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M. Safra & Co.
Moise Safra established M. Safra & Co. in 1998 as the investment arm for his branch of the Safra banking dynasty, a lineage synonymous with institutions...
M. Safra & Co.
Moise Safra established M. Safra & Co. in 1998 as the investment arm for his branch of the Safra banking dynasty, a lineage synonymous with institutions like Banco Safra and J. Safra Sarasin. Based in São Paulo with a significant New York presence, the office reflects the family's intercontinental footprint—Brazilian roots, New York real estate anchors, and European financial ties. Capital moves across an unusually broad mandate for a single-family office. Direct real estate dominates the disclosed portfolio, including a 40% stake in the General Motors Building at 767 Fifth Avenue, 30 Fenchurch Street in London, and multiple Madison Avenue properties. Beyond property, the office commits to private equity co-investments, fund commitments, hedge funds, private credit, and commodity ETF positions in gold and silver. A notable co-investment alongside Zhang Xin and the Cutrale Group secured the acquisition of Chiquita Brands. Ezra Safra leads operations from São Paulo while Jacob Safra helms the New York entity. The team stewards not only the commercial portfolio but also legacy assets like the Moise Safra Collection and a residential property at the Ogden Codman Jr. House. Philanthropy separates cleanly into the Moise Y. Safra Foundation and the Safra Family Foundation. Edmond Safra also operates his own investment vehicle, EMS Capital, creating a broader capital ecosystem around the core family office. The office's structural distinction lies in its hybrid nature—a family office that transacts like a global principal investor. With dual headquarters and family members embedded in both locations, M. Safra & Co. avoids the centralization trap that constrains many large family offices, running direct deal sourcing teams in New York and São Paulo that can close transactions without cycling back to a single decision center.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
1998
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
South America
Country
Brazil
City
São Paulo
Corporate office
São Paulo, Brazil
Additional offices
New York, United States
Principals
Ezra Safra
CEO of M. Safra & Co., São Paulo
Jacob Safra
CEO of M. Safra & Co. Inc., New York
Edmond Safra
VP and Director of M. Safra & Co.
Moise Safra
Founder (deceased)
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions at M. Safra & Co.?
Ezra Safra, based in São Paulo, and Jacob Safra, in New York, serve as the chief executives of their respective corporate entities, indicating a bifurcated leadership structure. Both are family members who oversee the deployment of the Safra family capital across regions. Day-to-day investment execution and sourcing are handled by their respective in-house teams.
Is M. Safra & Co. a single-family office or a multi-family office?
It operates as a single-family office dedicated exclusively to managing the assets of the Safra banking family, specifically the branch descended from Moise Safra. It does not manage outside capital. Edmond Safra, a family member, also runs a separate investment firm, EMS Capital, but this operates independently from M. Safra & Co.
How does M. Safra & Co. approach private equity investing?
The office participates in private equity through a mix of direct co-investments, special purpose vehicles, and fund-of-funds commitments. A known co-investment example is the acquisition of Chiquita Brands, executed in partnership with the Cutrale Group and Zhang Xin. The firm's deal structure tends to favor aligned long-term partnerships over short-duration trades.
Does the Safra family office invest in commodity markets?
Yes, the firm holds positions in gold and silver exchange-traded commodities. These positions align with a long-standing family tradition of physical and paper precious-metals exposure as a hedge against fiat currencies and as a store of wealth across cycles and jurisdictions.
What is the relationship between M. Safra & Co. and the Safra banks?
M. Safra & Co. is the independent single-family office for the family's private wealth and is operationally separate from the banking entities such as J. Safra Sarasin and Banco Safra. The family office reinvests the liquidity generated by the banking business into a diversified portfolio of real assets, private equity, credit, and alternative strategies, maintaining a strict separation between personal capital and operating bank capital.
How does the family organize its philanthropic giving?
The main philanthropic vehicles are the Moise Y. Safra Foundation and the Safra Family Foundation. These entities channel donations toward cultural, educational, and community initiatives in New York and São Paulo. Edmond Safra also holds leadership roles with the UJA-Federation of New York, reinforcing the family's pattern of structured, institution-focused giving.
What real estate does the firm hold directly?
The firm's direct real estate interests include a 40% stake in New York's General Motors Building at 767 Fifth Avenue, 30 Fenchurch Street in London, Madison Avenue commercial buildings, a Sutton Place office building, Bond Street commercial properties in London, and the Ogden Codman Jr. House at 7 East 96th Street, a historic residential property.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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