Founder
Hans J. Apostel
Hans J. Apostel is a renowned entrepreneur and investor with a distinguished career in mergers, acquisitions (M&A), and corporate restructuring, operating in global markets for over four decades. With a trajectory marked by strategic innovation and long-term vision, he has led some of the most emblematic transactions in the sector, both in Brazil and across Europe and the United States.
/ 1978
Apostel began his career as a founding partner of Roland Berger in Brazil in 1978, bringing one of Europe’s most influential strategy consulting firms to the country. Under his leadership, the firm built a prominent client portfolio, serving major European and American multinationals.
One of his most notable achievements during this period was the creation and execution of the Autolatina strategy, the merger between Volkswagen and Ford in Brazil, ensuring the sustainability of operations in a struggling automotive market. This strategic move, which initially secured a 60% market share, was one of the most significant of its time and remained in place until the Real Plan.
After successfully consolidating Roland Berger in Brazil, the group was sold to Deutsche Bank in 1987, marking the beginning of a new phase in Apostel's career.
/ 1987
With the creation of Apostel&Co, he became one of the most influential figures in M&A, both in Brazil and internationally. In partnership with Dillon Read (later Warburg Dillon Read and UBS), the firm played a key role in the introduction of Brady Bonds in 1989, an essential instrument for the restructuring of the external debt of emerging countries.
Faced with the absence of Private Equity funds in Brazil in the 1990s, Apostel innovated by raising capital from European family offices, structuring acquisition operations through Dublin, Ireland. Through this model, he acquired subsidiaries of major multinationals such as Black & Decker, Mallory/Moulinex, Tyco, and Van Leer, which were later sold with significant returns following Brazil's economic stabilization.
In Europe, he stood out as one of the key participants in the acquisition of Basell Polyolefins (a joint venture between BASF and Shell), which was later integrated into LyondellBasell (LYB). This transaction is recognized as one of the most successful Private Equity deals in history was the man sponsor Access Industries.
/ 2007
OSF took on and successfully advised on complex investments with unsustainable financial returns, such as the restructuring and sale of CSA (Companhia Siderúrgica do Atlântico) - Turnium Techint.
/ 2012 - 2020
Angel investing and subsequent seed funding in a series of companies with projected solid growth chances in the USA and Brazil. Portfolio adjustments due to COVID event.
/ 2021 -
The Board and long-term investors of OSF decide to focus solely on proprietary investments.
