MetLife Said in Advanced Talks to Buy BBVA Chile Unit

By Zachary R. Mider, Cristiane Lucchesi & Zachary Tracer , Bloomberg 19/12/2012

MetLife Inc. (MET) is in advanced talks to buy the Chilean pension-management unit of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA (BBVA), which has a market value of more than $2 billion, said three people with knowledge of the matter.

MetLife executives may be prepared to sign a deal for the unit, known as AFP Provida SA, within days or weeks, said the people, who asked not to be named because the talks are private. The discussions could falter and another bidder could always prevail, one of the people said.

Votorantim Cimentos Said to Prepare IPO of $3 Billion

By Cristiane Lucchesi, Bloomberg 20/12/2012

Votorantim Cimentos SA, the biggest cement producer in Brazil, is preparing an initial public equity offering of at least $3 billion, according to three people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Votorantim Cimentos hired Banco Itau BBA SA and JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) to manage the deal and will include additional banks, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plan hasn’t been made public. The IPO will take place sometime next year, they said.

“Such a move is not Votorantim’s actual plan,” the company said in an e-mailed statement.

Scotiabank acquires a majority stake in Colfondos AFP

Canada Newswire 19/12/2012

TORONTO AND BOGOTA, Dec. 19, 2012 /CNW/ – Scotiabank today announced it has completed the acquisition of a 51 per cent stake in Colfondos AFP, Colombia’s fourth largest pension fund company, having received all necessary approvals. Mercantil Colpatria retains 49 per cent ownership in the firm. The terms of the transaction are not financially material and were not disclosed.

“Expansion in Latin America is a strategic priority for Global Wealth Management and we chose Colfondos because of its history of success and scale in the market,” said Chris Hodgson, Scotiabank’s Group Head of Global Wealth Management. “Scotiabank brings its proven experience and global capabilities to continue the growth and expansion of this business along with our partners at Mercantil Colpatria.”

Starwood Expands Presence in Brazil with Upcoming Sheraton da Bahia Hotel in Salvador

The FINANCIAL 20/12/2012

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has partnered with GJP Hotéis & Resorts to expand the presence of its global powerhouse brand Sheraton Hotels & Resorts in Brazil.

Sheraton da Bahia Hotel will be located in Salvador, one of the most important tourist destinations in the country. The 84-room historic Hotel da Bahia is currently undergoing an extensive renovation and will re-open to its full splendor by Q1 2013. It will be operated by local hotelier GJP Hotéis & Resorts under a franchise agreement.

General Mills Net Up on Acquisitions, Volume

Fox Business 19/12/2012

General Mills Inc.’s (GIS) fiscal second-quarter earnings rose a better-than-expected 22% as the packaged-food company posted stronger sales thanks to acquisitions and higher volume.

For the fiscal year, General Mills raised its per-share earnings estimate to $2.65 to $2.67 a share, from its prior estimate of about $2.65.

Gazit-Globe Targets Sweden, Brazil After Rally: Israel Overnight

By Leon Lazaroff – Bloomberg 20/12/2012

Gazit-Globe Ltd. (GZT), the Israeli real estate firm that surged to a two-year high yesterday, is seeking to grow in Sweden and sees Brazil’s slowdown as an opportunity to buy properties at lower prices, Chairman Chaim Katzman said.

“We’re still looking to expand in Sweden because we think it’s one of the best markets inEurope,” Katzman, who is also Gazit-Globe’s founder, said yesterday in a phone interview from Miami. “If the economy in Brazil isn’t as hot as it was years ago, it would be better for us as we are looking to expand.”

Petrominerales Acquires 75 Percent Interest in Brazilian Entity Alvopetro S.A.

Stockhouse 20/12/2012

CALGARY, ALBERTA–(Marketwire – Dec. 20, 2012) – Petrominerales (TSX:PMG)(BVC:PMGC) is pleased to announce that we have entered into an agreement with Fortress Energy Inc. whereby Petrominerales has acquired a 75 percent interest in Alvopetro S.A. Extração de Petroleo e Gás Natural, a qualified Class C Brazilian operating entity that owns the licenses for three marginal fields and seven exploration contracts covering over 40,000 acres in the Recôncavo Basin, onshore Brazil (the “Brazilian assets”).

Link: http://www.stockhouse.com/news/canadianreleasesdetail.aspx?n=8695850

BC autoriza BTG Pactual a comprar corretora na Colômbia

Agência Estado 19/12/2012

Brasília – O Banco Central autorizou, nesta quarta-feira, o Banco BTG Pactual a comprar a Bolsa y Renta, corretora líder em volume de transações na Colômbia.

O banco vai adquirir, de forma indireta, 99,97% das ações representativas do capital social da corretora e também de sua subsidiária, a Laurel Sociedad Gestora Profesional S.A.S., ambas sediadas em Medellín (Colômbia).

A autorização do BC foi publicada no Diário Oficial da União (DOU).

Link: http://exame.abril.com.br/negocios/empresas/aquisicoes-fusoes/noticias/bc-autoriza-btg-pactual-a-comprar-corretora-na-colombia-2

Equatorial e CPFL fecham compra do Grupo Rede por R$ 1

Agência Estado 19/12/2012

SÃO PAULO – A Equatorial Energia fechou nesta quarta-feira a compra do controle do Grupo Rede Energia. O controlador do Grupo Rede, Jorge Queiroz de Moraes Junior, vendeu suas participações direta e indireta na empresa por R$ 1,00.

Sob os termos do contrato assinado, a Equatorial e a CPFL farão os investimentos necessários para a recuperação operacional e financeira das sociedades do Grupo Rede, inclusive das distribuidoras do grupo que se encontram sob intervenção da Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (Aneel).