(Miami Herald) Despite recent outflows of capital from emerging markets, private equity and venture capital in Latin America expanded by all measures in the first half of 2013, with an increase in fundraising, investments and exits as compared to the same period in 2012, according to data released this month by the Latin American Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (LAVCA). In the first half of 2013, firms raised $3.8 billion with final or partial closings for 36 separate funds, representing a 100 percent increase compared to the same period last year when $1.89 billion was committed through 10 final or partial closings.

Other findings: Overall, private equity and venture capital fund managers invested a total of $2.9 billion through 108 transactions. Information technology deals in Latin America were up 21 percent; consumer retail saw a 44 percent increase; and the energy sector also rose, LAVCA found. Seed and early stage investments in the region increased to $151.9 million across 58 deals, a 69 percent increase. Proceeds from exits were up 67 percent – to $1.5 billion – compared to the same period last year; the education sector alone generated $572 million of that total, LAVCA research found.

“The emergent theme in LAVCA 1H2013 data is in contrast to headlines reporting a flight out of emerging markets in response to expected policy shifts by the US Federal Reserve,” said Juan Savino, director of research for LAVCA. “We have seen an uptick in private equity and venture capital activity across the board in Latin America with an increasing universe of global and local investors taking part.”