Mario Teixeira is a powerful man. The tentacles of Banco Bradesco spread deep into corporate Brazil and Teixera is responsible for putting them there. The bank has stakes in more than 30 companies including 37% in Latas de Alumínio, 33% in Multicanal Participações, 30% in GE Information Services do Brasil, 15% in Cia. Siderúrgica Nacional and 33% in VBC Energia, a recent joint venture with Votorantim and Camargo Correa Groups to operate in the power sector.
The incredible thing is that Teixeira started buying only 10 years ago and claims not to be in a hurry. He talks very slowly as if to emphasize the point. His style is outwardly low key but with his finger on so many pulses he doesn't need to generate much heat to get a reaction.
Teixeira, one of seven managing directors in Bradesco, says he embarked on the investment strategy because of the difficult commercial banking environment in Brazil in the late 1980s. The political climate was uncertain, there was hyperinflation, banking controls were tight and with banks invested heavily in government bonds there was concern in case obligations went unmet.