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 The Brazilian Mercedes-Benz hit a record high for bus sales in Brazil in March. The company sold 1,651 units during the month. The previous record high volume had been recorded in August 1995: 1,635 units. The company holds 60% of the national market, and is the undisputed leader in sales of bus chassis weighing over six tons.
According to the company, factors that contributed to the new record included fleet renewal and expansion in capital cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, all in the Brazilian Southeast plus de southern city of Curitiba and the northeastern city of Recife, as well as in countryside municipalities in the states, aimed at catering to urban and road transportation.
From January until March this year, the company sold 3,376 buses in Brazil. The figure represented a 55% participation in the Brazilian market during the period. Last year, from January to December, Mercedes-Benz had a 53% market participation, with sales of 10,041 units.
Braskem Gets Ipiranga
The leader in the thermoplastic resins segment in Latin America, Brazilian Braskem, announced the conclusion of negotiations which will guarantee the raising of up to US$ 1.2 billion through a bridge loan to finance the acquisition of Ipiranga Group's petrochemical business jointly with Petrobras and the future delisting of Copesul.
These, according to Braskem, are two exceptionally important assets in the company's strategy of growth with value creation and consolidating the petrochemical sector in the south of Brazil.
"The positive market evaluation about the new size of the company, the synergies to be captured and the strategic benefits resulting from the Ipiranga acquisition, combined with the confidence in Braskem's financial strength, proved crucial to the success of the operation," says Carlos Fadigas, Braskem CFO and Investor Relations Director.
According to Fadigas, the company raised the funds in a highly favorable market scenario, with excellent liquidity, guaranteeing attractive borrowing conditions and financial flexibility to Braskem.
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