• 06 Aug 2009 at 11:42 AM

Brazil’s Geithner

brazil3.jpgTax evasion, insider transactions, Oil, Senate committees, potential corruption. Could be a prime-time dramatization of the Tim Geithner story (true, we haven’t found the Turbo Tax angle yet, but give the story some time to germinate), or just another bit of BRIC background noise.

Petroleo Brasileiro SA, struggling to meet output targets and finance a $174 billion spending plan, faces a new challenge today as Brazil’s Senate probes claims it evaded taxes and funneled cash to government allies.

Shocking. Of course, in jurisdictions with large extraction economies, political power and scandal, natural resources and opposition parties all roll into one big slime pool. Of course, that seems to be the case in jurisdictions with large financial services economies as well.

The investigation, prompted by opponents of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, focuses on allegations Rio de Janeiro-based Petrobras evaded 4.4 billion reais ($2.4 billion) of taxes, overpaid for goods and may have favored the president’s supporters when it made charitable donations. Chief Executive Officer Jose Sergio Gabrielli denies the claims.

When the largest oil company in a commodity driven economy finds itself in the crosshairs of the Brazilian President, it doesn’t take much to wonder after the BRIC perma-bulls.
Petrobras Probe Starts as Gabrielli Faces ‘Crisis’ [Bloomberg]

Comments (18)

  1. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 11:52 AM

    Probably about 98-99% of those with Hispanic origins are not to be trusted.

  2. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 11:58 AM

    The problem with Brazilian women is that as they get older (>22) their asses keep expanding.

  3. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 11:58 AM

    “Of course, in jurisdictions with large extraction economies, political power and scandal, natural resources and opposition parties all roll into one big slime pool.”
    Louisiana

  4. Posted by Seaman Bodine II | August 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM

    does anyone at DB cover the actual equity market anymore?
    check out the premiums on AIG’s out of the money puts…someone thinking this is very short lived

  5. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 12:00 PM

    I throw rotting fruit at day laborers everyday on my way to work. It is the way I recycle.
    Dyl Rat

  6. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 12:02 PM

    is he tweaking his nipples?

  7. Posted by Investorcluzo | August 6, 2009 at 12:12 PM

    @seaman – everyone I talk to is calling this rally a headfake. but they are afraid to sell for fear of missing more upside. to protect themselves, they are buying puts. as a result, prices are getting bid up and people are willing to pay them. aig isn’t alone…

  8. Posted by Seaman Bodine II | August 6, 2009 at 12:19 PM

    this rally is a butterface

  9. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 12:19 PM

    EP, aren’t the Brazilians setting up a second nationalized energy firm? I remember there being an article in the Economist about it (last week?)

  10. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM

    when is bess back?

  11. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 12:20 PM

    Thanks for this EP. I woulda missed this story otherwise because I was reading the “Berlusconi joins South Stream signing” article.

  12. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 12:22 PM

    Do all Brazilian women have Brazilians?

  13. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 12:31 PM

    @12
    yes they do! obrigado.

  14. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 1:13 PM

    @1, while you’re there, you forgot to mention a few other other generalizations:
    Probably about 98-99% of those with Jewish origins are not to be trusted.
    Probably about 98-99% of those with Black skin are not to be trusted.
    Probably about 98-99% of those with Homosexual tendencies are not to be trusted.
    Probably about 98-99% of those with Catholic/ Italian/ Irish origins are not to be trusted.
    Did I forget anyone? See you at the Klan picnic this Saturday! Don’t forget to bring a side dish for the potluck!

  15. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 1:16 PM

    Equity Private my ass.

  16. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 1:25 PM

    I don’t trust people who look funny, such as @14.

  17. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 1:37 PM

    @16, me too.

  18. Posted by guest | August 6, 2009 at 2:04 PM

    Time for my afternoon nap. See you in 90 minutes.

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