Company Background

Cosan was founded in 1936, when it built the Costa Pinto mill in Piracicaba (São Paulo State). In the 1980s it began an expansion process based mainly on the acquisition of companies in the sector. Recently, with the acquisition of Esso’s fuel distribution assets and its lubricant production and distribution business in Brazil, it has become the first vertically integrated company in the sector.

Below there follows the time line for this growth:

Time line

2009

June

  • Incorporation of NovAmérica’s industrial, commercial and port units concluded. Cosan also takes on the União brand (retal market leader) and the Dolce, Neve and Duçula brands.

2008

December

  • Acquisition of Esso Brasileira de Petróleo S.A., taking over its fuel distribution assets and Esso’s aviation lubricant and fuel production and distribution business in Brazil, including the licenses to use the Esso and Mobil brands.

February

  • Incorporation of Benálcool.

2007

June

  • French company Tereos gives up 6.2% stake in Cosan.

April

  • Cosan, São Martinho and Santa Cruz announce the acquisition of the Santa Luiza mill, in the city of Motuca, through Etanol Participações S.A.

2006

April

  • Incorporation of Bom Retiro.

February

  • Incorporation of Grupo Corona, owner of the Tamoio and Bonfim facilities.

January

  • Perpetual bonds floated.

2005

  • Cosan S/A - Bioenergia is amongst the successful bidders for the New Energy Tender.
  • Incorporation of Mundial.
  • Cosan listed on the São Paulo stock market (Bovespa).
  • Partnership to open an ethanol export terminal – Teas – with Crystalsev, Grupo Nova América and Cargill.
  • Partnership with China’s Kuok group – one of the most dynamic and diversified of international conglomerates.
  • Incorporation of Destivale.

2004

  • Expansion of the Da Barra brand into a retail product line.

2003

  • Launch of the advertising campaign "Histórias Açucaradas Da Barra", refreshing the image of the Da Barra brand.
  • Sales team equipped with automated data collectors.

2002

  • Implementation of geoprocessing technology and use of satellite images to monitor crops.
  • Incorporation of Dois Córregos, in Dois Córregos (São Paulo State).
  • Incorporation of Da Barra, facility, in Barra Bonita (São Paulo State).
  • Incorporation of Junqueira, in Igarapava (São Paulo State).
  • Implementation of the SóCanaPura Program, resulting in productivity gains in the agricultural and industrial areas.

2001

  • Cosan Foundation established to manage social responsibility projects.
  • Incorporation of Gasa, in Andradina (São Paulo State).
  • Incorporation of Univalem, in Valparaíso (São Paulo State).

2000

  • Incorporation of the Rafard facility, in Rafard (São Paulo State).
  • FBA takes over management of Ipaussu facility.
  • FBA formed, a strategic alliance between Cosan and France’s Tereos and Sucden.
  • Administrative integration of all facilities and centralization of cash management.

1999

  • Strategic partnership with British sugar group Tate & Lyle, which takes a 10% stake in the port terminal.

1998

  • Incorporation of the Serra facility, in Ibaté (São Paulo State).
  • Incorporation of Diamante, in Jaú (São Paulo State).

1997

  • Pioneering in outsourced sugarcane production grants Cosan greater focus on production and trading of its products.

1996

  • Port terminal concession in Santos, a milestone for Brazil’s sugar exports.

1993

  • Pioneering in bulk sugar exports leads to logistical gains.
  • Development of new sugar for the export market, VHP (Very High Polarization).

1988

  • Incorporation of Ipaussu, in Ipaussu (São Paulo State).

1986

  • Incorporation of the São Francisco facility, in Elias Fausto (São Paulo State).
  • Incorporation of Santa Helena facility, in Rio das Pedras (São Paulo State).
  • Beginning of sugar exports from the center-south of Brazil after a change in Federal law (previously exports were exclusively controlled by northeastern producers).

1936

  • Founding of the Costa Pinto facility.

 

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