A survivor among giants
O Estado de S. Paulo 09/27/10
Two university degrees (zootechnics and law) and a fortune accumulated over the past 23 years in a sector dominated by multinational giants have not changed the simple way of Norival Bonamichi, 55, born in Minas Gerais. Born in Inconfidentes (MG), 7.7 thousand inhabitants and formerly a district of the city of Ouro Fino until 1962, he still has his old work card with five records as an employee (farm administrator and feed salesman, for instance), between March 1977 and June 1985.The work card is kept in a drawer in a piece of furniture of the large office of Ourofino Agronegócio, at the side of the Anhanguera Highway, in Cravinhos, in the region of Ribeirão Preto. It works as a reminder of the times when he earned little and when he got to know the veterinary market, in which he operates. Today, Bonamichi and his partners stand up to multinationals and promise its rivals to offer great competition.
As he is about to launch a vaccine against FMD (Foot-and-Mouth Disease) and inaugurate his first plant of agrochemicals, the entrepreneur reveals he is studying two new segments: fertilizers, which generates US$ 15 billion a year, and animal nutrition, US$ 3 billion. To do that, Ourofino seeks partners and it is renewing an agreement with the State Studies and Projects Financing Agency (Finep) for the 2010/2011 period. The intention is to have access to R$ 85 million (US$ 48.6 million) and invest in technological innovations.
In recent years, especially after the global financial crisis, there were great mergers and acquisitions thus causing two megacompanies to arise. One, Pfizer, acquired Fort Dodge, Farmácia and Cyanamid. The other, Merial, acquired Rhodia, Intervet, Schering-Plough, Quimio and Hoechst. "The small and brave Ourofino stands up to both", says Bonamichi. "If I weren't committed to history and responsibility, even as a Brazilian citizen, I would have negotiated, because it is very tempting. It is even counterproductive not accept it". In the fight against the multinational giants in the animal health market, which sold US$ 1.4 billion in 2009 in Brazil, Ourofino grows more than 20% a year.