Valante Capital Launches Ascend Fund II With $115M First Close and Three Strategic Investments

IDC Network's Private Equity arm advances its regional consolidation strategy with anchor platforms in food and distribution across Latin America and the U.S.

MIAMI, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Valante Capital, the Private Equity division of IDC Network – an asset manager with $2.7 billion in assets under management – is pleased to announce the first close of Ascend Fund II, a $250 million-targeted private equity fund focused on scaling consumer and retail platforms across Latin America and select U.S.-based companies with a Latin American footprint.

The fund held a first close at $115 million in capital commitments, supported by a strong base of returning LPs and new institutional investors, along with a significant GP commitment representing over 15% of total fund capital.

Continuing a Proven Investment Strategy

Ascend Fund II builds on the success of its predecessor, extending the thesis of capturing emerging middle-class consumption by transforming under-optimized businesses into regional champions. The fund will focus on family-owned and corporate-divested assets across Northern Latin America, while opportunistically pursuing high-growth, cross-border opportunities in the U.S. that are closely tied to the Latin American consumer.

Concurrent with its first close, Ascend Fund II has completed three cornerstone investments:

• Vitali Alimentos – A fast-growing protein platform originally backed in Fund I. Since 2020, Vitali has achieved 38% revenue growth and a 50% EBITDA improvement, with continued transformation underway in Fund II to unlock further operational and geographic scale.
  
  
• American Foods – A U.S.-based food distribution platform reaching over 25 countries in Latin America. As the anchor asset in a roll-up strategy, American Foods provides Ascend with a foothold in the imported product segment and the ability to drive cross-border synergies across markets.
  
  
• Nutrica – A purpose-driven food company focused on combating child malnutrition in the region through essential, affordable, and highly nutritious food solutions. The investment aligns with Ascend's impact goals while addressing a critical public health challenge in Latin America.

Deploying Capital with Conviction

Ascend Fund II is targeting net returns above 25% by acquiring high-potential companies and executing deep operational upgrades, market expansion, and strategic consolidation.

Héctor Valero, Managing Partner of Valante Capital, commented:

"We're entering Fund II with momentum, strong alignment from our LPs, and conviction in the companies we're backing. Our strategy has always been about transforming overlooked but high-potential assets, and with Vitali, American Foods and Nutrica, we're putting that playbook into motion from day one."

Fueling the Next Chapter of Growth

With its strong initial close and three strategic platforms already in motion, Ascend Fund II is well-positioned to continue building scalable, competitive businesses that meet the evolving needs of Latin America's expanding consumer base.

About Valante Capital

Valante Capital is a Private Equity firm focused on the acquisition and transformation of companies in the consumer goods and retail industries across Latin America. Part of the IDC Network, a global investment platform founded in 1995, Valante Capital is one of six verticals managing investment funds across various sectors.

For more information or interview requests, please contact Paula Medrano (pmedrano@grupoidc.com).

About IDC Network
Established in 1995, IDC Network (IDC) is a diversified multi-fund platform. IDC focuses on partnering with strategic investors, managing and co-managing funds across multiple sectors including Private Equity, Energy & Infrastructure, Ventures, Capital Markets, Real Estate, and Impact. Active across Latin America, the US, and Europe, IDC is proud to be the Partner of Choice for more than 200+ of the world's most influential families from 30+ countries. Learn more at IDCNetwork.com.

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SOURCE Valante Capital