A significant portion of the initiatives led by the legal team is linked to strategic projects that are still ongoing or in the implementation phase. For this reason, certain details remain confidential. Even so, it is possible to highlight the nature and impact of the work carried out by the legal department over the past year.

One of the key structural initiatives was the creation and implementation of an internal Group Tax Bulletin, designed to analyse and strategically communicate the impact of regulatory and tax changes on the Group’s different businesses. GEQ is a multisector conglomerate comprising four regulated operations, each with its own dynamics: Nacional Gás (LPG distribution), Minalba Brasil (bottling and sale of mineral water and beverages), Esmaltec (manufacture of white goods), and SVM (radio, newspaper, and Rede Globo-affiliated broadcasting operations). This initiative enabled closer strategic alignment between the business areas and greater predictability in decision-making.

Within Nacional Gás, the legal department advised on the acquisition of GTI, a company that developed software for individualised LPG metering. The transaction is strategically significant because it enables the expansion of the direct sales model for residential condominium developments, strengthening operational efficiency and opening up new opportunities for commercial expansion.

Finally, at SVM, the legal department provided full legal support for the “Terra dos Sabidos” educational project, an initiative aimed at public school students and carried out with the institutional support of the Legislative Assembly of Ceará, the City of Fortaleza, and the State Government. Given the sensitivity of the project — involving minors, prizes, and the processing of personal data — the legal department was involved from the outset, issuing opinions on the prize structure, registration with SECAP, data protection analysis, and the full review of the initiative’s rules and regulations.

As the legal function evolves within organisations, the business no longer expects merely a technical adviser, but rather a true strategic partner. In this context, one of the main pressures faced by legal teams is balancing two objectives that often appear to compete with one another: ensuring legal certainty while at the same time enabling fast, growth-oriented business decisions.

Today, legal teams are increasingly called upon to participate from the earliest stages of strategic projects, contributing to the structuring of complex transactions, significant negotiations, and expansion initiatives. This requires closer engagement with business units and an ever deeper understanding of the company’s economic and operational dynamics.

Another important challenge is the growing demand for agility. In highly competitive markets, operational teams expect swift responses and pragmatic solutions, which in turn requires continuous investment in efficiency, process standardisation, and the use of technology. At the same time, the scope of legal work has expanded significantly, encompassing areas such as corporate governance, regulatory strategy, risk management, and dispute prevention. In this environment, the legal function assumes a central role in developing solutions that reconcile legal certainty, operational efficiency, and the sustainability of business decisions.

The rapid evolution of requirements relating to data protection, AI governance, and cybersecurity has significantly increased the complexity of the regulatory environment in Brazil. In response, our organisation has adopted a structured and multidisciplinary approach, integrating the legal, compliance, technology, and information security teams.

In the area of data protection, we have continued to strengthen our governance programme in compliance with the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), with a focus on the ongoing updating of internal policies, employee training, and the continuous monitoring of personal data processing activities. We also seek to incorporate privacy-by-design principles into the development of new projects and digital initiatives.

In addition, the legal department developed Jacque DEJUR, a virtual assistant designed to increase efficiency and transparency in interactions with internal teams. Initially, the tool provides updates on the status of requests submitted to DEJUR and makes the company’s corporate documents and powers of attorney available, with new functionalities currently under development.