Sabo Family set up WWI and has plans to invest US$ 1.28 billion
Valor Econômico
The negotiation of a traditional and emblematic building of Sao Paulo - the area of the former Hospital Umberto Primo - and, mainly, the broadcast in the media about the purchase, put the members of the beginner WWI in a completely new situation and ran through the advertising plans of the company. But this is only a part, even small, of the amount of investment that the newly-born company has planned. The company was born with R$ 2.3 billion (US$ 1.28 billion) to invest, close to R$ 1 billion (US$ 556 million) in real estate and the remainder divided between biomass, biofuel, energy waste and forests.
Still unknown, WWI (World Wide Investments) group is the one which is behind the purchase of the hospital grounds created by the Italian community - in a transaction estimated by real estate at nearly R$ 200 million (US$ 111 million). With own capital and national investors - according to the company, PUC does not participate of the business as a purchaser, as had been reported - it is in advanced stage of acquiring the property, owned by Previ since 1996, and occupies a prime and valued space Sao Paulo, near Paulista Avenue. According to Marco Versiani, founder and president of the company, PUC has signed a memorandum of understanding and will be the tenant of the space. "If will not be PUC, it will be another institution," he says.
WWI does not confirm the value, but it does not save in the proposal sent to Previ. The project was prepared by the fashionable French designer Philippe Starck and foresees the preservation of the neoclassic style, with one Medical Center (hospital-day), clinics, offices and stores - and a space dedicated to an educational institution. The diligence of the landmark was done by Pinheiro Neto office. If the purchase is approved, the works should begin between six and eight months.
The WWI has two parallel focuses - apparently without any connection type: real estate and alternative energy. In the real estate area, the company will build a mall at Marginal Tiete, in Casa Verde district, with 27,000 meters of gross leasable area and two commercial towers of 12 thousand square meters each. WWI is also forecast to build a logistics center in Uberlandia, besides two drafts of resort with condominium of houses in Rio and Ceará. Another deal in real estate, but with financial tendency, is the creation of the site financiamento.com.br - domain bought by Versiani in late 1990. WWI is closing partnership with the major retail banks. The idea is to make a preliminary analysis of the credit of individuals. To confirm the information of the one interested in taking credit, WWI will confirm the information with the Central Bank and Bank of the person. The officer bets on the legion of workers with no proven income.
In the energy area, WWI is planning to build four factories, in Rio Grande do Sul, of wood pellets (remains of the eucalyptus used for making paper and furniture) for export - the product is used for residential heating in Europe. It also invests in biofuel made from soybeans and animal fat in the same factory, according to the price of raw material. What about the focus of the business with so many different areas of performance? "The specialties of the members are focused on two fundamental businesses", he answers. "The energy investors are not the same of the real estate", says Versiani.