Palladium Equity Partners to Open California Office

“Palladium Equity Partners, LLC today announced the launch of its office in Los Angeles, the largest Hispanic market in the United States. The California office will provide Palladium with an important presence in this critical market as the firm continues to focus on companies which are well-positioned to capitalize on the fast-growing U.S. Hispanic market.

Marcos A. Rodriguez, Managing Member of Palladium, said, “Home to nearly one-third of the Hispanics in the United States, California has tremendous potential and our Los Angeles office will serve as an effective platform for Palladium to pursue opportunities in this fast-growing market.”

Mr. Rodriguez added, “The rate of population growth in the Los Angeles area is significantly higher than the United States as a whole because of its large Hispanic population. We believe that this growth will continue to drive demand for new investments. U.S. Hispanic purchasing power is projected to reach over $1 trillion by 2010, vastly increasing the potential opportunities for Hispanic-focused investment. Palladium was pleased to commit to a significant investment in PROMERICA Bank in October 2006, the first primarily Latino-owned commercial bank to form in California in more than 30 years. With offices in the two largest Hispanic markets, New York and Los Angeles, we feel that we will be better positioned to capitalize on attractive investment opportunities nationwide.”

The California office will be launched by Maria del Pilar Avila, Vice President of Marketing for Palladium. She will be accompanied by Vice President Ivelisse Rodriguez Simon who will join Palladium in July.

Prior to joining Palladium in 2005, Ms. Avila was the founding Executive Director of New America Alliance NAA, a national organization committed to leading Latino business growth through expansion of capital. Ms. Avila was instrumental in establishing programs such as the Wall Street Summit and the Pension Fund Initiative as well as building relationships with entrepreneurial and non-profit organizations, federal and state governments, public pension fund systems, and corporate America. Prior to this, she was a Vice President at the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Avila serves on the Board of Directors of The Marathon Club and is a member of the New America Alliance and the National Association of Securities Professionals.

Mrs. Rodriguez Simon, a Toigo alumna and Harvard M.B.A. graduate, served previously as Vice President at Reliant Equity Investors, a private equity investment firm based in Chicago, where she was responsible for deal generation, investment structuring, portfolio management, and investor relations. Before joining Reliant, Mrs. Rodriguez Simon was a Vice President at Equest Partners where she was involved in early stage investments and interim portfolio executive management. She began her career in mergers & acquisitions at Salomon Brothers and merchant banking at Banc of America Securities.”

Stumble it! | |