# LAP Latin American Partners

LAP Latin American Partners is an Asset Manager based in Washington, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Asset Manager
- **Headquarters:** Washington, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** Washington, DC, United States
- **Founded:** 2009
- **Assets under management:** $500M-$1B (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** lapfunds.com
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/lap-latin-american-partners

## Regulatory record

- **CRD number:** 166980
- **SEC file number:** 802-135206
- **Registration status:** Registered
- **Reports private funds:** Yes
- **IAPD record:** https://adviserinfo.sec.gov/firm/summary/166980

## About

LAP Latin American Partners is an exempt reporting adviser in Washington, DC. The firm advises on investment strategies. Its registration is with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

## Sectors

- Real Estate
- Logistics & Supply Chain
- Financial Services
- Healthcare Services
- Education

## Offices

- Bogotá, Colombia

## People

- Juan. S. Mendez — Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer
- Marcelo Vainstein — Director

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at LAP Latin American Partners?

Juan S. Mendez serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer, leading the Investment Committee. He has spent multiple decades focused on Latin American private equity, previously holding senior roles at regional financial institutions. Decisions are centralized through the Washington, DC office with input from Bogotá-based operating partners.

### What investment structures does LAP use?

LAP seeks control or significant minority positions through equity and structured equity instruments. The firm does not operate as a fund-of-funds or make passive minority investments. It uses drawdown fund structures raised from institutional LPs, and it has historically co-invested alongside development finance institutions on larger transactions.

### Which sectors does LAP explicitly avoid?

LAP avoids extractive industries, commodities, and natural resources — sectors that dominate Latin American GDP but carry governance and ESG risk profiles incompatible with its institutional LP base. It also does not invest in early-stage venture or technology startups, sticking to established cash-flow-positive companies.

### How does LAP source deals in fragmented markets?

The firm relies on a network of Bogotá-based operating partners and long-standing relationships with local business families facing succession challenges. Many targets are founder-owned businesses without formal sell-side advisors. LAP's approach involves direct origination rather than competitive auction processes, which the firm argues produces better entry valuations.

## Related profiles

- [L&S Private Wealth](https://altss.com/profile/lands-private-wealth-llc)
- [LatamLeap](https://altss.com/profile/latamleap)

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Last updated: 2026-08-14T12:30:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/lap-latin-american-partners

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