GP Investments, Ltd (also GP Investimentos), is a leading alternative investment firm in Latin America with a strong presence in asset management, principally private equity funds. The firm's shares are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and trade on BM&FBovespa, the Brazilian Stock Exchange, via Brazilian Depositary Receipts (BDRs).
Since its foundation in 1993, GP Investments has raised US$5 billion from investors worldwide and has completed investments in more than 50 companies in 15 different industries.
GP Investments is based in Hamilton, Bermuda. The firm also has offices in São Paulo, Brazil, New York City, United States, and Zurich, Switzerland.
In 1994, GP raised its first investment fund with US$500 million of investor capital which it followed up with its US$800 million successor fund, GP Capital Partners II, in 1997.
In 2001, the firm completed fundraising for its first local private equity fund raising R$130 million to focus on technology investments. In 2003, the current executive partners, Antonio Bonchristiano and Fersen Lambranho assumed the leadership of the firm as part of a natural succession plan and the following year they completed the acquisition of 100% control of GP Investments.
The firm underwent a novel structural change in 2006, selling shares to the public to raise permanent capital for future transactions. That year, GP completed a US$308 million initial public offering, listing its shares on the capital markets and becoming the first listed private equity company in Latin America. The firm has used the capital to make investments on behalf of the firm's balance sheet alongside its family of private equity investment funds. Committed investors balance out hot money. EuroWeek, September 8, 2006 Private Equity Takes Root. September 1, 2007 The following year, in 2007, the firm raised its largest fund to date with US$1.3 billion of capital as interest in emerging markets and the BRIC countries increased dramatically. GP Investments closes $1.3bn fund . AltAssets, Oct 22, 2007 Also in 2007, the firm was able to raise US$190 million of debt through an offering of perpetual notes, followed in 2008 by a US$232 million follow-on equity offering which increased its permanent capital base. Fitch: GP Investments' Ratings Unaffected by Share Pledge. July 2, 2007 GP Investments Brings Follow-On. LatinFinance, February 2008
After raising GP Capital Partners V in 2010, with total commitments of US$1.1 billion, the company has also investments in real estate and infrastructure, beyond its original private equity focus and in addition to its direct and controlling stake in BRZ Investimentos, an asset management subsidiary.
In 2013, more investments were made. In February, GP Investments has announced a capital invested increase in Empresa Brasileira de Agregados Mineirais, company from the mineral aggregates market. In May, the firm bought a stake in Apen, a Swiss investment company. One more transaction occurred in late June: GP Investments acquired one-third of Beleza Natural, a Brazilian beauty institute chain.
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