AUGUST 2024
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SYGNUS CAPITAL BOOSTS HIGHER EDUCATION IN PUERTO RICO WITH $6 MILLION INVESTMENT IN ANA G. MÉNDEZ UNIVERSITY
(San Juan, Puerto Rico) –
Sygnus Capital PR LLC – a company under the Sygnus Group – a leading alternative investment firm in the Caribbean and Latin America, has made a significant impact in Puerto Rico’s education sector by injecting $6 million into the Ana G. Méndez University (AGMU). This investment will launch high-demand accredited programmes, such as dental medicine, veterinary medicine, and physical therapy, marking a milestone in the island’s educational landscape.
“We are proud to support institutions that are making a real difference in the community. By easing access to financing, we are helping to eliminate barriers and create opportunities for Puerto Rico’s young talents to prosper right here in their homeland. For years, Puerto Rico has faced a challenging exodus of young talents due to the lack of specialised programmes and adequate infrastructure on the island. This has led countless students to migrate and enrol in programmes abroad to complete their studies. However, the expansion of the academic offering can help to change this narrative,” shared James Connor, CEO of Sygnus Capital PR LLC.
Sygnus Capital PR LLC, previously known as Acrecent Financial, has reinforced its commitment with Puerto Rico’s socioeconomic development by reducing barriers to capital access. This legacy of Acrecent, which stood out by contributing to the financial boost of the island, has evolved and expanded as Sygnus. The Sygnus Group is known for its expertise in Private Credit, Private Equity, Real Estate Financing, and Impact Investing.
The Ana G. Méndez University is a private university system with its main campus in San Juan, Puerto Rico. An accredited, not-for-profit institution of higher education, AGMU also operates campuses in the state of Florida and offers a wide variety of academic programmes in Spanish, English and in both languages through various modalities using emerging and innovative technologies. The University promotes innovation, entrepreneurship, research, as well as appreciation and respect for diversity. AGMU is also expanding its offer in technical careers and other formative programmes that respond to the changing needs of the job market and provide access to new opportunities for professional development.
Sygnus’s alliance with Ana G. Méndez University will allow the educational institution to boost historically neglected fields with its new accredited programmes. The odontology programme will accommodate 45 students in 2024-2025, increasing to 90 in 2025-2026; the new veterinary medicine programme, the only one in Puerto Rico, will receive 80 students in its first year, growing to 158 students for the next academic year; and the physical therapy programme will have at least 40 students per year.
These fields have significant growth potential, with approximately hundreds of students that migrate each year to study these careers. Sygnus Capital PR LLC’s CEO explained that by offering these programmes locally, Ana G. Méndez University will allow many young talents to be molded as professionals in their fields and apply their knowledge through services and jobs on the island.
The financing has enabled the university to acquire state-of-the-art equipment, ensuring students receive a modern, practical education. This includes outfitting dental clinics, veterinary labs, and physical therapy facilities with the latest technology, creating an optimal learning environment. This partnership not only addresses the immediate educational needs but also lays the foundation for long-term economic growth in Puerto Rico. By investing in education, Sygnus Capital is helping to cultivate a skilled workforce, ultimately contributing to the island’s prosperity.
“This joint support is evidence of the commitment of both entities to Puerto Rico’s socioeconomic development. At the same time, it established a model for future collaborations in the education sector. Sygnus Capital and Ana G. Méndez University are paving the way for a more prosperous and equitable future for the island, showing that investment in education can have a lasting impact in local communities,” said Connor.
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About Sygnus
Sygnus is a leading alternative investment management company in the Caribbean and Latin America, spanning private credit, real estate, private equity and impact investing. Sygnus manages Sygnus Credit Investments Limited (SCI) which is listed on the JSE and the largest Private Credit Investment company in the English-Speaking Caribbean. SCI is a pioneering private credit investment company, which offers creative debt financing to middle market businesses across the Caribbean. Sygnus Real Estate Finance Limited (SRF) provides flexible capital (Debt or Equity) to all classes of real estate assets (commercial, industrial, or residential). Sygnus Deneb Investments Limited (SDI) invests private equity capital in companies in the form of growth capital, buyouts, and turnarounds. The Sygnus Group also includes Sygnus Capital PR LLC (formerly Acrecent Financial Corporation) in Puerto Rico, a non-bank financial institution that provides asset-backed loans and leases to SMEs in Puerto Rico. Sygnus also offers its clients Investment Banking and Wealth Advisory.
