GB Group (conglomerate) explained
GB Group S.A. is a diversified business conglomerate based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It is a parent company of over a dozen industrial and trading companies with operations concentrated in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Maarten and offices in the United States collaborating with more than 4,000 employees and in more than 15 countries companywide in business organizations.[1] [2] [3]
History
In 1972, founder Gilbert Bigio was part of a group of investors who inaugurates Aciérie d'Haïti (Haiti Steelworks), the first steel plant in the country.[4] In the 1980s, Gilbert Bigio became the majority shareholder and the plant has a virtual monopoly on steel in the Haitian market.[5] In 1981, the group founded Huileries Haïtiennes, a refining plant of edible oil.[6]
Subsidiaries
GB Group activities are diversified and spread in several areas, but are based on four known among other sectors:
Construction
- Aciérie d'Haïti – Steel Distributor and wood. Once seen as the largest Haitian private company, it remains today the largest company in construction materials.
- Immocaraïbes – Property developer specializing in Caribbean architecture.
Consumer goods
- Huileries Haïtiennes (HUHSA) – Consumer goods. Edible oil refining plant in the beginning, is now Huhsa also a manufacturer of soap to detergent, from margarine and exclusive distributor for Haiti several international companies; become the largest supplier of consumer goods.
Energy
- GB Energy – Operating a network of over 200 gas stations in the Caribbean as the license holder for the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Saint-Marteen.
In January 2016, GB Group sold to Groupe financier national its 50% stake of Distributeurs nationaux, S.A. (DINASA), the only integrated oil and gas Company in Haiti which provides aviation fuel, LPG, diesel, fuels, bitumen, fuel oil and lubricants services along with its sister company Sodigaz, a propane dispenser.
Telecommunications
- Telecom Solutions – Distributor of mobile phones and prepaid cards for Digicel in Haiti. Joint venture with the Facey Commodity Company (Jamaica-based). GB Group is also a founding partner of Unigestion Holding, parent company of Digicel Haiti.
Notes and References
- Web site: Haiti’s Port Lafito Officially Opens - Haiti’s first Panamax Port Positioned to Benefit National Economy . Merkin, Josh . 2 July 2015 . Businesswire . 21 December 2015.
- https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapid=59744820 Bloomberg Business - GB Group SA
- Web site: Haitian Newsweekly 'Challenges' Launches English Site . Guaglione, Sara . 1 December 2015 . Media Post . 21 December 2015.
- http://www.acieriedhaiti.com/company/our-roots/ Aciérie d'Haïti
- Web site: Some Wealthy Haitians Are Facing Reversal of Fortune . Oppenheimer, Andres . 24 June 1992 . JOC . 21 December 2015.
- Web site: About . 2023-03-29 . HUHSA Huileries Haitiennes . en-US.
