South American money manager OTG Asset Management partners with renowned chef Gastón Acurio to finance a U.S. expansion of Acurio Restaurantes.
(January, 2024) – OTG Asset Management is pleased to announce that the AR Expansion Fund (the "Fund") has been declared effective. Individual accredited investors may now access the Fund, which intends to raise the funds needed for Acurio Restaurantes to open 8-12 new Peruvian cuisine restaurants in the U.S.
“We are thrilled to bring the opportunity to invest alongside Gastón Acurio to U.S. investors,” says Sergio Unzueta, OTG Investment Committee and Advisor. “He has done so much to raise the profile of Peru and its people through Peruvian cuisine, which blends indigenous traditions with European, Asian, and African influences.”
The Fund offers investors a partnership role in the newest expansion effort of Acurio International, which operates 71 eateries across 12 countries spanning Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, as well as the U.S. The company’s brands include LaMar, a high-end seafood restaurant; Jarana, which offers traditional and modern Peruvian cuisine in a festive, vibrant atmosphere; and Tanta, which serves a fusion of contemporary Peruvian cuisine and innovative culinary artistry in a warm, inviting atmosphere.
The AR Expansion Fund is planning to back expansion of the Jarana and LaMar brands in six states, focusing on cities with large Latin American communities.
“I’ve always dreamed that one day we’d reach this point, where everyone would see our traditional Peruvian food, the. Food invented by our mothers and their mothers, as something beautiful” says Gastón.
The son of a Peruvian congressman, Gastón started studying law in Spain in the late 1980s, but dropped out of law school to enroll at the Escuela de Hostelería de Madrid. After further studies at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, he opened his first restaurant, Astrid & Gastón, with his wife Astrid Gutsche in Lima in 1994.
As his business has grown, Gastón has also channeled his passion for his native cuisine by training and inspiring chefs to contribute to the worldwide elevation of Peru’s distinct flavors. More broadly, four of the top 50 restaurants in the world, as named by Eater earlier this year, are located in Lima.
Acurio Restaurantes partnered with OTG in 2020 and developed a plan to open 20 new eateries in the U.S. Against this backdrop, the AR Expansion Fund is looking to raise between $40-$50 million and will hold a 50% ownership stake in all of the new restaurants opened under the plan. Structured as a private equity fund, the offering has a 10-year term with two options for two-year extensions.
About OTG Asset Management
OTG Asset Management was founded in 2010 in South America by business leaders who were born and raised in the region and possessed extensive financial industry expertise, as well as proven track records at business success. OTG provides investment choices for U.S. investors through OTG Latin American, a mutual fund; for non-U.S. investors via the OTG Cayman Latin America Fund, a private offering; and for South American investors through separately managed accounts. Further information can be found at https://otgam.net/.
About Acurio Restaurantes
Acurio Restaurantes was founded in 1994 in Lima, Peru. Presently, it encompasses 71 profitable high-quality restaurants under 10 brands across North America, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. It’s the world’s only authentic, Peruvian-based restaurant platform and ranges from haute cuisine to casual dining while allowing for adaptations to reflect local tastes, supply chains, and market conditions. Acurio Restaurantes follows a flexible business model that includes its own operations and licensed locations, which provides for capital-efficient global growth. Further information can be found at https://acuriorestaurantes.net/.