CAIA Brought the Miami Alternatives Sector Together Again at a Networking Event

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The gathering took place at Hutong Miami. And the industry said “present!”

Karim Aryeh and Miguel Zablah, members of the CAIA Florida Board of Directors, organized the Spring 2025 networking event, which once again brought together around one hundred professionals from the alternative investment sector in the city of Miami.

Sponsored by CORPAG and with Funds Society as media partner, industry participants shared an afternoon at Hutong, the venue specialized in Northern Chinese cuisine, where they met and networked.

Karim Aryeh, executive of CAIA’s Florida chapter and director at Deutsche Bank, was in charge of welcoming the attendees. In a brief speech, he reminded everyone that the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst Association has 13,000 members in various parts of the world, more than 400 of whom are based in the state of Florida.

Aryeh emphasized CAIA’s primary mission: to promote education and transparency within the sector, and to build a community of professionals in the alternative investment industry.

Then, Enrique Travieso, Managing Director at CORPAG, introduced the company and its financial and trust services. He also announced that the firm has appointed a new director in Mexico.

In that setting, surrounded by appetizers and great company, industry professionals made new connections within South Florida’s investment community.

CAIA Florida, founded in 2016, has the mission of growing, strengthening, and promoting education in alternative investments and fostering networking among local investment communities throughout the state.

SK Capital Partners Names John Novak Head of Business Development

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John Novak SK Capital Partners
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SK Capital Partners has appointed John Novak as Managing Director and Head of Business Development. In this role, Novak will lead efforts to identify and execute new investment opportunities, working closely with the firm’s teams to support ongoing growth. 

“I am excited to join SK Capital and look forward to working alongside the firm’s talented team to help drive continued growth and success,” said Novak

Bringing over 20 years of experience in private equity and investment banking, Novak has a strong background in strategic relationship-building and deal sourcing. 

Before joining SK Capital, Novak served as Managing Director at Paine Schwartz Partners, where he led business development and capital markets initiatives, overseeing a robust pipeline of new investments. His earlier experience includes roles at Swander Pace Capital and Banc of America Securities

“John has a proven track record of building strong relationships and identifying compelling opportunities that align closely with SK Capital’s investment strategy,” said Mario Toukan, Managing Director of SK Capital. 

Loomis Sayles Appoints Eric Williams as Portfolio Manager

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Eric Williams Loomis Sayles appointment
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Loomies, Sayles & Company has appointed Eric Williams as a portfolio manager on its Full Discretion Team, focusing on high yield and bank loan strategies. His appointment is effective May 12, 2025. 

Williams joins from Northwen Trust Asset Management, where he was head of capital structure and a senior portfolio manager on the global fixed income team. He led several leveraged credit strategies and oversaw the firm’s actively managed leveraged credit platforms. 

The Full Discretion Team manages $79 billion as of March 31, 2025, and takes a deep-value, equity-like approach to credit selection. In 2023, the team consolidated its high-yield and bank loans strategies in response to changes in market structure and asset class overlap. 

Williams holds a BA in economics from the University of Colorado and an MBA in finance and economics from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. 

“Eric brings a specific, proven set of skills in high yield and bank loan portfolio construction and management that are highly applicable to the Full Discretion Team’s approach to those asset classes,” said Matt Eagan, head of the Loomis Sayles Full Discretion Team. 

As part of the team’s continued alignment, current high-yield portfolio managers Matt Eagen and Peter Sheehan will also take on portfolio management responsibilities for the team’s bank loan strategies, effective May 12. 

Allvue Systems Launches Nexius Platform

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Allvue Systems Nexius platform
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Allvue System has launched the Allvue Nexius Intelligent Data Platform, a new cloud-based platform designed to help private capital markets manage their data more effectively. Nexius is designed to break down data silos, automate processes and deliver real-time insights to help firms make faster and smarter decisions. 

According to Allvue’s 2025 GP Outlook report, 88% of firms consider data and reporting important, yet only 6% are “very satisfied” with their current data platforms. The report also found that 65% of fund managers struggle with consolidating data, and 53% of private capital firms say data management is one of their top tech challenges. 

With firms using 50% more data sources than they did five years ago, managing investment data has become increasingly difficult. 

The Nexius platform addresses these issues by centralizing investment, accounting, and operational data into one unified system. It automates processes like capital call booking, investor onboarding and deal pipeline management, providing firms with real-time analytics and reducing manual work. 

“Nexius ensures data accuracy, automates complex workflows and delivers the real-time insights firms need to scale and succeed,” said Ivan Latanision, Chief Product Officer at Allvue Systems.

One of the main problems firms face is fragmented data, which leads to errors and inefficiencies. Nexius solves this by acting as a “golden source of truth,” integrating data from various systems and automating processes like capital call booking, investor onboarding and deal pipeline management. 

“Nexius offers a centralized platform that delivers real-time insights. The platform has the potential to save firms hours of manual work and ensure data is accurate,” said Davit Harutyunyan, Head of Product, Data.

Since its launch, Nexius has already been adopted by seven fund administrators and 30 individual General Partners, representing a total of 250 GPs. The platform is built on Snowflake technology, ensuring high levels of data security, compliance and auditability. It is also AI-ready, enabling firms to prepare and manage their data for future machine learning advancements. 

Key features of Nexius include real-time portfolio analytics, self-service reporting and enterprise-grade security. The platform is built on Snowflake technology, ensuring data is secure and compliant. It’s also designed to be AI-ready, allowing firms to prepare their data for future advancements in machine learning. 

“Our trusted software solutions, coupled with deep portfolio and industry insights, empower private market participants with greater transparency, faster value realization and smart decision-making,” said Latanision

Argentina Embarks on a Clearer Path: Analysts Welcome the End of Currency Controls

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Argentina ends currency controls
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On Friday, April 11, the Argentine government announced the lifting of currency controls that had been in place for 14 years. On Monday, April 14, local markets reacted with a rise in the dollar, while in Wall Street, Argentine bonds and stocks surged. By Thursday the 17th, ahead of the Easter break, international firms had begun to weigh in on the new phase.

Fitch: A Clearer Path Toward Reserve Accumulation

Argentina’s currency reform and the new IMF program offer a clearer path to reserve accumulation and a potential recovery of market access, which could improve the country’s sovereign credit rating of “CCC”, according to Fitch Ratings. Greater currency flexibility should only temporarily delay Argentina’s economic recovery and disinflation, and the authorities are now better positioned to manage this transition than in the past.

President Javier Milei’s program was successful last year, with a primary fiscal surplus of 1.8% of GDP, which allowed the end of Central Bank (BCRA) monetary financing. However, its reliance on a slowly evolving fixed exchange rate, capital controls, and financial repression to curb inflation and monetary imbalances—though initially effective—resulted in an overvalued peso.

The modest increase in international reserves in 2024 gave way to losses in 2025, as carry trade operations unwound. By March 2025, reserves had dropped to $24 billion and net reserves to negative $7 billion (after accounting for the China swap, legal reserves, and repos), practically unchanged since December 2023 when Milei took office.

The new exchange rate regime carries certain risks, which likely explains the authorities’ cautious approach. According to Fitch, it involves an initial devaluation of the peso that will temporarily raise inflation, which had already climbed to 3.7% month-on-month in March.

Dollar bond payments (interest and principal) total $8.6 billion in 2025 (half paid in January and the rest due in July) and will exceed $11 billion in the coming years.

Fitch says an upgrade of Argentina’s credit rating will depend on confidence in the future accumulation of international reserves and the recovery of market access, both necessary to comfortably meet these debt payments.

JP Morgan Recommends Buying Peso Bonds Until the Elections

A report from U.S. bank JP Morgan advises clients to increase holdings in Argentine peso-denominated bonds following the lifting of the “cepo” (currency clamp).

According to the bank, the new currency regime, combined with the IMF loan, clarifies the outlook for local fixed-income investments.

However, JP Morgan also warns of risks tied to tariff wars and the Argentine elections in October. At the end of that month, legislative elections will take place, with partial renewals of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.

Bank of America Praises the “Boldness” of the New Plan
“We believe the plan has a high probability of success in reducing inflation and rebuilding foreign currency reserves,” says a Bank of America report signed by analysts Sebastián Rondeau and Lucas Martin.

For the investment bank, it is a financial package: more concentrated than expected and with greater-than-expected financial support to back the new exchange rate system and debt payments.

Multilateral organizations will provide $21 billion this year. The IMF is contributing $15 billion in 2025 (out of a four-year $20 billion program), $12 billion of which will be frontloaded in an unprecedented 60% initial disbursement. The BCRA renewed a $5 billion swap with China and is seeking a $2 billion repo with banks.

BofA analysts do not foresee a feared bank run on the horizon as the new currency band system begins, thanks to strong financial support, the second-quarter harvest season, long dollar positions, tight monetary and fiscal policy, and temporary tax cuts for exporters.

The bank also expects currency control removals to continue, as the BCRA could rebuild reserves and support Argentina’s eventual return to the MSCI Emerging Markets equity index.

A View from Chile: Ending the Currency Clamp as a Decisive Step
Fynsa’s Latin American fixed-income expert, Cristián Zañartu, believes Argentina is at a decisive moment: “The currency clamp, in its various forms, distorted relative prices, created persistent exchange rate gaps, and hurt both investment and foreign trade. Today, with President Javier Milei’s decision to liberalize the exchange market for individuals, the country marks a turning point in its economic policy.”

“Although the initial financial impact has been moderate, it’s important to note that asset managers in Argentina will not see an immediate effect on their dollar flows as happened under Mauricio Macri. In fact, some investors have shown renewed appetite for peso-denominated instruments amid greater currency stability. However, by mid- or late-year, a stronger flow toward international financial products is expected, which could boost local demand for foreign assets,” Zañartu notes.

For the fixed-income expert, Argentina still faces its most complex challenge: fully liberalizing currency market access for institutional players.

In a Volatile Environment, most Latin American Benchmarks Declined in 2024

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Latin American benchmark indices 2024 decline
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In a volatile environment, most Latin American benchmarks declined throughout last year, which led to significant variations in underperformance rates among active managers depending on the country and asset class.

S&P Dow Jones Indices published its year-end 2024 SPIVA Scorecard for Latin America. This report assesses the performance of actively managed funds domiciled in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico against their respective benchmarks across multiple time horizons.

Thus, equity fund managers in Mexico and fixed income fund managers in Brazil fared better than most, as fewer than half of the funds in these categories underperformed their benchmarks. In all other categories, the majority of active funds underperformed in 2024.

“Performance slowed across most Latin American equity markets in 2024. With the sole exception of Chile, all other major equity benchmarks analyzed in this report posted negative returns during the year,” explained Joe Nelesen, Head of Specialists of Index Investment Strategy at S&P DJI.

These were some of the key highlights from the 2024 SPIVA Scorecard for Latin America:

  • Fewer than one in five active equity fund managers in Mexico (18.6%) underperformed their benchmark over a one-year horizon. Over longer time periods, however, outperformance remained a challenge.

  • The year 2024 marked the eighth consecutive scorecard in which Mexican equity funds had the highest three- and five-year survival rates among Latin American fund categories.

  • In 2024, 58.0% of Brazilian mid-/small-cap active equity funds underperformed their benchmark, while a wider majority of active equity funds underperformed in other categories, with underperformance rates of 84.7% among Brazilian large-cap funds and 83.1% for Brazilian equity funds overall.

  • While Chile’s equity market was the only one analyzed that posted a positive benchmark return in 2024, the majority of Chilean active equity fund managers (65.1%) underperformed the S&P Chile BMI over a one-year horizon, and the underperformance rate increased over longer periods.

  • Fixed income funds performed relatively well in 2024, with one-year underperformance rates of 28.7% and 30.7% for Brazilian corporate and government bond funds, respectively. However, underperformance increased significantly over time.

The report’s authors pose the question: Can investment results be attributed to skill or luck?

The answer suggests that genuine skill is more likely to persist, whereas luck is random and fleeting. Thus, one way to measure skill is through the persistence of a fund’s performance relative to its peers.

The Persistence Scorecard measures this consistency and shows that, regardless of asset class or style, outperformance among active managers is generally short-lived, with few funds consistently outperforming their peers.

Santander Mexico Announces Changes in Executive Team and Organizational Structure

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Santander Mexico executive changes structure
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Santander Mexico has appointed Fernando Quesada as Vice President and member of the Management Committee, which includes responsibilities such as the bank’s strategic transformation, the institution announced in a statement.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Capote will take on the role of Deputy General Director of Retail and Commercial Banking, which includes the bank’s private banking division and the insurance area. Capote previously led the bank’s corporate banking division, a role that will now be taken over by Santiago Cortina.

In addition, Laura Cruz, who heads the bank’s Strategy and Innovation division, will also assume leadership of the Global Consumer and Businesses division, including ventures such as Getnet and Openbank, in an effort to consolidate these businesses in the Mexican market.

Santander Mexico also announced changes to its organizational structure and its product and service offerings.

For instance, the Deputy General Directorate of Corporate Resources and Recoveries has been eliminated. Furthermore, the Executive Directorates of Organization and Comprehensive Expense Management, Media, and Recovery Business will now report to other Deputy General Directorates.

As for product innovation, Santander customers can now download insurance policies directly from the app. Meanwhile, Openbank, a Santander offering, provides a 3% cashback on online purchases over 1,500 pesos (approximately 75 dollars). Openbank also offers the option to defer payment for those purchases over three months with no interest.

Goldman Sachs Alternatives Launches a Private Equity Strategy That Provides Access to Goldman Sachs’ Leading Franchises

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Goldman Sachs Alternatives has announced the launch of the G-PE fund, which is part of its G-Series range of open-ended private markets funds that benefit from the firm’s 36-year track record as a leader in private investing. It is the latest fund launched under the G-Series brand.

According to the manager, G-PE is a permanent private equity strategy that provides access to Goldman Sachs’ leading private equity franchises. In this regard, the vehicle allows participation in private equity deals across a range of flagship strategies, such as buyout, growth, secondaries, and co-investment. Additionally, they add that the strategies launched under the G-Series brand have been designed to provide qualified investors worldwide with efficient access to a range of investment strategies spanning Private Equity, Infrastructure, Real Estate Credit, and Private Credit.

This launch is in line with the firm’s efforts to expand access to its $500 billion Alternatives platform for professional investors, including qualified individuals, broadening access to the return and diversification benefits of private markets. The manager indicates that the strategies are accessible through Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management and selected third-party distributors in various markets. “The expansion of the G-Series comes at a time when both individual and institutional investors are seeking new sources of diversification into assets uncorrelated with public markets,” they state.

Following this launch, Kristin Olson, Global Head of Wealth Alternatives at Goldman Sachs, said: “As more companies choose to stay private longer and a greater proportion of economic growth occurs in private markets, investors will need to look beyond public markets. We believe that investments in private markets can help our clients with the right risk profile to build a more diversified portfolio, and we are pleased to leverage product innovation to expand their access and opportunities.”

UNTITLED Launches EVOLVE, a Product Designed to Protect and Grow the Wealth of Athletes and Artists

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The law firm UNTITLED launches EVOLVE, a product specially designed to protect and grow the wealth of professional athletes and artists, according to a statement from the firm.

Led by Martín Litwak, a specialist in wealth structuring and international taxation, the firm founded in Montevideo and with offices in Miami, BVI, and Madrid enters the market with a membership proposal to support professionals in sports, arts, and entertainment throughout their careers.

“It is a different proposal, specifically designed for a sector that tends to generate a large amount of income in a few years and then struggles to maintain it. EVOLVE was created for them, to provide financial education, to support the decisions they may make, and to advise on wealth structuring,” explains Martín Litwak.

“It is about adding value to the team that each member already has. It does not replace agents, representatives, or financial advisors. The idea is to complement the work by providing a strategy that allows for long-term thinking,” he adds.

Based on a series of memberships that include diagnosis, roadmap development, and consultations with a highly specialized and objective team, the new business line from UNTITLED aims to work together to offer alternatives that allow maintaining a sustainable lifestyle and taking advantage of growth opportunities.

“We offer personalized and preventive strategies. It is not about rushing to fix problems but about anticipating them. For that, education is fundamental. We do not expect to be saviors, but rather, in some way, educators. An informed client makes better, smarter decisions to protect their future,” explains Litwak.

EVOLVE operates from Latin America, Miami, and Spain.

The Market Turmoil Reaches Latin America, but with a More Limited Impact

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Turmoil mercado Latinoamérica impacto limitado

With investors around the world engulfed in uncertainty and surrounded by a minefield of risks —of all kinds— valuations have been more volatile in the financial markets. Such an episode was experienced this Monday in international markets, with sharp declines in Asian and European stock exchanges and a shaken day on Wall Street. In this context, Latin American markets were not exempt from the turbulence, although signs of resilience helped soften the impact on stock markets.

Echoing the growing uncertainty surrounding global economic dynamics caused by the trade war unleashed this year by the U.S. —which, in its latest round, included the announcement of a possible additional 50% tariff for China if it does not withdraw its announced 34% mutual tariff— and heightened recession risks in the North American country, global markets are going through a delicate moment.

“Global markets are facing one of their tensest moments since the pandemic, amid a flood of tariff pressures, fears of a synchronized recession, and a brutal stock market correction that has generated extreme volatility. The week begins with a markedly negative tone, as major analysis firms drastically adjust their projections, central banks maintain a cautious stance, and political discourse deepens uncertainty,” said analysts from ATFX Latam in a market commentary.

However, although Latin America is expected to suffer some economic fallout, it is also seen as a relatively resilient space. Most of the region’s major economies remained with the base global tariff of 10% on Donald Trump’s so-called “Liberation Day” and, outside of Mexico, the impact seems more indirect.

The Day in Brazil

The largest financial market in the region was dragged down by fears of a recession in the U.S., hitting both stocks and the local currency. The Bovespa index closed down 1.31%, while the dollar rose 1.30% against the real, as investors flocked to safer assets.

Even so, local markets emphasize that the Brazilian market is not in a bad position, relatively speaking.

“I would not reduce positions in Brazilian stocks at this moment. We will probably suffer less than developed economies,” said Everaldo Guedes, CEO of PPS Portfolio Performance, a consultancy advising major pension funds in Brazil, to Funds Society. Some of these funds sought Guedes’ guidance on Monday.

“At this moment, with such high interest rates in Brazil, I give in: it’s time to make a tactical move and reduce risk positions in global equities. But with a finger on the trigger to return quickly once there are signs of improvement or negotiations,” he recommends.

Brazil is also on the list of countries subject to 10% tariffs.

The Mexican Case

Although Mexico escaped the “tariff blow” announced for most countries around the world, it is one of the countries markets have been watching most closely. This is because Mexico is on the front line of countries the Trump administration has targeted for their “imbalances” in trade with the U.S.

Still, the day of volatility brought losses, but within ranges that have already been seen and tolerated.

The most affected area was the Mexican peso, which reached a high of 20.84 pesos per dollar during the day. At the close of this note, the increase stood at 1.38%, while the local stock market, as measured by the benchmark S&P/BMV IPC, posted a 1.93% drop.

It is important to remember that although the peso came from extreme levels of strength last year, having traded as low as 16.00 pesos per dollar, it has also reached a value of up to 25.13 units. This is, in fact, the current historic maximum exchange rate for the peso-dollar relationship, recorded in March 2020 when global lockdowns began due to the pandemic.

Local analysts believe the next critical date for Mexican assets is this Tuesday when it will be known if Trump fulfills his threat to impose 50% tariffs on China. “We are going to see a lot of uncertainty over the next few hours, but then more critical dates will follow. We are in a context of high uncertainty and volatility,” said Gabriela Siller, director of analysis at Banco Base.

Limited Impact in Chile

On Liberation Day, Chile was relieved to see it was left only with the 10% base tariff and that the White House decided not to include copper in the tariff announcements. However, this does not mean it will not feel international shocks.

The dollar appreciated 0.99% against the Chilean peso, while the impact on the stock market was greater. The S&P IPSA, the local benchmark index, lost 3.36% of its value.

Although local markets highlight that the Andean country has a diversified list of trading partners, it is also heavily exposed to foreign trade. “While the direct impact on Chile would be limited, indirect effects could be significant due to a lower expansion of our main trading partners,” indicated the Department of Studies at Santander Chile in a recent report.

This external deterioration, they forecasted, “combined with the expected impact on company and household expectations, will negatively affect exports, as well as consumption and investment.”

The rest of the Andean region recorded its own red numbers. In Peru, the benchmark S&P Lima General index fell 1.13%, while the dollar rose 1.03% against the sol. In Colombia, the Colcap dropped 0.67% and the U.S. currency climbed 2.45% against the Colombian peso.

Argentina and the Dollar

On the other side of the Andes, the Buenos Aires stock exchange had a similarly turbulent day. In addition to the stock market, where the Merval fell 3.88%, the exchange rate —an eternal valve for financial tensions— jumped, widening the gap with the official dollar.

Figures compiled by El Cronista show that, while the Dólar BNA (Banco de la Nación Argentina) showed virtually no variation, the Dólar Blue jumped 2.67% and the Dólar MEP (Electronic Payment Market exchange rate, also known as Dólar Bolsa) rose 1.92%.

From the local market, a report from Adcap Macro Research —signed by Eduardo Levy— warns that the deeper blow to global dynamics could come from capital flows. “The growing use of tariffs and the dollar as political weapons is forcing many international investors to rethink their exposure to the U.S.,” they indicated.

“While markets were still processing the magnitude of the tariff shock, the U.S.’s main trading partners had already begun to move. The global response combines direct retaliation, legal uncertainty, and geostrategic maneuvers,” they added.

Uruguay, meanwhile, saw its local currency depreciate by around 1% against the dollar.

Both countries along the Río de la Plata are among those subject to the 10% tariff group.