History

Brasif was created in 1965 as a distributor of steel products. In 1970, with the growth in construction and infrastructure in Brazil, it created Brasif Máquinas – which with the expansion of equipment mix and territory over the years, has become one of Brazil’s largest dealers of heavy equipment. During this time, the holding company started operating in financial investment, real estate and agribusiness.

In 1979, Brasif pioneered Duty Free shops in Brazil. The stores trading under the name Brasif Duty Free became an established presence in the country’s main airports. Brasif created the concept of duty free arrival stores, which later became the international standard.

Continuing to make new investments, in the late 1990s it founded Brasif Rental, for machinery rental, benefitting from the synergy with Brasif Máquinas and its significant market knowledge.

In 2006, Brasif sold 100% of Brasif Duty Free – by then Brazil’s largest chain of airport stores – to one of the world’s major players in the sector.

In the subsequent years, various startups were created: an operation in sugar, alcohol and biomass power generation (Usina Da Mata); a chain of premium retail apparel stores (Loungerie); and a biotech company (Laboratório Geneal). Meanwhile Brasif Máquinas and Brasif Rental continued to expand.

Brasif also greatly expanded in real estate in Brazil and the USA, by investing in residential, commercial, industrial and hotel projects, building a significant portfolio of assets in the sector for sale and rent, and a land bank of sites for future development.

Brasif continues to make long-term investments in both Brazil and abroad. Its team analyzes opportunities for growth of current operations; opportunities for partnerships and associations; new real estate investments, and new financial, private equity, venture capital and startup investments.