Antarctica’s team of professionals provides its clients with substantial industry knowledge and an international network through their successful track record of M&A transactions. Antarctica’s multilingual team has origins from world recognized investment banking institutions such as JP Morgan, Banque Paribas, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Kaupthing Bank and Glitnir bank
Managing Partner
Ignacio J. Kleiman is the Managing Partner and founding member of Antarctica.
Prior to forming Antarctica, Mr. Kleiman served as Chief Executive Officer of Glacier Securities, a New York-based financial advisory firm specializing in the Seafood Industry, a subsidiary of Islandsbanki hf (successor of Iceland’s Glitnir Bank).
Mr. Kleiman has over 25 years of experience in the financial industry. Having started his career at JP Morgan in 1991 in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group, Mr. Kleiman spent more than 10 years at Bankers Trust and subsequently, at Deutsche Bank in their Investment Banking and Private Equity areas. He then spent an additional 6 years at Rabobank International, as a Managing Director in its Mergers and Acquisitions Department in New York serving clients in the Food Industry, both in the U.S. and overseas. In early 2007, Mr. Kleiman played a leading role in establishing the New York office for Glitnir Bank, focusing on M&A and financing in the Seafood Industry.
In 2013, Mr. Kleiman and a team of investment banking professionals formed Antarctica Advisors, a firm focused on providing strategic and financial advisory services to corporate clients in the Food Industry.Mr. Kleiman holds an I.B. with Honors from Pearson College (UWC Canada), a B.A. in Engineering Science and International Economics from Dartmouth College, as well as an M.B.A in International Finance from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business, all of which he attended on full academic scholarship. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian.
As an industry reference, he has been interviewed by deferent media outlets including Bloomberg Radio, Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, The Deal, IntraFish and Undercurrent News.
Mr. Kleiman maintains Series 24, 79 and 63 securities licenses.
Partner
Birgir Brynjolfsson is a Partner and founding member of Antarctica.
Mr. Brynjolfsson has over ten years of professional experience in Seafood and Financial Services in Europe and North America. Prior to forming Antarctica Advisors, Mr. Brynjolfsson served as an Advisor at Glacier Securities in New York, where he was responsible for advisory to a diverse range of corporations in the Seafood Industry in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Throughout his professional career, Mr. Brynjolfsson has served as an advisor in multiple functions within the banking industry at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Kaupthing Bank in Iceland.
Mr. Brynjolfsson holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Iceland and an MBA degree in Global Finance from Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix, Arizona.
Mr. Brynjolfsson has a certification in Spanish from Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico, and is fluent in English and Icelandic.
Partner
Germán Thoss is a Partner and founding member of Antarctica.
Mr. Thoss has over fifteen years of professional experience in Seafood and Financial Services in Europe, North America and Latin America. Prior to forming Antarctica Advisors, Mr. Thoss served as an M&A Advisor at Glacier Securities in New York, where he was responsible for advisory to a diverse range of corporations in the Seafood Industry in the Americas and Latin America. Throughout his professional career, Mr. Thoss has served as an advisor in multiple functions within the banking industry at HSBC and Glitnir Bank in in New York.
Mr. Thoss holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the Catholic University from Argentina and B.S. degree in Accounting from the Catholic University from Argentina. Mr. Thoss is fluent in English and Spanish.
Director
Charles (“C.J.”) Arrigohas over 20 years of experience in investment banking and capital markets. Prior to joining Antarctica Advisors, he held roles in Asset Based Lending at Santander Bank, N.A. and as Director of Investments with Patagonia Financial Holdings.
Mr. Arrigo was a founding member of Glacier Securities where he advised clients on issues ranging from capital raising to project financing and balance sheet restructuring. Previously, Mr. Arrigo had served as Director at Glitnir Capital Corp., where he oversaw the development of a US$150 million mezzanine and sub-debt portfolio. Mr. Arrigo served in various roles the Debt Capital Markets groups of both BNP Paribas and Citigroup where he advised clients on a wide range of debt and capital structure related issues.
Mr. Arrigo holds a B.S. in Business Administration with dual concentrations in Finance and International Management from Boston University.
Vice President
Jean-Marc Narine has almost 10 years of professional experience in Financial Services in North America. Prior to joining Antarctica Advisors, he served as an Analyst at Avance International Capital, a Miami-based Investment Bank focused on Latin America.
Mr. Narine holds a B.S. in Business Administration with dual concentrations in Finance and International Business and a Master of Science in Finance Degree, both from Florida International University.
Country Head – Chile
Fernando Araya C. is an investment banking veteran with over 20 years of experience who previously served as General Manager of Rabobank in Chile. During his tenure at Rabobank (1996 – 2011), Mr. Araya led the bank’s local Corporate Finance/M&A team participation in the origination and execution of important M&A transactions as well as Syndicated Loans and Club Deals. Mr. Araya plays a key role in positioning Rabobank as a leading bank in the Food and Agri-Business in Chile. Prior to joining Antarctica, he had established a local firm providing independent advisory to multinational Food companies in South America. His past professional experience also includes senior-level positions at JP Morgan Chase.
Mr. Araya has advised an extensive arrange of clients, including Multiexport, Salmofood, Watt’s, Oxxean and IANSA, and seats at the board of a number of Chilean Food companies. Mr. Araya a BA and M.B.A from Catholic University of Chile. He is fluent in English and Spanish.
