INVESTORS BRIEFED ON PRIVAT EQUITY IN LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN

Executives to Gather in Okinawa for LAVCA Breakfast Forum
held in Conjunction with 2005 IDB Annual Meeting

Chicago, IL, March 16, 2005 – The white beaches of Okinawa might seem an odd location for a forum on Latin American Private Equity, but that’s exactly where the international financial community will be gathering for the Latin American Venture Capital Association’s (LAVCA) 2005 Executive Briefing. LAVCA’s event provides the only opportunity for those attending this year’s Annual Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to discuss the private equity industry in Latin America and the Caribbean.

LAVCA’s event, taking place on the morning of April 10th at the Okinawa Harborview Hotel, is held yearly in conjunction with the IDB Annual Meeting. This year the Meeting takes place from April 10th-12th in Okinawa, Japan.

“Global players haven’t heard enough about the high returns that are possible in Latin America,” said the event’s opening speaker Richard Frank, chair of LAVCA’s Board of Directors and CEO of Darby Overseas Investments, Ltd., one of the most active private equity firms in the region. “The experience of Darby and some of our colleagues in the industry has been quite positive.”

LAVCA’s popular annual event, held last year in Lima, Peru, draws international investors and other industry players to network and gain an overview of current trends and opportunities in the Latin American private equity industry.

“As the industry in Latin America reaches the end of its first ten year cycle, many firms have learned how to undertake a successful private equity strategy in Latin America and the Caribbean,” said LAVCA Interim Executive Director Christina Kappaz. “Our Executive Briefing will give our guests the opportunity to learn how to take advantage of recent positive developments in the region.”

Mr. Frank will present data on industry trends over the last ten years and prospects for continued growth.

Also speaking will be Federico Patiño, Deputy Manager of Nacional Financiera SNC, who will provide an update on initiatives underway in Mexico to improve the environment for private equity and venture investing.

LAVCA’s mission is to promote the growth of the venture capital and private equity industry in Latin America through research, education, networking, best practices, and the advocacy of sound public policy. LAVCA is a not-for-profit trade association serving a core membership of venture capital and private equity firms that invest in emerging companies.

For more information on LAVCA and its activities, please visit www.lavca.org. For inquiries regarding LAVCA’s 2005 Executive Briefing on Latin American Private Equity, please contact:

Ramona DeNies
Communications Manager
Latin American Venture Capital Association
1.503.239.7449 Pacific Standard Time
[email protected]