MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Latinamerican offshore banking industry ready for the future

Nate Suppaiah – Founder of Alternative Latin Investor.

Mercopress had a chance to catch up with Nate Suppaiah, founder and managing editor of Alternative Latin Investor (ALI), a bimonthly digital publication that features information on alternative investments in the LatAm region. Some of their topics include: hedge funds, forex, private equity, real estate, renewable energy, art, wine, and philanthropy.

In the following interview, Mr. Suppaiah discusses how the economic crisis was critical to the launching of ALI and touches on the subject of a recent supplemental release: OffShore banking:Latin America 2009.

What inspired you to start Alternative Latin Investor?

A group of journalists and finance professionals started the Capricorn Research Group (www.caprg.com) in 2008 to fill the void of information relating to wealth management issues within Latin America. As Latin American high-net worth individuals have, on average, a higher net worth than their North American counter part there has always been a significant interest in private banking and wealth management issues in the region. After attending conferences and working within the industry we started to notice a broader lack of information combined with a growing need for it. This was the idea for Alternative Latin Investor.

Did the global economic downturn have an affect on the launching of your new company and publication?

In actuality the ‘crisis’ was instrumental in our launch as the US and European markets fell, investors needed to find new areas for investment. Despite alternative investments, mainly hedge funds, being hit hard, year-to-date Latin American equity hedge funds have grown 19.7% and LatAm stock mutual funds an impressive 62.3%, according to latest Morning Star data. As more people look to Latin America we want to be there to provide them with relevant and up-to-date information regarding all alternative investments.

How is content selected and compiled for each edition of Alternative Latin Investor?

We have on-staff writers who create about 30% of our content. The rest of our content is contributed by industry experts. The idea for Alternative Latin Investor is more than simple providing investment related news, but more to create a platform for the exchange of ideas between both professionals and those interested in the region. Our contributors use ALI to expand awareness of their expertise and share their experiences regarding Latin America. We have contributors regarding hedge funds, private equity, real estate, agribusiness, regulation, currencies, art and wine.

How often is the Alternative Latin Investor digital edition released?

All content both created by ALI staff and contributed is posted to our site. Once every two months the best articles are selected and used to from the ALI digital edition PDF, which is sent out to all of our subscribers. In the month between the digital editions, we create an industry specific ‘supplement.’ Just released was our report, Offshore Banking: Latin America 2009, which will be followed by Renewable Brazil and the Cuba Outlook.

Regarding your latest supplement, do you think Latin America is the future of offshore banking?

The climate of greater transparency and stricter regulation is forcing great changes in the offshore banking world; Latin America’s industry is poised and ready for the future. Crisis, technology and a new political climate are all factors influencing how businesses and individuals find security for their monetary assets. Wealthy Latin Americans have often made provisions for their savings outside their home countries but remain within the region. Caribbean nations and Panama have been popular destinations, whose offshore banking facilities have attracted international clients for many years. Now offshore banks within the region are proving attractive to a new clientele. In our Offshore Banking Latin America 2009 we combined interviews, analysis and expert opinions on all the most important factors shaping the industry in the region today.

Does Alternative Latin Investor have any industry related affiliates?

Our Marketing Director, Tiffany Swenson, has forged several partnerships with other firms working in and interested in entering the Latin American market. Most notably Emerging Manager Focus, The Terrapinn Group and The IE Group.

What is on the horizon for ALI?

We are growing constantly, in terms of contributors, partners and readers. We are looking to host Latin American specific investments events by the end of this year and also at the start of 2010 to move out of the virtual world with the release of our hard-copy edition.

Alternative Latin Investor is the first online publication to provide information on Alternative Investments in Latin America.