By Joanna Glasner
peHUB

September 14, 2011 – Based on conversations I’ve eavesdropped on at venture and private equity events in the past few months, it certainly seems like more industry insiders are eyeing investments in Latin America, particularly Brazil.

Now there’s more hard data to back up that supposition. Fundraising for Latin American private equity and venture capital investment rose to $4.9 billion in the first half of this year, up 59% from the same period last year, according to a report released today by the Latin American Venture Capital Association (LAVCA).

Brazil accounts for the lion’s share of committed capital, with 67% of the total amount raised dedicated there. That includes two billion-dollar-plus Brazilian funds, BTG Pactual ($1.6 billion) and Vinci Partners ($1.4 billion). Additionally, two Brazilian investment firms, Pátria and Gávea closed on an additional $3.2 billion in the third quarter, meaning this year’s fund-raising totals are well on track to surpass the $8.1 billion raised in all of 2010.

Exits also surged in the first half of the year, surpassing all of 2010, with 33 PE-backed exits valued at $8.9 billion, according to LAVCA. Strategic sales dominated the exit market, with Ashmore Energy International’s divestment of its Latin American portfolio accounting for over $4bln of the exit total. However, there were also some IPOs on local and international exchanges, including $1.25M raised by private equity-backed Arcos Dorados, an Argentina-based McDonald’s franchisee, through a listing on the New York Stock Exchange in April.