Usually, a lot of the news in the international media about business in Brazil is a lot of salivating over macroeconomic indicators or oil discoveries, but this week I've found some more interesting stories about the people behind Brazil's growing wealth.
Billionaire Lemann Rises to Burger King Boss From `Joe Schmo', Bloomberg
"In three decades of deal-making, Lemann, 71, engineered the $52 billion takeover of Anheuser-Busch Cos., founded a firm that became Brazil’s largest investment bank and amassed $11.5 billion to become the nation’s second-richest man after EBX Group Ltd. owner Eike Batista, according to Forbes magazine. His latest transaction is a $3.3 billion takeover of Burger King Holdings Inc., the biggest restaurant acquisition in at least a decade."
Brazil offers Cuba help to develop small businesses, BBC
"Brazil's foreign minister says his country has offered to help Cuba develop small and medium businesses as part of a drive for economic growth. Celso Amorim was quoted as describing Cuban plans to lay off half a million public-sector workers in the next six months as "very courageous"."
$1M painting, used in money-laundering scam, sent back to Brazil to reimburse defrauded victims, NYDN
"Banco Santos's former president was convicted of bank fraud in Brazil and sentenced to 21 years in prison. 'For years, important contemporary art works by Lichtenstein, Basquiat, and others have been held hostage by Ferreira's fraud,' Bharara said. 'The return of these paintings to Brazil is especially significant because it highlights how important international cooperation is in the pursuit of justice.'"
An Energy Player to Reckon With, Reuters
"Eike Batista may soon be adding billions to his bank balance. Shares of the energy group OGX, the flagship vehicle of Mr. Batista, Brazil’s richest man, value its seven billion-odd barrels of shallow water oil reserves at about $5 apiece. That looks like a bargain against the $8.51 a barrel the government is extracting from Petrobras for deepwater crude. It’s no wonder China’s Sinopec Group and CNOOC are considering buying into OGX assets."
Man in Brazil amasses $259K in traffic fines, AP
"Police in Brazil say they have caught an Italian man who managed to amass $259,000 in traffic fines and other penalties linked to his van."
Have you seen any interesting stories on Brazilian business lately? If so, please post them in the comments!
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