Schlagzeilen der engl. Ausgabe von VALOR ECONÔMICO vom 1.3.2017

Mixed signals as government prepares to appoint new CEO

Pension funds of government companies will continue calling the shots at Vale despite equity restructuring

Controlling shareholders set out to make Vale a true corporation

Proposal of converting preferred into common shares, altering bylaws and listing on Novo Mercado will leave mining giant without defined control

Galp plans bid for Carcará Norte field

Oil company eyes unitized field in Santos Basin but needs more details before committing to other areas

Federal investments' share of GDP falls by almost half

Central government and federal companies invested 1.9% of GDP in 2016 from 3.25% in 2013

Hydroelectric auctions will follow highest bid model

New criterion for re-auction of dams with expiring concessions offers flat tariff instead of favoring biggest discount

Celesc launches big distributed solar generation project

Santa Catarina utility’s initiative is biggest yet in the country, with plans to deploy solar panels in 1,000 residences

Moreira Franco denies any action against Car Wash

Minister also says that PMDB will not force all legislators to vote for the passage of the pension reform

Louis Dreyfus speeds up plan to build port in Northern Arc

Agricultural commodity trader bought plot of land on Marajó Island from where it expects to ship up to 9 million tonnes of grains per year

Whirlpool remains cautious about Brazil

While the year is expected to feature a timid recovery, appliance maker points out the hurdles for an export-based economic turnaround

“Car Wash will do everything to convict Lula”

Gilberto Carvalho, one of the ex-president’s closest friends, believes he will run for office, but also considers alternatives like Ciro Gomes

PDG files for bankruptcy protection with R$6.2bn debt

Property developer has 512 special-purpose entities with assets affected by judicial reorganization

Government reduces local-content requirement and eliminates waiver

Mandatory use of local goods and services in oil and gas exploration and development was practically cut by half

Neoenergia keeps investment stable, focuses on completing projects

Power distributor expects below-average growth this year and plans to seek loans or even asset sales to fund ongoing projects

Eletropaulo simplifies equity structure

Power distributor, which also increased four-year investment plan to R$3.9bn from R$3.5bn, says change will facilitate future capital increases

Vinci seeks to compensate PDG loss with Burger King and Austral

Firm’s private-equity fund invested R$500m in the developer that filed for bankruptcy protection this week

Votorantim, ArcelorMittal merge long-steel operations in Brazil

Companies seek synergies and clout to face 33% decline in demand since 2014; Brazilian partners get option for 3% in ArcelorMittal Brasil

Real’s strengthening thwarts manufacturing exports

Companies say exchange rate is already hurting competitiveness, compounding problem of still weak domestic market