devinitorg/iati-policy-markers huggingface dataset:
Latin American Agribusiness Development Corporation S.A. Incorporated in Panama in 1970 with US$2.4 million in equity,  LAAD started lending in Central America.  Subsequently, it expanded also  to South America and the Caribbean, disbursing in excess of US$375 million to over 750 agribusiness projects in 16 countries.  LAAD is one of the very few, or possibly the only, financial institution targeting exclusively the agricultural sector and doing it on a profitable basis for almost thirty years.  According to company estimates, the projects it financed during these three decades created 65,000 jobs and generated US$450 million in foreign exchange earnings annually.        The   8-year   credit line will provide financing to private Latin American and Caribbean companies engaged in agriculture, livestock, fishing and forestry.  In light of the lack of long term financing available to this sector, the project will have the following development impact:       Provide long-term, possibly fixed rate financing to this sector;   Reduction of rural poverty through job creation in rural and semi-rural areas;   Increase and higher quality of agricultural output through the ability to purchase, on credit, the required quality inputs;   Demonstration effect of the viability of an institution such as LAAD, that can possibly be replicated in other regions.      IFCs proposed financing will enable LAAD to offer long-term funds to selected clients who need it for the success of their enterprises, but can not obtain it due to the current five-year maximum tenor of LAAD''s commercial funding.  The on-lending will be made to small and medium size export agribusiness firms operating out of South and Central America and the Caribbean.  The loans will average US$400,000.    This project will enable IFC to make one of its first experience in the difficult field of rural finance and possibly replicate the model, or apply the lessons learnt to future projects in this and other regions.  Finally, IFC is expected to make a positive contribution to environmental practices in the agribusiness field.
Advent  Latin America Private Equity Fund III L.P. The Latin American Private Equity Fund III, L.P (LAPEF III, or the Fund) is a closed-end regional private equity fund with a target size of $300 million formed by Advent International (Advent, or the sponsor) to achieve attractive investment returns through a portfolio of diversified investments in Latin American countries. The Fund will acquire primarily control positions in later-stage businesses and add value through active investment management, majority share ownership positions, and board and executive committee participation.
MD Radiation The proposed investment consists of a senior loan of up to US$5 million equivalent to finance expansion of medical oncology services (primarily radiotherapy) in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. The Project funds will complement equity/lease financing (total project cost US$12.1m equivalent) that will help establish: (i) a new hospital-linked center in Dominican Republic (IFC Tranche A: US$2 million); and (ii) 2 free-standing centers in Mexico (IFC Tranche B: US$3 million equivalent peso-linked). The Project is aimed at supporting Medical Developers, a new IFC client with more than 30 years of experience and diversified operations throughout Latin America that focuses on providing a wide and most-advanced range of radiation therapy services for cancer treatment. - The Project would enhance the Sponsor''s ability to further expand in a region with rising incidence of cancer. IFC''s investment addresses the low installed capacity issue contributing to modern oncology infrastructure in markets where some service providers operate old technology, lacking accuracy and effectiveness.  - Medical Developers is expected to support the development of technically-qualified staff through training, careful management, regional cooperation and long-term planning.  - The Project would also serve to promote higher standards in cancer care with demonstration and spillover effects in the private and public sectors.  - The Project will improve local access to specialized treatments previously inaccessible or available only in developed markets.
Seaborn Project Seaborn Networks, LLC ("Seaborn" or the "Company") will build a new 32 Terabits per second ("Tbps") subsea fiber optic cable system ("Seabras-1") to link Brazil (landing in Sao Paulo and Fortaleza) directly with the United States (landing in New Jersey). - Increase Capacity: Given the growth of telecommunications, fueled by mobile devices, and in Brazil particularly as a result of its growing middle class, national broadband plan, and increased telecom infrastructure buildout throughout the region, combined with the upcoming World Cup and Olympics, there is significant pent-up demand for affordable large blocks of capacity that can be acquired for long-term lengths. The 4 incumbent Brazil-US cable systems were all built more than 10 years ago using technology from 1995 and have significant limitations on upgradeability. Seabras-1 will have an initial design capacity of 32 Tbps (a multiple of the current addressable market), with an expected upgradeability over its life being a significant multiple of that initial amount. - Reduce pricing: The Brazil-US route is one of the most expensive major transoceanic routes in the world today, and it is also the primary route for international communications between LAC and the rest of world.The project will lower pricing on the route which, in turn, increases telecom competition inside of LatAm and helps to increase affordable broadband penetration locally. - Competition / Independent player:  Further to promoting competition by building the newest submarine cable into Brazil, IFC will be contributing to the launch of the only independent player on the route. 3 of the 4 incumbent cable systems (Globenet, SAm 1, and SAC / LatAm Nauilus) are owned directly by incumbent telecom players (Oi, Telefonica, Level 3 / Telecom Italia), and thus potentially seen by customers as prioritizing the parent company''s own needs above the broader needs of the market. - LAC Regional Integration: The Project will help improve affordable connectivity and competition for the ongoing economic development of northern Brazil and other South American countries (e.g. Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile). - Increase broadband internet access: The Project will address the growing demand for broadband internet communications throughout LAC.
DARP SA Cerberus The proposed project entails investing in Cerberus Emerging Market Special Situations Fund, L.P. (the Fund), a fund managed by Cerberus Capital Management, L.P. (Cerberus or the Manager). The Fund will invest in credit opportunities in Emerging Markets, primarily targeting stressed/distressed companies, with focus on Latin America and Caribbean (the Project). - Stakeholders impact: The Project will support the acquisition and resolution of NPLs by allowing financial institutions to offload distressed assets. In turn, this helps them to release capital, decrease liquidity needs, and reduce their costs associated with the management of these assets. As a result, this will enhance the capacity of these financial institutions to increase lending. It will also help debtors to normalize their defaulted obligations, regain access to credit, and return to actively participate in the financial system. Lastly, the Project will support stress/distress small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and corporates by providing credit and the much-needed liquidity to improve their financial health, continue their operations, and ultimately preserve jobs.

- Market impact: The Project will contribute to further develop the Latin American distressed asset space especially in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. The Project will likely generate a positive demonstration effect by fostering the participation of more players to the region, which is critical to create a vibrant, well-functioning and efficient environment for distressed investing.
UABL River Barges UABL is a river barge transportation operator on the Hidrovia.  It was formed in October 2000 by the merger of the barge operations of Ultrapetrol and the operations of American Commercial Lines LLC, one of the largest US river shipping companies.     The project consists of the expansion of UABL''s (or, the company) river barge and terminal operations on the Hidrovia.  Though its size is equivalent to the Mississippi River, it suffers from a lack of infrastructure, and its potential is only beginning to be tapped.  The Hidrovia is used for transporting petroleum products northward to upstream destinations in Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, and Brazil, and for movement of dry cargo (including soy, industrial commodities such as limestone, and forest products) downriver where transfers to ocean-going vessels can be made for export.  Efficient regional transport services and links to the oceangoing shipping lines are important to making the best use of the region''s rich and diverse agricultural and natural resources. Without efficient regional transport services, the agricultural activities in the region would begin to stagnate.    This project finances infrastructure that improves competitiveness of exports.  IFC''s strategy emphasizes transport and logistics projects in less developed areas (like the region adjacent to this river system) which help to realize the potential of investments in the region.  Due to the recent financial and economic crisis in Argentina, the availability of financing for infrastructure projects in this region is very limited.  In this context, IFC will provide financing at a tenor and interest rate which is essential for this project but not available from other sources.  IFC will play a key role in creating an appropriate financial structure for the project.  Barges and ships are particularly effective as carriers of bulk goods such as agricultural commodities and industrial raw materials, which constitute the majority of the cargo transported by UABL, and are needed to support the regional industry.  Lowering transportation costs will make the regional industry more competitive in world markets, spur the economic growth of the region, and serve as a catalyst for creating additional employment in the region.
Monashees Exp The proposed investment is an equity investment of up to US$15 million in Monashees Expansion Fund, (MEF or the Fund), a Delaware domiciled fund focused on investing in later stage technology companies in Latin America. The? Fund will be managed by Monashees Expansion Partners, L.P., Delaware (Monashees, Manager). The IFC is also requesting a US$15 million delegated authority co-investment envelope. 1. Increased access to expansion stage equity and operational value add for technology companies in Latin America (mainly focused in Brazil). The Manager's strong reputation in Brazil means its companies have gone on to receive a large portion of all venture capital (VC) allocated to the region. For example, 33 percent in 2018 and 50 percent in 2019 of all VC dollars in Brazil went to its portfolio companies.  2. Increased competitiveness of key markets through the support of market disrupting digital business models: The Fund is supporting investees developing tech-led innovative solutions to disrupt various real sector business models. IFC expects this will increase competitiveness across markets in Brazil that are characterized by low productivity, poor efficiency and low competition. Through provision of expansion stage capital in a difficult fundraising environment, the Fund will significantly strengthen the ability of investee companies to reach sufficient scale and catalyze markets to respond to these competitive pressures. The Manager has demonstrated market creation through innovation and demonstration.  3. Increased competitiveness of Brazil's VC market, by catalyzing further the later stage venture segment through increased VC backed M&A and exits: IFC expects that by supporting this Fund, with its strong reputation in the market, its success will help increase the competitiveness of the later stage VC ecosystem in Latin America.
Knight CNS Project IFC is considering providing an up to US$40 million loan to Knight Therapeutics Inc. (Knight or the Company), a pan-American (ex-USA) specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Canada with significant operations in Latin America, to partially finance the acquisition of the rights to manufacture, market and sell Exelon® (rivastigmine) in Canada and Latin America (the Territory), as well as an exclusive license to use the intellectual property and the Exelon® trademark, from Novartis within the Territory (the Exelon Acquisition). Exelon® is indicated for the symptomatic treatment of mild to moderately severe dementia in people with Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease.  Founded in 2014 in Montreal, Canada, Knight is pan-American (ex-USA) specialty pharmaceutical company that focused on acquiring or in-licensing and commercializing pharmaceutical products in Canada and Latin America.  In 2019, Knight acquired a controlling stake in Grupo Biotoscana (GBT), a specialty pharmaceutical company with a presence across Latin America. In August 2020, Knight completed the 100% acquisition of GBT. With the GBT acquisition, Knight has expanded its operations in Latin America through a direct presence in 10 countries. Project outcomes: The Project helps respond to the existing and growing need for effective pharmaceuticals to treat dementia. Both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are a fast-growing burden of disease in Latin America due to the rapidly aging population. Exelon® acts to reduce symptoms by slowing down the degradation of acetylcholine. Knight plans to actively promote Exelon® to revive a brand that has good brand equity and is accepted for its superior quality and tolerance. The patch form of Exelon® has been shown to have less side effects and provides convenience for patients and their caregivers, which is particularly important given the challenges patients with dementia face taking medication. 


Contribution to market creation: IFC anticipates that the Project will result in an increase in disease awareness, diagnosis and access to treatment in Brazil and other countries in Latin America through the improved promotion of the medication. Absent Knight's acquisition, access to Exelon® may have potentially been limited given the current under-investments in the product, and as a result knowledge of the effectiveness of the product and its market share could fall. The declining role of Exelon® would in turn lead to a further reduction in disease awareness, diagnosis, and access to treatment in the market. In particular, without Knight's acquisition, continued under-investment would cause a negative impact on the attractiveness of the market and would contribute to an under-developed market with less treatment options.
ProducePay-Equit The project consists of an equity investment for a minority stake in ProducePay (PP, or the Company), a commerce enablement platform focused on the produce market. The Companys services are primarily targeted to LAC-based farmers who export fresh fruit and vegetables to the US. IFC is proposing US$8 million in equity preferred financing to ProducePay to support its operations and expansion. 1) Increased Access to Financing for Farmers:
IFC expects that the Project will increase access to non-collateralized financing for produce farmers, primarily from Mexico but also from other LAC countries for export to North America.

2) Contribution to Market Creation - Integration:
IFC expects that the Project will contribute to an increased integration of LAC agribusinesses to the U.S. market, as it contributes to the growth of an innovative business model fostering flexible working capital solutions for produce farmers to finance pre-harvest investments - not only in Mexico, Peru, Chile, but also in more underserved countries in Central America (e.g. Guatemala, Costa Rica).
Digital Bridge Emerging Markets The proposed investment consists of an up to US$100 million equity investment in diversified digital infrastructure (DI) assets advised by DCP Fund Adviser, LLC (the Fund Manager). IFCs investment considers an indirect equity interest in: (i) Scala Data Centers S.A. (Scala), a hyperscale data center operator in Brazil, (ii) Edgepoint HoldCo Pte Ltd (Edgepoint), a tower operator in Indonesia and Malaysia, (iii) Highline do Brasil II Infraestrutura de Telecomunicações S.A. (Highline), a tower company in Brazil, and (iv) an investment in DI assets in emerging markets either through (A) a blind pool investment vehicle investing alongside one of the Fund Managers existing investment funds (the SideCar) or (B) another managed co-investment (together with Scala, Edgepoint and Highline, the Project). Stakeholder Impact: The Project
is expected to increase access to quality digital connectivity and data center
capacity for individuals and businesses.     

 Competitiveness: The Project will support increased
competitiveness for mobile connectivity or data hosting services in the target
countries, via competition channels.
Riverwood LAC II IFC proposes an equity commitment of up to US$40 million in Riverwood Capital Partners Latam II L.P. (the Fund). The Fund will make growth equity investments in mid-market technology and technology-enabled companies in Latin America. The main project outcome is an increase in access to growth capital for investee companies, which, supported by Riverwood, are expected to achieve strong growth. The main contribution to market creation is an increased digital economy integration in Latin America through the support of technology and tech-enabled companies.
LH LAC II Project The proposed project will provide Banco La Hipotecaria, S.A. (LH Panama) in Panama, La Hipotecaria, S.A. de C.V. (LH ES) in El Salvador and La Hipotecaria Compania de Financiamiento, S.A. in Colombia (LHCF), co-borrowed/guaranteed by La Hipotecaria Holding Inc. (LH Holding), (together LH) with a Regional Housing Finance Facility (the RHF or the Facility) of up to US$30 million.  The proposed Facility will have two components (i) a U.S. dollar denominated revolving warehouse credit line (WHL); and (ii) an IFC subscription to a local-currency bond issued by LHCF in Colombia.  The Project will fund and support LHs existing low to middle income mortgage lending operations in Panama, El Salvador, and Colombia. This project will have the following developmental impact: 1. Support the expansion of primary mortgage lending in Panama, El Salvador and Colombia to the low and middle-income segments;  2. With increased mortgage origination, IFC will be contributing to the creation of a pool of mortgage assets that will be eligible for securitization and eventually issued in Panamanian, El Salvadorian and Colombian capital markets.
DLJ South American Partners LP DLJ South American Partners L.P. (DLJ SAP or the Fund) is  a regional private equity (PE) fund that will make growth equity investments in South America, primarily Brazil, Argentina and Chile.  DLJ SAP will be managed by a five-person locally-based team headed by Marcelo Medeiros and Carlos Garcia who previously ran the private equity investments of Banco Garantia (BG), a financial institution in Brazil and Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) in Argentina, respectively, before both institutions were acquired by Credit Suisse (CS). The Fund will contribute to the economic development of Brazil, Argentina and Chile by helping to provide scarce development capital that is not likely to be satisfied by the regions debt and equity capital markets.  The management team expects to take an active role with its portfolio companies to ensure that they have sufficient resources to pursue their growth strategies.  It will work with its investee companies to strengthen corporate governance, increase operating performance, and manage relationships between other shareholders.  The growth and success of these companies, in turn, will have a positive impact on exports, job creation, development of employee skills, transfer of knowledge and consumers in the South American region.
BTS Towers Project The project consists in the construction and operation of a telecommunication infrastructure network throughout Latin America to be owned and operated by BTS Torres (BTST or the Company), through the Companys subsidiaries in selected countries. BTST was established in early 2015 to provide mobile network and fixed wireless operators in Latin America with an economically viable and environmentally friendly outsourced alternative to in-house construction, maintenance and ownership of telecommunication tower sites.   As such, the project represents a unique opportunity for IFC to partner with an independent wireless tower company to make front the lack of adequate infrastructure in the region and the increasing demand for data, and to foster a competitive environment in countries with recent release of their telecom spectrum. (i)	Upside wireless penetration levels in the region: With the construction of additional tower sites, existing mobile operators will be able to expand the reach of their services both in terms of geography and capacity. In addition, collocation reduces the incremental cost of expanding service for all carriers thereby allowing them to service remote and economically less developed areas where ARPU and usage will be lower. (ii) Foster competition: The expansion project of BTST will allow smaller and newer wireless operators to benefit from reduced barriers to entry as they will have access to leased tower facilities and/or to build their own towers with an expertise partner such as BTST. (iii) Expand access to other ICT technologies: BTST''s tower network is capable of supporting not only mobile cellular networks, but also wireless broadband and backhaul networks, thereby improving the penetration of these technologies. (iv) Mitigate environmental impact and Climate Change: The project on hand will provide a cost effective opportunity to telecommunication operators to reduce their carbon emission footprint by sharing infrastructure. A significant benefit of sharing tower infrastructure arises from the material, energy and emissions savings that ensue from building only one tower instead of three or four. (v) Job Creation: the project will assists in the creation of both direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Santillana Project The proposed Project (the Project) involves an investment of up to 25 million in A-loan to Grupo Santillana Edicions S.L. (Santillana or Company).  Santillana is a leading textbook and general publishing company in Spain, Portugal and Latin America.    Santillana has five business segments: (i) Education  which publishes school textbooks and supplemental materials; (ii) Languages - Publishing of language textbooks in English, Spanish and French; (iii) Trade Publishing; (iv) Learning Systems; and (v) Digital.      The Project is to finance Sistema UNO, a digital education learning system targeted for private schools in Latin America. - Promote innovation in education through an attractive B2B model with potential for system-wide impact. - Facilitate adoption of digital teaching systems in the "mass market", including both private and, eventually, public schools, by bringing costs down as product penetration expands. - Improve quality  and relevance through the provision of tools with high potential to improve teaching practices and by focusing on promoting bilingualism and providing the school with specific tools to develop 21st century skills. - Contribute to generating evidence about the potential of digital teaching systems to improve learning outcomes.