Billionaire Marcelo Claure Acquires Significant Stake in Brazil’s eB Capital

Bolivian-born billionaire Marcelo Claure said he made an investment in Brazil’s eB Capital that gives him a “significant” stake in the investment firm, and that hewill join the firm as Vice Chairman and Managing Partner, and a member of the investment committee.

eB Capital, based in Sao Paulo, has BRL 5 billion (USD $1 billion) under management and stakes in companies including health-care, education, green-energy and telecommunications firms. eB Capital is a leading Brazilian investment firm founded by Eduardo Sirotsky Melzer, Luciana Antonini Ribeiro and Pedro Parente. The firm will open a New York office inside Claure Group’s space in the city.

Once a high-flying figure at SoftBank, he departed the Japanese technology conglomerate last year after a falling out with top boss Masayoshi Son. He was the driving force behind SoftBank’s $8 billion push into Latin America, where it ranks among the top tech investors.

Until early 2022, he was the chief executive officer (CEO) of SoftBank Group International and chief operating officer (COO) of SoftBank Group Corporation. He was previously the executive chairman of WeWork.

Claure previously served as Sprint’s President and CEO from 2014 until 2018, and as executive chairman from 2018 until 2020. He is owner of the soccer team Club Bolivar; chairman and co-owner of Girona FC since August 2020.

As of October 2023, his net worth is estimated at US$2.0 billion, making him Bolivia’s wealthiest person.

The arrival of Marcelo Claure represents a new, exciting chapter in eB Capital’s story and validates the work we have been doing to grow the firm. Marcelo’s belief in the Brazilian market and his impressive career as an investor, entrepreneur and executive at large global companies will be highly beneficial to our go-forward strategy and the management of our current and future portfolio, besides helping us discover new investment opportunities. It is an honor to have Marcelo on board and I look forward to the contributions he will make to eB Capital’s strategy and operations,” says Eduardo Sirotsky Melzer, Co-Founder, Executive Chairman and CEO of eB Capital, who celebrates Claure’s arrival with the other Partners.

“This investment further solidifies Claure Group’s belief in Brazil, a country with tremendous opportunities ahead. Brazil is poised to benefit from being one of the largest food and commodities producers in the world, with the cleanest energy grid, and an emerging green power. This is coupled with its ongoing tax reforms, ranking as the seventh most populous nation globally, and enjoying a strategically advantageous geopolitical position on the world stage. I look forward to joining eB Capital as Vice Chairman and partnering with Duda, Luciana and Pedro, who I hold in the highest regard. I am committed to driving the successful realization of our shared vision,” Mr. Claure affirms.

“Throughout my long business career, I have rarely met a professional with Marcelo’s range. His track record of boldness and execution capacity is unmatched, and I am confident that he will establish a new era for our company,” says Pedro Parente, Co-Founder and Senior Managing Partner of eB Capital.

Luciana Antonini Ribeiro, Co-Founder, Managing Partner and CIO of eB Capital, who is about to launch the second investment fund focused on climate in Brazil, celebrates Claure’s arrival: “I’m very excited about partnering with Marcelo. We have a shared vision of betting on transformational opportunities for Brazil across a wide range of sectors, including the climate agenda, in which our country can be a protagonist. This move unlocks a path to new opportunities for eB Capital. Marcelo joining the partnership followed an in-depth process, which allowed us to get to know each other and leaves us certain that we are making the right move with the right person.”

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