Ernesto Warnholtz is Chairman and Founder of WAMEX Private Equity. He is responsible for investor relations and trade organizations.
In his more than 45 years of experience in the insurance and automotive industry, he has worked as executive for several leading global corporations. He worked for the Munich Reinsurance Co. in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean for 33 years, and at Daimler-Benz Mexico for 15 years, from which he retired as CEO of the Mexican operations.
Mr. Warnholtz has also been shareholder and director in a number of Mexican subsidiaries of foreign auto parts companies, such as Bosch, Siemens, Edscha, Mann+Hummel and Kostal. He was a member of the Mexican Advisory Board of Dresdner Bank Lateinamerika and currently sits on the following Boards: Banorte, Kostal de México, and Club de Industriales as well as philanthropic Boards such as Casa Alianza and Fundación ABC.
Mr. Warnholtz has also being active in trade organizations, serving as past President of the German Mexican Chamber of Industry and Commerce, of the German section of the Mexican Corporate Council for International Matters and of the Mexican National Association of Importers and Exporters. He participated actively in the negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement and was member of the Board of Bancomext (Mexican Government trade finance bank).
Mr. Warnholtz was honorably distinguished in two occasions by the Federal Republic of Germany with the “Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit” decoration.
He studied Insurance in Munich and London and is fluent in Spanish, English and German.
Industry: Lodging
Status: Partially Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund II
Year of Investment: 2010
Hoteles City Express (HCe) is a Mexican hotel chain which targets the economy business traveler sector. Hce has become a leading player in the Mexican hotel industry with over 100 operating hotels in Mexico,Costa Rica and Colombia. The Company has an aggressive domestic and international growth strategy for the next year.
Industry: Pharma
Status: Current
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund II
Year of Investment: 2013
Medix is a leading Mexican pharmaceutical laboratory founded in the 40’s, that specializes in comprehensive health treatment for overweight and obesity in Mexico. Medix has had an aggressive growth and has successfully positioned itself as the leading Mexican laboratory in its segment. The Company has developed unique knowledge on the needs and complexities of these diseases, which allows it to develop innovative and efficient solutions and treatments.
Industry: Food Beverage
Status: Current
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund II
Year of Investment: 2013
Kua Mex Foods is a consolidating platform, seeking to invest in the food and beverage sector in Mexico. Kua is looking for small to medium-sized companies with established brands in the sector.
Industry: Automotive
Status: Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund I
Year of Investment: 2003
Eckerle is a company that assembles components for electric motors. Their plant is based in Querétaro, Mexico, but it enjoys a global presence with manufacturing sites in Germany, East Europe, and Asia. The company manufactures electronic components for automotive servomotors, and exports 80% of its production.
Industry: IT
Status: Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund II
Year of Investment: 2010
HDS is a specialized healthcare information technology company providing business process consultancy and technology integration to healthcare providers and insurance companies. HDS objective is to make patients information available, alongside medical knowledge and resources, in the adequate time and place for an optimum health result.
Industry: Automotive
Status: Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund I
Year of Investment: 2004
Epiq Group is a manufacturing company that produces auto parts, mainly high precision electronics, with operations in Belgium, Bulgary, France and Mexico. Epiq Mexico assembles high technology electronic cards in Guadalajara and exports 70% of its production.
Industry: Airline
Status: Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund I
Year of Investment: 2006
Sistemas Aéreos de México (Aladia) is a tourism business based in Monterrey and focused on the sale of accommodation, ground and air transportation packages for foreign tourists travelling to destinations in Mexico.
Industry: Retail
Status: Current
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund II
Year of Investment: 2013
BODESA is a company specializing in the specialty retail sector. Operating a multi-product department store style format under two chains – La Marina and El Bodegon. The Company is the clear leader in its market.
Industry: Healthcare
Status: Current
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund I
Year of Investment: 2008
MediaAccess is a healthcare business based in Mexico City which offers integrated medical services, including medical insurance and prepaid programs. The Company has its own clinics and a wide national network of doctors and service suppliers. MediAccess plans to offer medical insurance to tourists in Mexico.
Industry: Oil
Status: Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund I
Year of Investment: 2004
Ruhrpumpen is a company specializing in the production of industrial pumps for the oil industry. The headquarters are in Monterrey, Mexico. CEG has operations in Germany, United States, Colombia, Egypt, India, China, and Brazil. It exports the 78% of its sales.
Industry: Automotive
Status: Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund I
Year of Investment: 2005
Sensor Cables Automotive de México was a manufacturing plant, with production in Queretaro, Mexico, which produced high precision cables for sensors in automotive security components. SCM’s main clients were Siemens and Bosch, exporting 75% of its production.
Industry: Logistics
Status: Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund I
Year of Investment: 2007
WTC is a logistics business that maintains regional leadership thanks to its specialization in customs handling, aerial cargo services and distribution centres. Founded in 1988 in Guadalajara, WTC is specialist in good and services related with external trade.
Industry: Voit
Status: Realized
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund I
Year of Investment: 2005
Voit is an auto part manufacturer in Guadalajara with a leading position in the NAFTA region. It produces steel punched parts for engine cooling motor housings and caps, exporting 75% of its production. The Group has production facilities in Europe with more than 1,000 employees.
Industry: Sustainability
Status: Current
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund II
Year of Investment: 2011
WCAP Holdings is the holding entity of several companies dedicated mainly to development, installation, financing and operation of sustainable projects. Water Capital’s core business unit Leasing Operations de México (LOM) undertakes mainly the leasing of: water treatment plants, solar energy equipment and industrial infrastructure. The company serves more than 50 clients, from large corporations to middle sized companies and is reaching out to residential customers via a chain of showrooms and installers.
José Antonio Contreras joined WAMEX Private Equity in 2000. He is a Senior Managing Partner and is responsible for investment origination, financial analysis, due diligence and investment monitoring. Mr. Contreras currently sits on the board of directors of the following portfolio companies: Hoteles City Express, MediAcces and Productos Medix.
Over his 28 years of experience, he has worked in private equity, investment banking and management consulting. Before joining the WAMEX team, he was a Managing Director of Investment Banking for OBSA Serfín financial group, where he was in charge of M&A, and of implementing cross-border joint ventures and privatizations. Previously, he was Principal of Booz, Allen & Hamilton where he performed consulting assignments in Mexico, the United States, Canada and South America, with emphasis on strategic and financial advice.
Mr. Contreras has an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Universidad Anahuac. He is fluent in Spanish and English.
Christian Warnholtz is Co-Founder and Senior Managing Partner of WAMEX Private Equity. He is responsible for investment origination, financial analysis and portfolio management. Mr. Warnholtz currently sits on the board of directors of portfolio companies MediAccess and BODESA.
With 24 years of experience, he has focused in financial services and business development. He previously worked at BBVA Securities (London) in the Capital Markets Group, structuring and selling public and private equity and debt issues. Prior to working in London, he was employed by JPMorgan in New York and Probursa in Mexico, managing a US$100 million portfolio as an international financial advisor. As an entrepreneur he founded, managed and sold ECT, a successful 5 state licensed wire remittances network in the U.S.
Mr. Warnholtz has graduate studies from both, the Webster University Geneva, and from IPADE, he holds a B.S. in Economics from ITAM. He is fluent in Spanish, English and German.
Sergio del Valle joined WAMEX Private Equity in 2001. He is a Managing Partner, responsible for operations, investor relations, and portfolio management. Currently, Mr. del Valle is a member of the board of directors of Hoteles City Express, KUA Mex Foods and Productos Medix.
He has 20 years of experience in M&A and corporate finance. He previously worked for Bankers Trust Mexico and Deutsche Bank, structuring debt in local currency and equity capital markets, private equity and M&A. Before that, he was a member of the internal M&A team of Grupo Televisa, where he worked on several divestitures and analyzed new businesses. He also worked at OBSA Serfin where he participated in the structuring of debt and equity public offerings, and executed sell-side mandates in the steel and financial industries.
Mr. del Valle has top management studies from IPADE and holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Universidad Panamericana. He is fluent in Spanish and English.
Luis Carrera joined WAMEX Private Equity in 2002. He is Partner and is responsible for business analysis, due diligence, financial analysis and portfolio management, and has been member of the board of directors, and various committees at some portfolio companies.
Prior to WAMEX, he worked six years as part of the assurance and business advisory services practice team for PricewaterhouseCoopers, advising multinational companies in the automotive and pharmaceutical industries, where he acquired experience in financial advisory and reporting, as well as managerial accounting.
Luis has an Executive MBA and holds a B.A. degree in Accounting, both from ITAM. He is fluent in Spanish and English.
Christian Hernández joined WAMEX Private Equity in 2014. He is Principal and responsible for financial analysis, investor relations / fundraising and portfolio management.
He has over 15 years of experience in M&A, strategy and business development, investment banking and corporate finance, acquired across multiple companies in the financial sector. He was Principal at N+1 Mercapital; Director at UBS’s middle market M&A group in New York and Panama; Financial Management Associate at Citigroup in New York; Investment Banking Analyst at Salomon Smith Barney in both Mexico City and New York; and Financial Analyst at the Ministry of Finance in Mexico City.
Christian has an MBA from Cornell University and holds a B.S. in Economics from ITAM. He is fluent in Spanish and English, and speaks basic Portuguese.
Jessica is an Associate at WAMEX Private Equity. She joined the team in 2013 and is responsible for investor relations and funds administration.
She has 4 years of experience in client relations and administration. Before joining WAMEX, she worked at the International Cooperation Office at FCA UNAM, coordinating exchanges and agreements between renowned international universities.
She holds a B.A. in Business Administration from UNAM and a specialization in Business Tourism form the ESC Sup de Co La Rochelle, France. She is fluent in Spanish and English, and has basic German knowledge.
Javier joined WAMEX Private Equity as an Associate in 2015. He is involved in financial analysis, and portfolio management functions for the funds.
He has experience in process optimization and management consulting. Prior to WAMEX, he worked as an analyst at Sintec in management consulting, and as an intern at Grupo Diavaz specializing in the energy sector.
Javier holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering form Universidad Iberoamericana and Technische Univertität Wien. He has also completed various accounting and valuation courses at ITAM. He is fluent in Spanish, English and German.
Francisco joined WAMEX Private Equity as an Associate in 2015. He is involved in financial analysis, and portfolio management functions for the funds.
He has experience in real estate private equity and private banking. Prior to WAMEX, he was an Analyst at MIRA Companies where he conducted real estate investments, and worked as an intern at Finamex in the private banking sector.
Francisco holds a B.A. in Finance from Tecnológico de Monterrey and Instituto de Estudios Bursatiles, Spain. He is a Level II CFA Candidate; and is fluent in Spanish and English.
Analoth joined WAMEX Private Equity as an Analyst in 2015. She is involved in investor relations and fund administration.
Before joining WAMEX she worked as a Business Banking Relationship Manager Support at HSBC Bank, where she gained experience in client relationships, risk prevention and monitoring processes.
She holds a B.A. in Business Administration, cum laude, from UNAM. She is fluent in Spanish, English and German.
Soraya Villaseñor is the Administrative and Financial Director of WAMEX Private Equity. She has been part of the team since 2004 and is responsible for the company’s books and human resources.
She has 18 years experience in control and operation planning, financial projections and budgeting, tax administration, external audit and company assets support. Prior to WAMEX she worked at LABNAH as Administrative and Financial Director and as an accountant manager at Polimeros y Amiantos. She also worked for several acoounting firms.
Soraya holds a B.A. in Accounting and a specialty in internal audit from UNAM and graduate studies in Taxation from ITAM. She is a certified public accountant, fluent in Spanish and has business English proficiency.
Ariadna joined WAMEX Private Equity in 2012 as an Executive Assistant. She has more than 15 years experience working in administration developing as a reliable multitasking professional with high ethical awareness. Previous to WAMEX she worked at Grupo BAL. Ariadna is fluent in Spanish and has business English proficiency.
The WAMEX organization enjoys the support and guidance in general matters of an Advisory Board, which also extends the WAMEX network. Members of the WAMEX Advisory Board bring additional expertise and experience to enhance investment decision-making.
Guillermo Cantú is President of the Board of Grupo Gayosso, the largest funeral company in Mexico. He was formerly CEO of Seguros La Comercial, a leading Mexican insurance company (later acquired by the ING Group). Prior to that, Mr. Cantú worked for Grupo Pulsar and Grupo Chihuahua, large manufacturing concerns in Northern Mexico, where he was active in several associations. He is a member of the board of financial, commercial, industrial and advertising corporations and has been prominent in artistic organizations
Manuel Castro was President of Trinity Industries Inc. (a diversified U.S. capital goods manufacturer) in charge of the vessels business worldwide, and was President of its Mexican and Brazilian operations. He has 40 years of experience in this field. Previously Mr. Castro was Chief Executive Officer and shareholder of TATSA (a Mexican manufacturer of railroad cargo and tank cars). Mr. Castro is also founder, shareholder and Member of the Board of CMS International (a valve manufacturer), and of Monte Xanic (a Mexican vineyard).
Luis is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grupo Diavaz since 1982 to date. Grupo Diavaz is made up by ten companies all related to the Mexican energy industry, ranging from oil and gas exploration and production, process, transportation, storage until its final consumption.
He has been and still is an advisor of several national and international companies, all of them connected to the energy industry.
Luis Vázquez actively participates in a wide variety of Chambers, Associations, as well as Professional and Entrepreneurial organizations.
Currently, Eng. Vázquez is Chairman of Mexico Chapter of the World Energy Council, as well as of the Mexican Natural Gas Association.
Luis Vázquez is a chemical engineer, who graduated from the Polytechnic Institute of Ryerson in Toronto, Canada.
José Manuel was Partner, Managing Director and President of the Executive Committee of KPMG Mexico. He also was member of the International Board of KPMG and of the Latin American Board, where he served as Chairman. Mr. Rincón Gallardo is a member of the Public Accountant Institute of Mexico and of the Financial Executives Institute. He was in charge of the National Accounting Practice for KMPG Mexico and belongs to a number of Boards and Executive Committees of large public financial, chemical, pharmaceutical, industrial, and non-for-profit entities.
Mr. VoljČ, among his vast international experience, was CEO of the Central Eastern Europe and Russia Bank, CEO of K&H Bank Hungary and CEO of the Slovenia Central Bank. He also worked actively at the World Bank for 11 years in the Industrial Development and Finance Division, responsible for the Americas. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of several European Companies.
Agustín Gutiérrez is President and general manager of Muenchener Rueck in Mexico and advisor for Latin America. Previously he was a member of the board of Grupo Nacional Provincial, advisory board member of the Asociación Mexicana de Derecho de Seguros y Fianzas, board member of the Asociación Mexicana de Compañías de Fianzas, Kölnische Latina, Colonense Corredores de Reaseguro Ltda., and of the Protección Agropecuaria in Mexico.
Industry: Education
Status: Current
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund III
Year of Investment: 2017
GLOBAL ED is a diversified platform company that provides top quality education in various formats in Mexico through innovative academic models and technology.
Industry: Logistics
Status: Current
Fund: Multinational Industrial Fund III
Year of Investment: 2017
Ecofrío is a Mexican company that offers solutions to Food and Beverages clients in the management of integrated logistics services ‘3PL’ (Third Party Logistics), specializing in cold storage, providing efficient operational processes, as well as a culture of innovation to render the highest levels of customer service.