Brazil's antitrust regulator, the Administrative Council for Economic Defense, known as Cade, approved on Monday, September 14, 2026, the purchase of Nova AVB by Globe Investimentos, the personal investment company of businessmen Joesley and Wesley Batista.
Nova AVB is a holding company that controls Avibras Aeroco Indústria Aeroespacial Ltda, one of the leading firms in Brazil's defense industry.
Cade's review of the deal
Cade's General Superintendence, the unit that carries out the regulator's initial technical reviews of mergers and acquisitions, found that the deal posed no risk of harming Brazil's competitive environment.
Cade, based in Brasília, is Brazil's top antitrust authority. The agency is linked to Brazil's Ministry of Justice and Public Security and reviews mergers and acquisitions across the economy to guard against harm to competition.
Under Brazilian law, mergers cleared directly by Cade's General Superintendence can still be challenged by other authorities or third parties within a set period before becoming final; more complex cases are referred to Cade's full tribunal.
Globe Investimentos' August purchase
Globe Investimentos had already bought 100% of Avibras Aeroespacial in August. The company designs, develops, manufactures and sells defense and space systems, including missiles, rockets, special vehicles and civil space launchers.
Joesley and Wesley Batista control JBS, the world's largest meat processing company, which operates in dozens of countries across South America, North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
The brothers are among Brazil's most prominent businessmen and became internationally known in 2017 after a corruption-related plea bargain involving JBS drew wide attention in Brazilian politics.
Avibras' judicial recovery
The acquisition took place as part of a judicial recovery process, the Brazilian equivalent of Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, affecting the former Avibras. The defense company was founded in 1961 and had always been fully Brazilian-owned and privately held.
Judicial recovery allows companies facing severe financial difficulties to renegotiate debts with creditors while continuing to operate, an option many Brazilian companies have used during periods of economic strain.
Avibras became an international reference in the development and manufacture of defense systems, mastering critical propulsion technologies and the integration of complex systems.
Its portfolio includes the ASTROS artillery system, one of the most internationally recognized Brazilian defense products, along with missiles, rockets, special vehicles and solutions for the civil space sector. The system is used by Brazil's armed forces and has also been exported to other countries.
