The Financial Times reported last week that French giant advertising firm, Publicis Groupe is about to conclude a deal with Brazilian ad agency, Talent, that will see it acquire a majority stake in Talent. According to the Financial Times report, the Publicis deal could value Talent at around $200 million.

Shell and Cosan Thursday said they had signed a binding agreement for a joint venture that will see the two firms establish what they termed as “a global ethanol business.” Cosan is one of Brazil’s foremost ethanol producing companies and the deal with Shell is targeted at gaining from the burgeoning demand for biofuels globally. The joint venture between the two firms in Brazil is expected to have per annum sales estimated at $21 billion.

Brazil’s largest brewer, AmBev Friday last week agreed to merge its unit in Venezuela with Cerveceria Regional. The move will see AmBev acquire a minority stake in the combined entity as it seeks to strengthen its market presence in Venezuela. Analysts believe the merger is aimed at reinforcing AmBev’s position in the Brazilian market, the biggest beer market in Latin America and the Venezuela market, considered the second largest in Latin America.

The Brazilian national development bank, BNDES, will have its funding from the Brazilian government reduced and instead plans instituted to get it funds from the private sector, the Brazilian Finance Minister announced last week. The Minister of Finance, Guido Mantega said the government’s recent heavy funding for BNDES will be cut and more funds raised from the private sector.

Brazilian mining company, Avanco Resources Ltd reported that it had agreed on a deal with Vale SA that could give it up to $40 million. The Brazilian base metals explorer said it had struck the deal with the mining giant, Vale, and expects to make considerable gains from the investment agreement.

Qatari state run holding firm, Industries Qatari, reported Monday that its subsidiary, Qatari Steel Company had entered an agreement with Brazil’s Samarco Mineracao for the supply of iron ore pellets. The Brazilian firm is a manufacturer of iron ore pellets and the contract will see it supply them to the Qatari firm for a period of six years.

Canadian mining firm, Magellan Minerals Ltd, last week announced that it had successfully completed the acquisition of a 22.5% interest in certain mineral rights owned by Brasil Central Engenharia Ltda in the state of Mato Grosso. The deal will see the Canadian firm remit a consideration of US$2.5 million for the acquired mineral rights, found in the southern end of the state of Mato Grosso in Brazil.

In a report commissioned by research firm, Dealogic, Brazil has experienced an increased inflow of equities in 2010. As such, mergers and acquisitions have been at the fore front with investors putting huge capital into long term investments in the country than ever before, said Dealogic. In its release today, Dealogic established that deals announced this year to date total about $65.4 billion, terming it the highest ever recorded figure and as well double last year’s figure over the same time.

Brazilian bank, Banco do Brasil, Monday reported that it had gone into a joint venture with Banco Bradesco and Portuguese bank, Banco Espirito Santo for expansion overseas, in Africa. Banco do Brasil is Brazil and Latin America’s biggest bank in terms of assets. The new investment vehicle will undertake its operations in Africa but on its own, the Banco do Brasil said it might as well be considering additional acquisitions.

In a move aimed at rebuilding its business in Brazil, Switzerland’s biggest bank, UBS AG, said Friday that it’s planning to start an investment in the Latin American state. In the move, aimed at tapping into Latin America’s biggest economy and the fastest growing as well, UBS AG said it’s undertaking the investment after raising funds from the sale of its unit in the country in 2009.

In an announcement Thursday, Capgemini Brazil reported that it has acquired Sonda Procwork’s facility in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Capgemini is one of the foremost firms globally in the provision of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. Capgemini said the acquisition would henceforth enable it deliver its business process outsourcing services to its global customers based in the region, that were being serviced by the Chilean firm.