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Brazil's Financing minister to promote release of Petrobras' extra dividends

Brazil Finance minister Fernando Haddad will ask President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to provide the goahead for staterun oil company Petrobras to release extra dividends to financiers, 2 government sources with knowledge of the matter informed .

On March 7, Petrobras withheld additional dividends expected by investors, who anticipated an extra payout of at least $3. billion on top of the normal dividends of about 14.2 billion. reais ($ 2.8 billion).

That sent out Petrobras shares plunging over 10% the next day,. as reported that the choice to axe the payout came. from Lula, sparking fears of political disturbance at the company.

The government hoped Petrobras would be able invest the. cash, two sources told , while Petrobras President. Jean Paul Prates insisted the cash be set aside in a fund that. would become released to shareholders.

Haddad will argue the federal government would be the primary. recipient of the release, given that it is the main investor,. the sources stated, which the extra cash could be invested to. advance Lula's intent to boost the economy and create regional. tasks through public works.

The most likely result, nevertheless, is that the cash would be. used to balance the federal budget plan, stated the two sources.

Lula holds Haddad in high regard. Considering that Lula took office in. 2023, Haddad has navigated difficult political situations in. Congress while maintaining financial discipline in spite of friendly. fire from the leftist president's political base.

Recently, Haddad sided with the Petrobras CEO during a. conference between both males, Energy Minister Alexandre Silveira and. Lula, held after the tumble in the company's shares.

After the conference Haddad gained power to designate a board. member to Petrobras, and both Silveira and Haddad echoed Prates'. own declarations that cash set aside from last year's profit would. become used for investor dividends.

(source: Reuters)