Rodrigo Bitar Empty Rooms: Investing in Venezuela (Capital Allocators, EP.268)

Published: Aug. 29, 2022, 8 a.m.

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On today\\u2019s show we\\u2019ll discuss a classic empty room \\u2013 an opportunity ignored by most investors. In this case, we dive into the investment case for Venezuela, a non-starter for pretty much every institution because of the country\\u2019s autocratic political regime, sanctions, and headline risk. But alongside those known risks are the potential for significant rewards.

Rodrigo Bitar is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of 3B1 Partners, the leading private equity fund making growth investments in Venezuela. 3B1 invests in high-quality companies with leading positions in basic industries, while looking to capture a change in macroeconomic conditions in the country.

Our conversation covers Rodrigo\\u2019s upbringing in Chile, professional background, and investment opportunity in Venezuela. We discuss Venezuela\\u2019s sanctions, economic contraction, and dollarization of the economy. We then turn to investing in the country, including sourcing, due diligence, and an example of a recent transaction. We close with a discussion of the upside and risks to investing in Venezuela.

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Show Notes

(3:18) Rodrigo\\u2019s background
(6:50) Family dynamics
(10:13) Investible assets in Venezuela
(12:03) Impact of Russian oil restrictions
(13:38) Surviving economic turmoil\\xa0
(17:27) Private vs. public markets in Venezuela
(19:31) Identifying companies\\xa0
(21:51) Due diligence process\\xa0
(23:49) Assessing valuations\\xa0
(25:28) Risks unique to Venezuela\\xa0
(28:09) Conversations with potential investors
(32:05) Closing questions\\xa0

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