COMPANY·HISTORIES

Brazil

Companies based in Brazil, and the events that shaped them.

20companies1808–2000founding years18still active2no longer operating
§ 01

Brazil companies over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedBANCO DO BRASIL S.A.
1808
FoundedCia Hering
1880
FoundedGerdau S.A.
1901
FoundedSouza Cruz S.A.
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedVARIG S.A. (Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense)
1927
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedIpiranga S.A.
1933
FoundedPerdigao SA
1934
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedCOMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE
1942
FoundedBanco Bradesco S.A.
1943
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
FoundedCompanhia Energética de Minas Gerais S.A. CEMIG
1952
FoundedPETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A.
1953
FoundedTransBrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas
1955
FoundedLojas Arapua S.A.
1957
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedTAM Linhas Aéreas S.A.
1961
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedEmpresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. (Embraer)
1969
FoundedSadia S.A.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
FoundedAracruz Celulose S.A.
1972
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
TechnologyLinux and open source challenge proprietary software.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1994
TechnologyE-commerce begins to disrupt retail.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
FoundedBrasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A.
1998
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

BANCO DO BRASIL S.A. →
Active · founded 1808 · Brazil
Assets: Cz61.38 trillion (US$81.54 billion) Stock Index: Brazil The history of Banco do Brasil intertwines with that of…
Cia Hering →
Active · founded 1880 · Brazil
Ticker Symbols:HGTX3 NAIC:313210 Broadwoven Fabric Mills; 448140 Family Clothing Stores; 551112 Offices of Other…
Gerdau S.A. →
Active · founded 1901 · Brazil
A fast-rising star on the international steel market, Gerdau S.A.
Souza Cruz S.A. →
Active · founded 1903 · Brazil
Souza Cruz S.A.
VARIG S.A. (Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense) →
Active · founded 1927 · Brazil
An estimated 11 million passengers a year fly VARIG S.A.
Ipiranga S.A. →
Active · founded 1933 · Brazil
One of Brazil's largest privately held companies, Ipiranga S.A.
Perdigao SA →
Active · founded 1934 · Brazil
Brazil's Perdigao SA is the second largest producer of pork and poultry products, behind Sadia, with vertical…
COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE →
Active · founded 1942 · Brazil
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) is one of the world's most important producers of iron ore, iron pellets, and other…
Banco Bradesco S.A. →
Active · founded 1943 · Brazil
Net Income: US$526.85 million Stock Exchanges: São Paulo Rio de Janeiro SICs: 6029 Commercial Banks, Not Elsewhere…
Banco Itaú S.A. →
Active · founded 1944 · Brazil
Total Assets: R$35.06 billion (1996) Stock Exchanges: Brazil SICs: 6000 Depository Institutions; 6021 National…
Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais S.A. CEMIG →
Active · founded 1952 · Brazil
Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais S.A.
PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. →
Active · founded 1953 · Brazil
Petróleo Brasileiro (Petrobr´s) is the Southern Hemisphere's largest company.
TransBrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas →
Active · founded 1955 · Brazil
TransBrasil S/A Linhas Aéreas, Brazil's third-largest airline, flies about three million passengers a year.
Lojas Arapua S.A. →
Active · founded 1957 · Brazil
Once the largest retailer of household appliances and electronics in Brazil with 16 percent of the market for durable…
TAM Linhas Aéreas S.A. →
Active · founded 1961 · Brazil
TAM Linhas Aéreas S.A.
Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A. (Embraer) →
Active · founded 1969 · Brazil
Ticker Symbols: ERJ; EMBR3; EMBR4 NAIC: 336411 Aircraft Manufacturing Empresa Brasileira de Aeronáutica S.A.
Sadia S.A. →
Active · founded 1971 · Brazil
Sadia S.A.
Aracruz Celulose S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1972 · Brazil
Ticker Symbols: BOVESPA; ARA NAIC: 322110 Pulp Mills; 113110 Timber Tract Operations; 113210 Forest Nurseries and…
Brasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A. →
Defunct · founded 1998 · Brazil
Brasil Telecom Participaçoes S.A.
Companhia de Bebidas das Américas →
Active · founded 2000 · Brazil
AmBev, more formally known as Companhia de Bebidas das Américas, is the world's fifth largest brewer.
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