At a conference of BTG Pactual, Rubens Ometto maintains that Selic rate at 13.25% makes investments unviable in Brazil
Businessman Rubens Ometto said on Wednesday (26.FEV.2025), in a conference held by, that the high level of the Selic rate makes investments in Brazil difficult.
“If you are able to apply your money to 15%, 16% – in a few cases at 20%, 25% per year – you will be bum. Why are you going to risk? You will make everyone sit in the chair without doing anything, and the money does not produce ”said the founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of Cosan.
In the latest meeting of the Central Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee, at (29.jan), Selic was increased by 1 percentage point, reaching 13.25% per year. It was the 4th consecutive increase in the basic interest of the economy. With this, real interest rates (discounted inflation) exceeded 9% per year. The expectation of the market is that the rate will end 2025 in 15%.
“With this real interest level of 9%, 10% per year, it is impossible for you to manage any investment“Said Ometto. “Will have to start working so that your business gives return, or immobilizing, or doing private equity [investimento em empresas não negociadas em bolsa]or launching in the capital market, actions. You will leverage and grow a lot“He added.
Ometto is a recurring critic of the high interest rates in Brazil. In October 2024, for example, he charged then -Central Bank president Roberto Campos Neto, warning of the impacts on productive investment. Cosan operates in several areas, especially agribusiness and fuel distribution. The group founded by the entrepreneur is one of the largest ethanol producers in the world.
At the BTG Pactual conference, Ometto commented on his experience with a non -profitable investment in Vale. Cosan gave up its shareholding in the mining company. “We made an investment in the valley that didn’t work out because of interest”said the businessman.
