Emerald Peak Impact Private Equity seeks to unlock capital to close gaps, investing in people and SMEs in underserved markets of Latin America and the Caribbean, activating the high untapped economic, social and environmental potential with the aim of building a sustainable future based on inclusive and attractive economies
Our cross-border impact private equity team has a unique mix of backgrounds, skills, and professional experience that sets it apart from most country-focused investment teams, covering valuation, banking, legal, portfolio management, risk management, sustainable development, and ESG analysis, and operational aspects.
Our partners have significant experience in international private equity transactions, cross-border M&A deals, and entrepreneurship, and can draw on a carefully built network of entrepreneurs, HNWIs, and institutional investors to identify investment opportunities and gain access to first-rate business intelligence to make the most of the investment opportunities in this region.
UNIQUE& DIVERSE
Team
LOCAL
Presence
Emerald Peak has been specifically designed to channel input from and collaborate with local talent contributing their expertise and skills at the level of the partnership, the advisory board, the investment committee or the boards of directors of the portfolio companies.
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Being on the ground in Latin America allows us to prospect opportunities first hand, to directly supervise investments made and to guide the management teams in the operations of the portfolio companies.
Our aim is to become the trusted partner for investors wishing to take advantage of the current and future transformative opportunities in this region and to become a central player in the regional consolidation process by leveraging our extensive international experience with US, Canadian and European PE houses.
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To provide investors with the necessary assurances to deploy capital in this often misunderstood region, we are fully committed to the highest degrees of transparency and accountability. Emerald Peak is an official endorser of the ILPA Reporting Template and we adhere to governance standards and operate in alignment with relevant international standards and guidelines.
WORLD-CLASS
Standards
Where does our name come from?
THE PIONEERING SPIRIT OF MOUNTAIN CLIMBING
Mountaineering is hard.
It requires planning, dedication, precision, team work and a certain level of risk to reach the peak.
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​The mountaineering reference in our name is a salute to the pioneers who have opened new routes across unforgiving terrain, who have braved critics telling them their endeavor was not feasible and who had to overcome a number of obstacles (both mental and physical) to climb to the top.
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​Like those pioneers, we have taken on the challenge to put the underdeveloped regions of Latin America and the Caribbean on the map for international investors. We strongly believe that there is a successful path to investing in promising companies while at the same time helping the people in this region to better lives.
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​The color ‘Emerald’ is a tribute to the lush landscapes that dominate this region.
EXECUTIVE TEAM
POL THIELEN
Managing Director
17+ years of experience in private equity, cross-border M&A transactions, and corporate risk management. As both outside counsel and in-house counsel, Pol has advised private equity funds and their managers as well as various target companies and limited partners. He has in-depth experience in shareholder litigation and complex banking and investment litigation.
STEFAN BULIC
Director, Investments
9+ years of experience in finance and private equity fund management for the Americas region. He has worked at Blackstone as an analyst for their Alternative Asset Management business as part of the investment deal team with further work in hedge fund finance and operational transformations. Additionally, he worked as an associate for the Macquarie Group focused on private equity investments in infrastructure and real assets.
MILENA MEJIA
Director, Strategic Growth Partnerships
15+ years of experience building partnerships, managing stakeholder relationships, and developing community initiatives. Extensive anthropological fieldwork in communities throughout Latin America. Milena currently serves on the Board of Directors of the FAWCO affiliated American Women’s Club of Bogota.
ERICA DOWNING
Director, ESG & Impact
15+ years of cross-disciplinary work in strategic communications, business development, business process research, and market evaluation in the areas of climate finance, biotech/pharma, consumer products, and software. 6+ years with the Global Climate Adaptation Network, with a focus on private sector climate adaptation strategies in emerging markets. Erica oversees ESG and Impact integration in the investment process.
THE LATIN AMERICA IMPACT FUND
The Latin America Impact Fund is Emerald Peak’s flagship, multi-sector impact fund. As part of our selection process, five SDGs inform our filtering of market opportunities where growth capital is scarce and the potential for maximum integrated return is high.
PALISADE SPV
Palisade SPV, Emerald Peak’s healthcare-focused permanent capital vehicle, is a sector-specific stand-alone extension of our flagship Latin American Impact Fund that aims to increase access to quality and affordable healthcare across the region.
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CO-INVESTMENT PROGRAM
Further, Emerald Peak has launched a deal-by-deal co-investment program allowing impact focused investors to deploy capital in growing regional enterprises committed to making a meaningful and enduring impact in communities throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.
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This approach allows impact investors to choose only those opportunities that best fit their sector focus, theory of change and their country risk appetite. It also allows them to hold on to portfolio companies longer than the traditional private equity term.
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Our co-investment program focuses primarily on sustainable agriculture and responsibly sourced food products, renewable energy, waste management and circular economy, the advancement of equitable economic opportunities for women, and health and wellness consumer services.
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This program has been specifically designed to catalyze private investments into underserved markets in Latin America & the Caribbean to i) leverage the existing opportunities in the SME segment, ii) use active ownership to push for transformational change guided by the UN SDGs and iii) use our on-the-ground presence to manage and supervise the investment for impact investors interested in making a difference in this often forgotten region.
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