Astor Group’s Brazil Intelligence practice helps foreign companies and financial institutions better navigate Brazil.

2. BRAZIL INTELLIGENCE
Astor Group’s Brazil Intelligence practice helps foreign companies and financial institutions better navigate
Brazil.
OUR BUSINESS
No matter the industry, operating in Brazil requires in-depth local knowledge and intimate access to senior
decision makers. Astor Group provides both. Clients depend on our research and analyses, due diligence,
legal expertise and regulatory support to reduce costs and increase speed to market. Once established,
we provide operational support and ongoing access to a massive network of Brazil’s top deals and
dealmakers.
OUR VALUE
Our deep knowledge and relationships allow clients to significantly reduce the cost of Brazilian expansion.
With offices in New York, Miami and Rio de Janeiro, we seamlessly bridge international and local practices
so clients can focus on core activities.
OUR TEAM
Our team includes Brazilian and international professionals with extensive experience executing strategic,
legal, financial and marketing deliverables. Our expansive relationships, local knowledge and negotiating
expertise ensure that our clients achieve superior results no matter the industry or economic climate.

3. PRACTICE AREAS
Whether engaged to introduce local partners or negotiate local partnerships, we frequently
provide the following services:
ANALYZE
• Provide analyses on local markets, customers and competition
• Identify local partners to help with sales, distribution or acquisitions
• Perform legal, regulatory, financial and strategic due diligence including evaluating
management capabilities, benchmarking operational performance, interviewing customers
and suppliers and validating business models and projections
EXECUTE
• Negotiate joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions and distribution deals
• Navigate local bureaucracy
• Build local businesses (e.g. hire local professionals and staff local offices)
ACCESS
• Maintain frequent contact with the most important government officials and industry leaders
• Provide local presence from offices in Rio de Janeiro, New York and Miami

4. GET SMART QUICKLY
• Local culture: Understand local business practices, customs and regional distinctions
• Local relationships: Leverage relationships to cut through bureaucracy
• Local market: Evaluate competitors, customers, suppliers
• Local partners: Bring together advisors, distributors, limitadas
• Local compliance: Understand laws and regulations; work with government officials and regulators
• Local team: Work only with vetted employees and leading professionals
Higher Impact
Faster Entry
Lower Cost
Lower Risk

5. MARKET ENTRY
Choose Market • Identify opportunities in a wide range of industries and market segments
Segments • Evaluate growth prospects and competitive landscape for each
Strategize • Clarify value proposition and segment focus, design indirect channels and
Entry select optimal local partners
• Monitor compliance with all local laws and regulations
Support
• Partner supervision and relationship management
Operations
• Government, industry and stakeholder engagement
Grow Your • Explore parallel opportunities and expansion
Business • Devise organic growth and M&A alternatives

6. UNDERSTAND BRAZILIAN RELATIONSHIPS
Description Illustrative Comments
Relationships • Significant emphasis on strength of personal • 'No one in Brazil will do business with a
relationships when selecting partners stranger. Companies that are here are better
able to build true friendships.'
Concentration • On average, individuals have relationships with • 'All of my partners need to invest more in the
fewer institutions than clients in other regions personal relationship. I don’t buy products. I
build relationships.'
Currency • Place significant importance in holding • 'I have moved a higher portion of my positions
Protection positions in strong currency to avoid volatility to foreign currencies until the new president is
elected and his/her policies are clear.’
Local • High importance of access to local • 'DI rates are very attractive for their level of
Opportunities opportunities risk.'
• 'I am bullish on local markets and want to take
advantage of them.'
Tax and • Knowledge of taxes and offshore regulations • 'I pay taxes, but why should I be the only one
Regulation are highly valued paying full?'
• 'Regulations on offshore transfers are still
ambiguous and incomplete.'

7. BRAZILIAN MARKET IS POISED FOR GROWTH
Brazilian fundamentals are strong and getting stronger
• 2009 GDP ~US$1.5 trillion; projected growth for 2010 of 5-6%
• Easier access to credit and greater spending power will sustain increased domestic consumption
• If current trends hold, Brazil could soon become one of the world’s five largest economies
Brazil’s equity market provides an attractive exit for many companies
• Bovespa index rose 82.7% in 2009
• Foreign direct investment is expected to reach $US45 billion in 2010
• Number of IPOs has accelerated in recent years
–120+ IPOs from 2004-2009, roughly 1/3 related to PE/VC portfolio
companies; IPOs grew 45% in 2009 to US$41.7 billion
The Olympic Games and World Cup are expected to have a transformative effect on Brazil
– Banco do Brasil estimates total investment will be US$70 billion
– Key areas of infrastructure investment include: stadiums, airports, hotels, urban transportation,
security, railways and highway, drainage and sanitation and telecommunications
Sources: Brazilian Central Bank, Banco do Brasil, Bovespa, The Economist, ABVCAP 6

8. BRAZIL INTELLIGENCE CONTACTS
Arnon de Mello
The head of Astor Group’s Brazil practice, Arnon de Mello was born in Rio de Janeiro and returned to open Astor Group’s
Brazil office in 2009. Prior to joining Astor Group, Arnon worked with Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital. Arnon
previously served as director of Gazeta de Alagoas, a Brazilian media conglomerate, and as chairman of Centro Sportivo
Alagoano (CSA), a professional soccer team located in the northeastern Brazilian state of Alagoas.
Arnon is a founding partner of Loops, an organization that helps Brazilian NGOs and corporations leverage technologies to
mobilize group resources. Arnon has extensive experience working with companies in the US and Brazil and serves on
numerous boards of directors.
Arnon received a MBA from MIT, a MPA from Harvard University and a BA from the University of Chicago.
Please contact Arnon at demello@theastorgroup.com, 305.395.7570 or 55.21.3592.6955
Seth Zalkin
The managing partner of Astor Group, Seth Zalkin began his career as a management consultant and later as a corporate
attorney with Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison where he advised companies such as the New York Yankees,
Warner Music, Soros Fund Management and Oaktree Capital Management. Seth has served as Chief Executive Officer of
numerous technology and media companies.
Seth serves on numerous boards of directors and is admitted to the New York bar. He is currently active in the Association
for Corporate Growth, the Turnaround Management Association and the National Business Incubator Association.
Seth received a JD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law and a BA from Duke University.
Please contact Seth at zalkin@theastorgroup.com or 305.395.3774

9. ASTOR GROUP
Astor Group is a global advisory firm that partners with companies to expand into new
markets, solve financial and strategic challenges, buy and sell businesses and raise capital.
Our operational experience, expansive relationships and negotiating expertise ensure that our
clients achieve superior results no matter the industry or economic climate.

10. Avenue Ataulfo de Paiva, 255/302 ∙ Leblon, Rio de Janeiro 22440-032
Telephone: 55.21.3592.6955
5 East 57th Street, 16th Floor ∙ New York, New York 10022
Telephone: 212.633.1399
1680 Michigan Avenue, Suite 910 ∙ Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Telephone: 305.395.3774
www.theastorgroup.com