez Markets is a Hispanic-themed supermarket which provides its patrons with a homeland shopping experience. Northgate recently opened a highly acclaimed new location in the City Heights area, the company’s seventh store in San Diego County and the 34th in Southern California. The company’s local market penetration allows it to buy in bulk and pass on lower costs to the consumer. Because of its size, the store will carry a variety of products from the United States, Mexico, Brazil and many other Latin American countries.

Northgate’s choice to locate in Barrio Logan is part of the Gonzalez family’s vision to be the No. 1 Hispanic chain in Southern California. Stores are placed in underserved and highly-concentrated Hispanic neighborhoods. The original Northgate Market was opened in Anaheim in 1980 by Miguel Gonzalez, who immigrated to Los Angeles with his oldest sons after his shoe store burned down in Jalisco, Mexico. His dream was to open enough stores so that each of his 13 children could run their own supermarket. Today, the business is run by 12 of the 13, with grandchildren now heavily involved.

CT/KDF’s financing of the Northgate market was generated through the company’s NMTC allocation from the federal government. CT/KDF received $90 million in late 2006 from the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) of the U.S. Treasury Department for investment in distressed areas.

“The federal New Markets Tax Credit program is targeted toward investment in new construction or substantial rehabilitation of properties in low-income areas,” said Sarah Woodward, chief investment partner for CT/KDF. “Compared to conventional, market-rate financing – especially financing for distressed areas – NMTC money is very attractive and may be the only financing available for a worthy project in a lower-income neighborhood. We are proud to be a part of bringing this project to fruition.”

The Barrio Logan project is CT/KDF’s sixth transaction using its NMTC allocation, and its third financing of a Northgate Markets grocery store.

Upcoming financing opportunities for the CT/KDF team will come from approximately $37 million of investment power stemming from funds that have been returned to the company that are now available for reinvestment in worthy Southern California projects. Woodward said, “We are especially fortunate to have this unique pot of NMTC financing which is rare in the market, as these funds only need to remain invested for three to four years, rather than the typical seven-year NMTC horizon. We are particularly interested in finding ground-up or major project rehabilitation opportunities for this money, as this shorter investment timeframe fits well with asset turnaround situations.”

About CTKDF

For more information, please visit www.ctkdf.com

About CT Realty Investors

Since its establishment in 1994, CT Realty Investors has completed more than 200 transactions with value in excess of $2.5 billion through a series of 10 independent discretionary private equity real estate funds, and continues to invest in institutional quality industrial properties, debt instruments, multi-family properties and other income-producing assets. The focus of CT Realty’s investment activities is to acquire well-located assets in major markets with the potential to enhance their value through a solid, hands-on management approach. For further information visit www.ctrinvestors.com.

SOURCE: CTKDF

New York firm acquires Auto Insurance Discounters

2011-12-07T22:48:00.000-05:00

Dec 02, 2011

Confie Seguros, a national insurance giant that focuses on Hispanic consumers, has acquired well-known Houston firm Auto Insurance Discounters Inc.

Auto Insurance Discounters, formed in 1992, has 13 locations in the Houston area and provides life insurance as well as coverage for vehicles, homes and renters.

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Accel Partners and Kaszek Ventures leads Series A Funding in Kekanto, the leading Social Guide in Brazil

2011-12-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Kekanto, the Leading Social Guide headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, has received Series A funding led by Accel Partners with Kaszek Ventures - a Venture Capital Firm led by MercadoLibre's co-founder Hernan Kazah and Nicolas Szekasy - participating. This marks Accel's fifth investment in Brazil over the past twelve months. Florian Otto, CEO of Groupon Brazil, and Vinicius Marchini, partner of the Brazilian investment bank and private equity fund BR Partners, are angel investors. The company did not disclose the amount of funding raised.

Kekanto, phonetically translated as "In which corner?" in Portuguese, is the leading online local community in Brazil. Kekanto was launched in 2010 by Fernando Okumura (Stanford GSB), Bruno Yoshimura, and Alan Kajimoto (both Computer Scientists from the University of Sao Paulo) and has quickly become a critical source of local reviews for millions of people in Brazil. The product offers consumers the ability to quickly find information on local businesses, tourist attractions, public service offices, and other points of interest. Kekanto's search/recommendation system blends your social network and demographic information to replicate real life word of mouth.

The company has reached 3 million unique monthly visitors, and its active communities are in all major cities of Brazil. Kekanto will use the proceeds to accelerate investment in product and technology in its native Brazil while accelerating its expansion in Argentina, Chile, Mexico and other countries in Latin America.

Accel´s Partner Andrew Braccia, who will join Kekanto's Board of Directors, says "Access to high quality local information is a critical pillar in any emerging online market. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Kekanto and its founders to strengthen their leadership position in Brazil and across Latin America."

Hernan Kazah, founding partner at Kaszek Ventures, explains he got to know Kekanto in the best way possible, as a happy user: "We learned about Kekanto through their fantastic service and great community as we would use their site in our regular visits to Sao Paulo to find the best restaurants and bars around, see where our friends were going and check what Kekanto's community was recommending. Then we met the team and were very impressed by their professionalism and positive ambitions. Now, as investors in the company, we look forward to helping Fernando and his team foster their community and expand their operations throughout Latin America ..."

About Accel Partners

Founded in 1983 Accel has helped entrepreneurs build over 300 successful companies worldwide through early initiating investments. Many of these companies have gone on to define their categories, including Facebook, Groupon, 99designs, Admob, Angry Birds (Rovio), Atlassian, Brightcove, ComScore, Diapers.com (Quidsi), Dropbox, Etsy, JBoss, Kayak, Macromedia, MetroPCS, Polycom/PictureTel, Playfish, QlikTech, Real Networks, Riverbed, SpringSource, Veritas, Walmart.com, XenSource, and Zimbra. Accel has offices in Palo Alto, London, Bangalore, New York City, Beijing and Shanghai amongst others, and is also actively pursuing investments in Brazil and Latin America, including Elo7, Shoes4You, Vostu, and Kekanto. For more information, please visit www.accel.com , or find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/accel .

Kaszek Ventures is the leading Latin American venture capital firm investing in high-impact tech entrepreneurs. Led by Nicolas Szekasy, MercadoLibre’s former CFO, and Hernan Kazah, MercadoLibre’s co-founder, the firm actively supports its portfolio companies through value-added strategic guidance and hands-on operational help, leveraging its partners' successful entrepreneurial backgrounds and extensive network.

SOURCE Accel Partners

New York firm acquires Auto Insurance Discounters

2011-12-04T16:11:00.000-05:00

Dec 02, 2011

Confie Seguros, a national insurance giant that focuses on Hispanic consumers, has acquired well-known Houston firm Auto Insurance Discounters Inc.

Auto Insurance Discounters, formed in 1992, has 13 locations in the Houston area and provides life insurance as well as coverage for vehicles, homes and renters.

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Growing Hispanic population driving new community trends

2011-11-30T08:08:00.000-05:00

Nov 29, 2011 | by Liana Grey

A new study from the University of California titled Assimilation Tomorrow, demographers tracking the waves of immigrants from the 1990s based on those who came before found that foreign-born residents are integrating into mainstream American society at a rate that will see them achieve “great success” by 2030.

The percentage of immigrants who own rather than rent their homes is projected to rise from 25.5 percent in 2000 to 72 percent in 2030, and the number of those speaking English well will rise from 57.5 percent to 70.3 percent.

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IBM selects five Brazilian startup companies to help build smarter cities

2011-11-11T19:32:00.000-05:00

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Following a preliminary round of selections across eight Brazilian cities, IBM today announced the finalists for its SmartCamp in Brazil. IBM's SmartCamp, scheduled for November 10th and 11th, brings startups together with senior government and business leaders from Latin America's most progressive cities to mentor them and examine how we can spur economic development, modernize infrastructures and transform our cities to create a new urban model.

The five finalists have developed technology solutions that address some of the world's most pressing issues - such as traffic, healthcare and food safety. The SmartCamp in Brazil is the most recent of nine global SmartCamps this year. The winner will be invited to the next SmartCamp World Finals to square off against other winners from around the globe to claim the title of "IBM Global Entrepreneur of the Year."

The event will be webcast at www.livestream.com/ibmsoftware . Follow the action on People for a Smarter Planet on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/9S1Jp8 , and share your thoughts on Twitter at #IBMSmartCamp.

With a focus on accelerating the development of solutions that exploit the vast amount of information already available across cities to deliver better citizen services, IBM SmartCamp provides mentorship to early stage start-ups and facilitates access to venture capital companies.

IDC Government Insights estimates the new Smarter Cities information technology market opportunity at $34 billion in 2011, increasing more than 18 percent per year to $57 billion by 2014.

"Helping cities address their biggest challenges requires rapid innovation and an in depth understanding of multiple industries and the latest technology," said Jim Corgel, general manager, Developer Relations, IBM. "We believe entrepreneurs will play a critical role in addressing the needs of cities around the world. That is why we are working closely with startups to push the limits of innovation and get their products to market faster by providing coaching and connections to IBM clients and partners."

IBM SmartCamp Brazil is being held in conjunction with the IBM Venture Capital Symposium. The events will bring together entrepreneurs, investors, representatives from universities and IBM executives, who will discuss business opportunities for companies that develop solutions that contribute to the daily life of cities and the country's development.

Brazil is a key growth market for IBM. The expansion of IBM's Global Entrepreneur initiative into Brazil earlier this year, is part of IBM's ongoing efforts to engage with entrepreneurs in key emerging markets, such as Brazil, India, China and Turkey. Collaborating with entrepreneurs helps fuel global innovation and growth and plays a role in IBM's ability to deliver value to clients.

Meet the Finalists

Easy Taxi: With Easy Taxi's mobile transportation solution people can call a taxi with a click on their smartphone. The application locates and calls the nearest taxi, calculates the fare and processes the payment online. This solutions saves time, reduces security concerns for passengers, helps generate additional revenue for drivers and reduces fuel and greenhouse gas emissions.

IDXP: IDXP's consumer behavior solution installs sensors in stores and shopping carts to help retailers understand consumer behavior in real time. For example, the sensors can identify the areas of the store that receive the most traffic and the displays where people spend the most time. This type of analysis helps retailers measure the effectiveness of promotions and merchandising displays, helping to improve sales and the overall shopping experience for consumers.

Mobwise: Mobwise's mobile application combines various sources of information on traffic conditions including real time data generated by users. It suggests the best route to a destination and offers rewards such as discounts at partner establishments for users who contribute to the application.

Opara: Opara's food traceability system for fruit monitors the entire production chain, from farm to supermarket shelf. Operated by smartphones, tablets and computers, the system allows more flexibility and reliability throughout the sale process, for the producer, trader and the buyer. By removing the need to monitor the production process manually, Opara is reducing delays and waste and helping producers quickly identify a product's origins in the event of a food born illness.

Prime Health: Prime Health uses business analytics to help improve patient health and reduce the cost of treating chronic diseases. The system analyzes patient profiles and identifies the potential risk people have of developing certain chronic diseases. Based on predictive analysis, healthcare professionals can provide patients with preventive treatments and monitoring to prevent the occurrence or further development of the disease.

The winner of IBM SmartCamp Brazil will be announced on November 11 in Rio de Janeiro.

People can vote for their favorite SmartCamp Rio finalist at www.asmarterplanet.com .

For more information on the Global Entrepreneur Program from IBM, please visit: http://www-304.ibm.com/isv/startup . For more information about IBM Venture Capital Group, visit: http://www-304.ibm.com/businesscenter/venturedevelopment/us/en/ .

SOURCE IBM

Source Logistics Honored as Fast Growing Hispanic 3PL Firm

2011-11-09T06:33:00.000-05:00

MONTEBELLO, Calif., Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Source Logistics, LLC ("Source") announced today that it has been named one of Inc. 500/5000 fastest-growing private companies list and now ranks among the top 100 Logistics & Transportation companies in the country. The 2011 list measured revenue growth from 2007 through 2010. To qualify, companies must have been in operation during this period of time, based in the U.S., privately held, for profit, and employee based.

Source saw its revenue grow 82% during this period of time and is expected to approach $20 million in revenue by the end of 2011. The company manages over 600,000 sq. ft. in warehouse space across four locations – Los Angeles, Laredo, Houston and New Jersey – providing a nationwide foot print for its customers, who continue to grow rapidly, demanding expanded services. The company provides valuable logistics solutions to leading Mexican and Latin American consumer product manufacturers exporting to U.S. retailers, who have surpassed most forecasts regarding trade volumes in the last few years.

Source was founded in 1999 by Marcelo Sada, Raul Villarreal and Fernando Ramirez who established their first warehouse in Los Angeles to provide Mexican manufacturers looking to export into the complex U.S. network of food and consumer product retailers throughout the country, a complete logistics solution, including storage and freight services.

Marcelo Sada, Source's President and Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "We are pleased to have been able to stick to our business plan and service rapidly growing volumes of customers exporting Latin American products to the U.S. While the U.S. customers saw their volumes drop in 2008 and 2009 we saw substantial growth from large Latin American consumer brands."

In addition, Mr. Sada commented, "We had bootstrapped the Company with our own capital and in the last four years with our private equity partner The Central Valley Fund ('CVF'), who has helped propel our growth with their capital and resources. To allow ourselves to scale and accommodate the solid double-digit, we have experienced and continue to see in the foreseeable future, it is nice to have an investment partner."

Jose Blanco, a partner with CVF, stated, "Source's management team continues to build a very solid company, based on quality products and first-rate customer service." According to Jose Blanco, "The macro environment supports the case for continued demand for quality 3PL logistics services – a rapidly growing U.S. Hispanic population, new trade pacts with Colombia and Panama, U.S.-Mexico trade doubled the last 10 years and evolving U.S. tastes and preferences (i.e.- the U.S. consumes more salsa and tortillas than ketchup or sliced bread since 2006)."

About Source Logistics, LLC

Source Logistics, LLC was founded in 1999 to provide third-party logistic solutions for the storage and freight handling of consumer products primarily for Mexican and Latin American manufacturers. The Los Angeles based company utilizes its network of warehouses and a range of value-added services to permit its customers to increasingly expand their sales levels throughout the U.S. For more information, please visit www.sourcelogistics.net.

About The Central Valley Fund

The Central Valley Fund was established by the principals of Gael Partners, LLC to finance later stage growth through mezzanine and preferred equity investments. The fund has offices in Davis, CA and Fresno, CA. It is focused on making investments in California's Central Valley and throughout the state. For more information, please visit www.centralvalleyfund.com.

SOURCE Source Logistics, LLC

IVEST Private Equity Announces Investment in 9D Media, World's First 3D Hispanic Signage Network

2011-10-29T18:24:00.000-04:00

PRLog (Press Release) - Oct 25, 2011 - VANCOUVER, British Columbia--IVEST Private Equity (www.ivestequity.com) is very pleased to announce minority investment in 9D Media (www.9dmedia.tv), owner of the first “glasses free” 3D digital signage network purely focused on reaching the Hispanic American consumer. 9D Media's innovative "Coca Cola Hispanic 3D Ad Network" just launched at all locations of the US’s leading and fastest growing independent Hispanic grocery store chain, El Super (www.elsupermarkets.com), and is set to roll-out imminently in several other large grocery chains nation-wide.

"IVEST is very excited about our investment in this company for several reasons," said John Bremner, founder of IVEST. "First of all, 9D Media is in a niche, first-to-market position with the cutting-edge technology of 'no glasses' 3D televisions. Second, advertisers love it because their ad dollars go to a very targeted, sought-after emerging market in a location where consumers can immediately respond at the till. And third, because the stores themselves are keen to host the 3D Ad Network, it's an easy sell all the way around. Everyone is loving it!"

With secured blue chip advertisers such as Coca Cola, Kraft and Nestle's, and independent Hispanic grocery chains as enthusiastic partners, 9D Media is pioneering a whole new medium of advertising. Unlike an older technology of "glasses free" 3D screens that required the viewer to stand directly in front of the screen, the newest 3D technology at the helm of 9D Media's 3D Ad Network allows the viewer to see the 3D illusion from a full range of positions and proximities on eye-catching and sizeable flat screen displays. This game-changing technology, where advertised products are floating as far as 2 feet off the screen in front of shoppers, combined with content from 9D Media's own in-house Emmy Award-winning animation department, boasts views and view durations far in excess of standard advertising and can only be described as spectacular.

About IVEST Private Equity

IVEST Private Equity is a boutique private equity investment fund exclusively focused on premium branded consumer product manufacturers, with a special focus on investments capitalizing on sales to China’s emerging middle class of over 300 million consumers. IVEST does minority and majority equity, and provides mezzanine and debt funding to global manufacturers in all sectors of consumer products including but not limited to: automotive, beauty, beverages, clothing, cosmetics, durable goods, frozen foods, haircare, homecare, packaged foods, pets, snacks, toys and sporting goods, as well as consumer and retail services companies.

About 9D Media

9D Media is the world's first digital signage company offering "glasses free" 3D advertising specifically focused at targeting the Hispanic American consumer. The management team is made up of a former senior Clear Channel ad sales executive, a former senior National Grocers Association board member, and an Emmy Award-winning animator.

SOURCE IVEST Private Equity

Yucaipa, Garcia Trujillo partner for Hispanic opportunities

2011-10-29T18:21:00.000-04:00

Oct 27, 2011

Yucaipa Companies, the LA-based private equity firm headed by billionaire tycoon Ron Burkle, has partnered with Latino investment firm Garcia Trujillo to pursue investment opportunities in the fast-growing marketplace of companies serving the needs of the Hispanic consumers.

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Confie Seguros buys Trustway operations

2011-10-12T00:07:00.000-04:00

October 11th, 2011 | Confie Seguros, a rapidly growing national provider of insurance with an emphasis on serving Hispanic consumers, today announced that it has acquired the Florida operations of Trustway Insurance Agencies, a leading insurance brokerage in Florida that will serve as a strong platform for further expansion throughout the state.

Trustway Insurance provides personal insurance lines, including auto, homeowners, and business insurance. Trustway Insurance has 28 retail locations throughout the state. The new Florida operation will be overseen by Jeff Greene, an insurance executive with over 25 years of experience in the Florida market with standard and non-standard companies, who will serve as General Manager of Florida. He will also be involved in expanding the firm’s presence in the state through additional acquisitions.

John Addeo, CEO of Confie Seguros, said, “We have conducted extensive research on potential investment opportunities in Florida and we believe Trustway serves as the best platform to establish our presence in this key state and expand further with our formula that focuses on Hispanic consumers. We have a strong management team, led by Jeff Greene, and we look forward to working with him to grow the Florida operation organically and through acquisitions.”

Confie Seguros has made a number of acquisitions this year to strengthen its existing presence in key states as well to establish new platforms to expand into important markets in New York, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and now Florida.

Commenting on his new position, Mr. Greene, said, “I am excited to join Confie Seguros and help expand our new operations throughout Florida. Our retail offices are in prime locations throughout the state and we are actively looking to further enhance that presence and expand our coverage.”

Prior to joining Confie Seguros, Mr. Greene was Vice President of Operations and Director of Franchising for FedUSA Insurance/Franchising Group, responsible for day to day operations of 17 retail locations and assisted in operations/training for 24 franchised locations writing in excess of $50M in premiums combined. He was also Florida State Retail Manager/Director of Franchise Operations for Affirmative Insurance Holdings/21st Century Holding Company for 10 years, responsible for day to day operations for 32 retail locations and assisted in operations/training for 39 franchised locations writing in excess of $70M in premiums combined.

Confie Seguros is a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm that focuses on investments in selected segments of the life sciences, healthcare, financial services, software, and industrial technology industries. Genstar established Confie Seguros in 2008 in collaboration with the company’s management team to acquire insurance agencies focused on the Hispanic consumer.

About Confie Seguros

Confie Seguros is a leading national insurance distribution company primarily focused on the insurance needs of the Hispanic consumer. The experienced Confie Seguros management team, led by seasoned insurance veteran CEO John Addeo, continues to build its portfolio of regional auto insurance brokerages, and today has annual revenue exceeding $160 million with over 275 retail locations. The company has leading market positions in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Washington, Oregon, New York, New Jersey, and Nevada, and expects to continue its expansion in those states as well as in Illinois, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

Quinn Announces $78 Million State Venture Capital Program

2011-10-07T11:51:00.002-04:00

Oct 05, 2011 | by Alejandra Cancino

Gov. Pat Quinn Wednesday announced a program aimed at helping Illinois businesses and entrepreneurs gain access to funding they need to start companies and expand existing business.

The program, called Advantage Illinois, will leverage $78 million in federal funding. The purpose is to help businesses accelerate job creation and economic growth, the governor said at a press conference on the west side of Chicago.

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Palladium Equity Partners announces acquisition of Teasdale Quality Foods

2011-09-20T22:14:00.000-04:00

NEW YORK, Sept. 20, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Palladium Equity Partners, LLC (together with its affiliates, "Palladium"), a private investment firm focused principally on investments in the U.S. Hispanic marketplace, announced today that it has acquired Teasdale Quality Foods ("Teasdale"), the largest producer and marketer of canned hominy and beans in the Western United States. Terms were not disclosed.

Thomas Bauer, Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Teasdale, said, "From our earliest roots in the rich agricultural heritage of California's Central Valley, Teasdale has always prided itself on products that are 'Simply the Best.' Our new partnership with Palladium will both continue that tradition and better position us to keep pace with consumer trends, even as we redouble our commitment to provide unparalleled service, quality and value for our customers."

Joining Teasdale's management team are several experienced operating executives from Palladium, including Allen Rodriguez, as Chief Executive Officer and member of the board, and Cor Karaffa, as Chief Operating Officer. Jack Kelly, former President and Chief Executive Officer of San Antonio Farms and American Italian Pasta Company, will join Teasdale's board as Chairman.

Luis Zaldivar, a Managing Director at Palladium, said, "Teasdale is recognized as an industry leader and innovator serving a broad base of retail, food service and industrial customers in the Western U.S. The company's visibility and success in the Hispanic market – given the strength of Teasdale and other branded products such as Aunt Penny's and Emilio's – make it a natural fit with Palladium's investment strategy. We look forward to partnering with management and I certainly share in their excitement about the market opportunities that lie ahead for Teasdale."

OneWest Bank, FSB provided additional financing in the form of a credit facility.

About Teasdale Quality Foods

Headquartered in Atwater, California, Teasdale Quality Foods' roots can be traced back to the 1930's. Inspired by the rich agricultural Central Valley of California, the company is the largest producer and marketer of canned hominy and beans in the Western United States, primarily serving the Hispanic market under its Teasdale brand and other branded products such as Aunt Penny's and Emilio's.

About Palladium Equity Partners

Palladium targets investments in business services companies as well as in financial services, consumer/retail, food/restaurants, healthcare, industrial and media businesses. Palladium has a focus on companies that are well-positioned to capitalize on the fast-growing U.S. Hispanic market. The principals of Palladium have directed investments of over $1.0 billion of equity in more than 45 portfolio companies over the last two decades.

SOURCE Palladium Equity Partners, LLC

New Futuro launches Innovative Partnership to get 10,000 Latinos into College

2011-09-14T00:59:00.000-04:00

CHICAGO, Sept. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ -- New Futuro, a Chicago-based startup, and Allstate Insurance Company today announced the launch of an unprecedented partnership dedicated to helping Latino families get their students into college and beyond. In addition, New Futuro has partnered with other non-profits, education institutions and corporate citizens to ensure the success of the program, which was announced this morning at the National Museum of Mexican Art.

According to U.S. Census Bureau projections, by 2020 nearly 36 percent of the population in the United States under the age of 19 will be Latino,* making Latinos the largest, fastest-growing segment in the country.

"We know from extensive research that the Latino community, with more than 400,000 Hispanic households in Chicago alone, can benefit from the information, resources and social capital necessary to chart a path toward a college education," said Peter Wilkins, co-founder and CEO of New Futuro. "We believe that by providing access and outreach to working class Latino families, New Futuro, Allstate and our partner organizations will increase the chances that Latino students achieve not only their collegiate dreams but their professional aspirations as well."

As the title sponsor, Allstate has enabled New Futuro to launch this innovative program and will be awarding nearly $15,000 in scholarships to participating students at a series of free, college-prep workshops that will culminate with a major education summit at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., on November 12, 2011. New Futuro and Allstate estimate these events will attract more than 10,000 Latino parents and students from throughout Chicagoland. A dedicated website at www.NewFuturo.com will contain information on the dates and locations of all events, as well as useful bilingual information and resources about preparing, applying to and paying for college and other post-secondary alternatives.

"Partnering with New Futuro is a natural extension of Allstate's commitment to protecting families and giving them the opportunities they need to succeed," said Mike Escobar, Allstate's vice president and chief diversity and organization effectiveness officer. "We believe that one of the best ways we can help our customers prepare for the future is through education, and we are proud to be able to support these important efforts in coming months in Allstate's hometown."

"We're thrilled to have Allstate on board as our corporate sponsor. Allstate's support will advance our goal to motivate 10,000 Latino families to commit to a ten-point plan focused on getting their students into college and beyond," said Marty Castro, co-founder of New Futuro. "Equally important, though, is the company's willingness to share its diverse human capital—Allstate's people who truly understand and have successfully navigated the path toward succeeding in life."

In addition to Allstate, New Futuro is working with other strategic partners to collaborate on a variety of initiatives that will help Latino families and students prepare to enter to college. That list includes prominent national and local organizations such as the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Council of La Raza, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), Teach For America and others.

"ISAC is happy to have the opportunity to take part in New Futuro's venture," said Eddie Brambila, managing director of community partnerships for ISAC. "By offering our expertise on college access and success, particularly the financial aid process, we can collaborate with New Futuro to create the sustainable change needed to help Latinos prosper at the national, local and household levels."

For more information on New Futuro and upcoming events throughout Chicago, please visit www.NewFuturo.com.

About New Futuro

New Futuro is a purpose-driven, certified minority business enterprise providing Latino families with the knowledge, guidance and professional social network they need to get their students into college and beyond. Members have access to free bilingual resources that help them create and follow a step-by-step plan toward achieving a college degree. To learn more, visit www.NewFuturo.com or follow New Futuro at www.facebook.com/newFuturo and www.twitter.com/newfuturo. For our multimedia newsroom, please go to pitch.pe/172840.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer known for its "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®" slogan. Now celebrating its 80th anniversary as an insurer, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help nearly 16 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Consumers access Allstate insurance products (auto, home, life and retirement) and services through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, and Allstate exclusive financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, as well as via www.allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate®.

Fernandez moving back into Medicare

2011-09-12T23:22:00.000-04:00

Sept 12, 2011 | by John Dorschner

Miguel “Mike” Fernandez, a veteran healthcare entrepreneur from Coral Gables, is about to re-enter the Medicare HMO business six years after selling CarePlus to Humana for $465 million.

His new company, Simply Healthcare Plans, is already active in Medicaid and is poised to launch six Medicare products, spokeswoman Pam Gadinsky said.

One is “unique to the Florida market,” she said. It’s called the “institutional equivalent special needs plan” for those who have conditions that could require an institutional setting, such as assisted living facilities.

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Michigan's Private-Equity culture is helping to grow jobs

2011-08-29T09:38:00.000-04:00

August 26, 2011 | by Chrissie Thompson

Michigan's growing private-equity culture is slowly helping to diversify the state's economy and starting to change the employment landscape, local business professors say.

Venture-capital investments in Michigan start-ups increased from $90.8 million in 2005 to $152.2 million last year, moving the state from 24th to 18th in U.S. rankings, according to the National Venture Capital Association. In the last year, the state added five venture-capital firms, an increase of 25%, the Michigan Venture Capital Association said.

But start-ups, like the four GM Ventures companies that have Michigan ties, often function for years with small staffs. The new jobs often pay less than those lost in recent years.

"Start-ups don't replace factory jobs. Fine with me," said David Brophy, who directs the University of Michigan's private-equity studies. Not only does Michigan need to open itself to new industries, but "we're going to have different kinds of jobs in the auto industry. If we don't do it, the cars are going to be made elsewhere."

GM Ventures has funded Rochester Hills start-ups that have added about 400 jobs.

Start-ups with auto industry ties are drawn to Michigan's automotive expertise. But Michigan workers need more education to qualify for higher-technology jobs, Brophy said.

Read full article

Hispanic households: Looking at the wealth gap

2011-08-05T23:41:00.001-04:00

August 5th, 2011 | by E.G.

AUSTIN: It was painful to look at one's investments this morning, as the Dow dropped more than 500 points yesterday, partly because investors are sceptical of what we'll see in the July jobs report, which will be released today. In the rational part of the brain, though, we know that stockmarket volatility is a predictable part of life and not as troubling as some trends.

One of the latter comes from a new report from the Pew Center, which finds that between 2005 and 2009 the median wealth of Hispanic households (adjusted for inflation) dropped by 66%—significantly worse than the 53% decline over that same span for black households, and vastly worse than the nonetheless large 16% drop for whites. The discrepancy is smaller in real numbers (the median white household lost about $20,000 dollars, compared to about $12,000 for the median Hispanic) and in absolute terms the wealth gap narrowed a bit. but that points to the dramatic pre-existing wealth gap between white households compared to Hispanic and black households. The median white household, circa 2009, had a net worth of about $113,000. For Hispanics and blacks the figure hovers around $6,000.

In Pew's analysis, this is largely about housing. For most Americans, home-ownership is a plausible path towards modest wealth accumulation. Hispanic households, however, were especially hurt by the fall in the housing market:

"From 2005 to 2009, the median level of home equity held by Hispanic homeowners declined by half—from $99,983 to $49,145—while the homeownership rate among Hispanics was also falling, from 51% to 47%. A geographic analysis suggests the reason: A disproportionate share of Hispanics live in California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona."

Read full article

Confie Seguros enters Nevada Market with acquisition of Family Insurance Center

2011-08-03T22:43:00.000-04:00

NEW YORK, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Confie Seguros, a rapidly growing national provider of insurance with an emphasis on serving Hispanic consumers, today announced that it has acquired Family Insurance Center, a leading insurance brokerage that will serve as a strong platform for further expansion throughout Nevada.

Based in Las Vegas, Family Insurance provides personal insurance lines, including auto, basic homeowners, as well as business insurance. Family Insurance will be managed by Freeway Insurance, Confie Seguros' California unit and a leading California provider of non-standard auto insurance. Confie Seguros has made a number of acquisitions this year to strengthen its existing presence in key states as well to establish new platforms to expand into important markets in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Oregon.

John Addeo, CEO of Confie Seguros, said, "Nevada is a strategically important state and the acquisition of Family Insurance provides a solid footprint for us in Las Vegas to lead our growth in that state. We continue moving forward with our plan to be the first national insurance broker with a focus on Hispanic consumers."

Confie Seguros is a portfolio company of Genstar Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm that focuses on investments in selected segments of the life sciences, healthcare, financial services, software, and industrial technology industries. Genstar established Confie Seguros in 2008 in collaboration with the company's management team to acquire insurance agencies focused on the Hispanic consumer.

Joseph Waked, CEO of Freeway Insurance, said, "Family Insurance is a solid addition to the Confie Seguros family of companies. We plan to identify other leading insurance brokers in Nevada in the coming months to further expand in this key state."

About Confie Seguros

Confie Seguros is a leading national insurance distribution company primarily focused on the insurance needs of the Hispanic consumer. The experienced Confie Seguros management team, led by seasoned insurance veteran CEO John Addeo, continues to build its portfolio of regional auto insurance brokerages, and today has annual revenue exceeding $160 million. The company has leading market positions in California, Arizona, Texas, Washington, Oregon, New York, New Jersey, and Nevada, and expects to continue its expansion in those states as well as in Florida, Illinois, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

SOURCE Confie Seguros

The GWHCC announces new Board of Directors, Fundraising Committee and Advisory Board Members

2011-07-18T16:43:00.001-04:00

July 17, 2011 - Washington, DC – The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GWHCC) has announced its new Advisory Board, Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee members.

Jorge Haddock, Dean of the School of Management at George Mason University, was confirmed Chair of the newly formed Advisory Board, whose mission is to provide strategic advice to the Chamber and create and strengthen bonds with other entities to promote the growth of the organization. Dr. Haddock has extensive educational background in the areas of business, information technology, and corporate culture. He has authored, and co-authored over seventy publications, and has been the recipient of several awards including Outstanding Young Industrial Engineer Award and Excellence for Minority Advancement Award from the Institute of Industrial Engineers.

Caroline Sanchez was named Co-chair of the Chamber’s Advisory Board. She is currently Senior Relationship Manager, Latin America and Caribbean Region, Government and Institutional Banking at HSBC Bank USA N.A., an indirect subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations. In this role, she is responsible for the management of foreign government entity relationships in the regions she oversees. Mrs. Sanchez is also the Chair of HSBC Mid-Atlantic Hispanic Latino Diversity Employee Resource Group. Mrs. Sanchez has 16 years of experience in the embassy banking business and before joining HSBC in 2006 she worked in leadership roles at Wachovia Bank in Washington DC, SunTrust Bank in Atlanta, GA and Miami, FL.

Syddia Lee-Chee, founder of Energetica Group and Washington DC Public Relations Representative for Goya Foods, was named new member at large of the Boards of Directors. Mrs. Lee-Chee has an extensive background in sales, marketing and business development; she has worked in several multinational corporations and well as numerous government commissions. She served as Marketing, Outreach and Public Affairs Director for the Presidential Advisory Commission as well as The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans.

Andres Echeverri, President of Andean Consulting Solutions International, a local translation, interpretation and localizing firm, was confirmed Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Mr. Echeverri has over 20 years of business and finance experience. He has served as Chief Financial Officer for Finesa Real Estate Group, a private equity group. Other experience includes retail and whole sale banking for Wells Fargo, where his role was to develop relationships between banks and Latino non-profit organizations to provide financial support in various areas including, education, health and entrepreneurship.

The Chamber is in the process of appointing more Hispanic business leaders to be part of the Advisory Board and Fundraising Committee.

About the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce:

The Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a membership driven organization that supports the economic development of the Greater Washington metropolitan area by facilitating the success of Latino and other minority-owned businesses and the communities they serve through networking, advocacy, education and access to capital. The Chamber was founded in 1976 and is a 501(C) 6 organization. For additional information visit www.gwhcc.org

Ground Broken On ‘The Building’ On Ponce

2011-07-14T19:51:00.000-04:00

July 14th 2011 - by Allison Hallida

Miami based TAZ Partners and the Mas Group of Companies have announced that ground has been broken on a commercial property in the heart of Downtown Coral Gables.

The Building is due for completion in 2012 and will be a modern 58,000 ft.² Mediterranean style class A office development at 2990 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. The project has obtained financing from HSBC bank USA, N.A. and is developed by Alberto J. Perez of AJP Ventures.

Juan Carlos Mas leads the Mas Group of Companies which is a private equity, a venture capital and real estate investment fund and says “This is an exciting project for myriad of reasons, not the least of which is the partnership with my good friends the Zubis.”

The project is a joint venture between Mas and TAZ Partners LLC, a real estate investment fund created by the Zubizarreta family. The name of the company is formed from the initials of Teresa A. Zubizarreta who was a Miami icon and the late mother of Michelle and Joe, who are responsible for creating one of the largest and most respected Hispanic advertising agencies.

Read full article

Bloomberg Sports, ESPN Deportes, Soccer United Marketing, NFL, and NBA executives to be among speakers at LatinVision’s “Marketing to Latinos Sports” conference, April 7 in New York

2011-04-05T11:57:00.002-04:00

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)—LatinVision Media Inc., a New York based organizer of conferences and networking events focused on marketing to U.S. Hispanics and Latin American executives, today announced its second annual “Sports” conference.

The event will be held at The Harvard Club in New York City on April 7, 2011. The speakers will address sports marketing issues relevant to the Hispanic community and will discuss best practices to reach Hispanic consumers using sports multimedia platforms.

"Sports is one of the most attractive and effective industries to reach Latinos consumers. No marketer can ignore the fact, the U.S. Hispanic consumer is one of the fastest growing markets in the nation with more than $1 trillion in purchasing power,“ said Carlos Vassallo, CEO of Latin Media Inc.

“In an ever-changing Latin market place marketers must stay on top of current topics and trends as well as success stories and best practices of current players who successfully are leveraging and taking advantage of this Latino passion.”

The one-day conference will feature a morning-evening format, with the morning session bearing the panels and presentations from 8:00 AM until 12.45PM, an afternoon session, and after work from 6PM to 8:30PM, designated for networking and one-on-one exchanges.

The panel presentations will be streamed live to Latin America, Spain and Portugal by LatinVision’s partner NetStairs and promoted in English, Spanish and Portuguese by partners Business Wire and Business Wire’s LatinoWire.

The panelist Lineup includes:

Chris Russo, CEO, Big Lead Sports
Bill Squadron, Sports Chief, Bloomberg Sports
Anthony Eros, Founder, Eros Company
Michelle Bella, VP Marketing, ESPN Deportes
Marcus Jimenez, Partner / Principal, Huemanitas
Hugo Hernandez, Director Sports Initiatives, Impremedia
Seneca Mudd, Director, Interactive Advertising Bureau
Carlos Vassallo, CEO, LatinVision Media
Jean Jimenez, Business Development & Sales, Mobile Messaging Solutions
Saskia Sorrosa, Senior Director of US Hispanic Marketing, NBA
Manuel Garcia, Director Latino Affairs, New York Yankees
Alvaro Saralegui, SVP, NFL
Oscar Allain, Account Director, Multicultural Marketing, Octagon
Javier Farfan, Director of Cultural Branding at PepsiCo, Pepsico
Juan Delgado, Managing Director North America, Perform Group
Chris Lencheski, Founder & CEO, Phoenicia Sport & Entertainment
Joseph Schramm, Managing Partner, Schramm Marketing Group
Russell Findlay, Chief Marketing Officer, Soccer United Marketing
Vicente Navarro, Director of Hispanic Marketing, Sports Endeavors, Inc.
Liz Sarachek Blacker, Chief Revenue Officer, Terra Networks
Daniel Traver, Director of Business Development, Traver Hispanic Marketing Group

For more information about the conference, to register and sponsor: www.latinvision.com/conference/sports and http://www.latinvision.com/conference/sports/sponsors.pdf

To learn more about LatinVision Media 2011 Conferences Series: www.latinvision.com/marketing

About LatinVision Media
LatinVision Media, Inc. is a New York-based company that operates business portals targeting U.S. Hispanic and Latin American entrepreneurs, business owners, executives and professionals in small and medium-sized companies. LatinVision portals include: http://www.latinvision.com/; www.latinvision.com/finance; www.latinvision.com/jobs; www.latinvision.com/digital among others. For more information: http://tinyurl.com/LatinVision

About Business Wire
Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2011 as the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. Public relations and investor relations professionals rely on Business Wire for both broad-based and targeted market reach. A recognized disclosure service in the United States, Canada and a dozen European countries, Business Wire handles XBRL tagging, document formatting and regulatory filing into EDGAR, SEDAR and other systems. Business Wire provides online newsroom hosting and integration services as well as search engine optimization, mobile distribution and detailed measurement on every press release. Its patented NX delivery platform provides simultaneous full-text posting of Business Wire content to news systems and websites in virtually any country or language. With 32 bureaus worldwide, Business Wire offers local service and global reach.

Learn more at BusinessWire.com and the BusinessWired blog; follow updates on Twitter: @businesswire or on Facebook.

About NetStairs.com
NetStairs® celebrates its 10th anniversary. Since 2000, the company has pioneered and built open standard media infrastructures and platforms for ad agencies, global brands, publishers, TV stations, broadcasters, event promoters, content aggregators, and enterprises with CMS Web 2.0 / Web 3.0 sought solutions. As an intelligent media delivery enabler, NetStairs platforms are founded on industry standards with focus on interactive, live, on demand, and streaming protocols. For more information, visit: http://www.netstairs.com/.

Alex von der Goltz > www.corecoholding.com

2011-02-28T15:07:00.000-05:00

Alex von der Goltz, General Partner, CoreCo Holding.

What do you need to be an investor?
You need to have a basic knowledge of finance, accounting, capital markets and most importantly of all - what you are investing in. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of "knowing what you invest in".

What are the three first things you look before you invest?
1) Good Management 2) A good business 3) A plan for growth that is both realistic and aggressive.

If you were to chose investments there will be local, regional or global? Why? I prefer local investments that can be global. Investing for me is a local business.

What is important in a presentation?
Get your point across clearly in the shortest amount of time. Be clear, be concise and mindful of other peoples time.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
History is filled with stories of people who succeeded against all odds. In many cases they did not know what they were up against and that was a good thing! An entrepreneur does not treat a "no" as the end of the road. They see it as a challenge.

What is the biggest challenge your business /company has faced?
Starting a new fund in 2008/2009, which has been the most challenging time to raise funds in the last 50 years.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Have more time available in my day for all the interesting businesses we see.

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to be a pilot

IPO or not?
Experience tells me that IPOs are the exception to the rule. They also come attached with a lot of regulation and cost. A trade-sale is easier.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs / investors that you admire?
Bill Gates
Warren Buffet
Carlos Slim

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch

What is your favorite quote?
Better late than never

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No

Biggest mistake made?
Waiting too long to replace the CEO of one of my companies which was in trouble
Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
'Yes - What Im doing in Latin America is cutting edge.

About the Company:
CoreCo makes investments in companies operating in the following sectors: business services; healthcare; information services; internet / software as a service; information technology; and wireless communications. Our primary geographic focus is Central America, Colombia and Mexico.
http://www.corecoholding.com/

Digital and Social Media Convergence 2009 Conference: Meet the Latin Disruptors of Media, Entertainment, Technology & Advertising Attracts Influen...

2009-07-29T15:01:00.001-04:00

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Latin Media and Entertainment Commission of the City of New York (LMEC) and LatinVision Media announced today the full lineup of participants in this year’s Wednesday, October 14, 2009, Digital and Social Media Convergence 2009 Conference. Janet Robinson, CEO of The New York Times, will do the opening remarks. A three-hour Business Networking Reception follows where industry, talent and investors will be able to connect in a more relaxed environment at the crossroads of the world.

The 2009 Convergence Conference is the premier event for Latin media, entertainment, technology and advertising CEOs and executives looking to grow their business and explore new opportunities with Latin audiences and to reach the mainstream, which spotlights the constant state of creation and evolution required of business leaders in today’s rapidly changing digital and social media landscape.

“This year’s Convergence Conference will bring together the best minds of the country’s Latin media, entertainment, technology and advertising sectors to the center of the world’s greatest stage – New York City,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “This collaboration between our City’s Latin Media and Entertainment Commission and LatinVision is another example of the great work our City is doing to solidify our position as the Latin media and entertainment capital of the world.”

Speakers are going to explore ideas and offer wisdom on the constant changes that are taking place within these industries. Among the varied topics are what creativity means in a digital world, whether the Web can support quality content, and how technology can change not only the way a company sends messages to consumers but also the way a company operates locally, regionally and internationally.

“Convergence 2009 captures the feverish pace of transformation happening in the media, entertainment, technology and advertising world today,” said Carlos Vassallo, CEO of LatinVision. “It is clearly a time of great change. A look at the top 50 US Websites shows that many are getting more traffic from abroad than from the US Spanish and is the third most used language in the world on the Internet with 130 million users after Chinese and English,” added Mr. Vassallo.

Speakers are a “who’s who” of CEOs, top marketers, senior executives, publishers, and industry gurus and experts. To view the speakers simply log onto

www.latinvision.com/conference/speakers.pdf

In addition to the lineup of keynotes, Convergence 2009 offers its attendees an unrivaled opportunity to learn from CEO’s and senior marketers who will share their experience from across a variety of emerging platforms including streaming, podcasting, radio, blogging, social networking, Internet, WiFi, audio, video and mobile casting and case studies of new ventures and how they got started through financing and networking events

For a full list of confirmed speakers and information on how to register, please visit www.latinvision.com/conference

Several sponsorship packages are still available. For more information on sponsorships, please contact Carlos Vassallo at 646-519-2452 or via email at: carlos@latinvision.com

About the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC)
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg created the LMEC in 2003 with the mission to make New York the capital of Latin media and entertainment.

The Commission advises the Mayor on business development and retention strategies for the Latin media and entertainment industry, to retain, recruit, and expand Latin media and entertainment productions, businesses, and jobs in New York City and to attract and host high-profile Latin entertainment productions and events and to support and create New York based events

The Commission is made up of leaders from the Latin and mainstream media industry, community leaders from the nonprofit and cultural sectors, and leading executives from the financial, advertising, publishing, new media, and real estate sectors.

The heads of seven City agencies, under the direction of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, serve on the commission as ex officio members.

About LatinVision Media
LatinVision Media Inc. is a New York based Company that operates business portals targeting US Hispanic and Latin American professionals, entrepreneurs, executives and business owners in a small and medium-sized companies.
See all our sites here: http://tinyurl.com/LatinVision and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/latinvision

Contacts:
Carlos Vassallo
CEOLatinVision Media Inc.
POB 376 Church St. Station
New York, NY 10008
www.latinvision.com/conference
carlos@latinvision.com
Tel: 646-519-2452
Fax: 469-533-4874

Carlos Manzano
Executive Director Latin Media and Entertainment Commission
New York City Economic Development Corporation
110 William Street • New York, NY 10038
www.nycedc.com
cmanzano@nycedc.com

Jorge Mariscal > Rohatyn Group

2009-06-14T15:16:00.001-04:00

Jorge Mariscal, one of the Founding Partners of The Rohatyn Group.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Owing to my roots there, I maintain personal and business relationships which are critical to the understanding and positioning our firm's investments in Latin America.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I believe life rewards staying power and the most challenging environments often present the most satisfying opportunities. When things get tough, one needs to keep moving, even if at baby steps. I always remind myself that however bad it is, "it too shall pass".

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
My first job after graduate school in New York City ended shortly after the stock market crash of 1987. For several months after that I was in the Big Apple unemployed, broke and alone.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I would have liked to be a young father.

What was your childhood ambition?
I had several: to cure animals, to write novels, to visit every country of the world.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
Tony Blair
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
My father

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
None. When you mix food and business, you cannot really focus on either.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
To have my family far away.

What is your favorite quote?
I once saw this sculpture which was a large stone block, on it was written "nothing is written in stone".

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Yes, and not necessarily always advisable.

Biggest mistake made?
To hurt the people I love.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I try to live creatively, at home and at work. Once in a while I come up with something unique.

About the Company.
The Rohatyn Group, a New York-based asset management company focused on global emerging market investments. The firm manages over $2.5 billion in assets. Mr. Mariscal has over 20 years of experience in international financial markets, with 18 years specifically dedicated to emerging markets. His expertise is in fundamental investment research and portfolio strategy. For the last 3 years, Mr. Mariscal has also taught the course: Emerging Financial Markets: theory and practice at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University.

Mr. Mariscal has served in senior positions on Wall Street with extensive experience in building and managing top-ranked investment research teams and advising portfolio managers. Prior to joining The Rohatyn Group, Mr. Mariscal was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in charge of coordinating the firm's global emerging markets research product and portfolio strategy. From 1992 to 2001, he and his team were frequently named to the prestigious “Institutional Investor Latin American Research Team" as well as other similar polls. While at Goldman Sachs, he also founded and directed the Latin America Equity Research Group. Prior to this, Mr. Mariscal held senior positions at The Nomura Research Institute where he led the Latin American economic and equity research effort. He also served as a Vice President on the sovereign debt restructuring desk of Manufacturers Hanover Trust and began his career at Merrill Lynch, working with the firm's Chief Economist.

Mr. Mariscal was born and raised in Mexico City. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from New York University.