Equity International has closed a US$58 million investment in Brazil’s GuardeAqui. Equity International is a privately held investor and builder of world-class companies outside of the United States. The Brazilian firm is a privately owned self-storage company based in São Paulo. The investment brings the number of Equity International’s portfolio companies in Brazil to six.

GuardeAqui is Brazil’s first and leading self-storage operating company with a highly diverse range of commercial and residential tenants. The Company has effectively established the self-storage industry in Brazil and is uniquely positioned to lead the next phase of extraordinary growth.

GuardeAqui currently owns and operates three facilities in key locations in the São Paulo metropolitan area including Lapa, Liberdade and Santo Amaro. The Company is the dominant Brazilian self-storage owner/operator.

Gary Garrabrant, chief executive officer of Equity International, said the firm is regularly at the vanguard of new markets and industry sectors. He noted GuardeAqui represents another first for the firm in one of the most promising real estate sectors in Brazil. Garrabrant said Equity International is recognized as a leading investor and builder of companies, adding the investment provides an opportunity to gain from GuardeAqui’s impressive growth, thanks to a growing Brazilian middle class.

The self-storage sector in Brazil is currently small and generally non-professional, characterized by limited competition consisting largely of single-store operators with mixed-quality properties and insufficient capital for meaningful growth. There are approximately 50 self storage facilities in all of Brazil, most of which are concentrated in São Paulo. Given its experienced team, established platform and robust development pipeline, GuardeAqui enjoys a significant first-mover advantage in this compelling yet nascent industry sector.

GuardeAqui’s founder, Mario Fernandez, said the investment from a preeminent investor such as Equity International confirms the strength of GuardeAqui’s platform and growth prospects. According to him, Equity International has set the standard for real estate-related company building outside of the United States and no doubt GuardeAqui will benefit immensely from their many contributions.

Equity International’s investment in GuardeAqui will enable accelerated management and portfolio growth with the objective of creating a national platform. Equity International’s Christopher Fiegen and Gustavo Browne will join the Company’s Board of Directors.

Equity International invests in and builds world-class companies outside the United States, with a particular focus on identifying and initiating high-growth sectors in the most compelling emerging markets.

GuardeAqui is the leading self-storage operator in Brazil, providing temporary and long-term storage solutions to commercial and residential customers.