AUA Private Equity Partners has hired Nancy Rocha, the former Senior Director for Economic Capital and Advocacy at New America Alliance, as a Vice President focusing on business development, investor relations and investment management.
Ms. Rocha brings longstanding experience in the financial services, consulting, investment banking and emerging manager sectors. Ms. Rocha started her career as an Investment Banker at UBS Financial Services in New York. Thereafter, she was a Vice President at Cabrera Capital Markets in Chicago and Wells Fargo Brokerage in Texas where she managed regional markets and serviced public entities and municipalities in structuring and issuing debt instruments in the capital markets and direct private placements with institutional buyers.
Most recently Ms. Rocha served as Senior Director at the New America Alliance, where she managed capital advocacy efforts at the state and federal levels, as well as key programs such as the pensions fund initiative. Ms. Rocha has also held positions in a White House Presidential Advisory Committee, U.S. Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and as a consultant with PwC. Ms. Rocha will be in based in Texas and New York.
“I am pleased that Nancy is joining the AUA Private Equity team. I have worked with her on many initiatives at the New America Alliance and feel fortunate to have someone who brings a wealth of experience in the Emerging Manager arena,” said Andy Unanue, Managing Partner of AUA Equity. “Her background in financial services, capital markets and consulting lends well to private equity investing. She is an outstanding addition to our team and will be immediately involved in a number of investment opportunities that are in our pipeline.”
AUA Private Equity Partners makes equity investments in companies in the consumer, media and business services sectors with a particular focus on Hispanic-oriented companies and family-owned businesses located in the United States. The firm plans to invest $10 million to $30 million of equity in companies that generate $3 million to $15 million in EBITDA. AUA Equity makes control and significant minority investments in a variety of transactions and structures including: traditional leveraged buyouts; growth equity; recapitalizations; and roll-up strategies. The firm is based in New York, NY (www.auaequity.com).
“I am pleased to be joining a blue chip organization such as AUA Private Equity Partners and to partner with Andy Unanue, Steven Flyer and David Benyaminy. Their investment pedigree and longstanding relationships in the private equity industry together with the operational experience that Andy offers provides a significant advantage in identifying new investment opportunities,” said Ms. Rocha. “I hope to leverage many of the relationships that I have developed both at the NAA and throughout my career to help contribute to building AUA Private Equity into one of the most recognized private equity names catering to the U.S. Hispanic marketplace.”
© 2012 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 11-14-12
