Biolab and Marisol consider moving to the USA
Small and medium-sized Brazilian companies are considering moving to the United States. Demand was already hot in recent years, but began to grow in 2014. Marisol and Biolab, one of the country's most innovative pharmaceutical companies, are among those considering entering the American market, according to Estado. "There was already a lot of demand, but the uncertainties about the direction of the economy after the last presidential election accelerated the decision-making process of some entrepreneurs," says Pedro Drummond, a lawyer and partner at Drummond, based in Boston (USA) with offices in Brazil. The company provides consultancy for businesspeople wishing to invest in the US and has the support of the American Chamber of Commerce Brazil-United States (Amcham).
In 2015, Drummond advised 120 companies investing in the US. In 2014, it advised 85 companies. "We have three investor profiles. The first is made up of companies planning to internationalize in order to reduce their dependence on the Brazilian market. The second group is made up of technology companies, which are looking for access to cheaper financing abroad, since Brazil has restricted credit. The third group is made up of individual investors," he says.
The pharmaceutical laboratory Biolab, controlled by the Castro Marques family, is one of the companies that sought out Drummond to set foot in the USA. Cleiton de Castro Marques, president and one of the partners of the Brazilian laboratory, said that he has already opened an office in Miami to prospect for business. According to him, the aim is to adapt the drug dossiers with the American regulatory bodies, which could expand the Brazilian group's field of action. Biolab is also investing in a research and development (R&D) center in Toronto, Canada. Expansion - The Marisol chain of stores is also looking to go international in the United States.
This project, however, is at an early stage, according to the company. The company is being advised by the WTC Business Club, which supports companies that want to compete in foreign markets. "We're not restricted to the United States," said WTC Business Club president Bruno Bomeny. According to him, there are at least 100 companies under his consultancy. "WTC Business has been operating in Brazil since 1995 and has branches in Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, Joinville and Florianópolis. We have more than 100 associates and promote around 150 events a year." On Thursday, the WTC Business Club do Brasil unit in Fort Lauderdale (Florida) will hold a meeting with around 80 executives from the USA and Latin America to discuss business opportunities in the state of Florida.