The Venture Capital and Private Equity Industry in Brazil

Abstract

As the world's second largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment, Brazil received 50% of the Private Equity funds directed towards Latin America in 2000. However Brazil's Venture Capital and Private Equity industries still face many challenges. The high level of real interest rates during the last decade, the small participation of pension funds in the market, and the poor development of the capital markets are among the main limitations going forward. Striking differences exist between the private equity industries in Brazil and the United States, and some interesting alternative development models for Brazil are explored.