Joint-Venture Catalysts for expansion in Brazil

Joint-Venture Catalysts
for expansion in Brazil

Semco Partners partners with foreign companies, leverages your business and then lets you grow alone when it is consolidated, working as an enzyme for your expansion. We mitigate the risks of internationalization by providing everything you need to establish your company in the 7th World Economy.

Learn More

30+

years in business

20+

successful ventures

46%

average rate of return

What we do

We are an active portfolio manager that adds value to a variety foreign corporations expanding their business in Brazil. Our mission is to seek out new businesses, oversee existing businesses, and promote synergies among them. Read more →

Risk Mitigation

We are intimately familiar with business on the ground in Brazil: economy, politics, culture…

Extraordinary Professionals

We attract top market analysts, deal architects and managers to work on our ventures.

Skin in the Game

We invest our resources in all of our joint ventures and share risk with our partners.

Deep Market Knowledge

60 years of brand awareness in the country brings a strong network with customers and suppliers.

Acceleration

We have many years of experience launching and running new businesses locally.

Proven Track Record

30+ years practicing a unique and proven business model with 20+ successful ventures.

Ready to Expand your Business in Brazil?

Semco Partners offers an extensive network of contacts, direct access to target customers, informed risk monitoring, innovative management techniques, cultural proficiency, a brand recognized and trusted by the market, and, above all, an incomparable record of success in bringing multinationals to Brazil.

Connect With Us

Meet The Partners

Ricardo Semler

Chairman and Non Executive Partner

Ricardo Semler has been Semco Group’s major shareholder and chairman since the ’80s. He is also a founding shareholder of Tarpon Investments. Ricardo has authored several business bestsellers, and he is a visiting scholar at Harvard and MIT with an OPM degree from Harvard Business School. Additionally, Ricardo is the founder of innovative Lumiar School and Ralston Semler Foundation.

Alexandre Bonfim

CEO & Managing Partner

Alex joined Semco Group in 2005 and became CEO and Managing Partner of Semco Partners in 2012. Previously, he held key executive positions at Telefonica and IBM. Alex has a Degree in Computer Science and a Bachelor’s Degree in Statistics from Escola Nacional de Ciencias Estatisticas (ENCE). He holds a Master’s Degree in Strategy and Business Administration from INSPER (Institute of Education and Research). He holds a Business Executive Certification from Harvard Business School and sits on the boards of Pitney Bowes Brazil and H&R Block Brazil.

Philippe Reichstul

Non Executive Partner

Philippe joined Semco Group in 2006. Previously, he was CEO at: IPEA, Petrobras, Globopar, and Brenco. He’s served on the Boards of Peugeot Citroen S. A., Repsol YPF, Foster Wheeler, and Gafisa. Philippe holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from University of São Paulo, and a post-graduate degree from Hertford College, Oxford.

José Violi Filho

Partner

José Violi has been a Semco Group executive for more than 30 years. During this term, Violi has had many different responsibilities in the financial department. He was previously Semco Group CFO and CEO. He is also a board member at Semco Partners joint ventures.

Jorge Lima

Partner

Jorge has been with Semco Group since the -90s, where he held several leadership positions, including CEO for Johnson Controls, Semco Serviços Integrados, Semco Manutenção Volante, and executive director for Cushman Wakefield. When Semco Group sold SMV to ISS in 2007, he became the CEO for ISS Brazil. In 2012, he returned to Semco Partners. Jorge holds a mechanical engineering degree and post-graduate degree in environmental and quality processes.

Business Model

Semco Partners forms joint ventures (usually equal participation) with global companies looking to invest in Brazil. We partner with both start-ups or companies seeking to reinvigorate existing operations.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN OUR PARTNERS

Position among top two players in their industry and market;
Cutting edge proprietary technology and/or intellectual property;
Potential for fast development in Brazil;
Healthy financial situation;
Fit with the Brazilian market;

WHAT WE EXPECT FROM OUR PARTNERS?

Thought leadership and proven execution track record of their products, services and technology;
Consistent investment in research and development;
International references;
Strong, recognized brand in home market;
Appetite for international growth.

Do you meet these pre-requisites?

If so, your company may be a fit for a partnership with us. Please tell us more about its and we will be in touch.

Connect With Us

Don't Take Our Word For it

Our past performance speaks for itself. No other entity partner is better equipped to adapt, launch, and develop successful businesses across different sectors in Brazil.

Semco has a terrific grasp of the business realities in Brazil. We were a success.

- Dan Sheffield - President, Global Customer Service and Business Development

They always enhanced the level of success in their joint-ventures, becoming owners by bringing value to its business.

- Stig Pastwa - Former COO, Americas and Western Europe, ISS

We were able to capture a lot of market share and our company became a leader in the sector in Brazil.

- Arthur J. Mirante II - Principal & Tri-State President of Avison Young

That's the hallmark of a great partner. The are very smart, very collaborative and they don't let egos get in the way of doing business.

- Michael J. Critelli - Former Chairman of Pitney Bowes

SEMCO was pivotal to our breaking into that market. We enjoyed and excellent relationship with them and we parted on best of terms.

- Robin Bidwell - Chairman of ERM Foundation

SEMCO identified the opportunity, well before the explosion of growth in the Brazilian market.

- John C. Santora - President, CEO, Corporate Occupier & Investor Services of Cushman & Wakefield

Why invest in Brazil?

Timing could not be better.
Recently inflated asset values have given way to a time-sensitive opportunity to create a global presence at a much reduced investment. And Semco Partners, with its long track record of good timing, giving in-depth advice and making much of little, is honed for this new phase.

Semco Partners