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Petrobras shares plunge as Brazil's Lula swaps CEO, CFO

Brazil's Petrobras revealed the exit of its CEO and chief financial officer on Wednesday, and shares tumbled on news that a former regulator with views closer to those of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will take the helm of the staterun oil firm.

Together with the verification of CEO Jean Paul Prates' exit after months of extreme speculation about his tenure, the firm stated in a filing that CFO Sergio Caetano Leite was likewise out.

Prates lasted less than a year and a half on the job-- the 4th Petrobras CEO dismissed in about as many years for political factors. His firing raises fresh fears that Petrobras will be used as a tool to fire up the Brazilian economy at the expenditure of minority shareholders.

Shares of Petrobras dropped 6%, the most significant loser on Brazil's benchmark stock index on Wednesday.

Market analysts expressed issue, as Prates was viewed as stabilizing the market needs for disciplined capital costs and healthy dividends with political needs to support fuel costs and purchase job-creating sectors.

It was unneeded, because Jean Paul Prates was doing a. extremely sensible task, stated Frederico Nobre, chief equities. analyst at Warren Investimentos.

Jefferies experts said the CEO swap appears to be an. escalation of the push to intervene in the company, in a note. to clients devaluing Petrobras from buy to hold.

The ouster of Prates represents a win for members of Lula's. cabinet pushing for lower fuel costs, smaller sized dividends and. more capital spending to develop jobs and increase the economy.

Despite all the management turnover, the business has. made money from a series of reforms following a corruption scandal. a years earlier. New legislation and business bylaws now restrict. political appointments, unprofitable financial investments and selling. fuel at a loss, which has actually assisted to increase the business's incomes. and raise its stock by about 138% in the past 2 years.

We see it as unfavorable, as we believe it increases. uncertainties in Petrobras' financial investment case amidst a period of. stability, especially as it relates to capital allowance,. Santander experts said in a note to customers.

Prates played down those concerns as he left Petrobras. headquarters in downtown Rio de Janeiro, telling reporters the. firm is in good shape. He said Petrobras has a strong path ahead. with reindustrialization, a great fuel prices policy and prepared. financial investments in refining, fertilizers and shipbuilding.

In Prates' place, the government selected Magda Chambriard,. a previous head of Brazilian oil and gas regulator ANP under. Lula's previous Employee Celebration administration.

Petrobras' employees union FUP, linked to Lula's party,. praised Chambriard's nomination, stating the future CEO shares. the group's views on the need to enhance Brazil's. shipbuilding market and broaden regional refining capacity.

After Lula was elected in 2022, Chambriard was thought about. for the role of Petrobras CEO, and in an interview echoed numerous. of Lula's views on how the company need to be run - arguing for. lower dividends to financiers to maximize money for investments.

Up until Chambriard takes over, the company's board of. directors selected Clarice Coppetti, executive officer for. corporate matters, as interim CEO.

Carlos Alberto Rechelo, executive supervisor of finances will. function as interim CFO, Petrobras said in its securities filing.

(source: Reuters)