This Is It

Doing Business 2015
Brazil
Economy Profile 2015

Brazil
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
2014 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development /

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AttributionPlease cite the work as follows: World Bank. 2014. Doing Business 2015: Going Beyond
Efficiency. Washington, DC: World Bank Group. DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0351-2. License: Creative
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ISBN (paper): 978-1-4648-0351-2
ISBN (electronic): 978-1-4648-0352-9
DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0351-2
ISSN: 1729-2638
Cover design: Corporate Visions, Inc.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
CONTENTS
Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 4
The business environment .......................................................................................................... 6
Starting a business ..................................................................................................................... 16
Dealing with construction permits ........................................................................................... 29
Getting electricity ....................................................................................................................... 42
Registering property .................................................................................................................. 49
Getting credit .............................................................................................................................. 60
Protecting minority investors ................................................................................................... 67
Paying taxes ................................................................................................................................ 76
Trading across borders .............................................................................................................. 82
Enforcing contracts .................................................................................................................... 86
Resolving insolvency .................................................................................................................. 95
Labor market regulation ........................................................................................................... 98
Distance to frontier and ease of doing business ranking .................................................... 106
Resources on the Doing Business website ............................................................................ 109
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
INTRODUCTION
Doing Business sheds light on how easy or difficult it is
for a local entrepreneur to open and run a small to
medium-size business when complying with relevant
regulations. It measures and tracks changes in
regulations affecting 11 areas in the life cycle of a
business: starting a business, dealing with construction
permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting
credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes,
trading across borders, enforcing contracts, resolving
insolvency and labor market regulation.
In a series of annual reports Doing Business presents
quantitative indicators on business regulations and the
protection of property rights that can be compared
across 189 economies, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe,
over time. The data set covers 47 economies in SubSaharan Africa, 32 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 25
in East Asia and the Pacific, 26 in Eastern Europe and
Central Asia, 20 in the Middle East and North Africa and
8 in South Asia, as well as 31 OECD high-income
economies. The indicators are used to analyze economic
outcomes and identify what reforms have worked, where
and why.
This economy profile presents the Doing Business
indicators for Brazil. To allow useful comparison, it also
provides data for other selected economies (comparator
economies) for each indicator. The data in this report are
current as of June
1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which

cover the period JanuaryDecember 2013).
The Doing Business methodology has limitations. Other
areas important to businesssuch as an economys
proximity to large markets, the quality of its
infrastructure services (other than those related to
trading across borders and getting electricity), the
security of property from theft and looting, the
transparency
of
government
procurement,
macroeconomic conditions or the underlying strength of
institutionsare not directly studied by Doing Business.
The indicators refer to a specific type of business,
generally a local limited liability company operating in
the largest business city. Because standard assumptions
are used in the data collection, comparisons and
benchmarks are valid across economies. The data not
only highlight the extent of obstacles to doing business;
they also help identify the source of those obstacles,
supporting policy makers in designing regulatory reform.
More information is available in the full report. Doing
Business 2015 presents the indicators, analyzes their
relationship with economic outcomes and presents
business regulatory reforms. The data, along with
information on ordering Doing Business 2015, are
available on the Doing Business website at
http://www.doingbusiness.org.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
CHANGES IN DOING BUSINESS 2015

As part of a 2-year update in methodology, Doing
Business 2015 incorporates 7 important changes. First,
the ease of doing business ranking as well as all topiclevel rankings are now computed on the basis of
distance to frontier scores (see the chapter on the
distance to frontier and ease of doing business ranking).
Second, for the 11 economies with a population of more
than 100 million, data for a second city have been added
to the data set and the ranking calculation. These
economies are Bangladesh, Brazil, China, India,
Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Russian
Federation and the United States. Third, for getting
credit, the methodology has been revised for both the
strength of legal rights index and the depth of credit
information index. The number of points has been
increased in both indices, from 10 to 12 for the strength
of legal rights index and from 6 to 8 for the depth of
credit information index. In addition, only credit bureaus
and registries that cover at least 5% of the adult
population can receive a score on the depth of credit
information index.
Fourth, the name of the protecting investors indicator set
has been changed to protecting minority investors to
better reflect its scopeand the scope of the indicator
set has been expanded to include shareholders rights in
corporate governance beyond related-party transactions.
Fifth, the resolving insolvency indicator set has been
expanded to include an index measuring the strength of
the legal framework for insolvency. Sixth, the calculation
of the distance to frontier score for paying taxes has
been changed. The total tax rate component now enters
the score in a nonlinear fashion, in an approach different
from that used for all other indicators (see the chapter
on the distance to frontier and ease of doing business
ranking).
Finally, the name of the employing workers indicator set

has been changed to labor market regulation, and the
scope of this indicator set has also been changed. The
indicators now focus on labor market regulation
applying to the retail sector rather than the
manufacturing sector, and their coverage has been
expanded to include regulations on labor disputes and
on benefits provided to workers. The labor market
regulation indicators continue to be excluded from the
aggregate distance to frontier score and ranking on the
ease of doing business.
Beyond these changes there are 3 other updates in
methodology. For paying taxes, the financial statement
variables have been updated to be proportional to 2012
income per capita; previously they were proportional to
2005 income per capita. For enforcing contracts, the
value of the claim is now set at twice the income per
capita or $5,000, whichever is greater. For dealing with
construction permits, the cost of construction is now set
at 50 times income per capita (before, the cost was
assessed by the Doing Business respondents). In addition,
this indicator set no longer includes the procedures for
obtaining a landline telephone connection.
For more details on the changes, see the What is
changing in Doing Business? chapter starting on page
24 of the Doing Business 2015 report. For more details
on the data and methodology, please see the Data
Notes chapter starting on page 114 of the Doing
Business 2015 report. For more details on the distance to
frontier metric, please see the Distance to frontier and
ease of doing business ranking chapter in this profile.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

For policy makers trying to improve their economys
regulatory environment for business, a good place to start
is to find out how it compares with the regulatory
environment in other economies. Doing Business provides
an aggregate ranking on the ease of doing business
based on indicator sets that measure and benchmark
regulations applying to domestic small to medium-size
businesses through their life cycle. Economies are ranked
from 1 to 189 by the ease of doing business ranking. This
year's report presents results for 2 aggregate measures:
the distance to frontier score and the ease of doing
business ranking. The ranking of economies is determined
by sorting the aggregate distance to frontier (DTF) scores.
The distance to frontier score benchmarks economies
with respect to regulatory practice, showing the absolute
distance to the best performance in each Doing Business
indicator. An economys distance to frontier score is
indicated on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the
worst performance and 100 the frontier. (See the chapter
on the distance to frontier and ease of doing business).
The 10 topics included in the ranking in Doing Business
2015: starting a business, dealing with construction
permits, getting electricity, registering property, getting
credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading
across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving
insolvency. The labor market regulation indicators
(formerly employing workers) are not included in this
years aggregate ease of doing business ranking, but the
data are presented in this years economy profile.
The aggregate ranking on the ease of doing business
benchmarks each economys performance on the
indicators against that of all other economies in the Doing
Business sample (figure 1.1). While this ranking tells much
about the business environment in an economy, it does
not tell the whole story. The ranking on the ease of doing
business, and the underlying indicators, do not measure all
aspects of the business environment that matter to firms
and investors or that affect the competitiveness of the
economy. Still, a high ranking does mean that the
government has created a regulatory environment
conducive to operating a business.
ECONOMY OVERVIEW
Region: Latin America & Caribbean

Income category: Upper middle income
Population: 200,361,925
GNI per capita (US$): 11,690
DB2015 rank: 120
DB2014 rank: 123*
Change in rank: 3
DB 2015 DTF: 58
DB 2014 DTF: 57.4
Change in DTF: 0.6
* DB2014 ranking shown is not last years published
ranking but a comparable ranking for DB2014 that
captures the effects of such factors as data
corrections and the changes in methodology. See
the data notes starting on page 114 of the Doing
Business 2015 report for sources and definitions.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil

Figure 1.1 Where economies stand in the global ranking on the ease of doing business
Source: Doing Business database.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil

For policy makers, knowing where their economy
stands in the aggregate ranking on the ease of doing
business is useful. Also useful is to know how it ranks
relative to comparator economies and relative to the
regional average (figure 1.2). The economys rankings

(figure 1.3) and distance to frontier scores (figure 1.4)
on the topics included in the ease of doing business
ranking provide another perspective.
Figure 1.2 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of doing business
Note: The rankings are benchmarked to June 2014 and based on the average of each economys distance to frontier (DTF) scores
for the 10 topics included in this years aggregate ranking. The distance to frontier score benchmarks economies with respect to
regulatory practice, showing the absolute distance to the best performance in each Doing Business indicator. An economys
distance to frontier score is indicated on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst performance and 100 the frontier.
For the economies for which the data cover 2 cities, scores are a population-weighted average for the 2 cities.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil

Figure 1.3 Rankings on Doing Business topics - Brazil
(Scale: Rank 189 center, Rank 1 outer edge)
Figure 1.4 Distance to frontier scores on Doing Business topics - Brazil

(Scale: Score 0 center, Score 100 outer edge)
Note: The rankings are benchmarked to June 2014 and based on the average of each economys distance to frontier (DTF) scores
for the 10 topics included in this years aggregate ranking. The distance to frontier score benchmarks economies with respect to
regulatory practice, showing the absolute distance to the best performance in each Doing Business indicator. An economys
distance to frontier score is indicated on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst performance and 100 the frontier.
For the economies for which the data cover 2 cities, scores are a population-weighted average for the 2 cities.
Doing Business 2015
10
Brazil

Just as the overall ranking on the ease of doing business tells
only part of the story, so do changes in that ranking. Yearly
movements in rankings can provide some indication of
changes in an economys regulatory environment for firms,
but they are always relative.
Moreover, year-to-year changes in the overall rankings do
not reflect how the business regulatory environment in an
economy has changed over timeor how it has changed in
different areas. To aid in assessing such changes,
Doing Business introduced the distance to frontier score. This

measure shows how far on average an economy is from the
best performance achieved by any economy on each Doing
Business indicator.
Comparing the measure for an economy at 2 points in time
allows users to assess how much the economys regulatory
environment as measured by Doing Business has changed
over timehow far it has moved toward (or away from) the
most efficient practices and strongest regulations in areas
covered by Doing Business (figure 1.5).
Figure 1.5 How far has Brazil come in the areas measured by Doing Business?
Note: The distance to frontier score shows how far on average an economy is from the best performance achieved by any economy on
each Doing Business indicator since 2010, except for getting credit, paying taxes, protecting minority investors and resolving insolvency
which had methodology changes in 2014 and thus are only comparable to 2013. The measure is normalized to range between 0 and 100,
with 100 representing the best performance (the frontier). See the data notes starting on page 114 of the Doing Business 2015 report for
more details on the distance to frontier score.
Doing Business 2015
11
Brazil

The absolute values of the indicators tell another part of
the story (table 1.1). The indicators, on their own or in
comparison with the indicators of a good practice
economy or those of comparator economies in the
region, may reveal bottlenecks reflected in large numbers
of procedures, long delays or high costs. Or they may
reveal unexpected strengths in an area of business
regulationsuch as a regulatory process that can be

completed with a small number of procedures in a few
days and at a low cost. Comparison of the economys
indicators today with those in the previous year may
show where substantial bottlenecks persistand where
they are diminishing.
Brazil DB2014
So Paulo DB2015
Rio de Janeiro DB2015
Chile DB2015
Colombia DB2015
Mexico DB2015
167
160
--
--
59
128
84
67
New Zealand (1)
Starting a Business (DTF

Score)
63.37
62.42
58.30
71.30
89.83
77.43
86.13
88.85
New Zealand (99.96)
Procedures (number)
11.6
12.2
12.0
11.0
7.0
11.0
8.0
6.0
New Zealand (1.0)*
Time (days)
83.6
86.6
102.5
54.0
5.5
31.4
11.0
6.3
New Zealand (0.5)
Cost (% of income per

capita)
4.3
4.7
4.2
4.5
0.7
0.9
7.5
18.6
Slovenia (0.0)
Paid-in min. capital (%

of income per capita)
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
112 Economies (0.0)*
Dealing with
Construction Permits
(rank)
174
171
--
--
62
179
61
108
Hong Kong SAR,

China (1)
Dealing with
Construction Permits
(DTF Score)
48.31
48.25
47.14
50.14
76.13
43.75
76.45
68.43
Hong Kong SAR,

China (95.53)
Indicator
Starting a Business
(rank)
China DB2015
Brazil DB2015
Best performer globally

DB2015
Table 1.1 Summary of Doing Business indicators for Brazil
12
Brazil DB2014
So Paulo DB2015
Chile DB2015
China DB2015
Colombia DB2015
Mexico DB2015

DB2015
Brazil
Brazil DB2015
Doing Business 2015
Procedures (number)
18.2
18.2
19.0
17.0
13.0
22.0
10.0
11.3
Hong Kong SAR,

China (5.0)
Time (days)
426.1
426.1
400.0
467.0
152.0
244.3
73.0
87.6
Singapore (26.0)
Cost (% of warehouse
value)
0.4
0.5
0.5
0.3
0.7
7.6
7.4
10.3
Qatar (0.0)*
Getting Electricity
(rank)
19
19
--
--
49
124
92
116
Korea, Rep. (1)
89.20
89.18
88.52
90.26
81.34
66.35
74.20
68.47
Korea, Rep. (99.83)
Procedures (number)
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
6.0
5.5
5.0
6.8
12 Economies (3.0)*
Time (days)
53.3
53.3
58.0
46.0
30.0
143.2
105.0
78.9
Korea, Rep. (18.0)*
Cost (% of income per

capita)
31.6
34.4
31.6
31.6
62.1
459.4
504.4
346.1
Japan (0.0)
Registering Property
(rank)
138
137
--
--
45
37
42
110
Georgia (1)
Registering Property
(DTF Score)
56.18
56.13
57.07
54.79
78.96
80.67
79.33
62.45
Georgia (99.88)
Procedures (number)
13.6
13.6
14.0
13.0
6.0
4.0
6.0
6.8
4 Economies (1.0)*
Time (days)
31.7
31.7
25.5
41.5
28.5
19.4
16.0
63.6
3 Economies (1.0)*
Cost (% of property
value)
2.5
2.5
2.6
2.4
1.2
3.6
2.0
5.1
4 Economies (0.0)*
Getting Credit (rank)
89
86
--
--
71
71
12
New Zealand (1)
45.00
45.00
45.00
45.00
50.00
50.00
95.00
80.00
New Zealand (100)
12
3 Economies (12)*
Indicator
Getting Electricity (DTF

Score)
Getting Credit (DTF

Score)
Strength of legal rights
index (0-12)
13
Brazil DB2014
So Paulo DB2015
Chile DB2015
China DB2015
Colombia DB2015
Mexico DB2015

DB2015
Brazil
Brazil DB2015
Doing Business 2015
Depth of credit
information index (0-8)
23 Economies (8)*
Credit registry coverage

(% of adults)
52.5
50.4
52.5
52.5
44.7
33.2
0.0
0.0
Portugal (100.0)
Credit bureau coverage

(% of adults)
63.6
63.4
63.6
63.6
8.8
0.0
87.0
100.0
23 Economies (100.0)*
35
35
--
--
56
132
10
62
New Zealand (1)
62.50
62.50
62.50
62.50
58.33
45.00
71.67
57.50
New Zealand (81.67)
Extent of conflict of
interest regulation
index (0-10)
5.7
5.7
5.7
5.7
6.7
5.0
8.0
6.0
Singapore (9.3)*
Extent of shareholder
governance index (010)
6.8
6.8
6.8
6.8
5.0
4.0
6.3
5.5
France (7.8)*
Strength of minority
investor protection
index (0-10)
6.3
6.3
6.3
6.3
5.8
4.5
7.2
5.8
New Zealand (8.2)
Paying Taxes (rank)
177
175
--
--
29
120
146
105
United Arab Emirates

(1)*
41.31
41.31
41.37
41.21
84.50
67.44
59.71
71.17
United Arab Emirates

(99.44)*
9.0
9.0
9.0
9.0
7.0
7.0
11.0
6.0
Hong Kong SAR,

China (3.0)*
2,600.0
2,600.0
2,600.0
2,600.0
291.0
261.0
239.0
334.0
Luxembourg (55.0)
Trading Across Borders

(rank)
123
126
--
--
40
98
93
44
Singapore (1)
Trading Across Borders
66.11
64.36
68.87
61.80
82.05
71.68
72.69
81.26
Singapore (96.47)
Indicator
Protecting Minority
Investors (rank)
Protecting Minority
Investors (DTF Score)
Paying Taxes (DTF

Score)
Payments (number per
year)
Time (hours per year)
14
Brazil DB2014
So Paulo DB2015
Chile DB2015
China DB2015
Colombia DB2015
Mexico DB2015

DB2015
Brazil
Brazil DB2015
Doing Business 2015
Documents to export
(number)
Ireland (2)*
Time to export (days)
13.4
13.4
13.0
14.0
15.0
21.0
14.0
12.0
5 Economies (6.0)*
2,322.8
2,414.3
1,925.0
2,945.0
910.0
823.0
2,355.0
1,499.3
Timor-Leste (410.0)
Cost to export (deflated

2,322.8
US$ per container)
2,588.2
1,925.0
2,945.0
910.0
823.0
2,355.0
1,499.3
Indicator
(DTF Score)
Cost to export (US$ per

container)
Documents to import
(number)
Ireland (2)*
Time to import (days)
17.0
17.0
17.0
17.0
12.0
24.0
13.0
11.2
Singapore (4.0)
Cost to import (US$ per

2,322.8
container)
2,414.3
1,925.0
2,945.0
860.0
800.0
2,470.0
1,887.6
Singapore (440.0)
Cost to import (deflated

2,322.8
US$ per container)
2,588.2
1,925.0
2,945.0
860.0
800.0
2,470.0
1,887.6
Enforcing Contracts
(rank)
118
118
--
--
64
35
168
57
Singapore (1)
Enforcing Contracts
(DTF Score)
53.60
53.60
53.20
54.24
63.85
68.21
37.66
64.61
Singapore (89.54)
Time (days)
731.0
731.0
731.0
731.0
480.0
452.8
1,288.0
388.9
Singapore (150.0)
Cost (% of claim)
16.5
16.5
16.5
16.5
28.6
16.2
47.9
30.9
Iceland (9.0)
Procedures (number)
43.6
43.6
44.0
43.0
36.0
37.0
33.0
36.8
Singapore (21.0)*
Resolving Insolvency
(rank)
55
60
--
--
73
53
30
27
Finland (1)
Resolving Insolvency
(DTF Score)
54.52
51.13
54.52
54.52
47.38
55.31
70.00
72.59
Finland (93.85)
15

DB2015
Mexico DB2015
Colombia DB2015
China DB2015
Chile DB2015
So Paulo DB2015
Brazil
Brazil DB2014
Indicator
Brazil DB2015
Doing Business 2015
Time (years)
4.0
4.0
4.0
4.0
3.2
1.7
1.7
1.8
Ireland (0.4)
Cost (% of estate)
12.0
12.0
12.0
12.0
14.5
22.0
6.0
18.0
Norway (1.0)
Outcome (0 as
piecemeal sale and 1 as
going concern)
Recovery rate (cents on

the dollar)
25.8
19.5
25.8
25.8
30.0
36.0
72.0
68.1
Japan (92.9)
Strength of insolvency
framework index (0-16)
13.0
13.0
13.0
13.0
10.0
11.5
10.0
11.5
5 Economies (15.0)*
Note: DB2014 rankings shown are not last years published rankings but comparable rankings for DB2014 that capture the effects of such
factors as data corrections and changes to the methodology. Trading across borders deflated and non-deflated values are identical in
DB2015 because it is defined as the base year for the deflator. The best performer on time for paying taxes is defined as the lowest time
recorded among all economies in the DB2015 sample that levy the 3 major taxes: profit tax, labor taxes and mandatory contributions, and
VAT or sales tax. If an economy has no laws or regulations covering a specific areafor example, insolvencyit receives a no practice
mark. Similarly, an economy receives a no practice or not possible mark if regulation exists but is never used in practice or if a
competing regulation prohibits such practice. Either way, a no practice mark puts the economy at the bottom of the ranking on the
relevant indicator.
* Two or more economies share the top ranking on this indicator. A number shown in place of an economys name indicates the number
of economies that share the top ranking on the indicator. For a list of these economies, see the Doing Business website
(http://www.doingbusiness.org).
Doing Business 2015
16
Brazil
STARTING A BUSINESS
Formal registration of companies has many
immediate benefits for the companies and for
business owners and employees. Legal entities can
outlive their founders. Resources are pooled as
several shareholders join forces to start a company.
Formally registered companies have access to
services and institutions from courts to banks as well
as to new markets. And their employees can benefit
from protections provided by the law. An additional
benefit comes with limited liability companies. These
limit the financial liability of company owners to their
investments, so personal assets of the owners are not
put at risk. Where governments make registration
easy, more entrepreneurs start businesses in the
formal sector, creating more good jobs and
generating more revenue for the government.
WHAT THE STARTING A BUSINESS

INDICATORS MEASURE
Procedures to legally start and operate a
company (number)
Preregistration (for example, name
verification or reservation, notarization)
Registration in the economys largest
1
business city
Postregistration (for example, social security
registration, company seal)
Time required to complete each procedure
(calendar days)
Does not include time spent gathering
information
What do the indicators cover?

Doing Business measures the ease of starting a
business in an economy by recording all procedures
officially required or commonly done in practice by
an entrepreneur to start up and formally operate an
industrial or commercial businessas well as the
time and cost required to complete these procedures.
It also records the paid-in minimum capital that
companies must deposit before registration (or
within 3 months). The ranking of economies on the
ease of starting a business is determined by sorting
their distance to frontier scores for starting a
business. These scores are the simple average of the
distance to frontier scores for each of the component
indicators.
Each procedure starts on a separate day (2

procedures cannot start on the same day).
Procedures that can be fully completed
online are recorded as day.
Procedure completed once final document is
received
No prior contact with officials
Cost required to complete each procedure
(% of income per capita)
Official costs only, no bribes
No professional fees unless services required
by law
To make the data comparable across economies,

Doing Business uses several assumptions about the
business and the procedures. It assumes that all
information is readily available to the entrepreneur
and that there has been no prior contact with
officials. It also assumes that the entrepreneur will
pay no bribes. And it assumes that the business:
Is a limited liability company, located in the

largest business city and is 100% domestically
1
owned .
Has between 10 and 50 employees.
Conducts general commercial or industrial

activities.
Paid-in minimum capital (% of income

per capita)
Deposited in a bank or with a notary before
registration (or within 3 months)
Has a start-up capital of 10 times income per

capita.
Has a turnover of at least 100 times income per

capita.
Does not qualify for any special benefits.
Does not own real estate.
For the 11 economies with a population of more than 100 million, data for a second city have been added.
Doing Business 2015
17
Brazil
STARTING A BUSINESS
Where does the economy stand today?
What does it take to start a business in Brazil? According
to data collected by Doing Business, starting a business
there requires 11.6 procedures, takes 83.6 days, costs
4.3% of income per capita and requires paid-in minimum
capital of 0.0% of income per capita (figure 2.1). Most
indicator sets refer to a case scenario in the largest
business city of an economy, except for 11 economies for

which the data are a population-weighted average of the
2 largest business cities. See the chapter on distance to
frontier and ease of doing business ranking at the end of
this
profile
for
more
details.
Figure 2.1 What it takes to start a business in Brazil - So Paulo

Paid-in minimum capital (% of income per capita): 0.0
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
18
What it takes to start a business in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
Note: Time shown in the figure above may not reflect simultaneity of procedures. Online procedures account for 0.5 days in the
total time calculation. For more information on the methodology of the starting a business indicators, see the Doing Business
website (http://www.doingbusiness.org). For details on the procedures reflected here, see the summary at the end of this chapter.
Doing Business 2015
19
Brazil
STARTING A BUSINESS
Globally, Brazil stands at 167 in the ranking of 189
economies on the ease of starting a business (figure 2.2).
The rankings for comparator economies and the regional
average ranking provide other useful information for

assessing how easy it is for an entrepreneur in Brazil to
start a business.
Figure 2.2 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of starting a business
Doing Business 2015
20
Brazil
STARTING A BUSINESS
Economies around the world have taken steps making it
easier to start a businessstreamlining procedures by
setting up a one-stop shop, making procedures simpler
or faster by introducing technology and reducing or
eliminating minimum capital requirements. Many have
undertaken business registration reforms in stagesand
they often are part of a larger regulatory reform

program. Among the benefits have been greater firm
satisfaction and savings and more registered businesses,
financial resources and job opportunities.
What business registration reforms has Doing Business
recorded in Brazil (table 2.1)?
Table 2.1 How has Brazil made starting a business easieror not?
By Doing Business report year from DB2010 to DB2015
DB year
Reform
DB2010
Brazil made starting a business easier by eliminating the

requirement to obtain a fire brigade license and inspection
before obtaining an operating permit from the municipality.
DB2011
Brazil eased business start-up by further enhancing the

electronic synchronization between federal and state tax
authorities.
Note: For information on reforms in earlier years (back to DB2005), see the Doing Business reports
for these years, available at http://www.doingbusiness.org.
Doing Business 2015
21
Brazil
STARTING A BUSINESS
What are the details?
Underlying the indicators shown in this chapter for
Brazil is a set of specific proceduresthe
bureaucratic and legal steps that an entrepreneur
must complete to incorporate and register a new
firm. These are identified by Doing Business through
collaboration with relevant local professionals and
the study of laws, regulations and publicly available
information on business entry in that economy.
Following is a detailed summary of those procedures,
along with the associated time and cost. These
procedures are those that apply to a company
matching
the
standard
assumptions
(the
standardized company) used by Doing Business in
collecting the data (see the section in this chapter on
what the indicators measure).
STANDARDIZED COMPANY
Legal form: Sociedade Limitada
Paid in minimum capital requirement: BRL 0
City: So Paulo , Rio de Janeiro
Start-up Capital: 10 times GNI per capita
Table 2.2 Summary of time, cost and procedures for starting a business in Brazil - So Paulo
No.
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
Less than one day

(online procedure)
no charge
1 day
fees included in
procedure 3
Check company name with JUCESP

The name can be searched online at: www.jucesponline.sp.gov.br
1
Agency: Commercial Registry
Pay registration fees
Entrepreneurs choose whether to pay at any commercial bank or at the

bank window/agency located inside the commercial registry.
Agency: Commercial Bank
Register at JUCESP to obtain CNPJ, INSS and NIRE
With the systems of the State Treasury Affairs of the State of So Paulo
(SEFAZ-SP) and the Federal Revenue Department now synchronized, the
issuance of the CNPJ (National Corporate Taxpayer Registry), INSS
(National Institute of Social Security) and the NIRE (Register of
Enterprises State enrollment) are performed at the same time. With the
partnership between the Federal Revenue Department and the
Commercial Registry the procedures to obtain the authorization to
enroll before the Treasury Affairs of the State of So Paulo (SEFAZ-SP)
and the CNPJ are made prior to the filing of the Articles of Association
with the Commercial Registry.
7 days
R$75 registration +
R$50 (expediting
fee)
Doing Business 2015
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Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
1 day
no charge
1 day
no charge
2 days
The cost may vary

from R$ 450.00 to
R$ 600.00
For registering a company before the Institute of Social Security (INSS),

it is necessary to present to the INSS the company's Articles of
Association registered before the Register of Commerce of State of So
Paulo and the CNPJ Certificate. After the enrollment registration, the
contributor has 24 hours to make any cadastral amendment online.
Registration can be done through: http://www.receita.fazenda.gov.br
Agency: Commercial Registry, Federal Revenue and State Treasury Affairs
of the State of So Paulo (SEFAZ-SP)
Register with ICMS
ICMS is a VAT levied by the Brazilian states on the circulation of goods

and the provision of interstate and inter-municipal transportation and
communication services. Companies need to register for ICMS with So
Paulo Treasury Affairs (Secretaria da Fazenda do Estado de So Paulo),
through the web site:
http://www.fazenda.sp.gov.br/guia/icms/abertura_empresa.shtm . It is
necessary to present the Article of Constitution and the respective
Articles of Association of the Company and the CNPJ certificate.
Agency: State Treasury Affairs of the State of So Paulo (Secretaria da
Fazenda do Governo do Estado de So Paulo)
Register with the Municipal Taxpayers Registry (Secretaria

Municipal de Finanas) of the City of So Paulo
The municipal taxpayer enrollment is made through an electronic form

that is filled online on the website of the City Hall
(www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br). After filling and sending the electronic form,
the registration protocol ("Protocolo de Inscrio") shall be printed,
signed by the legal representative and delivered in a 30 days period at
"Praa de Atendimento da Secretaria de Finanas" with the requested
documents.
Agency: Municipal Taxpayers Registry
Apply and obtain digital certification (token) for the use of einvoice
The costs involved in the obtainment of digital certification may vary

according to the accredited certifying chosen by the applicant. The
information on how to obtain a token is available at
http://www.receita.fazenda.gov.br/dvssl/atbhe/falecon/comum/asp/for
mulario.asp?topico=172
Agency: Municipal Taxpayer's Registry (Prefeitura da Cidade de So
Paulo)
Doing Business 2015
No.
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Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
90 days
no charge
Apply to the municipality for an operations permit (auto de licena

de funcionamento)
This document authorizes the operation of commercial, industrial,

institutional, service, and similar activities required by the interested.
It is necessary to present the following documents: (i) The standardized

requirement, duly filled and containing its objective identification; (ii)
Operation enquiry term; (iii) A copy of the property title; (iv) A copy of
the legal entitys constitutive act; (v) Specific documents according to
the nature of the intended use (Article 10 of the decree 41.532/01); A
copy of the Municipal Taxpayer's Registry (C.C.M.); and paid form. The
online protocol has no charge.
Agency: Municipality
* Register and pay TFE (RegistryTaxa de Fiscalizao de

Estabelecimentos) to the Municipal Taxpayers Registry
According to the Municipality of So Paulo's rules, the annual cost of
the TFE is based both on the company's activities as well as on the
company's number of employees (www.prefeitura.sp.gov.br).
R$ 425.46 (for
1 day
retailing
business),
Once the company has been registered with the Secretaria Municipal de (simultaneous with
may
vary
in
Finanas, it shall pay an annual fee for the control and compliance with
previous
accordance
with
municipal laws. This payment is due on the tenth day of the second
procedure)
the companys
month following commencement of company operations. The TFE tax is
related to the operations permit (alvar de funcionamento) and it is a
activities
post- incorporation procedure.
Agency: Municipal Taxpayer's Registry (Prefeitura da Cidade de So

Paulo)
* Register the employees in the social integration program

(Programa de Integrao Social, PIS)
Business founders can register the employees in the social integration

program (Programa de Integrao Social, PIS) at the Federal Savings
Bank (Caixa Econmica Federal).
Agency: Federal Savings Bank (Caixa Econmica Federal)
1 day,
(simultaneous with
procedure 7)
no charge
Doing Business 2015
No.
24
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
* Open a special fund for unemployment (FGTS) in bank
10
After duly registering the new employees in the social integration

program (Programa de Integrao Social, PIS/PASEP), the employer
must open a FGTS account for each employee (Fundo de Garantia por
Tempo de Servio).
1 day,
(simultaneous with
procedure 7)
no charge
* Notify the Ministry of Labor (Cadastro Geral de empregados e

desempregados, CAGED)
11
Pursuant to Law No. 4.923, dated as of December 23, 1965, the

employer must inform the Ministry of Labor of any new hires or
employees dismissals. The CAGED shall be transmitted only by
1 day,
electronic means to the Ministry of Labor and solely by exception it can (simultaneous with
be delivered in magnetic means at the Regional Agency of the Ministry
procedure 7)
of Labor (Superintendncia Regional do Trabalho e Emprego).
no charge
Agency: Ministry of Labor (Cadastro Geral de empregados e

* Registration with the Patronal Union and with the Employees

Union.
12
Pursuant to labor law, registration with the employees union is

5 days,
mandatory and ensures that the company is obeying employee labor
rights. Each municipality and state must have unions that represent the (simultaneous with
procedure 7)
activities performed by the company.
no charge
Agency: Patronal Union and Employees Union
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.

Note: Online procedures account for 0.5 days in the total time calculation.
Summary of time, cost and procedures for starting a business in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
No.
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
Less than one day

(online procedure)
no charge
Check company name with JUCESP
Business founders can check the company name online at:

http://www.jucerja.rj.gov.br.
Agency: Commercial Registry of Rio de Janeiro
Doing Business 2015
No.
25
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
Pay registration fees
The payment must be made with Banco Bradesco (since 2012). A receipt
Less than one day
of payment must be obtained for use in Procedure 3.
(online procedure)
fees included in
procedure 3
7 days
R$ 313
7 days
R$ 143
7 days
no charge
Agency: Banco Bradesco
Register at JUCESP to obtain CNPJ, INSS and NIRE
With the systems of the State Treasury Affairs of the State of So Paulo
(SEFAZ-SP) and the Federal Revenue Department now synchronized, the
issuance of the CNPJ (National Corporate Taxpayer Registry), INSS
(National Institute of Social Security) and the NIRE (Register of
Enterprises State enrollment) are performed at the same time. With the
partnership between the Federal Revenue Department and the
Commercial Registry the procedures to obtain the authorization to
enroll before the Treasury Affairs of the State of So Paulo (SEFAZ-SP)
and the CNPJ are made prior to the filing of the Articles of Association
with the Commercial Registry.
For registering a company before the Institute of Social Security (INSS),
it is necessary to present to the INSS the company's Articles of
Association registered before the Register of Commerce of State of So
Paulo and the CNPJ Certificate. After the enrollment registration, the
contributor has 24 hours to make any cadastral amendment online.
Registration can be done through: http://www.receita.fazenda.gov.br
Agency: Board of Trade of Rio de Janeiro and Brazilian Federal Revenue
Register with ICMS
The company must submit the following documents to the State

Treasury Affairs of the State in Rio de Janeiro (Secretria de Fazenda do
Estado do Rio de Janeiro): General Register of members; Updated
Bylaws; Registration of legal entity; petition stating the delivery of
documents and the number of DOCAD that was generated.
Agency: State Treasury Affairs of the State in Rio de Janeiro (Secretria de
Fazenda do Estado do Rio de Janeiro)
Register with the Municipal Taxpayers Registry (Secretaria

Municipal de Finanas) of the City of Rio de Janeiro
Two days after the payment of the Taxpayers' Registry tax, the registry
before the Municipal Taxpayers' Registry shall be made through an
electronic form named DOCAD (Documento de Cadastro do ICMS),
which must be sent to the State Department of Finance through an
online procedure available on the website of such department
(www.fazenda.rj.gov.br/sefaz).
Doing Business 2015
No.
26
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
2 days
The cost may vary

from R$ 282 to R$
1,890
30 days
no charge
Agency: Municipal Taxpayers Registry
Apply and obtain digital certification (token) for the use of einvoice
The company has a period of 2 days to schedule the withdrawal of the

token, which will be activated within 24 hours.
Agency: Serasa Experian
Apply to the municipality for an operations permit (auto de licena

de funcionamento)
After registration with the Secretaria Municipal de Finanas, the

company has 30 days to apply for the operations permit by filling out
the proper forms and submitting the required documents. The
operational license is a prerequisite for the company to begin
operations. However, because of long processing time to obtain the
license, municipalities have permitted companies to operate as soon as
they pay the TFE. The municipality conducts ex-post inspections to
certain companies, using a random sample.
Agency: Municipality of Rio de Janeiro
* Register the employees in the social integration program

(Programa de Integrao Social, PIS)
After duly registering the new hire in the employee registry book (livro
de registro de empregados), the employer must proceed to register the
employees in the social integration program (Programa de Integrao
Social, PIS/PASEP). The PIS/PASEP registry is intended to identify the
worker in order to establish an unemployment guarantee fund (FGTS)
account, to request unemployment insurance, and to be entered in the
National Registry of Social Information (Cadastro Nacional de
1 day,
Informaes Sociais). The employee must thus be registered into the (simultaneous with
PIS/PASEP to not only set up an FGTS account but also to be eligible for
previous
unemployment insurance, if necessary. To register the employee, the
procedure)
employer must complete a PIS/PASEP registry form (documento de
cadastramento do trabalhador, DCT), to be delivered to the federal
savings bank responsible for the FGTS account. The enrollment is
completed in about 5 to 10 business days from application if all
enrollment requirements are met. The employee is enrolled with the
Social Integration Program (Programa de Integrao Social, PIS) upon
entry, and if the employee has already a PIS/PASEP registry, the
employer must only inform the Federal Savings Bank of the new
employment relationship. The employer will obtain the receipt of the
application to PIS within 15 days.
no charge
Doing Business 2015
No.
27
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
* Open a special fund for unemployment (FGTS) in bank
After duly registering the new employees in the social integration

program (Programa de Integrao Social, PIS/PASEP), the employer
must open a FGTS account for each employee (Fundo de Garantia por
Tempo de Servio). To open the account, the company's
representative or attorney-in-fact must go to any local branch of the
federal savings bank (Caixa Econmica Federal) with a copy of: the
company's taxpayer registry number (CNPJ/MF), the adhesion form
issued by the Federal Saving Bank (Caixa Econmica Federal), the list of
employees, and the company's articles of association or bylaws. Upon
opening the employee FGTS accounts, the company will make monthly
1 day,
deposits equal to 8% of the total payroll. The employees are entitled to
(simultaneous with
withdraw those deposits for specific events provided by law
previous
(termination without cause and serious disease or disability, among
procedure)
others). A new online procedure (Sistema Empresa de Recolhimento
do FGTS e informaes Previdncia Social, SEFIP) was developed to
speed up FGTS payment and information exchange between the
employer and the federal savings bank. SEFIP can be accessed through
the Federal Savings Banks Web site. This procedure permits the online
transfer of data, creating a company file with all information required by
the FGTS and Social Security. After the referred data transmission, the
program issues a tax payment form (guia de recolhimento do FGTS)
necessary for employer contribution payment.
no charge
* Notify the Ministry of Labor (Cadastro Geral de empregados e

Pursuant to Law No. 4.923, dated as of December 23, 1965, the
employer must inform the Ministry of Labor of any new hires or
employees dismissals. The CAGED shall be transmitted only by
electronic means to the Ministry of Labor and solely by exception it can
be delivered in magnetic means at the Regional Agency of the Ministry
of Labor (Superintendncia Regional do Trabalho e Emprego).
10
In order to deliver the CAGED to the Ministry of Labor, the employer

must download software at the website http://www.caged.gov.br.
The company must inform the Ministry of Labor of any new hires
and/or employees' dismissals carried out on a monthly basis, until the
seventh day of the subsequent month of work.
Agency: Ministry of Labor (Cadastro Geral de empregados e
1 day,
(simultaneous with
previous
procedure)
no charge
Doing Business 2015
No.
28
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
* Registration with the Patronal Union and with the Employees

Union.
11
The procedure details for the registration of the Company with the
Patronal Union and with the Employees Union vary according to the
5 days,
representative Unions. Generally, in order to be registered with the
unions, the Company must present the following documents: company (simultaneous with
previous
registration form, Federal Register of Corporate Taxpayers, articles of
procedure)
association, employee's list etc. These documents can generally be
submitted to the unions through their websites.
Agency: Patronal Union and Employees Union

no charge
Doing Business 2015
29
Brazil
DEALING WITH CONSTRUCTION PERMITS

Regulation of construction is critical to protect the
public. But it needs to be efficient, to avoid excessive
constraints on a sector that plays an important part in
every economy. Where complying with building
regulations is excessively costly in time and money,
many builders opt out. They may pay bribes to pass
inspections or simply build illegally, leading to
hazardous construction that puts public safety at risk.
Where compliance is simple, straightforward and
inexpensive, everyone is better off.
Doing Business records the procedures, time and cost
for a business in the construction industry to obtain
all the necessary approvals to build a warehouse in
the economys largest business city, connect it to
basic utilities and register the warehouse so that it
can be used as collateral or transferred to another
entity.
The ranking of economies on the ease of dealing with
construction permits is determined by sorting their
distance to frontier scores for dealing with
construction permits. These scores are the simple
average of the distance to frontier scores for each of
the component indicators.
To make the data comparable across economies,
Doing Business uses several assumptions about the
business and the warehouse, including the utility
connections.
The business:
Is a limited liability company operating in

the construction business and located in
the largest business city. For the 11
economies with a population of more than
100 million, data for a second city have
been added. Is domestically owned and
operated.
WHAT THE DEALING WITH CONSTRUCTION

PERMITS INDICATORS MEASURE
Procedures to legally build a warehouse
(number)
Submitting all relevant documents and
obtaining all necessary clearances, licenses,
permits and certificates
Submitting all required notifications and
receiving all necessary inspections
Obtaining utility connections for water and
sewerage
Registering the warehouse after its
completion (if required for use as collateral or
for transfer of the warehouse)
(calendar days)
information
Each procedure starts on a separate day.
Procedures that can be fully completed online
are recorded as day.
Procedure considered completed once final
document is received
Cost required to complete each procedure (%
of warehouse value)
Will have complete architectural and

technical plans prepared by a licensed
architect or engineer.
Will be connected to water and sewerage

(sewage system, septic tank or their
equivalent). The connection to each utility
network will be 150 meters (492 feet) long.
Will be used for general storage, such as of

books or stationery (not for goods requiring
special conditions).
Will take 30 weeks to construct (excluding all

delays due to administrative and regulatory
requirements).
Has 60 builders and other employees.
The warehouse:
Is valued at 50 times income per capita.
Is a new construction (there was no

previous construction on the land).
Doing Business 2015
30
Brazil

What does it take to comply with the formalities to build
a warehouse in Brazil? According to data collected by
Doing Business, dealing with construction permits there
requires 18.2 procedures, takes 426.1 days and costs
0.4% of the warehouse value (figure 3.1). Most indicator
sets refer to a case scenario in the largest business city of
an economy, except for 11 economies for which the data

are a population-weighted average of the 2 largest
business cities. See the chapter on distance to frontier
and ease of doing business ranking at the end of this
profile for more details.
Figure 3.1 What it takes to comply with formalities to build a warehouse in Brazil - So Paulo
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
31
What it takes to comply with formalities to build a warehouse in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
total time calculation. For more information on the methodology of the dealing with construction permits indicators, see the
Doing Business website (http://www.doingbusiness.org). For details on the procedures reflected here, see the summary at the
end of this chapter.
Doing Business 2015
32
Brazil

economies on the ease of dealing with construction
permits (figure 3.2). The rankings for comparator
economies and the regional average ranking provide

other useful information for assessing how easy it is for
an entrepreneur in Brazil to legally build a warehouse.
Figure 3.2 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of dealing with construction permits
Doing Business 2015
33
Brazil

The indicators reported here for Brazil are based on
a set of specific proceduresthe steps that a
company must complete to legally build a
warehouseidentified by Doing Business through
information collected from experts in construction
licensing, including architects, civil engineers,
construction lawyers, construction firms, utility
service providers and public officials who deal with
building regulations. These procedures are those
that apply to a company and structure matching the
standard assumptions used by Doing Business in
what the indicators cover).
BUILDING A WAREHOUSE
Estimated cost of
construction :
BRL 1,186,000
City :
So Paulo , Rio de Janeiro
The procedures, along with the associated time and cost,

are summarized below.
Table 3.2 Summary of time, cost and procedures for dealing with construction permits in Brazil - So Paulo
No.
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
1 day
BRL 38
0.5 days
BRL 168
Request and obtain proof of land ownership from the Real Estate
Registry
Attesting to proof of land ownership, this certificate is valid for only 30

days.
Agency: Real Estate Registry
* Obtain Technical Term of Responsibility -ART

Before the application process, the engineer and architect responsible
for the project need to obtain an ART. An ART is a document required
by the Engineers Syndicate (Crea) that defines, for legal purposes, who
is responsible for the execution of works or services and provides an
opportunity for professionals to register their works or services with
Crea.
The ART is required for each project according to the Federal Law N
6.496 of 7 December 1977. It is possible to obtain it online within a
couple of hours and it costs BRL 167.68. The value of the fee varies
according to the value of the contract or the cost of the work:
- Contracts or works up to BRL 8,000: BRL 63.64
- Contracts or works between BRL 8,000.01 and BRL 15,000: BRL 111.37
- Contracts or works of more than BRL 15,000.00: BRL 167.68
Agency: Engineers Syndicate (Crea)
Doing Business 2015

No.
34
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
0.5 days
no charge
0.5 days
no charge
274 days
BRL 4,200
60 days
BRL 75
* Request and obtain proof of land tax payment from the Treasury
Department of the Municipality
Attesting to payment of land taxes, this certificate may be issued online

and is valid for only 30 days.
Agency: Treasury (Municipality)
Register employees with the Social Security Office
For each construction site, BuildCo must register employees separately

with the Social Security Office (Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad
Social, INSS).
Agency: Social Security Office
Request and obtain construction approval permit and construction

execution permit
BuildCo must apply for construction approval permit and the
construction execution permit with the Municipality. If the project
conforms to municipal legislation, zoning laws, and the municipal
building code, the Municipality will issue a document approving
construction. To apply for these permits, BuildCo must submit the
architectural drawings and real estate documentation (real estate title
or real estate tax).
After examining the projects architecture and engineering and issuing

the permit, the Municipality examines the practical and installation
aspects and begins the process of issuing an execution permit.
BuildCo can request both permits simultaneously, but the Municipality
grants the permits in a specific order.
Valid for a year, the construction approval permit is a prerequisite for
subsequent procedures. The construction execution permit is valid for 3
years. Due to backlog of projects, the time required for this procedure
is at least 9 to 10 months.
* Request and obtain equipment operating permit

The permit allows the use of construction equipment.
6
Doing Business 2015

No.
35
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
30 days
BRL 79
1 day
no charge
1 day
no charge
0.5 days
no charge
1 day
no charge
1 day
no charge
* Submit project for analysis by Fire Department and obtain report
Build Co must present the building project to the Fire department for
approval and obtain a report which includes all the fire security
measures that need to be implemented.
The cost related to obtaining the fire assessment is BRL 78.58.
The formula that should be used for a built area superior to 750 square
meters is:0.003*UFESP*sqm = 0.003*20.14*1300.6 = BRL 78.58
Agency: Fire Department
Receive random inspection from Municipality
According to Law No. 11.228, annex 1, No. 6, Municipality is legally

entitled to perform inspection required during the construction. The
inspections can be carried out anytime, or upon complaint of a citizen.
Receive labor inspection from Labor Public Attorneys Office
9
Agency: Labor Public Attorneys' Office
Submit proof of payment to the Social Security Office
10
At the end of construction, BuildCo must submit proof of payment to

its construction workers.
Request inspection from Fire Department
11
Receive inspection from the Fire Department
12
The Fire Department must approve the warehouse safety equipment.

This inspection is valid for 3 years.
Doing Business 2015

No.
36
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
29 days
BRL 105
1 day
no charge
1 day
no charge
28 days
BRL 460
60 days
BRL 25
Obtain Fire Department Certificate (Certificado de Aprovao AVCB)

13
Request final inspection from Municipality

After construction is completed, BuildCo must request the certificate of
occupancy ("Habite-se") from the Municipality to attest that the
construction is finished and that the work was performed according to
the construction approval permit and the construction execution
permit. The approval is valid until the first amendment of the
construction project.
14
To request and obtain the conclusion approval, BuildCo must submit

the following documents:
Application form, addressed to the So Paulo Municipal Secretariat of
Housing and Urban Development (SEHAB)
First page of construction and territorial booklet
Construction permit
Engineering and CREA card
Receipt evidencing payment of construction work tax
Sets of approved plans (two)
Administrative tax
ART of chief engineer
Receive final inspection from Municipality
15
Obtain certificate of occupancy ("Habite-se")
16
Request and obtain operation license
17
Upon completing the construction and receiving the Fire Department

inspection, BuildCo must apply for the relevant operation license at the
Municipality and show evidence that the company can develop the
specific business at the site. To obtain this license, the company must
present all warehouse project documentation.
If the warehouse is to be sold after completion, this procedure might
Doing Business 2015

No.
37
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
30 days
no charge
15 days
BRL 980
be done by the buyer and not BuildCo.

* Request and connect to water and sewage
18
The connection request is filed with the Waste Management Company

(SABESP).
Agency: Water and Sewerage Agencies (SABESP)
* Register building with the Real Estate Registry
19
At the end of construction, BuildCo must register the warehouse at the

Real Estate Registry. BuildCo must present the title of the land and the
certificate from the Social Security Office.

Summary of time, cost and procedures for dealing with construction permits in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
No.
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
7 days
BRL 58
0.5 days
BRL 168
Request and obtain proof of land ownership from the Real Estate
Registry
Attesting to proof of land ownership, this certificate is valid for only 30

days.
This Certificate is one of the certificates to be included in the
application for the construction permit. It takes 5 business days and it
costs BRL 57.9.
* Obtain Technical Term of Responsibility -ART
Before the application process, the engineer and architect responsible

for the project need to obtain an ART. An ART is a document required
by the Engineers Syndicate (Crea) that defines, for legal purposes, who
is responsible for the execution of works or services and provides an
opportunity for professionals to register their works or services with
Crea.
The ART is required for each project according to the Federal Law N
6.496 of 7 December 1977. It is possible to obtain it online within a
couple of hours and it costs BRL 167.68. The value of the fee varies
according to the value of the contract or the cost of the work.
BRL 63,64 (contracts or works up to BRL 8,000); BRL 111,37 (contracts or
Doing Business 2015

No.
38
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
0.5 days
no charge
0.5 days
no charge
365 days
BRL 756
works between BRL 8,000.01 and BRL 15,000); BRL 167,68 (contracts or
works of more than BRL 15,000.00).
Agency: Engineers Syndicate (Crea)
* Request and obtain proof of land tax payment from the Treasury
Department of the Municipality
Attesting to payment of land taxes, this certificate may be issued online

and is valid for only 30 days.
This document needs to be included in the application sent to the
municipality. The website where it can be obtained is:
www.rio.rj.gov.br/smf/siam2/situacaofiscal.asp
Agency: Treasury (Municipality)
Register employees with the Social Security Office
For each construction site, BuildCo must register employees separately

with the Social Security Office (Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad
Social, INSS). The website to register employees is:
http://www.servicos.gov.br/.
If the employer does not register all workers, it can get fined during the
inspection.
Request and obtain construction approval permit and construction

execution permit
BuildCo must apply for construction approval permit and the

construction execution permit with the Municipality. If the project
conforms to municipal legislation, zoning laws, and the municipal
building code, the Municipality will issue a document approving
construction. To apply for these permits, BuildCo must submit the
architectural drawings and real estate documentation (real estate title
or real estate tax). After examining the projects architecture and
engineering and issuing the permit, the Municipality examines the
practical and installation aspects and begins the process of issuing an
execution permit. BuildCo can request both permits simultaneously,
but the Municipality grants the permits in a specific order. Valid for a
year, the construction approval permit is a prerequisite for subsequent
procedures. The construction execution permit is valid for 3 years. Due
to backlog of projects, the time required for this procedure is at least 9
to 10 months.
Doing Business 2015

No.
39
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
30 days
BRL 53
1 day
no charge
0.5 days
no charge
1 day
no charge
1 day
no charge
* Submit project for analysis by Fire Department and obtain report
Build Co must present the building project to the fire department for
approval and obtain a report which includes all the fire security
measures that need to be implemented.
The applicant needs to send the design, the ART of the engineer,
ownership ownership certificate and copy of ID to the fire department.
It takes 1 to 2 months and it costs 53.11 BRL.
Receive labor inspection from Labor Public Attorneys Office
The Labor Public Attorneys' Office do random inspections in order to

check whether all employees were registered and if the security
measures are being undertaken. It will happen once, but may happen
more than once in case the Labor Secretary receives any complaints.
Agency: Labor Public Attorneys' Office
Submit proof of payment to the Social Security Office
At the end of construction, BuildCo must submit proof of payment to

its construction workers.
Request inspection from Fire Department
Once the works have been implemented according to the report,

BuildCo must request an inspection so that the fire department verifies
that the works were done according to their report. The inspection
usually happens after 1 month of being requested. The fire department
will then issue a certificate that approves the construction called
Certificado de Aprovao.
Legal basis: Decree 897 of 21 of September,1976.
Receive inspection from Fire Department
10
The Fire Department must approve the warehouse safety equipment.

This inspection is valid for 3 years.
Doing Business 2015

No.
40
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
29 days
BRL 53
1 day
no charge
1 day
no charge
28 days
BRL 1,512
7 days
BRL 639
Obtain Fire Department Certificate (Certificado de Aprovao AVCB)
11
The Certificado de Aprovao costs 53.11 BRL and needs to be

included in the application to obtain the operation License.
Request final inspection from Municipality

After construction is completed, BuildCo must request the certificate of
occupancy ("Habite-se") from the Municipality to attest that the
construction is finished and that the work was performed according to
the construction approval permit and the construction execution
permit. The approval is valid until the first amendment of the
construction project.
12
To request and obtain the conclusion approval, BuildCo must submit

Application form
First page of construction and territorial booklet
Construction permit
Engineering and CREA card
Receipt evidencing payment of construction work tax
Sets of approved plans (two)
Administrative tax
ART of chief engineer
Receive final inspection from Municipality
13
Obtain certificate of occupancy ("Habite-se")
14
Request and obtain operation license
15
Upon completing the construction and receiving the Fire Department

inspection, BuildCo must apply for the relevant operation license at the
Municipality and show evidence that the company can develop the
specific business at the site. To obtain this license, the company must
present all warehouse project documentation.
If the warehouse is to be sold after completion, this procedure might
be done by the buyer and not BuildCo.
Doing Business 2015

No.
41
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
30 days
no charge
30 days
BRL 531
* Request and connect to water and sewage
16
The connection request is filed with the Waste Management Company

(CEDAE).
Agency: Water and Sewerage Agencies (CEDAE)
* Register building with the Real Estate Registry
17
At the end of construction, BuildCo must register the warehouse at the

Real Estate Registry. BuildCo must present the habite-se (occupation
permit), the ownership certificate, and the ID of the parties in order to
update the title.

Doing Business 2015
42
Brazil
GETTING ELECTRICITY
Access to reliable and affordable electricity is vital for
businesses. To counter weak electricity supply, many
firms in developing economies have to rely on selfsupply, often at a prohibitively high cost. Whether
electricity is reliably available or not, the first step for
a customer is always to gain access by obtaining a
connection.
Doing Business records all procedures required for a
local business to obtain a permanent electricity
connection and supply for a standardized warehouse,
as well as the time and cost to complete them. These
procedures include applications and contracts with
electricity utilities, clearances from other agencies
and the external and final connection works. The
ranking of economies on the ease of getting
electricity is determined by sorting their distance to
frontier scores for getting electricity. These scores are
the simple average of the distance to frontier scores
for each of the component indicators. To make the
data comparable across economies, several
assumptions are used.
The warehouse:
Is owned by a local entrepreneur, located

in the economys largest business city, in
an area where other warehouses are
located. For the 11 economies with a
population of more than 100 million, data
for a second city have been added.
Is not in a special economic zone where
the connection would be eligible for
subsidization or faster service.
Is located in an area with no physical

constraints (ie. property not near a railway).
Is a new construction being connected to

electricity for the first time.
Is 2 stories, both above ground, with a total

surface of about 1,300.6 square meters
(14,000 square feet), is built on a plot of
929 square meters (10,000 square feet), is
used for storage of refrigerated goods
The electricity connection:
Is 150 meters long and is a 3-phase, 4-wire

Y, 140-kilovolt-ampere (kVA) (subscribed
capacity) connection.
WHAT THE GETTING ELECTRICITY

INDICATORS MEASURE
Procedures to obtain an electricity
connection (number)
Submitting all relevant documents and
obtaining all necessary clearances and permits
Completing all required notifications and
receiving all necessary inspections
Obtaining external installation works and
possibly purchasing material for these works
Concluding any necessary supply contract and
obtaining final supply
(calendar days)
Is at least 1 calendar day
Each procedure starts on a separate day
information
Reflects the time spent in practice, with little
follow-up and no prior contact with officials
(% of income per capita)
Excludes value added tax
Is to either the low-voltage or the mediumvoltage distribution network and either

overhead or underground, whichever is more
common in the area where the warehouse is
located. Included only negligible length in the
customers private domain.
Requires crossing of a 10-meter road but all

the works are carried out in a public land, so
there is no crossing into other people's
private property.
Involves installing one electricity meter. The

monthly electricity consumption will be
26880 kilowatt hour (kWh). The internal
electrical wiring has been completed.
Doing Business 2015
43
Brazil
GETTING ELECTRICITY
What does it take to obtain a new electricity connection
in Brazil? According to data collected by Doing Business,
getting electricity there requires 4.0 procedures, takes
53.3 days and costs 31.6% of income per capita (figure
4.1).
Most indicator sets refer to a case scenario in the largest

this
profile
for
more
details.
Figure 4.1 What it takes to obtain an electricity connection in Brazil - So Paulo
What it takes to obtain an electricity connection in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
44
Note: Time shown in the figure above may not reflect simultaneity of procedures. For more information on the methodology of the
getting electricity indicators, see the Doing Business website (http://www.doingbusiness.org). For details on the procedures reflected
here, see the summary at the end of this chapter.
Doing Business 2015
45
Brazil
GETTING ELECTRICITY
economies on the ease of getting electricity (figure 4.2).
The rankings for comparator economies and the regional
average ranking provide another perspective in assessing

how easy it is for an entrepreneur in Brazil to connect a
warehouse to electricity.
Figure 4.2 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of getting electricity
Doing Business 2015
46
Brazil
GETTING ELECTRICITY
The indicators reported here for Brazil are based on a set
of specific proceduresthe steps that an entrepreneur
must complete to get a warehouse connected to
electricity by the local distribution utilityidentified by
Doing Business. Data are collected from the distribution
utility, then completed and verified by electricity
regulatory agencies and independent professionals such
as electrical engineers, electrical contractors and
construction companies. The electricity distribution utility
surveyed is the one serving the area (or areas) in which
warehouses are located. If there is a choice of
distribution utilities, the one serving the largest number
of
customers
is
selected.
OBTAINING AN ELECTRICITY CONNECTION

Name of utility - Rio
de Janeiro:
Light
Name of utility - So
Paulo :
AES Eletropaulo
City:
The procedures are those that apply to a warehouse and

electricity connection matching the standard
assumptions used by Doing Business in collecting the
data (see the section in this chapter on what the
indicators cover). The procedures, along with the
associated time and cost, are summarized below.
Table 4.2 Summary of time, cost and procedures for getting electricity in Brazil - So Paulo
No.
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
Submit application to AES Electropaulo and receive service layout
The customer needs to submit a package of documents, including the

electrical project, to AES Eletropaulo. After receive the documents, AES
Eletropaulo technicians visit the site and develop a work project to make
the necessary adjustments in the network with estimated costs and time 30 calendar days
and send it back to the costumer. The site visit is done on the outside of
the property and the customer need not be present during the site visit.
BRL 0
Agency: AES Electropaulo
Customer executes energy supply agreement with utility
The costumer receives an invoice within the estimated value of the work
and a contract and a service order. So, he has to sign the contract and
the service order and pay the invoice in order to AES Eletropaulo begins
to make the necessary adjustments in its network.
1 calendar day
BRL 7,500
Doing Business 2015
No.
47
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
24 calendar days
BRL 0
3 calendar days
BRL 0
Utility conducts necessary external connection works
AES Eletropaulo executes the necessary adjustments to the electricity

network and communicates the costumer that the work is done and he
has to call back to AES Eletropaulo requesting the external connection
Utility installs meter and electricity starts flowing
The costumer requests the external connection to AES Eletropaulo and,

after no more than two days, the electricity is available at the
switchboard/meter.

Summary of time, cost and procedures for getting electricity in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
No.
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
Submit application to Light and await estimate
Customer submits application along with the following documentation:

Sign Up Form Technical Information - Substations Simplified - duly
completed and with ALL data and assessed the installed load demand;
Descriptive loads (2 copies);
Plant Situation / Location (4 copies) listed;
Technical Responsibility - ART duly repaid (1 copies);
Power of Attorney, on letterhead and notarization as attached model (1
copy) ;
Charter Service Request (2 copies);
Letter of no parallelism with the network of LIGHT (2 copies).
Copy of the contract or bylaws in force, or the like, according to the type 21 calendar days
of legal entity, and subsequent changes, together with the election of its
current directors, duly registered with the competent agency documents;
Copy of card from the National Register of Legal Entities - CNPJ; Copies
of Identity and Registration of Individuals (CPF) of the Legal
Representatives; Power of Attorney with notarized, if applicable ; Copy of
Lease Agreement or similar, if the customer is not the owner of the
property; Copy of proof of ownership of the property (certificate of
encumbrances); All documents have to be notarized. Each notarization
costs BRL 10. All documents should be already in possession of the
applicant except for the ART and the proof of ownership.
Agency: Light
BRL 0
Doing Business 2015
No.
48
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
3 calendar days
BRL 0
20 calendar days
BRL 7,500
2 calendar days
BRL 0
Utility conducts internal wiring inspection
The electric engineer responsible for the works would be present so not
to delay the process (in case the technician has questions about the
process, for example). This inspection happens within 3 business days
after the request is made and there is no cost.
Agency: Light
Utility conducts external connection works
Once the internal inspection is completed, Light undertakes necessary

works to connect the warehouse to the network.
Agency: Light
Utility installs meter and electricity starts flowing
The client or a representative has to be present for the meter to be

installed. The client starts to receive energy within 1 day.
Agency: Light

Doing Business 2015
49
Brazil
REGISTERING PROPERTY
Ensuring formal property rights is fundamental.
Effective administration of land is part of that. If
formal property transfer is too costly or
complicated, formal titles might go informal again.
And where property is informal or poorly
administered, it has little chance of being accepted
as collateral for loanslimiting access to finance.
Doing Business records the full sequence of
procedures necessary for a business to purchase
property from another business and transfer the
property title to the buyers name. The transaction is
considered complete when it is opposable to third
parties and when the buyer can use the property,
use it as collateral for a bank loan or resell it. The
ranking of economies on the ease of registering
property is determined by sorting their distance to
frontier scores for registering property. These scores
are the simple average of the distance to frontier
scores for each of the component indicators. To
make the data comparable across economies,
several assumptions about the parties to the
transaction, the property and the procedures are
used.
The parties (buyer and seller):
Are limited liability companies, 100%

domestically and privately owned and
perform general commercial activities.
INDICATORS MEASURE
Procedures to legally transfer title on
immovable property (number)
Preregistration (for example, checking for liens,
notarizing sales agreement, paying property
transfer taxes)
Registration in the economys largest business
2
city
Postregistration (for example, filing title with
the municipality)
(calendar days)
information
Each procedure starts on a separate day.
Procedures that can be fully completed online
are recorded as day.
Procedure considered completed once final
document is received
(% of property value)
No value added or capital gains taxes included
Are located in the economys largest

2
business city .
Have 50 employees each, all of whom are

nationals.
Is located in a periurban commercial zone, and

no rezoning is required.
Has no mortgages attached, has been under

the same ownership for the past 10 years.
Consists of 557.4 square meters (6,000 square

feet) of land and a 10-year-old, 2-story
warehouse of 929 square meters (10,000
square feet). The warehouse is in good
condition and complies with all safety
standards, building codes and legal
requirements. There is no heating system.
The property (fully owned by the seller):
WHAT THE REGISTERING PROPERTY
Has a value of 50 times income per capita.

The sale price equals the value.
Is registered in the land registry or cadastre, or both, and is free of title disputes.
Property will be transferred in its entirety.
For the 11 economies with a population of more than 100 million, data for a second city have been added.
Doing Business 2015
50
Brazil
What does it take to complete a property transfer in
Brazil? According to data collected by Doing Business,
registering property there requires 13.6 procedures,
takes 31.7 days and costs 2.5% of the property value
(figure 5.1).
Most indicator sets refer to a case scenario in the largest

this
profile
for
more
details.
Figure 5.1 What it takes to register property in Brazil - So Paulo
What it takes to register property in Brazil - Rio de Janeiro
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
51
total time calculation. For more information on the methodology of the registering property indicators, see the Doing Business
website (http://www.doingbusiness.org). For details on the procedures reflected here, see the summary at the end of this chapter.
Doing Business 2015
52
Brazil
economies on the ease of registering property (figure
5.2). The rankings for comparator economies and the
regional average ranking provide other useful

information for assessing how easy it is for an
entrepreneur in Brazil to transfer property.
Figure 5.2 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of registering property
Doing Business 2015
53
Brazil
Economies worldwide have been making it easier for
entrepreneurs to register and transfer propertysuch as
by computerizing land registries, introducing time limits
for procedures and setting low fixed fees. Many have cut
the time required substantiallyenabling buyers to use

or mortgage their property earlier. What property
registration reforms has Doing Business recorded in
Brazil (table 5.1)?
Table 5.1 How has Brazil made registering property easieror not?
DB year
DB2013
Reform
Brazil made transferring property more difficult by introducing
a new certificate on good standing on labor debts, adding to
the number of due diligence procedures.
Note: For information on reforms in earlier years (back to DB2005), see the Doing Business
reports for these years, available at http://www.doingbusiness.org.
Doing Business 2015
54
Brazil
The indicators reported here are based on a set of
specific proceduresthe steps that a buyer and seller
must complete to transfer the property to the buyers
nameidentified by Doing Business through
information collected from local property lawyers,
notaries and property registries. These procedures
are those that apply to a transaction matching the
standard assumptions used by Doing Business in
what the indicators cover).
STANDARD PROPERTY TRANSFER
Property value:
BRL 1,186,000
So Paulo , Rio de
Janeiro
The procedures, along with the associated time and
cost, are summarized below.
City:
Table 5.2 Summary of time, cost and procedures for registering property in Brazil
No.
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
7 calendar days
(simultaneous
with procedures
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
and 9)
BRL 77.18
Obtain a 20-year certificate (Certido Vintenria)
The 20-year certificate (Certido Vintenria) needes to be obtained in

order to certifie the chain of title of the property in the past 20 years to
check if the seller is really the owner of the property and it also has
information about any encumbrances over the land.
Agency: Real Estate Registry (Cartrio de Registro de Imveis)
BRL 84.57 for each

Civil Distributor's
Certificate
* Obtain the certificates of Certificates of Registries and Disputes
(Certido dos
(Certido dos Cartrios de Protestos), Acquire a Civil Distributor's
Distribuidores
Certificate (Certido dos Distribuidores Cvies), a Fiscal Executive
Cvies) - 4
Certificate (Certido de Executivos Fiscais) and a Bankruptcy
certificates, BRL
Certificate (Certido de Falencias e Concordatas) from the City Court
75.46 for the Fiscal
Office
3 to 5 days
Executive
(simultaneous
These certificates guarantee that all civil, fiscal, and commercial legal
Certificate
with procedures
settlements have been finalized and no pending sentences or legal
(Certido de
1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Executivos Fiscais),
proceedings are linked to the seller. In Rio de Janeiro, it is possible to
obtain these certificates via Rio Rapido which works as a central Office
9)
BRL 84.57 for each
Certificate. They can be requested via the website, but need to be picked
Bankruptcy
up in person.
Certificate
(Certido de
Agency: Rio Rapido
Falencias e
Concordatas) - 4
certificates and
BRL 63.62 for the
Certificates of
Doing Business 2015
No.
55
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
Registries and
Disputes (Certido
dos Cartrios de
Protestos) from
the Distributor of
Disputes Registry
* Obtain a Labor Justice Certificate (Certido da Justia do Trabalho)
from the Regional Labor Court
This document is not required by law. Technically, the buyer and seller
can agree to trust that all these checks are done by the seller without the
Obtain a Labor
need to submit the actual documents to the public notary. Sometimes a
3 days
Justice Certificate
statement is executed by the buyer, who declares that there are no labor
(simultaneous
(Certido da
claims against the company capable of reaching the real estate. In
with
procedures
Justia do
practice, however, for transactions between companies, the seller will
1,
2,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
Trabalho)
from the
request these documents. The Labor Justice Certificate may have one or
several sheets. It will depend on the quantity of suits against the
9)
Regional Labor
company under analysis. The cost for a one page certificate is R$ 5.53
Court
and for each additional page R$ 5.53.
Agency: Regional Labor Court (Tribunal regional do trabalho)
* Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing on Labor Debts (Certido

Negativa de Dbitos Trabalhistas)
The Certificate of Good Standing on Labor Debts is not required by law

and therefore does not prevent the registration of real estate
transactions. It is, however, common practice and highly recommended
to check the standing on labor debts of the seller.
Agency: High Labor Court
Less than a day

(online procedure
and simultaneous
with procedures
1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
and 9)
no cost
* Request a Land-Tax Certificate and a Cadastral Certificate

(Certido de Dados Cadastrais do Imovel)from City Hall
Less than a day
These certificates will establish if there is any pending tax debt affecting (online procedure
the property. The certificate is free if obtained online, or R$ 11.85 if
and simultaneous
obtained in person. The buyer can waive this certificate if he assumes the
with procedures
obligation to pay all pending land tax debt related to the real state.
Agency: Municipality of Rio de Janeiro
1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8
and 9)
no cost
Doing Business 2015
No.
56
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
* Acquire a Clearance Certificate from Tax Agency and a Federal Tax

Clearance Certificate
Both certificates are obtained online at www.receita.fazenda.gov.br. (i)

Clearance Certificate (Certido Conjunta Negativa de Dbitos relativos
aos Tributos Federais e Dvida Ativa da Unio emitida pelo Ministrio
da Fazenda Procuradoria Geral da Fazenda Nacional Secretaria da
Receita Federal do Brasil) from the Tax Agency: this certificate includes
the debts related to taxes administered by the Internal Revenue Service
of Brazil (RFB) and the inscriptions on Union Debts with the General
Attorney of National Treasury (PGFN). This certificate, which is issued in
the name of the headquarters and applies to all its subsidiaries, refers
only to the information of the taxpayer within the RFB and PGFN, and
does not include social security contributions and the contributions due,
by law, to third parties, including those debts enrolled in the National
Less than a day
Social Security Institute (INSS), that are object of the second certificate. (online procedure
(ii) The Federal Tax Clearance Certificate (Certido Negativa de Dbitos and simultaneous
relativos s Contribuies Previdencirias e s de Terceiros emitida pelo
with procedures
Ministrio da Fazenda, Secretaria da Receita Federal do Brasil) refers
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8
exclusively to social security contributions and the contributions owed by
and 9)
law, to third parties, including those enrolled in Union Debts (Dvida
Ativa da Unio - DAU) and does not include other taxes administered by
RFB and the remaining debts in the DAU, administered by the General
Attorney of National Treasury (PGFN) object PGFN Joint Certificate / RFB.
If one is a certified representative of the company with a passcode, one
can obtain this certificate online at
www.receita.fazenda.gov.br/previdencia/CND free of charge. The
certificate was formely provided by the National Social Security Institute
(INSS), but is now provided by the Internal Revenue Service, after both
agencies were parcially unified according to Law N 11.457/07.
no cost
Agency: Federal Tax agency (Ministrio da Fazenda, Secretaria da Receita

Federal do Brasil - RFB)
* Acquire a Workers Fund Certificate (Certido de Regularidade de

Situao do FGTS) at the federal bank- Caixa Economica Federal
The Worker's Fund Certificate assures that the company has kept its
pension fund plan up to date with payments. This certificate is obtained
online at the site Caixa Economica
(https://webp.caixa.gov.br/cidadao/Crf/FgeCfSCriteriosPesquisa.asp) free
of charge. It is not required by law, but in practice it is usually requested
by the buyer in transactions between companies.
Agency: Federal bank (Caixa Economica Federal)
Less than a day

(online procedure
and simultaneous
with procedure 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and
9)
no cost
Doing Business 2015
No.
Procedure
* Acquire a Federal Justice Certificate (Certido da Justia Federal)
from the Receita Federal - (Certido de Distribuio de Aes e
Execues Cveis, Fiscais, Criminais e dos Juizados Especiais Federais
Criminais Adjuntos junto ao Poder Judicirio Justia Federal de
Primeiro Grau no Rio de Janeiro
57
Brazil
This certificate is obtained online at http://www.jfrj.jus.br/?id_info=76.

The certificate will show if there are any pending cases at civil, tax,
criminal and special federal criminal courts. If the company has any
pending claims, the certificate will have to be picked up in person by a
representative at the Justia Federal.
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
Less than a day

(online procedure
and simultaneous
with procedures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
and 9)
no cost
Less than a day

(online procedure
and simultaneous
with procedures
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
and 9)
BRL 90
1 day
2% of the property
value
3 days
BRL 2,184.23
based on the
following fee
schedule:From R$
15,000.01 to R$
30,000.00 R$244.56 From R$
30,000.01 to R$
45,000.00 - R$
Agency: Justia Federal
* Obtain company name certificate
This certificate from the Company Registry (Junta Comercial) certifies

that the articles of association presented by the parties are the most
recent ones. The notary will check that the legal representatives
mentioned in the articles of association are the more recent ones.
Agency: Company Registry
Pay transfer tax (ITB I) at the Bank
10
The buyer has to pay the transfer tax before the parties can sign the
transfer deed. The majority of notaries prefer to receive the tax payment
themselves and then take care of transferring it to the Municipality
because they are responsible for checking that the tax payment is
correct. Notaries also have to file to the tax authorities a declaration of
all the transactions that they were part of, given that they are jointly
liable. The notary provides the payment form to the buyer and the
parties pay at the notary. The notary then is in charge of paying the tax
on behalf of the parties. The payment needs to be done in person at any
of the Santander agencies in Rio de Janeiro.
Agency: Commercial bank
Drafting of Public Deed of Purchase and Sale (Escritura Pblica de

Venda e Compra) by a Public Notary (Tabelio de Notas)
11
The notary will review all the documents obtained in the previous
procedures and proceed to notarize the sale deed.
Agency: Notary's office (tabelio de notas)
Doing Business 2015
No.
58
Brazil
Procedure
Time to
complete
Cost to complete
341.12 "From R$
45,000.01 to R$
60,000.00 - R$
418.36 " From R$
60.000,01 to R$
80.000,00 - R$
741.48 "From R$
80.000,01 to R$
100.000,00 - R$
875,38 " From R$
100.000,01 to R$
200.000,00 - R$
1.184,33 "From R$
200.000,01 to R$
400.000,00 1.270,79 " For
properties valued
at R$ 400,000.01
and higher - R$
114.18 for each
additional R$
100,000.00
Update the land taxation records (IPTU Imposto Predial e
Territorial Urbano) to the new owner's name at City Hall
12
Before taking to title to be registered at the registry, the new owner

needs to update his name on the municipality's records. The information
is submitted via the website of the municipality. Once the information is
submitted, a protocol number for the name change request is issued,
which needs to be informed to the registrar. The registrar will verify the
information submitted and attach the number of registration of the
property (numero de matricula) and then sends the information to the
municipality via the internet portal
(https://dief.rio.rj.gov.br/dief/asp/mcriweb/login_usuri.asp)
Less than a day

(online
procedure)
no cost
30 days
BRL 2,187.4 based

on the following
fee schedule:From
R$ 15,000.01 to R$
30,000.00 R$244.56 From R$
30,000.01 to R$
45,000.00 - R$
341.12 "From R$
45,000.01 to R$
Agency: Municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Secretaria municipal da fazenda)
Register the escritura (transfer deed) at the appropriate Real Estate

Registry with jurisdiction over the property to finalize registration
and name change
13
There are 11 Real Estate Registries in Rio de Janeiro. The registration of

the deed at the competent Real Estate Registry is required for the
transfer of ownership of the property. It can be arranged directly by the
parties or by the notary if the notary offers this supplementary service.
By law, the Real Estate Registry has 30 days to analyze the documents
and register the transfer deed. Usually, the registry will come back with
Doing Business 2015
No.
59
Brazil
Procedure
some issues that need to be fixed prior to registration.
Agency: Land registry

Time to
complete
Cost to complete
60,000.00 - R$
418.36 " From R$
60.000,01 to R$
80.000,00 - R$
741.48 "From R$
80.000,01 to R$
100.000,00 - R$
875,38 " From R$
100.000,01 to R$
200.000,00 - R$
1.184,33 "From R$
200.000,01 to R$
400.000,00 1.274,45 " For
properties valued
at R$ 400,000.01
and higher - R$
114.18 for each
additional R$
100,000.00
Doing Business 2015
60
Brazil
GETTING CREDIT
Two types of frameworks can facilitate access to
credit and improve its allocation: credit information
systems and borrowers and lenders in collateral and
bankruptcy laws. Credit information systems enable
lenders rights to view a potential borrowers financial
history (positive or negative)valuable information to
consider when assessing risk. And they permit
borrowers to establish a good credit history that will
allow easier access to credit. Sound collateral laws
enable businesses to use their assets, especially
movable property, as security to generate capital
while strong creditors rights have been associated
with higher ratios of private sector credit to GDP.
Doing Business assesses the sharing of credit
information and the legal rights of borrowers and
lenders with respect to secured transactions through
2 sets of indicators. The depth of credit information
index measures rules and practices affecting the
coverage, scope and accessibility of credit
information available through a credit registry or a
credit bureau. The strength of legal rights index
measures whether certain features that facilitate
lending exist within the applicable collateral and
bankruptcy laws. Doing Business uses two case
scenarios, Case A and Case B, to determine the scope
of the secured transactions system, involving a
secured borrower and a secured lender and
examining legal restrictions on the use of movable
collateral (for more details on each case, see the Data
Notes section of the Doing Business 2015 report).
These scenarios assume that the borrower:
Is a private limited liability company.
Has its headquarters and only base of

operations in the largest business city. For
the 11 economies with a population of
more than 100 million, data for a second
city have been added.
WHAT THE GETTING CREDIT INDICATORS

MEASURE
Strength of legal rights index (012)
Rights of borrowers and lenders through

collateral laws
Protection of secured creditors rights through
bankruptcy laws
Depth of credit information index (08)
Scope and accessibility of credit information

distributed by credit bureaus and credit
registries
Credit bureau coverage (% of adults)
Number of individuals and firms listed in
largest credit bureau as percentage of adult
population
Credit registry coverage (% of adults)
Number of individuals and firms listed in
credit registry as percentage of adult
population
Has up to 50 employees.
Is 100% domestically owned, as is the lender.
The ranking of economies on the ease of getting

credit is determined by sorting their distance to
frontier scores for getting credit. These scores are the
distance to frontier score for the strength of legal
rights index and the depth of credit information
index.
For the legal rights index, 2 new points are added in Doing Business 2015 for new data collected to assess the overall legal framework for
secured transactions and the functioning of the collateral registry.
4
For the credit information index, 2 new points are added in Doing Business 2015 for new data collected on accessing borrowers credit
information online and availability of credit scores.
3
Doing Business 2015
61
Brazil
GETTING CREDIT
How well do the credit information system and collateral
and bankruptcy laws in Brazil facilitate access to credit?
The economy has a score of 7 on the depth of credit
information index and a score of 2 on the strength of
legal rights index (see the summary of scoring at the end
of this chapter for details). Higher scores indicate more
credit information and stronger legal rights for
borrowers and lenders.

economies on the ease of getting credit (figure 6.1). The
rankings for comparator economies and the regional
assessing how well regulations and institutions in Brazil
support lending and borrowing.
Figure 6.1 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of getting credit
Doing Business 2015
62
Brazil
GETTING CREDIT
One way to put an economys score on the getting credit
indicators into context is to see where the economy
stands in the distribution of scores across economies.
Figure 6.2 highlights the score on the strength of legal
rights index for Brazil and shows the scores for

comparator economies as well as the regional average
score. Figure 6.3 shows the same for the depth of credit
information index.
Figure 6.2 How strong are legal rights for borrowers

and lenders?
Figure 6.3 How much credit information is shared

and how widely?
Economy scores on strength of legal rights index
Economy scores on depth of credit information index
Note: Higher scores indicate that collateral and bankruptcy

laws are better designed to facilitate access to credit.
Note: Higher scores indicate the availability of more credit

information, from either a credit registry or a credit bureau,
to facilitate lending decisions. If the credit bureau or registry
is not operational or covers less than 5% of the adult
population, the total score on the depth of credit
information index is 0.
Doing Business 2015
63
Brazil
GETTING CREDIT
When economies strengthen the legal rights of lenders
and borrowers under collateral and bankruptcy laws, and
increase the scope, coverage and accessibility of credit
information, they can increase entrepreneurs access to

credit. What credit reforms has Doing Business recorded
in Brazil (table 6.1)?
Table 6.1 How has Brazil made getting credit easieror not?
DB year
Reform
DB2012
Brazil improved its credit information system by allowing

private credit bureaus to collect and share positive information.
Doing Business 2015
64
Brazil
GETTING CREDIT
The getting credit indicators reported here for Brazil are
based on detailed information collected in that economy.
The data on credit information sharing are collected
through a survey of a credit registry and/or credit bureau
(if one exists). To construct the depth of credit
information index, a score of 1 is assigned for each of 8
features of the credit registry or credit bureau (see
summary of scoring below).
The data on the legal rights of borrowers and lenders are

gathered through a survey of financial lawyers and
verified through analysis of laws and regulations as well
as public sources of information on collateral and
bankruptcy laws. For the strength of legal rights index, a
score of 1 is assigned for each of 10 aspects related to
legal rights in collateral law and 2 aspects in bankruptcy
law.
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Index score: 2
Index score: 2
Does an integrated or unified legal framework for secured transactions

that extends to the creation, publicity and enforcement of functional
equivalents to security interests in movable assets exist in the economy?
No
No
Does the law allow businesses to grant a non possessory security right in a
single category of movable assets, without requiring a specific description
of collateral?
No
No
Does the law allow businesses to grant a non possessory security right in
substantially all of its assets, without requiring a specific description of
collateral?
No
No
May a security right extend to future or after-acquired assets, and may it

extend automatically to the products, proceeds or replacements of the
original assets?
No
No
Is a general description of debts and obligations permitted in collateral

agreements; can all types of debts and obligations be secured between
parties; and can the collateral agreement include a maximum amount for
which the assets are encumbered?
No
No
Is a collateral registry in operation for both incorporated and nonincorporated entities, that is unified geographically and by asset type, with
an electronic database indexed by debtor's name?
No
No
Does a notice-based collateral registry exist in which all functional

equivalents can be registered?
No
No
Does a modern collateral registry exist in which registrations,

amendments, cancellations and searches can be performed online by any
interested third party?
No
No
Doing Business 2015
65
Brazil
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Index score: 2
Index score: 2
Are secured creditors paid first (i.e. before tax claims and employee
claims) when a debtor defaults outside an insolvency procedure?
No
No
Are secured creditors paid first (i.e. before tax claims and employee
claims) when a business is liquidated?
No
No
Are secured creditors subject to an automatic stay on enforcement when a

debtor enters a court-supervised reorganization procedure? Does the law
protect secured creditors rights by providing clear grounds for relief from
the stay and/or sets a time limit for it?
Yes
Yes
Does the law allow parties to agree on out of court enforcement at the
time a security interest is created? Does the law allow the secured creditor
to sell the collateral through public auction and private tender, as well as,
for the secured creditor to keep the asset in satisfaction of the debt?
Yes
Yes
Credit bureau
Credit registry
Index score: 7
Are data on both firms and individuals distributed?
Yes
Yes
Are both positive and negative credit data distributed?
No
Yes
Are data from retailers or utility companies - in

addition to data from banks and financial institutions distributed?
Yes
No
Are at least 2 years of historical data distributed?

(Credit bureaus and registries that distribute more
than 10 years of negative data or erase data on
defaults as soon as they are repaid obtain a score of 0
for this component.)
No
No
Are data on loan amounts below 1% of income per

capita distributed?
Yes
No
By law, do borrowers have the right to access their

data in the credit bureau or credit registry?
Yes
Yes
Can banks and financial institutions access borrowers

credit information online (for example, through an
online platform, a system-to-system connection or
both)?
Yes
Yes
Are bureau or registry credit scores offered as a valueadded service to help banks and financial institutions
assess the creditworthiness of borrowers?
Yes
No
Depth of credit information index (08)
Note: Prior to Doing Business 2015, the depth of credit information index covered only the first 6 features listed above. An
economy receives a score of 1 if there is a "yes" to either bureau or registry. If the credit bureau or registry is not operational or
Doing Business 2015
66
Brazil
covers less than 5% of the adult population, the total score on the depth of credit information index is 0.
Credit bureau
(% of adults)
Credit registry
(% of adults)
Number of firms
6,226,581
3,928,052
Number of individuals
80,925,949
68,030,022
63.6
52.5
Coverage
Percent of total
Doing Business 2015
67
Brazil
PROTECTING MINORITY INVESTORS

Protecting minority investors matters for the ability of
companies to raise the capital they need to grow,
innovate, diversify and compete. Effective regulations
define related-party transactions precisely, promote
clear and efficient disclosure requirements, require
shareholder participation in major decisions of the
company and set detailed standards of accountability
for company insiders.
WHAT THE PROTECTING MINORITY

INVESTORS INDICATORS MEASURE
Extent of disclosure index (010)
Review and approval requirements for related-party
transactions ; Disclosure requirements for related-party
transactions
Doing Business measures the protection of minority

investors from conflicts of interest through one set of
indicators and shareholders rights in corporate
governance through another. The ranking of economies
on the strength of minority investor protections is
determined by sorting their distance to frontier scores
for protecting minority investors. These scores are the
simple average of the distance to frontier scores for the
extent of conflict of interest regulation index and the
extent of shareholder governance index. To make the
data comparable across economies, a case study uses
several assumptions about the business and the
transaction.
Extent of director liability index (010)
The business (Buyer):
Extent of shareholder rights index (0-10.5)
Is a publicly traded corporation listed on the

economys most important stock exchange
(or at least a large private company with
multiple shareholders).
Has a board of directors and a chief executive
officer (CEO) who may legally act on behalf of
Buyer where permitted, even if this is not
specifically required by law.
The transaction involves the following details:
Mr. James, a director and the majority

shareholder of the company, proposes that
the company purchase used trucks from
another company he owns.
The price is higher than the going price for
used trucks, but the transaction goes forward.
All required approvals are obtained, and all

required disclosures made, though the
transaction is prejudicial to Buyer.
Shareholders sue the interested parties and

the members of the board of directors.
Ability of minority shareholders to sue and hold interested

directors liable for prejudicial related-party transactions;
Available legal remedies (damages, disgorgement of
profits, fines, imprisonment, rescission of the transaction)
Ease of shareholder suits index (010)

Access to internal corporate documents; Evidence
obtainable during trial and allocation of legal expenses
Extent of conflict of interest regulation index

(010)
Sum of the extent of disclosure, extent of director liability
and ease of shareholder indices, divided by 3
Shareholders rights and role in major corporate decisions
Strength of governance structure index (010.5)

Governance safeguards protecting shareholders from
undue board control and entrenchment
Extent of corporate transparency index (0-9)

Corporate transparency on ownership stakes,
compensation, audits and financial prospects
Extent of shareholder governance index

(010)
Sum of the extent of shareholders rights, strength of
governance structure and extent of corporate transparency
indices, divided by 3
Strength of investor protection index (010)

Simple average of the extent of conflict of interest
regulation and extent of shareholder governance indices
Doing Business 2015
68
Brazil

How strong are minority investor protections against
self-dealing in Brazil? The economy has a score of 6.3 on
the strength of minority investor protection index, with a
higher score indicating stronger protections.
economies on the strength of minority investor
protection index (figure 7.1). While the indicator does

not measure all aspects related to the protection of
minority investors, a higher ranking does indicate that an
economys regulations offer stronger minority investor
protections against self-dealing in the areas measured.
Figure 7.1 How Brazil and comparator economies perform on the strength of minority investor protection index
Doing Business 2015
69
Brazil

One way to put an economys scores on the protecting
minority investors indicators into context is to see where
the economy stands in the distribution of scores across
comparator economies. Figures 7.2 through 7.7 highlight
the scores on the various minority investor protection
indices for Brazil in 2014. A summary of scoring for the

protecting minority investors indicators at the end of this
chapter provides details on how the indices were
calculated.
Figure 7.2 How extensive are disclosure
Figure 7.3 How extensive is the liability regime for

directors?
requirements?
Extent of disclosure index (0-10)
Note: Higher scores indicate greater disclosure.

Extent of director liability index (0-10)
Note: Higher scores indicate greater liability of directors.

Doing Business 2015
Brazil

Figure 7.4 How easy is accessing internal corporate documents?
Ease of shareholder suits index (0-10)
Note: Higher scores indicate greater minority shareholder

access to evidence before and during trial.
70
Doing Business 2015
Brazil

Figure 7.5 How extensive are shareholder rights?
Note: The higher the score, the stronger the protections.

Figure 7.6 How strong is the governance structure?

Strength of governance structure index (0-10.5)
Note: Higher scores indicate more stringent governance

structure requirements.
71
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
Figure 7.7 How extensive is corporate transparency?

Note: Higher scores indicate greater transparency.

72
Doing Business 2015
73
Brazil

The protecting minority investors indicators reported
here for Brazil are based on detailed information
collected through a survey of corporate and securities
lawyers about securities regulations, company laws and
court rules of evidence and procedure. To construct the
six indicators on minority investor protection, scores are
assigned to each based on a range of conditions relating
to disclosure, director liability, shareholder suits,

shareholder rights, governance structure and corporate
transparency in a standard case study (for more details,
see the Data Notes section of the Doing Business 2015
report). The summary below shows the details underlying
the scores for Brazil.
Table 7.2 Summary of scoring for the protecting minority investors indicators in Brazil
Answer (So
Paulo )
Score (So
Paulo )
5.0
CEO alone
Is disclosure by the interested director to the board of

directors required? (0-2)
Full disclosure of
all material facts
Is disclosure of the transaction in published periodic filings

(annual reports) required? (0-2)
Disclosure on the
transaction and
on the conflict of
interest
Is immediate disclosure of the transaction to the public

and/or shareholders required? (0-2)
Disclosure on the
transaction only
Extent of disclosure index (0-10)

Which corporate body can provide legally sufficient approval
for the Buyer-Seller transaction? (0-3)
Must an external body review the terms of the transaction

No
before it takes place? (0-1)
Extent of director liability index (0-10)
Can shareholders sue directly or derivatively for the damage
Yes
caused by the Buyer-Seller transaction to the company? (0-1)
Can shareholders hold the interested director liable for the Liable if unfair or
damage caused by the transaction to the company? (0-2)
prejudicial
Can shareholders hold members of the approving body
liable for the damage cause by the transaction to the
Liable if negligent
company? (0-2)
Must the interested director pay damages for the harm
caused to the company upon a successful claim by a
Yes
shareholder plaintiff? (0-1)
Must the interested director repay profits made from the
transaction upon a successful claim by a shareholder
Yes
plaintiff? (0-1)
Can both fines and imprisonment be applied against the
No
interested indrector? (0-1)
Can a court void the transaction upon a successful claim by a Voidable if unfair
shareholder plaintiff? (0-2)
or prejducial
Answer (Rio Score (Rio de

de Janeiro)
Janeiro)
5.0
CEO alone
Full disclosure
of all material
facts
Disclosure on
the transaction
and on the
conflict of
interest
Disclosure on
the transaction
only
No
8.0
0
2
1
0
8.0
Yes
Liable if unfair
or prejudicial
Liable if
negligent
Yes
Yes
No
Voidable if
unfair or
Doing Business 2015
74
Brazil
prejducial
Ease of shareholder suits index (0-10)
Before filing suit, can shareholders owning 10% of the
companys share capital inspect the transaction documents?
No
(0-1)
Can the plaintiff obtain any documents from the defendant
Any relevant
and witnesses during trial? (0-3)
document
Can the plaintiff request categories of documents from the
No
defendant without identifying specific ones? (0-1)
Can the plaintiff directly question the defendant and
No
witnesses during trial? (0-2)
Is the level of proof required for civil suits lower than that of
No
criminal cases? (0-1)
Can shareholder plaintiffs recover their legal expenses from
Yes if successful
the company? (0-2)
Strength of minority investor protection index (0-10)
Extent of conflict of interest regulation index (0-10)
Can shareholders amend company bylaws or statutes with a
Yes
simple majority?
Can shareholders owning 10% of the company's share
Yes
capital call for an extraordinary meeting of shareholders?
Can shareholders remove members of the board of directors
Yes
before the end of their term.
Must a company obtain its shareholders approval every time
Yes
it issues new shares?
Are shareholders automatically granted subscription rights
Yes
on new shares?
Must shareholders approve the election and dismissal of the
No
external auditor?
Can shareholders freely trade shares prior to a major
No
corporate action or meeting of shareholders?
Strength of governance structure index (0-10.5)
Is the CEO barred from also serving as chair of the board of
Yes
directors?
Must the board of directors include independent board
No
members?
Must a company have a separate audit committee?
Yes
Must changes to the voting rights of a series or class of
shares be approved only by the holders of the affected
Yes
shares?
Must a potential acquirer make a tender offer to all
Yes for listed
shareholders upon acquiring 50% of a company?
companies
Is cross-shareholding between 2 independent companies
No
limited to 10% of outstanding shares?
Is a subsidiary barred from acquiring shares issued by its
No
parent company?
Yes for listed
Must ownership stakes representing 10% be disclosed?
companies
Must information about board members other directorships
Yes for listed
as well as basic information on their primary employment be
companies
4.0
4.0
No
Any relevant
document
No
No
No
Yes if
successful
6.3
5.7
7.5
6.3
5.7
7.5
1.5
Yes
1.5
1.5
Yes
1.5
1.5
Yes
1.5
1.5
Yes
1.5
1.5
Yes
1.5
No
No
5.5
5.5
1.5
Yes
1.5
No
1.5
Yes
1.5
1.5
Yes
1.5
Yes for listed

companies
No
No
7.5
1
1
7.5
Yes for listed
companies
Yes for listed
companies
1
1
Doing Business 2015
75
Brazil
disclosed?
Must the compensation of individual managers be disclosed?
Must financial statements contain explanatory notes on
significant accounting policies, trends, risks, uncertainties
and other factors influencing the reporting?
Must annual financial statements be audited by an external
auditor?
Must audit reports be disclosed to the public?
Extent of shareholder governance index (0-10)
Yes for listed

companies
Yes for listed

companies
Yes
1.5
Yes
1.5
Yes
1.5
Yes
1.5
Yes
1.5
6.8
Yes
1.5
6.8
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
PAYING TAXES
Taxes are essential. The level of tax rates needs to be
carefully chosenand needless complexity in tax
rules avoided. Firms in economies that rank better
on the ease of paying taxes in the Doing Business
study tend to perceive both tax rates and tax
administration as less of an obstacle to business
according to the World Bank Enterprise Survey
research.
Using a case scenario, Doing Business measures the
taxes and mandatory contributions that a mediumsize company must pay in a given year as well as the
administrative burden of paying taxes and
contributions. This case scenario uses a set of
financial statements and assumptions about
transactions made over the year. Information is also
compiled on the frequency of filing and payments as
well as time taken to comply with tax laws. The
ranking of economies on the ease of paying taxes is
determined by sorting their distance to frontier
scores on the ease of paying taxes. These scores are
the simple average of the distance to frontier scores
for each of the component indicators, with a
threshold and a nonlinear transformation applied to
5
one of the component indicators, the total tax rate .
The financial statement variables have been updated
to be proportional to 2012 income per capita;
previously they were proportional to 2005 income
per capita. To make the data comparable across
economies, several assumptions are used.
TaxpayerCo is a medium-size business that

started operations on January 1, 2012.
The business starts from the same financial

position in each economy. All the taxes
and mandatory contributions paid during
the second year of operation are recorded.
Taxes and mandatory contributions are

measured at all levels of government.
WHAT THE PAYING TAXES INDICATORS

MEASURE
Tax payments for a manufacturing company
in 2013 (number per year adjusted for
electronic and joint filing and payment)
Total number of taxes and contributions paid,
including consumption taxes (value added tax,
sales tax or goods and service tax)
Method and frequency of filing and payment
Time required to comply with 3 major taxes
(hours per year)
Collecting information and computing the tax
payable
Completing tax return forms, filing with
proper agencies
Arranging payment or withholding
Preparing separate tax accounting books, if
required
Total tax rate (% of profit before all taxes)
Profit or corporate income tax
Social contributions and labor taxes paid by
the employer
Property and property transfer taxes
Dividend, capital gains and financial
transactions taxes
Waste collection, vehicle, road and other taxes
Taxes and mandatory contributions include

corporate income tax, turnover tax and all
labor taxes and contributions paid by the
company.
A range of standard deductions and

exemptions are also recorded.
The nonlinear distance to frontier for the total tax rate is equal to the distance to frontier for the total tax rate to the power of 0.8. The threshold is
defined as the total tax rate at the 15th percentile of the overall distribution for all years included in the analysis. It is calculated and adjusted on a
yearly basis. The threshold is not based on any economic theory of an optimal tax rate that minimizes distortions or maximizes efficiency in the tax
system of an economy overall. Instead, it is mainly empirical in nature, set at the lower end of the distribution of tax rates levied on medium-size
enterprises in the manufacturing sector as observed through the paying taxes indicators. This reduces the bias in the indicators toward economies
that do not need to levy significant taxes on companies like the Doing Business standardized case study company because they raise public revenue
in other waysfor example, through taxes on foreign companies, through taxes on sectors other than manufacturing or from natural resources (all
of which are outside the scope of the methodology). This years threshold is 26.1%.
5
Doing Business 2015
77
Brazil
PAYING TAXES
What is the administrative burden of complying with
taxes in Braziland how much do firms pay in taxes? On
average, firms make 9.0 tax payments a year, spend
2600.0 hours a year filing, preparing and paying taxes
and pay total taxes amounting to 69.0% of profit (see the
summary at the end of this chapter for details). Most
indicator sets refer to a case scenario in the largest

this profile for more details.
economies on the ease of paying taxes (figure 8.1). The
rankings for comparator economies and the regional
assessing the tax compliance burden for businesses in
Brazil.
Figure 8.1 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of paying taxes
Doing Business 2015
78
Brazil
PAYING TAXES
Economies around the world have made paying taxes
faster and easier for businessessuch as by
consolidating filings, reducing the frequency of
payments or offering electronic filing and payment.
Many have lowered tax rates. Changes have brought
concrete results. Some economies simplifying tax

payment and reducing rates have seen tax revenue rise.
What tax reforms has Doing Business recorded in Brazil
(table 8.1)?
Table 8.1 How has Brazil made paying taxes easieror not?
DB year
Reform
DB2010
Brazil made paying taxes less costly for companies by

abolishing the tax on check transactions.
Doing Business 2015
79
Brazil
PAYING TAXES
the taxes and contributions that would be paid by a
standardized case study company used by Doing
Business in collecting the data (see the section in this
chapter on what the indicators cover). Tax
practitioners are asked to review a set of financial
statements as well as a standardized list of
assumptions and transactions that the company
completed during its 2nd year of operation.
Respondents are asked how much taxes and
mandatory contributions the business must pay and
how these taxes are filed and paid.
LOCATION OF STANDARDIZED COMPANY

The taxes and contributions paid are listed in the

summary below, along with the associated number of
payments, time and tax rate.
Table 8.2 Summary of tax rates and administration

Total tax Notes on
Statutory
Tax base rate (% of total tax
tax rate
profit)
rate
So Paulo : Tax or
mandatory
contribution
Payments
(number)
Notes on
payments
Time
(hours)
Employer paid - Social

security contributions (INSS)
online filing
490
20%
gross
salaries
22.6
taxable
profit
18.2
Corporate income tax (IRPJ)
online filing
736
15%+10%
(surcharge
applies on
annual
taxable
income
exceeding
R$ 240,000)
Employer paid - Payroll tax
online filing
8.8%
net
salaries
9.3
Employer paid - Severance

contribution (FGTS)
paid jointly
8%
net
salaries
8.4
Social contribution (CSLL)
online filing
9%
taxable
profit
6.6
Property tax
2.5%
market
value of
property
3.7
Doing Business 2015
So Paulo : Tax or
mandatory
contribution
Tax on interest
80
Brazil
Payments
(number)
Notes on
payments
Time
(hours)
withheld
Vehicle tax
Employee paid - Social

paid jointly
Total tax Notes on

Statutory
tax rate
profit)
rate
15%-22.5%
interest
income
0.5
not
included
1.5%
market
value of
vehicle
0.1
11%
gross
salaries
withheld
not
included
ICMS (similar to VAT)
online filing
1374
18%
value
added
(including
taxes)
PIS/COFINS (similar to VAT)
online filing
9.25%
value
added
not
included
20%
value
added
(including
taxes)
not
included
IPI (similar to VAT)
Totals
online filing
9.0
2600.0
68.9
Total tax Notes on

Statutory
tax rate
profit)
rate
Rio de Janeiro: Tax or

mandatory
contribution
Payments
(number)
Notes on
payments
Time
(hours)
Employer paid - Social

online filing
490
20%
gross
salaries
22.6
taxable
profit
18.1
Corporate income tax (IRPJ)
online filing
736
15%+10%
(surcharge
applies on
annual
taxable
income
exceeding
R$ 240,000)
Employer paid - Payroll tax
online filing
8.8%
net
salaries
9.3
Employer paid - Severance

contribution (FGTS)
paid jointly
8%
net
salaries
8.4
Social contribution (CSLL)
online filing
9%
taxable
profit
6.5
Doing Business 2015
Rio de Janeiro: Tax or

mandatory
contribution
81
Brazil
Payments
(number)
Property tax
Tax on interest
Vehicle tax
Notes on
payments
withheld
Time
(hours)
Total tax Notes on

Statutory
tax rate
profit)
rate
2.8%
market
value of
property
4.1
20%
interest
income
0.5
1%
market
value of
vehicle
0.1
not
included
not
included
ICMS (similar to VAT)
online filing
1374
19%
value
added
(including
taxes)
PIS/COFINS (similar to VAT)
online filing
9.25%
value
added
not
included
not
included
withheld
IPI (similar to VAT)
online filing
20%
value
added
(including
taxes)
Employee paid - Social

paid jointly
11%
gross
salaries
Totals
9.0
2600.0
69.2
Doing Business 2015
82
Brazil
TRADING ACROSS BORDERS

In todays globalized world, making trade between
economies easier is increasingly important for
business. Excessive document requirements,
burdensome customs procedures, inefficient port
operations and inadequate infrastructure all lead to
extra costs and delays for exporters and importers,
stifling trade potential. Research shows that
exporters in developing countries gain more from a
10% drop in their trading costs than from a similar
reduction in the tariffs applied to their products in
global markets.
Doing Business measures the time and cost
(excluding tariffs and the time and cost for sea
transport) associated with exporting and importing a
standard shipment of goods by sea transport, and
the number of documents necessary to complete the
transaction. The indicators cover predefined stages
such as documentation requirements and procedures
at customs and other regulatory agencies as well as
at the port. They also cover trade logistics, including
the time and cost of inland transport to the largest
business city. The ranking of economies on the ease
of trading across borders is determined by sorting
their distance to frontier scores for trading across
borders. These scores are the simple average of the
distance to frontier scores for each of the component
indicators. To make the data comparable across
economies, Doing Business uses several assumptions
about the business and the traded goods.
WHAT THE TRADING ACROSS BORDERS

INDICATORS MEASURE
Documents required to export and import
(number)
Bank documents
Customs clearance documents
Port and terminal handling documents
Transport documents
Time required to export and import (days)
Obtaining, filling out and submitting all the
documents
Inland transport and handling
Customs clearance and inspections
Port and terminal handling
Does not include sea transport time
Cost required to export and import (US$ per
container)
All documentation
Inland transport and handling
Port and terminal handling
The business:
Is located in the economys largest

business city. For the 11 economies with a
population of more than 100 million, data
for a second city have been added.
Is a private, limited liability company,
domestically owned and does not operate
with special export or import privileges.
Conducts export and import activities, but
does not have any special accreditation
such as an authorized economic operator
status.
The traded product:
Is not hazardous nor includes military items.
Does not require refrigeration or any other

special environment.
Do not require any special phytosanitary or

environmental safety standards other than
accepted international standards.
Is one of the economys leading export or

import products.
Is transported in a dry-cargo, 20-foot full

container load.
Doing Business 2015
83
Brazil

What does it take to export or import in Brazil?
According to data collected by Doing Business, exporting
a standard container of goods requires 6 documents,
takes 13.4 days and costs $2322.8. Importing the same
container of goods requires 8 documents, takes 17.0
days and costs $2322.8 (see the summary of four
predefined stages and documents at the end of this
chapter for details). Most indicator sets refer to a case
scenario in the largest business city of an economy,
except for 11 economies for which the data are a
population-weighted average of the 2 largest business

cities. See the chapter on distance to frontier and ease of
doing business ranking at the end of this profile for more
details.
economies on the ease of trading across borders (figure
information for assessing how easy it is for a business in
Brazil to export and import goods.
Figure 9.1 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of trading across borders
Doing Business 2015
84
Brazil

The indicators reported here for Brazil are based on a
set of specific predefined stages for trading a
standard shipment of goods by ocean transport (see
the section in this chapter on what the indicators
cover). Information on the required documents and
the time and cost to complete export and import is
collected from local freight forwarders, shipping lines,
customs brokers, port officials and banks.
LOCATION OF STANDARDIZED COMPANY

Port Name - Rio de Janeiro: Santos
Port Name - So Paulo : Santos
The predefined stages, and the associated time and cost,
for exporting and importing a standard shipment of
goods are listed in the summary below, along with the
required documents.
So Paulo
Stages to export
Rio de Janeiro
Time (days)
Cost (US$)
Time (days)
Cost (US$)
400
400
Documents preparation
325
325
Inland transportation and handling
700
1,720
Ports and terminal handling
500
500
Totals
13
1,925
14
2,945
So Paulo
Stages to import
Rio de Janeiro
Time (days)
Cost (US$)
Time (days)
Cost (US$)
450
450
Documents preparation
275
275
Inland transportation and handling
700
1,720
Ports and terminal handling
500
500
Totals
17
1,925
17
2,945
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
Documents to export
Bill of lading
Commercial invoice
Customs export declaration
Export Invoice (Nota Fiscal)
Packing list
Technical standards/ Health certificate
Documents to import
Bank document
Bill of lading
Cargo release order
Commercial invoice
Customs import declaration
Entry Invoice (Nota Fiscal)
Packing list
Technical standard/health certificate
85
Doing Business 2015
86
Brazil
ENFORCING CONTRACTS
Effective commercial dispute resolution has many
benefits. Courts are essential for entrepreneurs
because they interpret the rules of the market and
protect economic rights. Efficient and transparent
courts encourage new business relationships because
businesses know they can rely on the courts if a new
customer fails to pay. Speedy trials are essential for
small enterprises, which may lack the resources to
stay in business while awaiting the outcome of a long
court dispute.
Doing Business measures the efficiency of the judicial
system in resolving a commercial dispute before
local courts. Following the step-by-step evolution of
a standardized case study, it collects data relating to
the time, cost and procedural complexity of resolving
a commercial lawsuit. The ranking on the ease of
enforcing contracts is the simple average of the
percentile rankings on its component indicators:
procedures, time and cost.
The dispute in the case study involves the breach of a
sales contract between 2 domestic businesses. The
case study assumes that the court hears an expert on
the quality of the goods in dispute. This distinguishes
the case from simple debt enforcement. To make the
data comparable across economies, Doing Business
uses several assumptions about the case:
The seller and buyer are located in the

economys largest business city. For the 11
economies with a population of more than
100 million, data for a second city have
been added.
The buyer orders custom-made goods,
then fails to pay.
The seller sues the buyer before a
competent court.
The value of the claim is 200% of the
income per capita or the equivalent in local
currency of USD 5,000, whichever is
greater.
WHAT THE ENFORCING CONTRACTS

INDICATORS MEASURE
Procedures to enforce a contract through
the courts (number)
Steps to file and serve the case
Steps for trial and judgment
Steps to enforce the judgment
Time required to complete procedures
(calendar days)
Time to file and serve the case
Time for trial and obtaining judgment
Time to enforce the judgment
Cost required to complete procedures (% of
claim)
Average attorney fees
Court costs
Enforcement costs
The seller requests a pretrial attachment to

secure the claim.
The dispute on the quality of the goods

requires an expert opinion.
The judge decides in favor of the seller; there

is no appeal.
The seller enforces the judgment through a

public sale of the buyers movable assets.
Doing Business 2015
87
Brazil
ENFORCING CONTRACTS
How efficient is the process of resolving a commercial
dispute through the courts in Brazil? According to data
collected by Doing Business, contract enforcement takes
731.0 days, costs 16.5% of the value of the claim and
requires 43.6 procedures (see the summary at the end of
this chapter for details). Most indicator sets refer to a
case scenario in the largest business city of an economy,
except for 11 economies for which the data are a
population-weighted average of the 2 largest business
cities. See the chapter on distance to frontier and ease of

doing business ranking at the end of this profile for more
details.
economies on the ease of enforcing contracts (figure
benchmarks for assessing the efficiency of contract
enforcement in Brazil.
Figure 10.1 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of enforcing contracts
Doing Business 2015
88
Brazil
ENFORCING CONTRACTS
Economies in all regions have improved contract
enforcement in recent years. A judiciary can be improved
in different ways. Higher-income economies tend to look
for ways to enhance efficiency by introducing new
technology. Lower-income economies often work on
reducing backlogs by introducing periodic reviews to

clear inactive cases from the docket and by making
procedures faster. What reforms making it easier (or
more difficult) to enforce contracts has Doing Business
recorded in Brazil (table 10.1)?
Table 10.1 How has Brazil made enforcing contracts easieror not?
DB year
Reform
DB2013
Brazil made enforcing contracts easier by implementing an

electronic system for filing initial complaints at the So Paulo
civil district court.
Doing Business 2015
89
Brazil
ENFORCING CONTRACTS
a set of specific procedural steps required to resolve
a standardized commercial dispute through the
courts (see the section in this chapter on what the
indicators cover). These procedures, and the time
and cost of completing them, are identified through
study of the codes of civil procedure and other court
regulations, as well as through questionnaires
completed by local litigation lawyers (and, in a
quarter of the economies covered by Doing Business,
by judges as well).
COURT NAME
Claim value - Rio de
Janeiro:
BRL 43,616
Claim value - So
Paulo :
BRL 43,616
Court name - Rio de

Janeiro:
Rio de Janeiro Civil Court

(Vara Cvel)
Court name - So
Paulo :
So Paulo Civil District

Court
City:
Table 10.2 Summary of time, cost and procedures for enforcing a contract in Brazil
Indicator
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Latin America &

Caribbean
average
Time (days)
731
731
737
Filing and service
41
41
Trial and judgment
480
480
Enforcement of judgment
210
210
Cost (% of claim)
16.5
16.5
Attorney cost (% of claim)
12.6
12.6
Court cost (% of claim)
2.8
2.8
Enforcement Cost (% of claim)
1.1
1.1
Procedures (number)
44
43
Number of procedures (without bonus points)
45
45
Electronic filing of court cases
-1
-1
Specialized commercial courts
30.6
40
Doing Business 2015
90
Brazil
Indicator
Total number of procedures (including bonus points)
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
44
44
Latin America &

Caribbean
average
Doing Business 2015
No.
Brazil
91
So Paulo Procedures
Filing and service:
Plaintiff requests payment: Plaintiff or his lawyer asks Defendant orally or in writing to comply with the
contract.
Plaintiff hires a lawyer: Plaintiff hires a lawyer.
Plaintiff files a summons and complaint: Plaintiff files a summons and complaint with the court (orally or
in writing).
Plaintiff pays court fees: Plaintiff pays court fees (e.g. court duties, stamp duties, or any other type of court
fees). Answer yes even if Plaintiff recovers these costs.
Registration of court case: Registration of court case by the court administration (this can include
assigning a reference number to the case).
Assignment of court case to a judge: Assignment of court case to a judge (through a random procedure,
automated system, ruling of an administrative judge, court officer, etc).
Judicial scrutiny of summons and complaint: Judge examines Plaintiff's summons and complaint for
formal requirements as a matter of law or standard practice.
Judge admits summons and complaint: Judge admits summons and complaint (after verifying the formal
requirements).
Plaintiff requests service of process on Defendant: Plaintiff requests in writing to the court for an order
that process be served on Defendant.
Court order for service: Upon Plaintiffs request, judge orders process be served on Defendant.
Delivery of summons and complaint to person authorized to perform service of process on Defendant:
The judge or a court officer delivers the summons to a summoning office, officer, or authorized person
(including Plaintiff), for service of process on Defendant.
Mailing of summons and complaint: Court or process server, including (private) bailiff, mails summons
and complaint to Defendant.
Attempt at physical delivery: An attempt to physically deliver summons and complaint to Defendant is
made.
Second attempt at physical delivery: If a first attempt is not ordinarily successful, a second attempt to
physically deliver the summons and complaint to Defendant is required by law or standard practice.
(Check yes only if a first attempt at physical delivery is not ordinarily successful)
10
Application for substituted service: Because physical delivery is NOT successful, Plaintiff has recourse to
substituted service. Substituted service can include, but is not limited to, service by publication in
newspapers or affixing of a notice in court or on public bulletin boards. Only ch
11
Court order regarding substituted service: Judge in a court order sets out acceptable means for
substituted service in a particular case.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
92
No.
So Paulo Procedures
12
Substituted service: Substituted service is completed by publication in newspapers, by affixing a notice in

court or on public bulletin boards, etc.
Application for pre-judgment attachment: Plaintiff submits an application in writing for the attachment of
Defendant's property prior to judgment.
Decision on pre-judgment attachment: Judge decides whether to grant Plaintiffs request for prejudgment attachment of Defendants property and notifies Plaintiff and Defendant of the decision.
13
Pre-judgment attachment order: Defendant's property is attached prior to judgment. Attachment order
either involves physical attachment, or is achieved by freezing, registering, marking, or otherwise
separating and restricting Defendants movement of specific moveable assets.
14
Report on pre-judgment attachment: Court enforcement officer or private bailiff issues and delivers a
report on the attachment of Defendants property to the judge.
Trial and judgment:
Defendant files preliminary objections.: Defendant presents preliminary objections to the court.
(Preliminary exemptions differ from answers on the merits. Examples of preliminary motions are motions
to dismiss on the basis of the statute of limitations or jurisdictional objections, etc.) Checke
Plaintiffs answer to preliminary motions: Plaintiff responds to preliminary motions raised by Defendant.
Checked as yes if preliminary motions are commonly raised (step 30) and if Plaintiff responds to them
immediately.
15
Judges resolution on preliminary objections: Judge decides on preliminary objections separately from the
merits of the case. Checked as yes if preliminary objections are commonly made (step 30) and if judge
resolves the question before rendering his decision.
16
Defendant files an answer to Plaintiffs claim: Defendant files a written pleading which includes his answer
or defense on the merits of the case (see assumption 4).
17
Plaintiffs written reply to Defendant's answer: Plaintiff responds to Defendants answer with a written
pleading, which may or may not include witness statements or expert (witness) statements.
18
Framing of issues: Plaintiff and Defendant assist the court in framing issues on which evidence is to be
presented.
Court appointment of independent expert: Judge appoints, either at the parties' request or at his own
initiative, an independent expert to decide whether the quality of the goods Plaintiff delivered to
Defendant is adequate. (see assumption 5-b).
19
Notification of court-appointment of independent expert: The court notifies both parties that the court is
appointing an independent expert (see assumption 5-b).
Delivery of expert report by court-appointed expert: The independent expert, appointed by the court,
delivers his or her expert report to the court (see assumption 5-b).
Setting of date for mediation hearing: The judge sets a date for a mediation hearing, sometimes also
called a 'pre-trial conference,' and notifies the parties of the hearing date.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
93
No.
So Paulo Procedures
20
Mediation hearing: The judge, during this informal meeting with the parties, encourages them to settle
the case (acting as mediator). The case cannot be settled, the judge may draft a pre-trial conference
report, after which the case may be allocated to another judge for tr
Setting of date(s) for oral hearing or trial: Judge sets the date(s) for the oral hearing or trial.
List of (expert) witnesses: The parties file a list of (expert) witnesses with the court (see assumption 5-a).
21
Summoning of (expert) witnesses: The court summons (expert) witnesses to appear in court for the oral
hearing or trial (see assumption 5-a).
22
Oral hearing (prevalent in civil law): The parties argue the merits of the case at an oral hearing before the
judge. Witnesses and a court-appointed independent expert may be heard and questioned at the oral
hearing.
23
Closing of the evidence period: The court makes the formal decision to close the evidence period.
24
Order for submission of final arguments: The judge sets a deadline for the submission of final factual and
legal arguments.
Final arguments: The parties present their final factual and legal arguments to the court either by oral
presentation or by a written submission.
25
Writing of judgment: The judge produces a written copy of the judgment.
26
Registration of judgment: The court office registers the judgment after receiving a written copy of the
judgment.
27
Court notification of availability of the written judgment: The court notifies the parties that the written
judgment is available at the courthouse.
28
Appeal period: By law Defendant has the opportunity to appeal the judgment during a specified period.
Defendant decides not to appeal. Seller decides to start enforcing the judgment when the appeal period
ends (see assumption 8).
29
Order for reimbursement by Defendant of Plaintiff's court fees: The judgment orders Defendant to
reimburse Plaintiff for the court fees Plaintiff has advanced, because Defendant has lost the case.
Enforcement of judgment:
Plaintiff hires a lawyer: Plaintiff hires a lawyer to enforce the judgment or continues to be represented by
a lawyer during the enforcement of judgment phase.
30
Publication of judgment: The judgment is published in an official journal, gazette or local newspaper.
Plaintiff requests an enforcement order: Plaintiff applies to the court to obtain the enforcement order
('seal' on judgment).
31
Attachment of enforcement order to judgment: The judge attaches the enforcement order (seal) to the
judgment.
Plaintiffs request for physical enforcement: As Plaintiff commonly fears that Defendant might physically
resist the taking into custody of its previously attached movable assets, Plaintiff requests the judge or the
police authorities to obtain police assistance during the physical enforcement of the
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
94
No.
So Paulo Procedures
32
Judge's order for physical enforcement: Judge orders the police to assist with the physical enforcement of
the attachment of Defendant's movable assets. Check as yes only if the pretrial order of attachment for
Defendants moveable assets does not ordinarily involve physical seizure of the as
33
Request to Defendant to comply voluntarily with judgment: Plaintiff, a court enforcement officer or a
private bailiff requests Defendant to voluntarily comply with the judgment.
34
Contestation of selection of assets identified for sale: A party, Plaintiff or Defendant, which was not
involved in the designation of the assets for attachment, contests the selection of assets for enforcement
of judgment through a sale.
35
Plaintiff identifies Defendant's assets for attachment: Plaintiff identifies Defendant's assets for attachment.
36
Attachment: Defendants movable goods are attached (physically or by registering, marking or separating
assets).
37
Report on execution of attachment: A court enforcement officer or private bailiff delivers a report on the
attachment of Defendant's movable goods to the judge.
38
Valuation or appraisal of attached movable goods: The court or court-appointed valuation expert
evaluates the attached goods.
39
Enforcement disputes before court: The enforcement of the judgment is delayed because Defendant
opposes aspects of the enforcement process before the judge.
40
Call for public auction: Judge calls a public auction by, for example, advertising or publication in the
newspapers.
41
Sale through public auction: The Defendants movable property is sold at public auction.
Direct sale: Defendant's property is sold but not through a public auction. Checked as yes if the direct
sale is common as an alternative to a public auction (assumption 9 is disregarded here).
42
Judge's decision on bids: Judge determines the adequacy of the bids presented at public auction.
43
Distribution of proceeds: The proceeds of the public auction are distributed to Plaintiff (and, where
applicable, to other creditors, according to the rules of priority).
44
Reimbursement of Plaintiffs enforcement fees: Defendant reimburses Plaintiff's enforcement fees which
Plaintiff had advanced previously.
45
Payment: Court orders that the proceeds of the public auction or the direct sale be delivered to Plaintiff.
No.
Rio de Janeiro Procedures

Filing and service:
* Not counted in the total number of procedures.

Doing Business 2015
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Brazil
RESOLVING INSOLVENCY
A robust bankruptcy system functions as a filter,
ensuring the survival of economically efficient
companies and reallocating the resources of
inefficient ones. Fast and cheap insolvency
proceedings result in the speedy return of businesses
to normal operation and increase returns to
creditors. By improving the expectations of creditors
and debtors about the outcome of insolvency
proceedings, well-functioning insolvency systems can
facilitate access to finance, save more viable
businesses and thereby improve growth and
sustainability in the economy overall.
WHAT THE RESOLVING INSOLVENCY

INDICATORS MEASURE
Time required to recover debt (years)
Measured in calendar years
Appeals and requests for extension are
included
Cost required to recover debt (% of debtors
estate)
Measured as percentage of estate value
Court fees
Doing Business studies the time, cost and outcome of

insolvency proceedings involving domestic legal
entities. These variables are used to calculate the
recovery rate, which is recorded as cents on the
dollar recouped by secured creditors through
reorganization, liquidation or debt enforcement
(foreclosure) proceedings. To determine the present
value of the amount recovered by creditors, Doing
Business uses the lending rates from the International
Monetary Fund, supplemented with data from
central banks and the Economist Intelligence Unit.
Fees of insolvency administrators
In addition, Doing Business evaluates the adequacy

and integrity of the existing legal framework
applicable to liquidation and reorganization
proceedings through the strength of insolvency
framework index. The index tests whether economies
adopted internationally accepted good practices in
four areas: commencement of proceedings,
management of debtors assets, reorganization
proceedings and creditor participation.
The ranking of the Resolving Insolvency indicator is
based on the recovery rate and the total score of the
strength of insolvency framework index. The
Resolving Insolvency indicator does not measure
insolvency proceedings of individuals and financial
institutions. The data are derived from survey
responses by local insolvency practitioners and
verified through a study of laws and regulations as
well as public information on bankruptcy systems.
Lawyers fees
Assessors and auctioneers fees
Other related fees
Outcome
Whether business continues operating as a
going concern or business assets are sold
piecemeal
Recovery rate for creditors
Measures the cents on the dollar recovered
by secured creditors
Outcome for the business (survival or not)
determines the maximum value that can be
recovered
Official costs of the insolvency proceedings
are deducted
Depreciation of furniture is taken into
account
Present value of debt recovered
Strength of insolvency framework index (016)
Sum of the scores of four component indices:
Commencement of proceedings index (0-3)
Management of debtors assets index (0-6)
Reorganization proceedings index (0-3)
Creditor participation index (0-4)
Doing Business 2015
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RESOLVING INSOLVENCY
Combination of quality regulations and efficient practice
characterize the top-performing economies. How
efficient are insolvency proceedings in Brazil? According
to data collected by Doing Business, resolving insolvency
takes 4.0 years on average and costs 12.0% of the
debtors estate, with the most likely outcome being that
the company will be sold as going concern. The average
recovery rate is 25.8 cents on the dollar. Most indicator
sets refer to a case scenario in the largest business city of
an economy, except for 11 economies for which the data
are a population-weighted average of the 2 largest
business cities. See the chapter on distance to frontier
and ease of doing business ranking at the end of this
profile for more details.
According to data collected by Doing Business, Brazil

scores 2.5 out of 3 points on the commencement of
proceedings index, 5.5 out of 6 points on the
management of debtors assets index, 2.0 out of 3 points
on the reorganization proceedings index, and 3.0 out of
4 points on the creditor participation index. Brazils total
score on the strength of insolvency framework index is
13.0 out of 16.
economies on the ease of resolving insolvency (figure
benchmarks for assessing the efficiency of insolvency
proceedings in Brazil.
Figure 11.1 How Brazil and comparator economies rank on the ease of resolving insolvency
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
97
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
Figure 11.2 Recovery Rate (0-100) - Brazil
Figure 11.3 Strength of insolvency framework index (0-16) - Brazil
98
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
99
LABOR MARKET REGULATION

Doing Business measures flexibility in the regulation of
employment, specifically as it affects the hiring and
redundancy of workers and the rigidity of working hours.
This year, for the first time, the indicators measuring
flexibility in labor market regulations focus on those
affecting the food retail industry, using a standardized
case study of a cashier in a supermarket. Also new is that
Doing Business collects data on regulations applying to
employees hired through temporary-work agencies as
well as on those applying to permanent employees or
employees hired on fixed-term contracts. The indicators
also cover additional areas of labor market regulation,
including social protection schemes and benefits as well
as labor disputes.
Over the period from 2007 to 2011 improvements were
made to align the methodology for the labor market
regulation indicators (formerly the employing workers
indicators) with the letter and spirit of the International
Labour Organization (ILO) conventions. Only 6 of the 188
ILO conventions cover areas measured by Doing
Business: employee termination, weekend work, holiday
with pay, night work, protection against unemployment
and medical care and sickness benefits. The Doing
Business methodology is fully consistent with these 6
conventions. The ILO conventions covering areas related
to the labor market regulation indicators do not include
the ILO core labor standards8 conventions covering
the right to collective bargaining, the elimination of
forced labor, the abolition of child labor and equitable
treatment in employment practices.
Between 2009 and 2011 the World Bank Group worked
with a consultative groupincluding labor lawyers,
employer and employee representatives, and experts
from the ILO, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), civil society and the
private sectorto review the methodology for the labor
market regulation indicators and explore future areas of
research.
A full report with the conclusions of the consultative
group is available at:
http://www.doingbusiness.org/methodology/employing-workers.
Doing Business 2015 presents the data for the labor

market regulation indicators in an annex. The report
does not present rankings of economies on these
indicators nor include the topic in the aggregate distance
to frontier score or ranking on the ease of doing
business. Detailed data collected on labor market
regulations are available on the Doing Business website
(http://www.doingbusiness.org). The data on labor
market regulations are based on a detailed survey of
employment regulations that is completed by local
lawyers and public officials. Employment laws and
regulations as well as secondary sources are reviewed to
ensure accuracy. To make the data comparable across
economies, several assumptions about the worker and
the business are used.
The worker:
Is a cashier in a supermarket or a grocery store
Is a full-time employee
Is not a member of the labor union, unless
membership is mandatory
The business:
Is a limited liability company (or the equivalent
in the economy) with 60 employees.
Operates a supermarket or grocery store in the
economys largest business city. For 11
economies the data are also collected for the
second largest business city.
Is subject to collective bargaining agreements if
such agreements cover more than 50% of the
food retail sector and they apply even to firms
that are not party to them.
Abides by every law and regulation but does not
grant workers more benefits than those
mandated by law, regulation or (if applicable)
collective bargaining agreements.
Doing Business 2015
Brazil

Employment laws are needed to protect workers from
arbitrary or unfair treatment and to ensure efficient
contracting between employers and workers. Many
economies that changed their labor market regulation in
the past 5 years did so in ways that increased labor

market flexibility. What changes did Brazil adopt that
affected the Doing Business indicators on labor market
regulation (table 12.1)?
Table 12.1 What changes did Brazil make in terms of labor market regulation?
DB year
Reform
DB2013
Brazil increased the notice period applicable in cases of

redundancy dismissal of employees.
Doing Business 2015
101
Brazil

The data reported here for Brazil are based on a detailed
survey of labor market regulation that is completed by
local lawyers and public officials. Employment laws and
regulations as well as secondary sources are reviewed to

ensure accuracy.
Difficulty of hiring index

Difficulty of hiring covers 4 areas: (i) whether fixed-term
contracts are prohibited for permanent tasks; (ii) the
maximum cumulative duration of fixed-term contracts;
(iii) the minimum wage for a cashier, age 19, with 1 year
of work experience; and (iv) the ratio of the minimum
wage to the average value added per worker. The

average value added per worker is the ratio of an
economys GNI per capita to the working-age population
as a percentage of the total population.
Difficulty of hiring index

Fixed-term contracts prohibited for permanent tasks?
Maximum length of a single fixed-term contract (months)
Maximum length of fixed-term contracts, including renewals (months)
Minimum wage applicable to the worker assumed in the case study
(US$/month)
Ratio of minimum wage to value added per worker
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Data
Data
Yes
Yes
24 months
24 months
24
24
437.80
0.31
484.24
0.34
Doing Business 2015
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Brazil

Rigidity of hours index
Rigidity of hours covers 7 areas: (i) whether the
workweek can extend to 50 hours or more (including
overtime) for 2 months in a year to respond to a
seasonal increase in workload; (ii) the maximum number
of days allowed in the workweek; (iii) the premium for
night work (as a percentage of hourly pay); (iv) the
premium for work on a weekly rest day (as a percentage

of hourly pay); (v) whether there are restrictions on night
work; (vi) whether there are restrictions on weekly
holiday work; and (vii) the average paid annual leave for
workers with 1 year of tenure, 5 years of tenure and 10
years
of
tenure.
Rigidity of hours index
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Data
Data
50-hour workweek allowed for 2 months a year in case of a seasonal

increase in workload?
Yes
Maximum working days per week
6.0
6.0
Premium for night work (% of hourly pay)
20%
20%
Premium for work on weekly rest day (% of hourly pay)
100%
100%
Major restrictions on night work?
Yes
Yes
Major restrictions on weekly holiday?
No
No
Paid annual leave for a worker with 1 year of tenure (in working days)
26.0
26.0
Paid annual leave for a worker with 5 years of tenure (in working days)
26.0
26.0
Paid annual leave for a worker with 10 years of tenure (in working
days)
26.0
Paid annual leave (average for workers with 1, 5 and 10 years of tenure,
in working days)
26.0
Yes
26.0
26.0
Doing Business 2015
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Brazil

Difficulty of redundancy index
Difficulty of redundancy index looks at 9 questions: (i)
what the length is in months of the maximum
probationary period; (ii) whether redundancy is
disallowed as a basis for terminating workers; (iii)
whether the employer needs to notify a third party (such
as a government agency) to terminate 1 redundant
worker; (iv) whether the employer needs to notify a third
party to terminate a group of 9 redundant workers; (v)
whether the employer needs approval from a third party

to terminate 1 redundant worker; (vi) whether the
employer needs approval from a third party to terminate
a group of 9 redundant workers; (vii) whether the law
requires the employer to reassign or retrain a worker
before making the worker redundant; (viii) whether
priority rules apply for redundancies; and (ix) whether
priority
rules
apply
for
reemployment.
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Data
Data
Maximum length of probationary period (months)
3.0
3.0
Dismissal due to redundancy allowed by law?
Yes
Yes
Third-party notification if 1 worker is dismissed?
No
No
Third-party approval if 1 worker is dismissed?
No
No
Third-party notification if 9 workers are dismissed?
No
No
Third-party approval if 9 workers are dismissed?
No
No
Retraining or reassignment obligation before redundancy?
No
No
Priority rules for redundancies?
No
No
Priority rules for reemployment?
No
No
Difficulty of redundancy index
Doing Business 2015
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Brazil

Redundancy cost
Redundancy cost measures the cost of advance notice
requirements, severance payments and penalties due
when terminating a redundant worker, expressed in
weeks of salary. The average value of notice
requirements and severance payments applicable to a

worker with 1 year of tenure, a worker with 5 years and
a worker with 10 years is considered. One month is
recorded as 4 and 1/3 weeks.
Redundancy cost indicator (in salary weeks)
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Data
Data
Notice period for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 1 year of

tenure
4.7
Notice period for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 5 years of

tenure
6.4
Notice period for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 10 years of

tenure
8.6
Notice period for redundancy dismissal (average for workers with 1, 5

and 10 years of tenure)
6.6
Severance pay for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 1 year of

tenure
1.7
Severance pay for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 5 years of

tenure
8.3
Severance pay for redundancy dismissal for a worker with 10 years of

tenure
16.6
Severance pay for redundancy dismissal (average for workers with 1, 5

and 10 years of tenure)
8.9
4.7
6.4
8.6
6.6
1.7
8.3
16.6
8.9
Social protection schemes and benefits & Labor disputes

Doing Business collects data on the existence of unemployment protection schemes as well as data on whether
employers are legally required to provide health insurance for employees with permanent contracts.
Doing Business also assesses the mechanisms available to resolve labor disputes. More specifically, it collects data
on what courts would be competent to hear labor disputes and whether the competent court is specialized in
resolving labor disputes.
Doing Business 2015
105
Brazil
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Data
Data
Availability of unemployment protection scheme?
Yes
Yes
Health insurance existing for permanent employees?
No
No
Availability of courts or court sections specializing in labor disputes?
Yes
Yes
Social protection schemes and benefits & Labor disputes indicator
Doing Business 2015
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Brazil
DISTANCE TO FRONTIER AND EASE OF DOING BUSINESS RANKING

This years report presents results for 2 aggregate
measures: the distance to frontier score and the ease of
doing business ranking, which for the first time this year
is based on the distance to frontier score. The ease of
doing business ranking compares economies with one
another; the distance to frontier score benchmarks
economies with respect to regulatory best practice,
showing the absolute distance to the best performance
on each Doing Business indicator. When compared
across years, the distance to frontier score shows how
much the regulatory environment for local entrepreneurs
in an economy has changed over time in absolute terms,
while the ease of doing business ranking can show only
how much the regulatory environment has changed
relative to that in other economies.
Distance to Frontier
The distance to frontier score captures the gap between
an economys performance and a measure of best
practice across the entire sample of 31 indicators for 10
Doing Business topics (the labor market regulation
indicators are excluded). For starting a business, for
example, Canada and New Zealand have the smallest
number of procedures required (1), and New Zealand the
shortest time to fulfill them (0.5 days). Slovenia has the
lowest cost (0.0), and Australia, Colombia and 110 other
economies have no paid-in minimum capital
requirement (table 15.1 in the Doing Business 2015
report).
Calculation of the distance to frontier score
Calculating the distance to frontier score for each
economy involves 2 main steps. First, individual
component indicators are normalized to a common unit
where each of the 31 component indicators y (except for
the total tax rate) is rescaled using the linear
transformation (worst y)/(worst frontier). In this
formulation the frontier represents the best performance
on the indicator across all economies since 2005 or the
third year after data for the indicator were collected for
the first time. For legal indicators such as those on
getting credit or protecting minority investors, the
frontier is set at the highest possible value. For the total
tax rate, consistent with the use of a threshold in
calculating the rankings on this indicator, the frontier is
defined as the total tax rate at the 15th percentile of the

overall distribution for all years included in the analysis.
For the time to pay taxes the frontier is defined as the
lowest time recorded among all economies that levy the
3 major taxes: profit tax, labor taxes and mandatory
contributions, and value added tax (VAT) or sales tax. In
addition, the cost to export and cost to import for each
year are divided by the GDP deflator, to take the general
price level into account when benchmarking these
absolute-cost indicators across economies with different
inflation trends. The base year for the deflator is 2013 for
all economies.
In the same formulation, to mitigate the effects of
extreme outliers in the distributions of the rescaled data
for most component indicators (very few economies
need 700 days to complete the procedures to start a
business, but many need 9 days), the worst performance
is calculated after the removal of outliers. The definition
of outliers is based on the distribution for each
component indicator. To simplify the process, 2 rules
were defined: the 95th percentile is used for the
indicators with the most dispersed distributions
(including time, cost, minimum capital and number of
payments to pay taxes), and the 99th percentile is used
for number of procedures and number of documents to
trade. No outlier was removed for component indicators
bound by definition or construction, including legal
index scores (such as the depth of credit information
index, extent of conflict of interest regulation index and
strength of insolvency framework index) and the
recovery rate (figure 15.1 in the Doing Business 2015
report).
Second, for each economy the scores obtained for
individual indicators are aggregated through simple
averaging into one distance to frontier score, first for
each topic and then across all 10 topics: starting a
business, dealing with construction permits, getting
electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting
minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders,
enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency. More
complex aggregation methodssuch as principal
components and unobserved componentsyield a
ranking nearly identical to the simple average used by
6
Doing Business . Thus Doing Business uses the simplest
See Djankov, Manraj and others (2005). Principal components and
unobserved components methods yield a ranking nearly identical to
6
Doing Business 2015
107
Brazil
method: weighting all topics equally and, within each

topic, giving equal weight to each of the topic
7
components .
An economys distance to frontier score is indicated on a
scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the worst
performance and 100 the frontier. All distance to frontier
calculations are based on a maximum of 5 decimals.
However, indicator ranking calculations and the ease of
doing business ranking calculations are based on 2
decimals. The difference between an economys distance
to frontier score in any previous year and its score in
2014 illustrates the extent to which the economy has
closed the gap to the regulatory frontier over time. And
in any given year the score measures how far an
economy is from the best performance at that time.
Treatment of the total tax rate
This year, for the first time, the total tax rate component
of the paying taxes indicator set enters the distance to
frontier calculation in a different way than any other
indicator. The distance to frontier score obtained for the
total tax rate is transformed in a nonlinear fashion before
it enters the distance to frontier score for paying taxes.
As a result of the nonlinear transformation, an increase in
the total tax rate has a smaller impact on the distance to
frontier score for the total tax rateand therefore on the
distance to frontier score for paying taxesfor
economies with a below-average total tax rate than it
would have in the calculation done in previous years (line
B is smaller than line A in figure 15.2 of the Doing
Business 2015 report). And for economies with an
extreme total tax rate (a rate that is very high relative to
the average), an increase has a greater impact on both
these distance to frontier scores than before (line D is
bigger than line C in figure 15.2 of the Doing Business
2015 report).
The nonlinear transformation is not based on any
economic theory of an optimal tax rate that minimizes
distortions or maximizes efficiency in an economys
that from the simple average method because both these methods
assign roughly equal weights to the topics, since the pairwise
correlations among indicators do not differ much. An alternative to the
simple average method is to give different weights to the topics,
depending on which are considered of more or less importance in the
context of a specific economy.
7
For getting credit, indicators are weighted proportionally, according
to their contribution to the total score, with a weight of 60% assigned
to the strength of legal rights index and 40% to the depth of credit
information index. Indicators for all other topics are assigned equal
weights
overall tax system. Instead, it is mainly empirical in

nature. The nonlinear transformation along with the
threshold reduces the bias in the indicator toward
economies that do not need to levy significant taxes on
companies like the Doing Business standardized case
study company because they raise public revenue in
other waysfor example, through taxes on foreign
companies, through taxes on sectors other than
manufacturing or from natural resources (all of which are
outside the scope of the methodology). In addition, it
acknowledges the need of economies to collect taxes
from firms.
Calculation of scores for economies with 2 cities
covered
For each of the 11 economies for which a second city
was added in this years report, the distance to frontier
score is calculated as the population-weighted average
of the distance to frontier scores for the 2 cities covered
(table 12.1). This is done for the aggregate score, the
scores for each topic and the scores for all the
component indicators for each topic.
Table 12.1 Weights used in calculating the distance to
frontier scores for economies with 2 cities covered
Economy
Bangladesh
Brazil
China
India
Indonesia
Japan
Mexico
Nigeria
Pakistan
Russian Federation
United States
City
Weight (%)
Dhaka
Chittagong
So Paulo
Rio de Janeiro
Shanghai
Beijing
Mumbai
Delhi
Jakarta
Surabaya
Tokyo
Osaka
Mexico City
Monterrey
Lagos
Kano
Karachi
Lahore
Moscow
St. Petersburg
New York
Los Angeles
Source: United Nations, Department of Economic and Social

Affairs, Population Division, World Urbanization Prospects,
2014 Revision. http://esa.un.org/unpd/wup/CDROM/Default.aspx.
78
22
61
39
55
45
47
53
78
22
65
35
83
17
77
23
65
35
70
30
60
40
Doing Business 2015
108
Brazil
Economies that improved the most across 3 or more

Doing Business topics in 2013/14
Doing Business 2015 uses a simple method to calculate
which economies improved the ease of doing business
the most. First, it selects the economies that in 2013/14
implemented regulatory reforms making it easier to do
business in 3 or more of the 10 topics included in this
years aggregate distance to frontier score. Twenty-one
economies meet this criterion: Azerbaijan; Benin; the
Democratic Republic of Congo; Cte dIvoire; the Czech
Republic; Greece; India; Ireland; Kazakhstan; Lithuania;
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia; Poland;
Senegal; the Seychelles; Spain; Switzerland; Taiwan,
China; Tajikistan; Togo; Trinidad and Tobago; and the
United Arab Emirates. Second, Doing Business sorts these
economies on the increase in their distance to frontier
score from the previous year using comparable data.
Selecting the economies that implemented regulatory

reforms in at least 3 topics and had the biggest
improvements in their distance to frontier scores is
intended to highlight economies with ongoing, broadbased reform programs. The improvement in the
distance to frontier score is used to identify the top
improvers because this allows a focus on the absolute
improvementin contrast with the relative improvement
shown by a change in rankingsthat economies have
made in their regulatory environment for business.
Ease of Doing Business ranking

The ease of doing business ranking ranges from 1 to 189.
The ranking of economies is determined by sorting the
aggregate distance to frontier scores, rounded to 2
decimals.
Doing Business 2015
109
Brazil
RESOURCES ON THE DOING BUSINESS WEBSITE

Current features
News on the Doing Business project
http://www.doingbusiness.org
Rankings
How economies rankfrom 1 to 189
http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings
Data
All the data for 189 economiestopic rankings,
indicator values, lists of regulatory procedures and
details underlying indicators
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data
Reports
Access to Doing Business reports as well as
subnational and regional reports, reform case
studies and customized economy and regional
profiles
http://www.doingbusiness.org/reports
Methodology
The methodologies and research papers underlying
Doing Business
http://www.doingbusiness.org/methodology
Research
Abstracts of papers on Doing Business topics and
related policy issues
http://www.doingbusiness.org/research
Doing Business reforms
Short summaries of DB2015 business regulation
reforms, lists of reforms since DB2008 and a ranking
simulation tool
http://www.doingbusiness.org/reforms
Historical data
Customized data sets since DB2004
http://www.doingbusiness.org/custom-query
Law library
Online collection of business laws and regulations
relating to business
http://www.doingbusiness.org/law-library
Contributors
More than 10,700 specialists in 189 economies who
participate in Doing Business
http://www.doingbusiness.org/contributors/doingbusiness
Entrepreneurship data
Data on business density (number of newly
registered companies per 1,000 working-age
people) for 139 economies
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploretopics/ent
repreneurship
Distance to frontier
Data benchmarking 189 economies to the frontier
in regulatory practice
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/distance-tofrontier
Information on good practices
Showing where the many good practices identified
by Doing Business have been adopted
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/good-practice
Doing Business iPhone App
Doing Business at a Glancepresenting the full
report, rankings and highlights for each topic for
the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch
http://www.doingbusiness.org/specialfeatures/
iphone
Doing Business 2015
Brazil
110
INTRODUCTIONI
No country has ever managed to be asked to host the worlds two biggest sports
events in such quick succession. By being awarded the rights to host the 2014 FIFA
World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, Brazil has been consecrated as a new
world power, one that emerged during Incio Lula da Silvas two terms as president,
from 2003 to 2011.
Despite a reduced growth rate forecast for 2013, its favourable indicators contrast
with a world in crisis. Described as an impassive colossus in its national anthem, it has
narrowed the gulf between rich and poor in the past decade, enhanced its diplomatic
influence in the western hemisphere and is now attracting not only investors but also
new immigrant waves from a Europe in recession.
But this is not to say that violent crime, corruption and inequality are all a thing of the
past. A record of 11 journalists killed in 2012, five of them in direct connection with
their work puts Brazil among the worlds five deadliest countries for the media.
Murders are not the only way that freedom of information is violated in Brazil. The level
of concentration of media ownership contrasts starkly with the extent of its territory
A woman with the and extreme diversity of its civil society. The colossus is clearly a bit too impassive
Brazilian flag painted about pluralism a quarter-century after its return to democracy in 1985.
on her face during
a demonstration on Despite having one of the worlds leading Internet communities and even its own
the 52nd anniversary national Facebook equivalent, called Orkut, Brazil falls far short of providing all of its
of the founding of the citizens with equal and untrammelled access to online information. The Internet is much
city of Brasilia more subject to censorship and blocking than in neighbouring countries, contrary to the
on 21 April 2012. image that Brazil is promoting of itself ahead of the World Cup and Olympics.
investigation by Benot hervieu

With help from Luiz Gustavo
Pacete and Pmela Pinto, RWBs
correspondents in Brazil
Cover : AFP PHOTO / Pedro Ladeira
Trinidad and Tobago

Co
st
Ri
ca
Panama
Venezuela
Guyana
Suriname
Colombia
French
Guiana
Ecuador
Brazil
Peru
c Brasilia
Bolivia
brazil
Area
8 514 876km2
Population
193 000 000
(2011)
Language
portugais
President
Dilma Rousseff,
since Jannuar 2011
focusI
a
More than half of the cases

were located in the north
and northeast, followed by
the southeast, including
Rio and So Paulo, and the
centre-west.Only the three
southern states seem to have
been relatively spared. No
murder of a journalist has
been reported there for seven
years.
Rio de Janeiro
So Paulo
Paraguay
Chile
Argentina
Uruguay
press freedom
b
Main press groups are located

in Rio and So Paulo.
On 30 April 2009, the Federal

Supreme Court repealed the
entire 1967 press law, which
dated back to the early years
of the military dictatorship.
Since 2009, there has been
an intermittent debate about
an alternative press law.
Killed reporters
2012 :5
2011 :3
2010 :1
99e out of 179
countries in the 2011/2012

Reporters Without Borders
press freedom index.
SummaryI
1. Journalism under the sway of the colonels
Court prohibitions
2. Censorship of the Internet
10
Legislative responses
11
3. Deadly year for media personnel
14
Federalizing crimes against freedom of information
15
4. Double standards on news providers during pacification
18
Reverse paternalism
19
Loudspeakers instead of broadcast frequencies
22
Recommendations
26
Journalism under the

sway of the colonels
A colonel in the present-day Brazilian sense of the term is a big
landowner or industrialist who may also be a state governor or
parliamentarian and who often also has a say in opinion-making in
his part of Brazil thanks to ownership of several news media.
The colonel culture is at the root of the medias strong
dependence on the centres of power in Brazil.
The shape of media ownership in Brazil directly affects the free flow of news and
information and obstructs pluralism. Ten leading business groups owned by as
many families still control the mass media market. Broadcasting is dominated by
the Rio-based Globo group, owned by the Marinho family, followed by the Sistema
Brasileiro de Televiso (SBT), owned by the Silvio Santos group, Rede Bandeirantes
owned by the Saad group, and Record (owned by the evangelical protestant bishop
Edir Macedo see box page 20). In the print media, the pack is again led by the
Globo group, with the Globo daily, which is rivalled at the national level by the
Folha de So Paulo group, owned by the Frias Filho family, the O Estado de So
Paulo group, owned by the Mesquita family, and by Editora Abril, which publishes
the weekly Veja and other magazines. Less polarized than the media in its South
American neighbours, where state and privately-owned media are often at war with
each other, the Brazilian media reflect their almost incestuous relationship with the
political and economic power centres. Concentration of ownership at the national
and regional level and harassment and censorship at the more local level are the
distinguishing features of a system that has never really been questioned since the
end of the 1964-85 military dictatorship, with community media often the main
victims (see boxe page 20). The generals have gone but the colonels remain.
As well as an army rank, the term colonel in Brazil refers above all to the archetypal
big landowner common in the northeast who has direct control over political power
even if he does not exercise it himself. He is king in his own state and very often
also a media owner, a local or federal parliamentarian or powerful industrialist. We
have tens of Berlusconis, maybe more than 30 Berlusconis, said Eugnio Bucci, a
So Paulo university professor and regular columnist for the daily O Estado de So
Paulo and the magazine poca. Bucci knows the ins and outs of the Brazilian media,
having worked for them for years and having for a while headed the state radio
station Radiobras. And he is not sparing in his criticism of the colonel system and
its heritage. The federal communication minister, Paulo Bernardo, recently said it is
easier to remove the president in Brazil than to withdraw a broadcast frequency from
any politician, and this is still true, Bucci said, referring to the 1992 impeachment
of the young President Fernando Collor de Melo as a result

of a corruption scandal. We have an excessive number of
parliamentarians, senators, deputies, governors and ministers
who are in a position of direct influence over a news outlet
when they are not openly its owner. The seal of Brazils
recovered democracy, the 1988 federal constitution, should
in theory prevent an elected office-holder from owning
dozens of local radio stations and dozens of local TV stations
and newspapers.
Ten leading
business
groups control
the mass
media market
Do you know any democratic countries where politicians

own as many news outlets and at the same time have the
power to allocate the very broadcast frequencies and state
concessions of which they themselves are the recipient?
Bucci asked. The constitution expressly forbids such
overlapping of interests. Just as it bans monopolies and
oligopolies. But no law defines a monopoly or oligopoly, and if the worst comes to
the worst, a media-owning politicians can always use a brother, cousin or uncle as
front-man. The Brazilian media system is controlled not only by broadcast frequency
allocation but also by the allocation of state advertising, a major source of income
for the media. Since the end of the dictatorship in 1985, all the governments, one
after another, have increased the volume of state advertising, reinforcing the financial
servitude that prevents us from talking about a free and pluralist press, Bucci said.
Governments, ministries, state agencies and state-owned companies including
the national oil company Petrobras and the Banco do Brasil are all in effect paying
a high price to be supported and promoted by the media. In 2009, the federal
government spent more than 1.5 billion reais (600 millions euros) on advertising
in the privately-owned media. In 2010, So Paulos municipal government spent
110 million reais (40 million euros) and the So Paulo state government spent
266 millions reais (97 million euros) on media ads. The leading media groups such
as Folha, Estado and Globo would get by if these payments stopped but it would
mean death for the average medium-sized media outlet, Bucci said. This is not just
pressure, this is all-out tutelage.
Court prohibitions
Financial and political tutelage is unfortunately not the only constraint on diverse and
freely-reported news and information in Brazil. Courts that are readily influenced
by local political official are nowadays just as much a threat. Here again, the colonel
system is an enduring heritage. Referring to Jos Sarney, who was president
from 1985 to 1990 and is now federal senate speaker, a university academic and
free speech activist said:The state I come from, Maranho, is entirely under the
Sarney familys thumb. A journalist or blogger, or even a comedian or performing
artist will be declared persona non grata in Maranho for the least criticism of our
patriarch. Lcio Flvio Pinto, a journalist and blogger in the northern state of Par,
has been sued more than 30 times because of his articles drawing attention to
the deforestation and trafficking in precious woods that is threatening the Par
environment. Sometimes the courts go as far as to anticipate the local colonels
wishes. In the northeastern state of Sergipe, Jos Cristian Ges is the target of
both civil and criminal proceedings in connection with a short piece of fiction that
he posted on his blog in May 2012. It mocked the nepotism and corruption of local
politicians but mentioned no names or dates and did not elicit any legal action from
Sergipe governor Marcelo Ded.
Nonetheless, Edson Ulisses de Melo, a high court judge who is the governors
brother-in-law and who was appointed by him, brought a complaint against Ges,
who is now facing not only a possible heavy damages award and court costs of more
than 25,000 reais (9,000 euros) but also the possibility of a four-year jail sentence.
This is outrageous, especially as the 2009 repeal of the 1967 press law, a hangover
from the military dictatorship, effectively abolished prison sentences for libel, slander
and insult.
The Ges case is one of the many examples of a surge in lawsuits against news
and opinion providers that began shortly after the repeal of the 1967 law. Even if
the possibility of imprisonment for an article is no longer a real threat, demands for
often exorbitant damages have filled the gap. More seriously, the lawsuits are being
accompanied with increasing frequency by an absurd form of partial preventive
censorship, in which a news media is banned from providing any further coverage of
the subject at issue although the information is available through other news outlets.
The most famous example concerns a major national daily and shows that the
Sarney familys influence extends beyond the borders of Maranho state. O Estado
de So Paulo and its website Estado have been subject to a court order since
July 2009 banning them but no other news outlet from referring in any way to
sensitive matters involving the former presidents son, businessman Fernando Sarney.
The ban is still in place because the Estado media group rejected Fernando Sarneys
offer to withdraw his lawsuits in exchange for a pledge from Estado to censor its
coverage of his business affairs.
A woman reading
a newspaper in
downtown Salvador on
7 February 2012.
afp photo / Christophe Simon
The least violation of this judicial order would cost us 150,000 reais (55,500
euros) a day, said Estado Group content director Ricardo Gandour, who attributes
the curbs that the courts impose on news and information to historic attitudes that
Brazil has not yet managed to shed. Before the emergence of an autonomous
and independent Brazilian society with its own press, Brazil had a royal court that
imposed its control, he said. Something remains of that culture, which explains the
fact that the absolute value of freedom of expression has not yet been accepted.
There are many Brazilian judges who do not really understand what free speech and
the free flow of information mean. Carlos Ayres Britto, a former president of the
Federal Supreme Court (Brazils highest court and guarantor of the constitution)
and architect of the 1967 laws repeal, has also been the moving force behind last
Novembers creation of a National Forum on the Judiciary and Media Freedom, which
will hopefully lead to better court decisions affecting freedom of information. Will it
also benefit the Internet?
Censorship
of the Internet
It is hard to imagine that preventive censorship would be capable
of containing the flow of news and information on the Internet.
Nonetheless, Brazils courts are above all targeting online
information. The debate about Internet regulation has developed
into a legislative battle involving rival parliamentary initiatives.
Winner of the Esso Prize for TV journalism in 2012, Fbio Pannunzio is a reporter
and presenter on the national television channel TV Bandeirantes (or TV Band).
Until recently he was also a blogger but he had to close his Blog do Pannunzio on
26 September as a result of the four civil and criminal proceedings brought against
him in the states of So Paulo and Paran. I will be asked to pay 2 million reais or
1 million dollars for every future reference I make to the cases I am being sued over,
and I have already had to fork out 53,000 reais (20,000 euros) in fees for eight
lawyers, the exasperated journalist said. Two of the actions against Pannunzio were
brought by Mato Grosso parliamentarian Jos Geraldo Riva, who has himself been
named in a total of 142 lawsuits. Pannunzio criticized his business activities and
accused him of collusion in questionable matters that had never been mentioned by
the local press. The other two proceedings are the result of a complaint by So Paulo
state public security chief Antnio Ferreira Pinto, who was accused by Pannunzio in a
June 2012 post of covering up serious human rights abuses by the police. I covered
the same cases on the air for TV Bandeirantes as I did on my blog but, curiously, I
was never sued as a TV reporter, only as a blogger, Pannunzio said. So it is clear
that the censors look for vulnerability.
Outspoken blogs were hounded by the courts during the 2012 municipal election
campaign and some were closed down at candidates requests for nothing more than
just posting unfavourable opinion polls. Not even the Internet heavyweights escaped
the persecution. Google Brazil had to take down or modify around 300 items relating
to the elections. Altogether, it was asked to remove more than 2,300 items between
January and June 2012. According to Googles Transparency Report, Brazil ranks
third behind the United States and India and ahead of France in government
requests for information about users. Google Brazil president Fbio Coelho was even
arrested by the police on 26 September for being slow to remove a video posted by
a voter that was deemed to have insulted a candidate. Marcel Leonardi of Google
Brazil said:Its the local judges assessment that always counts, an assessment
based on two obsolete laws. One is an electoral law that dates back to 1965, the
military dictatorship, and has never been changed. The other is an electoral law
that was bizarrely updated in 2009. It treats all types of media in the same way
and provides for the possibility of preventive censorship, which in practice varies
enormously from one state to another. Google is anxiously awaiting the outcome of
the legislative battle about the future regulation of the Brazilian Internet. The impact
could be felt throughout the world and the United Nations special rapporteur for
freedom of expression has already issued a warning about the perverse effect of
making Internet companies liable for the content posted online.
Legislative responses
Not only freedom of expression but also technological creation is now really
threatened on the Brazilian Internet, said Srgio Amadeu, a university academic and
sociologist, and adviser to Brazils Internet Management Committee. Intellectual
property rights are providing new grounds for censorship along with the traditional
allegations of defamation and insult, as seen in the lawsuit accusing the satirical blog
Falha de So Paulo1 of improper use of Folhas trademark. The issue of copyright
along with those of Net neutrality and private data protection are supposed to be
addressed by a much-awaited draft law, known as the Marco Civil law, which
could be held up as model for other countries. However, a final vote in the Chamber
of Deputies has already been postponed five times (see box page 12). Based on
recommendations by the Internet Management Committee and proposed by Workers
Party deputy Alessandro Molon, the bill is a response to two new cyber-crime
laws that were adopted and promulgated in December. One of them, Law 12735,
proposed by senator Eduardo Azeredo of the Brazilian Social Democratic Party
(PSDB) and then heavily amended, caused a great of online agitation with a
provision finally vetoed by the president under which the Internet would have
been partly placed under military control to prevent any Brazilian WikiLeaks.
Many people described this law as a digital AI5, Amadeu said, alluding to
Institutional Act No. 5 (AI5) of 13 December 1968, under which the military
government gave itself the power to suspend institutions and fundamental freedoms
at any time in the name of state security. But the real offensive against the Internet
is now coming from the telecom companies, which want to control the flow of online
data at the expense of Net neutrality and keep the data of individual users for as
long as they see fit. They are the enemies of freedom of information and pose the
biggest obstacle to adoption of the Marco Civil. His view if shared by Arthur William,
the national coordinator of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
(AMARC-Brazil), who thinks the Internet companies pose as big a threat to digital
radio stations as the existing telecommunications legislation (see box 20) does to
community radio stations. With the very unfair distribution of broadcast frequencies
and the very limited space for community radio, many small radio stations are forced
to turn to Internet broadcasting, William said. But these digital radios are subjected
to broadcasting costs even higher than analogue broadcasting. Internet operators
that charge blanket rates are directly to blame. It is similar to the way that broadcast
frequencies are allocated sparingly and without the use of reliable criteria.
Democratization of online information and democratization of information on the
airwaves go hand in hand. Many journalists, unions, civil society groups, community
organizations and Internet sector representatives are calling for global regulation
that includes this. But they all know they will have to overcome a combination of
political and business interests that have prevented Brazil from attaining the levels of
pluralism that could have been expected. The perspectives have not been improved
by the level of violence against the media reached in 2012.
11
1.
The blogs name
is a play on folha
(paper) and falha
(failure)
Marco Civil bill i
equal treatment for all data

circulating on the Internet, without
discrimination as regard content,
origin or destination. This provision
obviously does not suit the
telecommunications companies,
which know they have much to
loose from it.
promising but
kicked around
Proposed by federal deputy
Alessandro Molon and
backed by former President
Lula when presented to
parliament, the so-called
Marco Civil draft law on the
Internet aims to define the
rights and duties of the state,
the public and technical
intermediaries (the various
kinds of Internet access and
service providers) regarding
use of the Internet.
The Marco Civil reaffirms

the crucial principle of
Net neutrality, meaning
afp photo / Yasuyoshi Chiba
The bill was approved by the

Senate in 2011 but a vote
in the Chamber of Deputies
has been postponed five
times because some of its
key provisions are opposed
by telecom companies and
operators that have good
political connections and,
according to some of our
sources, the receptive ear
of communications minister
Paulo Bernardo.
There has also been controversy

about the bills provisions for
the withdrawal of content and
their applicability to copyright
demands. Article 15 of the Marco
Civils original draft stipulated that
content could be withdrawn from
the Internet only when a judicial
order requesting removal had not
been respected by the website or
Internet platform concerned.
This provision alarmed the bills
enemies, the most intransigent
defenders of copyright, said
Srgio Amadeu of the Internet
Management Committee (see
report). So they managed to get
a clause added to Article 15 under
which content withdrawal only
after non-compliance with a court
order does not apply to copyright
violations. So, as things stand,
content held to violate copyright
can be withdrawn without a
court order. This is absurd and
dangerous!
Consensus is unfortunately
also lacking on one of the bills
cardinal provisions, protection of

the individual data of users. Major
interests are again at stake here.
As things stand, content platforms
have access to this data for a year.
Telecom operators also want to
register and keep such data but
this is ruled out by Molon and the
bills other promoters, who point
out that the content platforms only
obtain the data entered on their
own web pages, while Internet
access operators have the ability to
keep the data and content of all the
sites visited by an Internet user.
And finally, there is also controversy
about the role of the National
Telecommunications Agency
(ANATEL), which the private sector
Internet companies and operators
would like to see acting as Internet
regulator. The communications
ministers apparent support for
this option annoys Molon, who
thinks the executive should act as
regulator only under certain specific
conditions.
Amadeu said:The ANATEL
regulation that the telecom
companies are demanding is
one that would serve their own
interest and allow them to continue
charging the tariffs that suit
them. In Brazil, you pay 100 per
cent of the price for high-speed
broadband but you get only 20
percent of the speed.
A mosaic of the
Brazilian flag
decorates
the cable-car
station at Complexo
do Alemo, a
network of favelas
in Rio de Janeiro.
10 October 2011.
Expensive and imperfectly

developed, the Brazilian Internet
has not yet won its democratic
spurs, or has won them only as
regards to the technical and
practical aspects. According to
the journalist and blogger Fbio
Pannunzio, whose figures were
confirmed by other sources,
out of a total population of 200
million, 70 million have regular
access to the Internet but only
20 million use it constantly.
13
Deadly year
for media personneli
A total of 11 journalists were killed in 2012, five of them in
connection with their work. This was largely due to the degree to
which journalists and news media are exposed to often violent
local political disputes. Consideration is now being given to the
idea that crimes of violence against freedom of information should
be treated as federal crimes.
Their names are Mrio Rodolfo Marques Lopes, Dcio S, Valrio Luiz de Oliveira,
Paulo Rocaro and Eduardo Carvalho. They were the five journalists, some of them
also bloggers, who were killed in 2012 for reasons directly related to their profession.
Their cases highlighted the different kinds of violence to which Brazilian journalists
are still exposed. Both Paulo Rocaro, editor of the Jornal da Praa daily, and Eduardo
Carvalho, editor of the Ultima Hora News website, were based in Mato Grosso do Sul,
a state bordering Paraguay that is a drug-trafficking hub. And both paid the price
for writing about the cartels and their infiltration of local government. The motives
are much less certain in the case of Valrio Luiz de Oliveira, a sports commentator
for Rdio Jornal 820 AM, a privately-owned regional station in the central state
of Gois, but he was known for being outspoken and sometimes very sharp in
his comments about the managers of clubs linked to political circles. Both Mrio
Randolfo Marques Lopes, the victim of a execution-style murder in February in Rio
de Janeiro state, and Dcio S, gunned down in April in Maranho, had been critical
of local government practices and corruption in their blogs, called Vassouras na Net
and Blog do Dcio respectively.
The recent increase in the number of murders of journalists and the possible
responses are the subject of debate. Some journalists are reluctant to offer a firm
diagnosis. They include Marcelo Moreira, who is president of the Brazilian Association
of Investigative Journalism (ABRAJI) and head of programming at TV Globo.
ABRAJI has no set theory, he said. The murders cannot be linked to an overall
context similar to the context in Mexico or Colombia. But it is clear that the level
of impunity continues to be high and pressure from journalists and civil society is
needed to obtain results. Too many cases unfortunately go unreported or receive
little coverage. Another journalist went further. Murders of journalists do not elicit
the same response from the journalistic profession and international opinion as they
do in other countries, he said. In many cases it is well known, although it may not
be spelled out, that the victims had other interests, political or activist, that may have
exposed them to reprisals.
Relations with local politicians seem to account for the marked increase in threats
and physical attacks on journalists and news media in recent years, with a worrying
surge in the number of cases during the campaign for the municipal elections
held on 7 and 29 October 2012. Jos Augusto Guto Camargo, president of the
5,000-strong So Paulo Union of Journalists and general secretary of the National
Federation of Journalists (FENAJ), said local officials constitute the major source
of hostility towards journalists. In 2011, Camargo registered 60 cases of violence of
different kinds against journalists that was directly related to their work. This brought
Brazil back to the level of 2005-2006, after an average fall of 20 points until 2010.
More than half of the cases were located in the north and northeast, followed by the
southeast (including Rio and So Paulo) and the centre-west, Camargo explained.
Only the three southern states seem to have been relatively spared.
No murder of a journalist has been reported there for seven years. This geographical
distribution varies little. Similarly, politically-motivated attacks continue to be the most
frequent, followed by reprisals linked to coverage of crime or stories involving police
abuses. The problem is that violence of political origin, very often superimposed on
censorship, is both the most common and least visible. Last year also saw two cases
of journalists being forced to flee abroad as a result of threats of police origin. They
were Andr Caramante of Folha de So Paulo and Mauri Knig of Gazeta do Povo,
a daily based in the southern city of Curitiba.
Federalizing crimes against

freedom of information
Journalists unions and associations think the authorities, including the federal
authorities, have yet to fully appreciate the scale of the problem. A working group
on the Human Rights of Journalists in Brazil was created on 24 October within the
Human Rights Secretariat, an offshoot of the presidents office. The initiative has
been welcomed although it is not known what resources it will get, when it may
produce any results and what contribution it may make to a debate about making
violence against freedom of information a federal crime. Making it a federal crime on
the Mexican model is a privilege that would not necessarily be accepted in a country
where the overall crime rate is still high, said a spokesman for ABRAJI, which is
due to submit its proposals soon to the working group. Marcelo Salles of the SDH
said:The mechanism for putting the federal authorities in charge of an investigation
into serious human rights violations already exists because local police and judicial
authorities often lack the required independence and skills. But for this to happen,
the prosecutors office has to ask the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal
Supreme Court has to agree.
FENAJs Camargo pointed out that a bill federalizing crimes of violence against
journalists was already submitted to the federal parliament in June 2012. It would
automatically put the federal authorities in charge of investigating such crimes if the
local authorities failed to initiate proceedings within 30 days, a deadline that could
be extended twice. Would this be a privilege? No, because the draft law provides
for a significant period for a local investigation, Camargo said. But will such a bill
be supported by local officials with good connections in Brasilia? Meanwhile, Maria
do Rosrio, the minister in charge of the SDH, announced on 20 December that a
protection programme already in operation for witnesses in criminal cases, human
right defenders and endangered teenagers could be extended to journalists and
bloggers. However, while journalists need better protection, experience has shown
that mechanisms focusing solely on safety do not necessarily also serve the duty to
provide news and information.
15
A press law
17
but for what

purpose?
It took until 2007, 30 years after

its adoption, for a federal legislator,
Miro Teixeira, to ask the Federal
Supreme Court to rule on its
constitutionality. The court took
a first step in 2008, provisionally
striking down 20 of its most
repressive articles. It finally decided
on 30 April 2009, by seven out
of 11 votes, to scrap the law
altogether.
It took a long time to obtain the

repeal of the 1967 press law,
which dated back to the early
years of the military dictatorship.
It was notorious for its sometimes
long jail terms for publishing or
broadcasting information deemed
to be subversive. Back then, Brazil
was subject to the military regimes
strict control, which culminated
with the December 1968
promulgation of Institutional Act 5
(AI5), allowing the suspension of
civil liberties at any time.
The desirability of a new media law

has been the subject of sporadic
debate since 2007. Guto Camargo,
the general secretary of the
National Federation of Journalists
(FENAJ), said:We obviously
applauded the repeal of the 1967
law, which was so undemocratic,
but it left a void as regards the
legal bases governing the media,
the status of journalists and their
relations with society and its
institutions. Thats why we defend a
new regulatory law.
The press law curiously survived

the return to democracy in 1985
and the adoption in 1988 of the
democratic constitution, which
rendered most of its provisions
obsolete. This hangover from the
dictatorship continued to serve as
a means of pressuring journalists,
especially unruly local journalists,
in the name of protecting the
honour, privacy and image of
persons, above all politicians who
wanted to maintain their influence
over the media.
RSF
The FENAJ has been promoting

part of this demand through its
long campaign for an obligatory
qualification in journalism for
those working as journalists. This
is obviously not supported by
media owners associations, and
the National Association of

Newspapers (ANJ) questions
the principle of a new law.
Some politicians and
parliamentarians are pressing
for a new law for less legitimate
reasons. They regret that repeal
of the 1967 law included
elimination of its provisions
for protecting honour, which
were among its most draconian
articles.
Among the thousand or so
draft laws for regulating the
media registered at the National
Congress, the one that has
progressed most, proposed
by Senator Roberto Requio,
would regulate the right of
response. The Requio bill aims
to ensure that anyone feeling
insulted or defamed in the media
would have the right to rapid
rectification.
Although recently approved by
the upper houses constitution
and justice committee, the bill
is much criticized. It provides for
the possibility of investigating
the source of information in an
article and obtaining rectification
Outside wall of a
favela monitoring
group in the north
Rio favela of Mar.
within two months. If the

news media concerned fails
to respond to a request for
rectification within a week,
the plaintiff can bring a legal
action. After being notified
of the lawsuit, the media or
journalist concerned would
be allowed only three days
to defend themselves. This
deadline is too short, and
would just contribute to the
excessive number of legal
proceedings, critics say.
Double standards
on news providers
during pacificationi
Brazils showcase city, Rio de Janeiro, is sprucing itself up for the
FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games and, as part of the facelift, the
police are trying to reclaim control of the most visible favelas from
criminal gangs in a controversial process called pacification that
has exposed the gulf between the different kinds of news providers
in Brazil.
Thank you FIFA! is the ironic message of a mural in Metro-Mangueira, a favela in
northern Rio de Janeiro, just a few blocks from the legendary Maracan stadium. The
mural shows a young carioca (Rio inhabitant) in the famous yellow shirt worn by the
Seleo, the national team that has won the World Cup five times and is expected
by Brazilians to win it again at home in less than two years time. The words Thank
you FIFA! are painted as tears on the boys eyes because the small favela lost nearly
half of its 600 inhabitants as part of the city-wide preparatory clean-up.
The pacification of Rios favelas has been officially under way since 2008. The
process began with the deployment of soldiers and elite members of the local police
to hunt down the drug dealers who traditionally impose their own law in the favelas.
A journalist was killed in one of the ensuing shootouts. It was TV Bandeirantes
cameraman Gelson Domingos da Silva, who was fatally wounded on 6 November
2011 in Antares, a favela in the western part of the city. After the big cleansing
operations, the next stage of the pacification has been the deployment of the
7,000-member Pacification Police Units (UPP) to keep a permanent watch on
the neighbourhoods supposedly reclaimed from the criminal gangs. But Andr
Fernandes, co-director of the Favela News Agency (ANF), says it is more of an
occupation than a pacification. With a total of 140 employees and contributors,
ANF operates a news website and publishes A Voz da Favela, an eight-page
newspaper-style monthly.
Pacification may mean crime in retreat in certain places and favelas finally
accessible to an outside population that would never have set foot in them before,
Fernandes said. But for favela residents, it also means fear of a police whose
methods have scarcely changed, small shops hastily dismantled, rents that have often
tripled and above all, the continuing lack of long-term public health and education
projects. And what will happen after 2016? Clber Arajo, the head of a small
businessmens association in Complexo do Alemo, a sprawling conglomeration
of 13 favelas with 100,000 inhabitants in the north of the city that has also been
pacified, makes no bones about his scepticism. For the time being improving the
favelas responds to a political, economic and media interest that will clearly no longer
be the same after the Olympic Games, he said.
As he spoke, Arajo looked at the hillside shanties

(morros) and the brand-new, French-designed cable
cars of the kind normally seen in winter sports resorts that
have been passing overhead since 2011. In reality, it is
all down to an image problem, which had to be dealt with
urgently and which is the result of years of a growing social
and geographical divide. After 2016, either the favelas
are transformed or the process of pacification comes to a
complete halt, and then things will be worse.
The authorities
have decided
its time to
pacify Rios
favelas
Reverse paternalism
The image problem involves two keys issues for the provision of news and
information. One is coverage of the favelas by the media and the other is the ability
of the favela communities to cover their own news. Eduardo S, a freelance reporter
for the So Paulo monthly Caros Amigos and the magazine Fazendo Media who has
written more than a dozen articles about favela life, is very critical of the mainstream
medias coverage of the favelas. Their coverage is a reflection of the logic imposed
by pacification, which is focusing above all on the favelas nearest the sites of the big
sports events, he said. Priority is being given to the sensational and short term. The
favela residents find it hard to accept a media presence they regard as one-sided
and often limited to covering the major police operations.
Nelson Moreira of the daily O Dia, who heads the Rio de Janeiro journalists union,
denies that his newspaper pays too much attention to pacification and demolition
operations, especially now that some favelas are under control. He also points out
that the pacified favelas are in the minority and do not include those in the western
part of the city where quadrilhas criminal gangs consisting of retired and active
service soldiers and police officers prevent any media presence. Moreira is still
traumatized by the 2008 abduction and torture of three O Dia employees by a
quadrilha in the Batn favela, which is far from any of the future Olympic sites. As
regards the pacified favelas, he likes to think that perceptions are changing and
points to the tourist interest that the favelas are eliciting in the media, especially the
print media.
Marcelo Beraba, the Estado de So Paulos Rio bureau chief and cofounder of
ABRAJI, is also ready to examine his conscience on the subject of the favelas,
although it is not easy because this extremely sensitive subject exposes the entire
countrys inner thoughts about itself. It is true, the leading media peddled this fear
that Rio would turn into one gigantic favela for too long, often to the detriment of
the 20 per cent of the population that live in the communities, more than 1 million
of the 6 million cariocas, said Beraba, who is also his newspapers mediator. We
should be talking about jobs and housing and not just pacification. But the outside
worlds attention, which will inevitably concentrate on the sports events, can also
have its perverse effects. We must pay attention to our own excesses, the lucid
Beraba qualified. Because in the process of evolving, we, the mainstream media,
have yielded to a sort of reverse paternalism. Helping an additional tourist attraction,
suddenly everything is supposed to idyllic in the favelas. But for how long? Raika
Moiss, co-editor of Midia e Favela, an online newsletter published by a monitoring
group based in Mar, a still unpacified northern favela, seems more optimistic.
While it is true that our publication focuses on subjects that the mainstream media
See Page 22
19
BroadcastingI
community radio
stations still
persecuted
law has never been thoroughly

overhauled and continues to
regulate broadcast frequencies.
A law that was specially written
for community radio and TV
stations and other short-range
broadcasters was promulgated in
1998 under President Fernando
Henrique Cardoso (1995-2003).
There was a strong tendency to
criminalize grass-roots movements
at the time and the law has never
been updated, William said.
Giving a precise figure for the

number of community radio and
TV stations in this vast country
is extremely difficult. Non-profit
civil society and educational
websites linked to the community
radio sector put the number of
community broadcasters with
legal frequencies at 4,600. But
how many others are there that
appear, disappear and reappear
clandestinely because they have
not been able to get a licence?
Strongly criticized by community

broadcasters, the law limited the
power of their transmitters to 25
watts, as opposed to the 50 watts
initially proposed for radio stations
and 100 watts for TV stations.
This was a gift to commercial
broadcasters keen to maintain their
dominant position in the frequency
market.
Brazils progressively-minded
community broadcaster networks
regard the new legislation in
neighbouring countries such
as Argentina and Uruguay with
envy and find it hard to accept
that there has been no legislative
progress under either President
Lula or his political heir and
successor, Dilma Rousseff.
Half a century after its adoption,

the 1962 telecommunications
afp photo / Antonio Scorza
The Lula and Dilma

administrations were the first
to recognize the social role of
the communities but they never
dared to change the regulatory
framework, the preservation
of which is imperative for the
mainstream media and the telecom
companies, AMARC-Brazil
coordinator Arthur William said.
Community hopes were lifted when

an amendment was proposed
in congress in December 2012
decriminalizing any community
radio and TV broadcasting below
the 100-watt threshold. The
Chamber of Deputies approved
it but the Senate immediately
rejected it.
Aside from the limited range of
frequencies available to them and
the continuation of threatening
legislation that impedes their
development, the small community
broadcasters also suffer from
the lack of a clearly-defined
status. Many radio and TV
A man holds his son

on his shoulders as
he crosses a street
in the favela of
Groto.
Rio de Janeiro.
stations dedicated to religious

proselytism claim community
status although they do not have
the informative and educational
programming that characterizes
true community broadcasters.
The same problem affects other
countries in the region but in Brazil
it has assumed the character of a
religious invasion of radio and TV
broadcasting.
Community broadcasters are not
the only ones affected. TV Record,
the network with Brazils second
highest viewer ratings (after TV
Globo), is owned by Edir Macedo,
the bishop of the very powerful
neo-pentecostal Universal Church
of the Kingdom of God. This
violates the principle that no public
service or provider of a public
service can be subservient to a
system of beliefs, and violates
the secular nature of the state,
said media expert Eugnio Bucci.
He also cited the state of So
Paulos public service station TV
Cultura, which broadcasts no other
religious services but Catholic
Church ones.
21
The lack of
pluralism is
obviously a
challenge
Clber Arujo said there are four community radio

stations in Complexo do Alemo. They are just street
radio stations, he said. None of them has a legal
frequency so they have to improvise. Because they lack
access to the airwaves, three of them Grotto, Nova
Braslia and Morada use loudspeakers attached to
electricity pylons along the favelas main thoroughfares,
pylons that are already weighed down with countless power supply connections.
Some community broadcasters have illegal frequencies. Others are legal but lack
frequencies. TV Tagarela (which means Chatterbox TV) is one of the latter. Located
in Rocinha, a sprawling favela next to Leblond, a guarded neighbourhood with luxury
villas on the south side of Rio, this TV station without a TV broadcast frequency was
briefly suspended at the start of pacification but has been recognized as a legal
entity since 2008. It covers only part of Rocinha but thanks to the ingenuity of its
12 producers, three of who have been collecting salaries for the past few months,
it has won support and will celebrate its 15th anniversary on 1 May. As we cannot
broadcast, we record live, said Augusto Pereira, one of the producers. We organize
public debates with as many participants as possible, then we record the debates on
videotape, we duplicate the tapes and we sell them. Thats how we finance ourselves.
What with that and producing videos for other people, we make about 2,000 reais
(700 euros] a year). Public health and education are the priority subjects for this
original community TV station, which steers clear of the subject of drugs because of
the continuing threat from gun-toting dealers, despite pacification. It is not the only
danger.
never or rarely cover, the big media groups are beginning to fund and sponsor
projects, she said. Its a sign that our efforts to describe a different aspect of these
neighbourhoods are starting to bear fruit.
Loudspeakers instead of
broadcast frequencies
Should addressing the image problem depend solely on the inclinations of the often
fickle mainstream media? Journalists from the favelas logically say no. The lack
of pluralism is obviously a challenge to them. A major challenge given the limited
resources available to them to make their voice heard. A community leader and
champion of the black consciousness that Brazil celebrates every 20 November,
Rumba Gabriel likes to brandish a South African flag to symbolize his cause. But
he knows the flag alone has little chance of rallying support without the help of a
broadcast frequency and Radio Liberdade, the radio station he used to host along
with six other people in Jacarezinho, has not been broadcasting for the past four
months. They blamed interference and electricity theft, but in reality they just wanted
to silence us, Gabriel said. Its the same for many other small radio stations. It is
difficult, if not impossible, to raise the consciousness of people who are already
marginalized and who keep hearing all today that pacification means change, as if
the favelas were at war. He also bitterly condemned the extinction of the local funk
culture and the festive favela atmosphere since pacification.
RSF
Protest wall painting

in the north Rio favela
of Metro-Mangueira
Our goal is dialogue and debate, not immediate news reporting, Pereira said. We
would love to extend our activities but everyone here has outside jobs and we achieve
only 10 per cent of what we would like. As well as technical handicaps, he cited their
often strained relations with the UPP, who are sometimes quick to censor an event
because the communities are not in the habit of requesting permission from the
police before organizing meetings of cultural events. Pereiras concern is above all
due to what he calls a veiled repression that is familiar to community and alternative
media. We are always hemmed in by politicians who want to use us for their own
purposes. And that is far more difficult to get out of.
23
Truth Commissions
are participating. The So
Paulo Truth Commission has
five parliamentarians and
six advisers. We are going
through archives, interviewing
witnesses and holding
hearings. We can summon
former torturers to make a
statement, as part of an open
forum, once all the evidence
has been gathered.
pose challenge for

information and
memory
Freelance journalist Ivan
Seixas was a political prisoner
from 1971 to 1976, under the
1964-85 military dictatorship.
He is currently the coordinator
of the State of So Paulo
Truth Commission, which was
created at the same time as
the national Truth Commission
in May 2012. Access to
state-held information has
improved since the Lula
presidency but getting access
to the truth about repression
under the military is still difficult.
RSF Does Brazil still

remember this era?
Ivan Seixas I was jailed from
the age of 16 to the age of
22 and for me the memory is
still vivid, as it is for all those
who suffered directly during
that time. But the country as
a whole is taking its time. We
werent aware that we were
experiencing a dictatorship
until 10 years after the March
1964 coup. The memory
process did not really get
under way until the Lula and
Dilma2 presidencies.
Ivan Seixas No, the Truth

Commissions dont have the
power that the courts have. But
unlike other Operation Condor1
countries, Brazil let a great deal
of time go by before starting to
try former military officers for
human rights violations under the
dictatorship. There are still many
obstacles. In the final years of
the military regime, its leaders
anticipated their departure from
power by crafting a tailor-made
amnesty law that was adopted in
1979.
This is one of the reasons for
the Truth Commissions, which
were created by a federal law
and in which many journalists
afp photo / Antonio Scorza
RSF What is the purpose of

the Truth Commissions and
can they replace the justice
system?
A major step was taken in

May 2009 with Revealed
Memories (Memrias
Reveledas), a federal
project that allows members
of the public to submit
any document or archive
to a database that can
be consulted online. The
previous year, in 2008, the
So Paulo state prosecutors
office came out clearly in
favour of punishing former
torturers.
All this helped to create the
conditions for the creation
of the Truth Commissions,
the principle of which was
proposed in 2010 by Lulas

then human rights minister,
Paulo Vannuchi. And the
commissions finally saw the
light of day, despite opposition
from right-wing hardliners and
despite the radical lefts attempts
to have them turned into
tribunals or platforms.
RSF State agencies and
entities are required by a
2010 federal law to hand
over information of public
interest. Are the armed
forces complying?
Ivan Seixas Unfortunately
not. The armed forces still
retain much of the old Cold
War ideology and continue to
oppose any kind of opening or
dialogue. This is our big problem.
The armed forces claim that
the archives from that period
have disappeared or were
burned. That said, the family of
a former commander who died
in 2011 has agreed to hand
over documents to the National
Commission. This is proof that
such documents exist. The
archives must be opened up to
the media. We must demand an
end to impunity in the name of
the victims and their families.
As regards journalists, the most
famous case was that of Vladimir
Herzog,3 but he was not the only
one.
We need support for this
demand for truth and justice.
Not just for yesterday but also
for today. Do people remember
that the military police force was
created under the dictatorship as
an auxiliary of the armed forces?
A peanuts seller reads

a newspaper
in Rio de Janeiro.
Its methods have hardly changed.

Its operational methods are still
too similar to those used during
the military repression, with too
many cases of people deceased
during transfer to hospital after
a pacification operation. They
are never explained.
1. A US-backed repressive
military alliance between six South
American military dictatorships
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile,
Paraguay and Uruguay during the
1970s.
2. President Dilma Rousseff
was jailed and tortured during
the military dictatorship because
of her involvement with urban
guerrilla groups. Her predecessor
as president, Lula, was jailed as an
opposition union leader.
3. Vladimir Vlado Herzog, editor
in chief of So Paulo-based TV
Cultura, was detained and tortured
to death on 25 October 1975 at
the age of 38. The military police
officers who killed him disguised his
death as suicide by hanging. A prize
and an institute opened in 2009
have been named after him.
25
recommendationsI
Given the situation described in this report and the calls from both journalists
and civil society in Brazil for balance and diversity in the provision of news and
information, Reporters Without Borders advocates:
A complete overhaul of the current legislation governing the media, which is not fit
for purpose. The new legislation should include strict clauses on media ownership
and media funding through state advertising. A bill being discussed in the state of
Rio Grande do Sul envisages setting aside at least 10 per cent of advertising for
small and community media. This idea should be developed.
The inclusion in this future legislation of provisions on the allocation of
broadcast frequencies that create space for community broadcasters, until now
under-represented in the field of legal frequencies. Newly-adopted legislation
in Argentina and Uruguay could serve as example for defining community
broadcasters, to avoid competition from those dedicated to religious proselytism.
27
A range of penalties for media offences which excludes any criminalization of

journalists and any closure of news media, news websites or blogs (except in
extreme cases of inciting hatred, discrimination or criminal activity) and which
places a strict ceiling on the amount of damages that a court can award.
Adoption without more delay of the Marco Civil guaranteeing Net neutrality,
protecting the individual data of Internet users and radically limiting censorship
of the Internet, so that censorship requests by authorities can no longer prevent
information from being broadcast, published or posted online when it is in the
public interest.
The granting of extensive legal powers to the new National Forum on the Judiciary
and Media Freedom, so that it can provide real monitoring of judicial cases relating
to freedom of information and serve as a body to which journalists threatened by
censorship can quickly appeal.
Federal-level legislation banning any form of censorship that contravenes the
provisions of the 1988 constitution and banning any preventive censorship, which
is in practice discriminatory.
Precise account to be taken of the requests made by journalists, unions and
organizations that defend freedom of information when drafting the security
provisions for news providers envisaged by the Human Rights Secretariat.
An equitable system of accreditation for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016
Olympic Games, designed in consultation with FIFA and the International Olympic
Committee, allowing coverage of a wide range of sports events and related issues
and, in particular, ensuring that alternative and regional community media and
websites are also able to cover them.
AFP PHOTO /Christophe Simon
A boy showing a medal

that says challenge
for peace in Alemo
favela on the second
anniversary of its
pacification by the
police. Rio de Janeiro,
27 May 2012.
reporters without borders is an international press freedom organisation.

It monitors and reports violations of media freedom throughout the world. Reporters Without
Borders analyses the information it obtains and uses press releases, letters, investigative reports
and recommendations to alert public opinion to abuses against journalists and violations of free
expression, and to put pressure on politicians and government officials.
General director:Christophe Deloire
Head of Americas desk:Benot hervieu
ameriques@rsf.org
This publication is
a joint project with
Doing business in Brazil
Contents
Executive summary
Foreword
Introduction Doing business in Brazil
Conducting business in Brazil
16
Taxation in Brazil
22
Audit and accountancy
34
Human Resources and Employment Law
36
Trade
38
Banking in Brazil
40
HSBC in Brazil
42
Country overview
44
Contacts
46
Disclaimer
This document is issued by
HSBC Bank Brazil SA (the bank)
in Brazil in partnership with
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
It is not intended as an offer or
solicitation for business to anyone in
any jurisdiction. It is not intended for
distribution to anyone located in or
resident in jurisdictions which restrict
the distribution of this document.
It shall not be copied, reproduced,
transmitted or further distributed by
any recipient.
The information contained in this
document is of a general nature only.
It is not meant to be comprehensive
and does not constitute financial,
legal, tax or other professional
advice. You should not act upon
the information contained in this
publication without obtaining specific
professional advice. This document
is produced by the Bank together
with PricewaterhouseCoopers
(PwC). Whilst every care has been
taken in preparing this document,
neither the Bank nor PwC makes
any guarantee, representation or
warranty (express or implied) as to its
accuracy or completeness, and under
no circumstances will the Bank or
PwC be liable for any loss caused by
reliance on any opinion or statement
made in this document. Except as
specifically indicated, the expressions
of opinion are those of the Bank
and/or PwC only and are subject to
change without notice. This document
is not a Financial Promotion.
The materials contained in this
publication were assembled in
May 2012 and were based on the
law enforceable and information
available at that time.
Executive summary
Brazil is one of the most
promising emerging markets
in the world. A high degree
of diversification in its product
exportation base, a diversified
list of trading partners, internal
economic stability, increasingly
large work force and good
social standards are helping
to attract more and more global
investors. In addition to this, the
forthcoming 2014 Soccer World
Cup and 2016 Olympics are
generating a large number
of infrastructure investment
opportunities.
The Brazilian Government
and Congress have made
a concerted effort to improve
the economic stability of the
country and have implemented
changes in Brazils tax
legislation, governance,
and regulatory background.
There are still a few reforms
to be implemented by the
new Government, but Brazil
is demonstrating that
it is becoming increasingly
connected with the international
business network.
The purpose of this publication
is to provide foreign investors
with a broader view of the
current economic, legal and
business environment, to be
faced when doing business
in Brazil.
Key points for foreign

investors to consider when
looking at this territory:
Brazil is the biggest country
in Latin America, occupying
almost half of South America.
The basic legal concepts
regulating foreign capital in
Brazil are defined in Laws
4131 of 1962 and 4390 of
1964, which were regulated
by Decree 55762 of 1965.
The legal concept of foreign
capital includes tangible and
intangible assets.
In Brazil there is a wide variety
of federal programmes designed
to encourage national economic
development and also to promote
regional development. They
tend to favour operations in the
poorer Northeast (SUDENE)
and Amazon (SUDAM) regions.
Several programmes provide
export incentives.
Relevant benefits are granted
to foreign investors not
domiciled in tax havens and
who invested in Brazil pursuant
to the regulations established
by Resolution 2.689.
There are no legal minimum

share capital requirements
for a corporation, except for
financial institutions and
insurance companies, and
certain other legal entities
with specific business purposes.
Dividends remitted to nonresident shareholders or
quotaholders are not subject
to any withholding tax.
C apital gains earned by local
resident entities are taxed at a
higher rate than the capital gains
of non-residents.
Payments of any type made to
tax havens are generally subject
to withholding at a higher rate.
A s a general rule, foreign
exchange transactions made
in order to allow payments
to non-residents, considering
royalties, technical services,
technical, administrative and
any other assistance or any
other revenue, including the
reimbursement of any costs,
are subject to specific financial
tax (IOF see page 14 for
more information).
On 16 December 2009, the
Brazilian government started
to establish minimum capital
requirement to invest through
or the thin cap rules, through
Provisional Measure 472, with
immediate effects.
Foreword
Currently, business opportunities
reach the world over. At the
time when business and
economic horizons have
broadened there has also
been a significant increase in
competition among companies.
For this reason it is essential
to have a secure, dependable,
and well-positioned partner to
stay ahead of the competition.
This is what HSBC offers to
our corporate clients.
HSBC Brazil is present in 545
municipalities and includes a
customer base of more than
5.2m individual clients and
almost 460 thousand business
clients. HSBC seeks to generate
excellent business relationships
that perform for its clients,
attending to each and every
need with appropriate support.
Brazil is in the top-ten of world
economies, sporting a vibrant
agricultural industry that
continues to grow. The country
has awakened the attention
of the world by creating
a healthy and productive
business environment. In 2008,
when global markets were
shaken by the economic crisis,
Brazil was one of the least
affected. This demonstrates
Brazils stable and balanced
economy supported by a strong
and consistent economic policy.
According to World Bank data,
Brazil accounts for more

than half of the South American
economy, and is responsible
for more than 2% of the
worlds GDP. Besides this,
the country has experienced
a remarkable growth in the
sector of oil extraction. With
the discovery of a layer of
pre-salt basins, by 2020, Brazil
could jump from its current
production of 2m barrels
extracted daily to 3.9m
barrels per day, doubling its
production in just 10 years.
Economic stability is sustained
by a democratic system of the
government and relies on one
of the most fascinating cultures
on Earth, characterised by the
diversity of ethnicities that
create an extraordinary legacy,
revealed in music, visual arts
and drama, literature, sports
and traditions. Brazil is the
world champion of biodiversity
and is the home for some
of the planets greatest natural
assets such as the Amazon, the
Pantanal and the Atlantic Forest.
For all of this, Brazil is one of the
most promising and diversified
business markets in the world.
This guide, in partnership with
PricewaterhouseCoopers, helps
entrepreneurs to understand
the characteristics of the
Brazilian market, optimising
business opportunities.
Andr Brando
President and
Chief Executive Officer
HSBC Bank Brasil SA
Introduction
Doing business in Brazil
Economic environment
Economic History
The Brazilian economy is large and
diverse by almost any standard.
There is still a considerable
state and semi-state participation
in various strategic sectors,
such as transport and utilities.
Brazil has undergone several
privatisation programmes of
state-owned companies, most
of which took place in 1998.
Nearly all of the former state
companies are now controlled
by the private sector.
Natural resources and agriculture
have been the traditional
mainstay of the economy,
supported by abundant human
resources. Since the 1960s,
however, the emphasis has
been placed on industrial
development financed largely
with international loans and
investments. As a result,
exports today reflect a
much more balanced mix of
commodities and manufactured
items. Moreover, the profile
of imports became more
restricted during the 1970s
and 1980s because of the
import substitution and the
scarcity of foreign currency.
This situation is changing
following the lowering of trade
barriers and the increased
opening of the economy to
globalisation.
The most important business
sectors in Brazil are mineral and
8
energy resources, agricultural,

fisheries and forestry. There are
several other sectors that have
undergone expansion during
the past few years such as
manufacturing, high-tech
industries, service industry,
transport and communications.
Current Economic Climate
Over the last year, Brazils
benchmark interest rate (SELIC
Special Settlement and
Custody System) has hovered
around 11.04%. While it may
seem to be a high average,
it is in fact a positive
improvement if one considers
that the average for the previous
three-year period was 19.22%.
In the beginning of 2012, the
Brazilian Monetary Policy
Committee (COPOM) has been
showing the intention to
significantly reduce the overnight
market rate (Selic). A reduction
of the basic rate of interest is
part of a strategy adopted by the
Brazilian government to protect
the domestic economy of the
international financial crisis,
which, in the government view,
threatens the consumption and
growth of local industry.
During the last decade, Brazils
risk has registered at around
800 or 900 pts, subjected to
peeks mainly due to political
reasons. The best recent
example refers to 2002, when
the year started at the Risk
average around 800 pts, however,
in the second semester, owing

to the presidential election, the
risk went over 2,200 pts.
By February 2011, the Brazil Risk
registered 184 points. In relation
to the inflation rate, one of the
historically most relevant
indicators of Brazilian economy,
numbers are also positive.
Repeating the tendency
observed in relation to Brazils
risk, in 2002, the year of the
presidential election, the annual
variance of inflation reached
25.30% (according to the
general price index measured
by Getlio Vargas Foundation
IGP-M).
For 2011, the registered index
is 6.5%.
Location and access
to other markets
Brazil is the largest country in
the southern hemisphere and
the fifth-largest country in the
world, covering nearly half of
South America. It is a member
of Latin American Integration
Association (ALADI), the World
Trade Organisation (WTO) and
the Common Market of the
Southern Cone (MERCOSUL),
which is formed by the current
members Brazil, Argentina,
Paraguay and Uruguay, with
Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia,
Ecuador and Venezuela as
associated countries.
Under the MERCOSUL

agreement, tariffs are abolished;
the movement of labour, goods
and services is unrestricted;
capital investment is encouraged;
macroeconomic policy is
coordinated; and foreign-trade
policies and tariffs for non-member
countries are harmonised.
Position in Global
Market/Growth
Brazil is among the top-ten
economies in the world and
it has experienced a sustained
growth in the past two
decades.
With a population of about
191m people, its consumer
market is large and has
potential for high growth, since
in the past few years millions of
people have reached the middle
classes.
Availability of Customer/
Workforce
In general, adequate labour is
available. Semi-skilled and unskilled
labour is fairly abundant,
recognised as hard-working and
willing to learn, and is relatively
mobile. Skilled labour tends to
be in short supply. Personnel with
proven technical, professional or
management skills are growing
as company in-house training
and other courses take place.
Language
The official language of Brazil
is Portuguese. There are no
significant local dialects or other
deviations from the official
language, but a number of words
and phrases differ from those
used in Portugal. English is the
foreign language most used
by the business community
in Brazil.
Ease of Doing Business/
Ease of Leaving
The general policy is to admit
foreign capital and treat it in
the same way as local capital.
All inward investments must
be registered with the Central
Bank to ensure ultimate
repatriation rights within
30 days. It should be noted
that acquisitions of local
companies should be thoroughly
investigated to confirm their
real underlying value.
The basic legal concepts
regulating foreign capital in
Brazil are defined in Laws
4131 of 1962 and 4390 of
1964, which were regulated
intangible assets.
10
An important concept in foreign

capital legislation in Brazil is
the one which reflects the
constitutional principle (Federal
Constitution, article 5) that
guarantees equal treatment
to all. This principle, in Law
4131/62 and later amendments
to Federal Constitution, grants
to foreign capital invested in
Brazil legal treatment identical
to that given to local capital,
under equal conditions, and any
discrimination not contemplated
by this law is prohibited.
Prior approval of the Central
Bank is no longer required for all
foreign currency loans received,
but they should be documented
in a formal contract, which will
set out the terms and conditions,
including the interest. The
Brazilian Central Bank will have
to be informed of all the conditions
of the loan as approval is required
after the loan transaction has
actually been entered into. It is
also necessary to obtain
prior approval from the Central
Bank for operations relating to
the conversion of some
liabilities into investment.
Capital may be repatriated
without payment of tax up
to the amount registered
in foreign currency with the
Central Bank. Amounts in
excess are considered as
capital gains under exchange
disposition and, therefore are
subject to withholding income
tax of 15% (25% if the
beneficiaries are domiciled
in jurisdictions considered
as tax havens).
Loans may be repatriated
within the terms of the registered
loan contract. Interest is freely
remittable within the loan contract
terms subject to withholding
income tax at the rate of
15% (25% if the beneficiaries
are domiciled in jurisdictions
considered as tax havens).
Although it may seem easy
for investors to do business in
Brazil, it is important to highlight
a few key aspects imposed
by Brazilian laws which
can still be considered as
bureaucratic. The most usual
procedure for a foreign investor
to start doing business in Brazil
is by organising a company.
In order to do so, the company
must request a Federal Tax
Number (CNPJ) by registering
the Cademp (Cadastro de
Empresas) at Central Bank. If
the intention is to invest other
Brazilian companies or if the
intention is exclusively to be
part of the Brazilian financial
market, then the company must
register itself at the Brazilian
Securities Commission CVM.
Nowadays, one of the most
bureaucratical procedures to
be followed in Brazil is to
execute the decision of winding
up local presence. A lot of
compliance and tax duties can
be demanded in this case. The
time required to close a
business in Brazil may be
significant.
Incentives for foreign investors

Tax or Grant incentives
Relevant benefits are granted
to foreign investors not
domiciled in tax havens
and who invested in Brazil
pursuant to the regulations
established by Resolution
2.689. (This Monetary Council
Normative Instruction governs
the foreign investments in the
Brazilian financial and capital
markets by non-residents.)
Capital gains on stock and
derivatives traded in stock
and futures exchange are
exempt from capital gain tax.
In addition, income on public
bonds became tax exempt,
provided they were acquired
by these investors after
16 February, 2006.
Regarding Private Equity and
Real Estate, the good news
came with the introduction of
the FIP (Participation Investment
Fund) which became an
interesting vehicle used to
hold assets through Special
Purpose Companies (SPCs).
A benefit for foreign investors
is that they are exempt from
withholding income tax due
on FIP and Investment Funds
in FIP quotas. This exemption
is subject to compliance with
the rules of concentration of
investment in the fund and
on the distribution of earnings
established by law. The most
notable among these
prerequisites is the requirement

that no investor may hold more
than 40% of the funds quotas or
earnings.
The National Bank for Social
& Economic Development
(BNDES) offers low-priced
financing, in order to support
the implementation, expansion,
modernisation or relocation
of plant, including capital
goods acquisition and
associated working capital.
Direct foreign investment
was rising significantly until
2008, reaching US$43,887m.
However in 2009, owing to the
global credit crunch, this direct
foreign investment contracted
to the sum of US$25,949m.
Brazil has various incentives
available for exporters, including
(under certain conditions)
exemption from withholding
tax, exemption from excise tax
(IPI), value-added tax on sales
and services (ICMS), social
contribution on billing (COFINS)
and contributions to the social
integration programme (PIS)
on exports of manufactured
products, low-cost export
financing.
In Brazil, there is a wide variety
of federal programmes designed
to encourage the economic
development of Brazil and also
to promote regional development.
They tend to favour operations
in the poorer Northeast
(SUDENE) and Amazon
(SUDAM) regions.
Several programmes provide

export incentives. In the
SUDENE and SUDAM regions,
incentives are available for the
implementation of new
industrial projects or expansion,
diversification or improvement
of an existing industry.
Statistics for Foreign
Direct Investment
As reported by the Brazilian
Central Bank (BACEN)
website, the Census of foreign
capitals in Brazil figures stress
the performance of the Brazilian
economy as a point of attraction
for foreign capital during the
second half of the nineties
which deepened the process
of internationalizing the countrys
economy.
Greater economic stability and a
permanent process of structural
reforms, including the approved
breaking of state monopolies,
was clearly reflected in
increased flow of capital to Brazil.
The first indication in the
Census that stresses the higher
degree of foreign capital share
in Brazil is the number of forms
received by the Central Bank:
11,404 informants with a
foreign share in excess of
10% of voting capital or 20%
of total authorized capital.
There was a relevant increase
of 80.4% on the 6,322
informants of the previous
Census that took 1995 as
base-year. This increase,
caused by both establishment
of new corporations and

acquisition of previously
existing ones, together with
fresh capital sharing in those
already recording some foreign
ownership in 1995, was
the main thrust behind the
substantial changes recorded
in the figures surveyed.
According to the information
gathered, total paid-in capital
of informants reached
R$351.7bn, representing
an unprecedented nominal
increase of 319.7% against
the R$83.8bn of 1995.
Even taking the devaluation
of the Real in this period
into account, the figures
still have a strong impact,
reaching over twice the figures
of the previous census (from
US$86.2bn, in 1995, to
US$179.8bn, in 2002, calculated
based on the exchange rate
in effect at the end of each
period). It should be noted
that in 1995 residents held the
larger share of paid-in capital:
51.5% of the total. Conversely,
in 2000, the largest share was
for non-residents; 57.3% of
the total, revealing the trend
of foreign investors to share the
capital of Brazilian corporations
in a majority position.
On this issue, taking into
consideration just the figures
related to the 9,712 informants
where the share of foreign
capitals is in a position
of majority (over 50%),
we reached the figure

of R$263.4bn of paid-in capital,
of which 70.3% (R$185.0bn)
are held by non-residents.
Seen from the viewpoint of
total assets of entities featuring
foreign share, the consolidated
results of the survey reveal
another prominent result in
its total value: R$914.1bn,
contrasted to the R$280.4bn
of 1995. Converted by the
end-of-period exchange rate,
these are US$467.4bn and
US$280.4bn, respectively.
Also important is the growth
of the total assets of entities
with a majority share of foreign
capital, which from the
R$158.8bn of 1995,
corresponding to 58.3% of
the total, came to R$641.6bn,
or 70.2%. Indeed, in the first
census these entities counted
4,902 in a population of 6,322
(77.5%), increasing to 9,712
of 11,404 (85.2%).
Securities Commissions
(CVM) responsible for the
regulation of the securities
markets and listed companies.
Barriers, risks and downsides

for foreign investors
Since the inclusion of

government-controlled
railroads to the Brazilian
National Privatisation
Programme, there has been
significant investment in
development and modernisation
of the railroad network, which
is mainly located in the Southeast
and Southern regions, although
there are plans (federal and
private projects) for some
major extensions in the North
and Central-West regions. For
the North-East region, future
Depending on the nature of the

business activity there will be an
involvement of some regulatory
agencies such as:
Central Bank (BACEN)
responsible for the execution
of monetary policy, exchange
controls, registration and control
of foreign capital and profit
remittances and regulation of
Banks and Financial Institutions.
Administrative Council for

Economic Defence (CADE)
investigation and suppressing
unfair business practices and
anti-trust monitoring.
National Institute of
Industrial Property (INPI)
responsible for patent, trade
mark registration and
technological development.
INPI has powers over
agreements for the transfer
of technology.
Foreign Trade
Department (DECEX)
responsible for administration
of foreign trade and control
of export and import licences.
Transport Limitation
investments are anticipated.

Road transport is still the
preferred method of transport
for both long-distance and
intercity travel, although most
of the major federal and state
highways have not been
well-maintained. Nearly all
road transport and haulage
companies are now in the
process of privatising the
remaining roads which are
not yet privatised.
The airline network is welldeveloped and the majority
of the voting stock of airline
companies is held by the
private sector. Urban transport
continues to present significant
problems in major centres.
Limited subway systems are
now functioning in Rio de
Janeiro and So Paulo.
However, until a more
extensive network is developed,
subways will not significantly
alleviate the problems of urban
transport. Many companies
provide private bus services
to their employees.
Prohibited or restricted
Industries
Government permission
is required for the operation
of certain types of business,
such as banks and financial
institutions, mining companies,
oil refineries, maritime, road and
air transport companies, as well
as companies involved in health
products and health care.
Restrictions on foreign
investor participation exist
in certain areas, such as:
(i) communications (television,
radio stations or newspapers);
(ii) aviation (Brazilian airlines);
(iii) participation in classified
(operations) government
contracts; (iv) coastal and
freshwater shipping; (v)
mining and hydroelectric
energy, etc.
Furthermore, the direct or
indirect foreign ownership
of rural land is regulated and
subject to limitations as to the
total area. Ownership of land
near Brazils borders is subject
to further restrictions.
Currency/exchange control
The Central Bank allows the
official exchange rate to float
freely, but forex trading is
restricted to authorised dealers.
The Central Bank intervenes
when there are signs of
speculative operations. There
is an active parallel exchange
market that, although illegal, is
quoted in the daily newspapers,
as well as an official tourist rate
that normally approximates the
parallel rate.
IOF
As a general rule, foreign
exchange transactions made
in order to allow payments to
non-residents, in the form of
royalties, technical services,
14
technical, administrative and

any other assistance or any
other revenue, including the
reimbursement of any costs,
are subject to the tax on
financial transactions (IOF).
These transactions are subject
to the maximum IOF rate of 25%.
The current IOF rate for any
foreign exchange transaction
(both inbound and outbound)
such as FDI or Intragroup loan
agreement is 0.38% payable
upfront; however there are many
other types of foreign exchange
transactions where different tax
rates are applied. As a result,
the IOF may not be avoided if
the payment requires a foreign
exchange transaction from the
Real into a foreign currency, or
from a foreign currency into the
Real. Payments of interest,
for the importation of goods
and for the acquisition of an
investment in Brazil by a local
resident from a foreigner, are
also subject to the IOF.
The IOF of 6% is charged on
foreign loans with an average
maturity of less than 360 days
(the average term was
decreased on 5 December
2012 from 720 days to 360
days). All other foreign loans
are subject to the IOF at 0%
rate. The average maturity
is determined based on the
balance of the loan relative
to the number of days of the
outstanding balance of the
related loan.
From October 2009, the

Brazilian government changed
the IOF tax rates that are levied
on certain foreign currency
exchange transactions related
to the inflow of funds to Brazil
made by Resolution 2689 to 6%,
and 0% if the equities are traded
through the Exchanges. As to
the outflow of funds from Brazil
related to investments in the
financial markets, the IOF rate
continues to be 0%.
respectively of total trade

business.
Key Markets and Trade
Handshakes are the most

common form of greeting
between business colleagues.
In more informal situations,
women will tend to greet each
other with a kiss on either cheek,
while men may briefly embrace.
Brazil has a very strong industrial

base. It exports not only natural
resources and agricultural
products, but also industrial
and commercial products.
At the top of the list are natural
resources (such as iron ore)
and agricultural products (such
as soy beans, coffee and sugar).
Moving down the list, there are
manufactured products including
vehicle parts, airplanes,
petrochemical products
and ethanol.
Brazil is one of the leading
developing countries, and is
one of the four emerging markets
comprising the B-R-I-Cs (i.e.
Brazil, Russia, India and China).
Since 2010, China has played
an important role as Brazils
main commercial partner,
followed by the United States,
Argentina and Germany.
These top commercial
partners represent 15.9%,
12.4%, 8.2%, and 5%
Brazil is the largest telecoms

market in Latin America and
Brazilians are the biggest users
of the internet in the region.
Future trends include growth
of Voice over Internet Protocol,
convergence applications and
Next Generation wireless.
Business etiquette
When you meet someone for

the first time, it is polite to say
muito prazer (my pleasure).
Expressions such as como vai
and tudo bem are common
forms of saying Hello once
you know someone and can
show you are making an effort
to know them.
Brazilian companies tend to

have vertical hierarchies where
managers at the top make most
of the decisions. Differences
in class are still very prevalent
in Brazilian society and business
culture. Class is mostly
determined by economic status
and is reflected in the salaries
people receive, resulting in large
disparities of pay and status.
There are laws against
discrimination, however,
and most class differences
in business are subtle.
Relationships are one of the
most important elements in
the Brazilian business culture.
By cultivating close personal
relationships and building trust,
you will have a greater chance
of successfully doing business
in Brazil.
The use of titles and first names

can vary across Brazil. Typically,
it is polite to address your
Brazilian counterpart with a
title and surname at the first
meeting or when writing to
them. Once you know them,
it is common to use just their
first name, or else their title
followed by their first name.
*Source:ht tp://www.mdic.gov.br
/arquivosdwnl_1298052907.pdf
Conducting business in Brazil

Forms of business
Forms of foreign Investment
Investment made by foreigners
is normally structured via
the acquisition of interests
or financial assets or via the
incorporation of new entities.
Depending on the nature
of the assets to be invested,
the applicable regime will
be different. Basically, for
assets in the financial and
capital markets, the applicable
rule in force is Resolution of
Monetary Council 2689.
The Resolution provides that
non-resident investors are not
allowed to trade in securities
of public companies except
for the trade over (i) the stock
market, (ii) electronic systems,
or (iii) an over-the-counter
market which is organised
by an entity authorised by the
Securities Commission (CVM)
to trade in securities of publiclyheld companies.
There are situations when it is
possible to transfer the 2689
equities outside of an organised
market, such as in cases of:
subscriptions, stock dividends,
conversions of debentures
into stock, indexes referenced
in securities, acquisitions
and sales of shares of open
investment funds in securities
and, when previously
authorised by the Securities
Commission, the cases of closing
shareholders capital, cancellation
or suspension of trading.
16
Currently, there are important

tax incentives granted for the
2689 investors.
For the assets not related
to financial and capital markets,
but more linked to the
acquisition of private
companies, the basic legal
concepts regulating foreign
capital in Brazil are defined
in Laws 4131 of 1962 and 4390
of 1964, which were regulated
intangible assets.
The corporate forms in which a
business are normally conducted
in Brazil are the following:
Corporations (Sociedade por
Aes S/A) Only corporate
form that can have stocks
traded publicly.
SA Sociedade por acoes
(also known as SOCIEDADE
ANONIMA) A limited liability
company. It must have at least
two shareholders. There is
no minimum share capital
except for financial institutions,
insurance, utility and export
trading companies. It may
be public or private. Shares
in public corporations are freely
transferable; shares in private
corporations are restricted.
Setting up a business
When setting up a new legal
entity in Brazil, given that
the incorporation of a branch
requires authorisation granted
via a presidential decree,
the process is generally
bureaucratic and lengthy.
In view of this, the majority
of foreign businesses in Brazil
are set up under the form of
subsidiaries based primarily
on the insulating effect that
incorporation has on the liability
of the foreign parent company
for the subsidiarys acts. When
incorporating a subsidiary
in Brazil, the most common
vehicle is the Limited Liability
Company (Sociedade Limitada
LTDA) or the Corporation.
Limited Liability Companies

(Sociedade Limitada)
The Brazilian equivalent of a
closely-held company in the
United States and a private
limited liability company in
the United Kingdom.
Limitada or Ltda
(Sociedade por quotas de
responsabilidade limitada)
Private limited liability
company. It must have
at least two shareholders.
There is no minimum share
capital. Shares are called
quotas and their transferability
is restricted. The liability
of quota holders is limited
to the amounts invested.
Joint Ventures The form
of a corporation assemble
under one of the partnerships
stated above.
Branches Significant
bureaucracy in its creation
and maintenance renders
this form limited to few
multinationals.
Regulatory matters/issues
In general terms, there are no
restrictions on the ownership
by foreign investors, except for:
i.
Communications (television,
radio stations or newspapers);
ii.
Aviation (Brazilian airlines);
iii. Participation
in classified
government contracts;
iv. Coastal
v. Mining
and freshwater shipping;
and hydroelectric
energy, etc.
18
The financial year (12-month

period) of Brazilian legal entities
can be freely chosen for corporate
purposes. Accordingly, certain
Brazilian companies adopt the
same financial year of the parent
company, for corporate/reporting
purposes (e.g. 1 July to 30 June).
Nonetheless, as companies
are required to observe the
calendar-year (January through
December) for tax purposes,
most of domestic entities
choose the same period as
their corporate financial year.
Registration formalities
There are no legal minimum
share capital requirements
for a corporation, except
for financial institutions and
insurance companies, and
certain other legal entities
with specific business
purposes.
Upon the decision to incorporate
a new legal entity in Brazil,
an inaugural meeting of
prospective shareholders
must be held to approve
the bylaws, which sets up
the corporations core activities,
appoints management, and
indicates the amount of
capital, registered office
and distribution of shares
(as per the subscription list)
among shareholders (others).
Besides the requirements listed
above, a corporation is required
to have the subscription of all the
shares into which the corporate
capital stock is divided according
to the bylaws, with the initial
subscribers being at least two
individuals or legal entities that
are considered to be founders.
In addition, at least 10% of the
issuance price of the shares
subscribed in cash, unless
specific legislation requires
a higher percentage, and
deposit thereof at a bank. This
deposit is released when the
corporation has been registered
with the Board of Trade (Junta
Comercial) or after six months,
if no registration has been made.
After the fulfilment of these

requirements, a quorum of
subscribers of at least one half
of the capital is required for
the meeting to approve the
incorporation of a corporation.
If this quorum is not reached,
a second meeting may be held
before any number of subscribers.
Upon approval of the bylaws,
the shareholders should
elect the members of the
management bodies. There
are no nationality requirements
for management, but a
foreigner must hold a permanent
visa and be domiciled in Brazil
to be eligible for the job. At
the end of the meeting, the
minutes shall be signed by
all subscribers in attendance
or by the number required to
validate the resolutions. These
documents must be kept at the
corporation and a copy must
be filed with the Board of Trade.
Ongoing filing requirements

A newly incorporated corporation
acquires legal existence upon
filing its incorporation documents
with the Board of Trade and
the subsequent publishing of
its meetings minutes in a local
newspaper and the Official
Gazette (Dirio Oficial). The
certificate issued by the Board
of Trade confirming the filing
of the incorporation documents
serves as a legal document for
the transfer of assets used to
pay in the capital and becomes
a matter of public record.
An annual meeting must be held
with the shareholders within
the first four months of the end
of the corporate financial year,
to approve the annual financial
statements and the management
report, approve the proposed
distribution of net income for the
year, elect the executive officers
or the board of directors
members (if applicable) and
approve the authorised capital,
minimum or fixed dividends and
premiums on reimbursements
(if applicable).
Shareholders meetings
must normally be called
by publishing an appropriate
announcement at least three
times in the Official Gazette
and in a local newspaper.
Exchange Controls or
restrictions on repatriation
of profit
Dividends remitted to nonresident shareholders or
quotaholders are not subject
to withholding tax.
Profits may be remitted abroad
without limitations, to the extent
that there is foreign registered
capital and retained earnings
available. As from 1 January
1996, profits/dividends
distributed to non-resident
beneficiaries relating to periods
beginning on or after this date,
are not subject to withholding tax.
On 16 December 2009,
thin capitalisation rules were
introduced to the Brazilian
tax system.
The new legislation set forth
that interest paid or credited by
a Brazilian entity to a related
individual or legal entity, not
resident or domiciled in a tax
haven or a favourable tax regime
jurisdiction, can only be considered
deductible for tax purposes if
such expense is necessary for
the activities of the local entity,
and if the amount of debt granted
20
by the related party does not

exceed twice the amount of
the participation it holds in the
stockholder equity of the Brazilian
entity. A second test also needs
to be satisfied including the
total amount of all debts with
any foreign-related party. If both
tests exceed the 2:1 ratio, the
portion of interest related to the
exceeding amount will not be
tax deductible.
Similar provisions are also
applicable to interest paid or
credited by a Brazilian entity to an
individual or legal entity (related
or not) resident or domiciled in
a tax haven or a favourable tax
regime jurisdiction. In this case,
the expense would only be
considered tax-deductible if the
amount of debt does not exceed
30% of the amount of the
participation it holds in the
stockholder equity of the Brazilian
entity. A second test also needs
to be satisfied including the
total amount of all debts with
any foreign party resident or
domiciled in a tax haven
jurisdiction. If both tests exceed
the 30% ratio, the portion of
interest related to the exceeding
amount will not be tax deductible.
Liabilities for
Directors Company
In the most common types of
entities, LTDA and SA, executive
officers are not personally liable
for the obligations they undertake
in the name of a corporation
and in the normal course of
business. However, they are
liable for losses and damages
caused by negligent or fraudulent
conduct or by violating the law
or the corporations bylaws.
Taxation in Brazil
Corporation income tax (or equivalent)
International aspects
Foreign operations
Brazilian resident companies
are taxed on worldwide income.
Foreign branch profits are taxed
as earned and foreign subsidiary
profits are taxed when distributed
or made available. Double taxation
is avoided by means of foreign
tax credits.
Resident individuals are subject
to tax on all income from abroad
but are allowed to take credit
for the foreign tax paid thereon,
provided reciprocal treatment is
accorded to Brazilian-source
income in the country from which
the income is received.
Brazil has signed various
treaties for the avoidance
of double taxation.
Fees and other related
expenses paid in Brazil for
services rendered abroad
are subject to withholding
tax of 15%, or a lower rate
under some tax treaties.
Centre of International
Financial or Operations
There are no tax breaks
to encourage multinational
companies to locate
headquarters or administrative
offices in Brazil and/or the use
of Brazil as a base for offshore
financial operations. However,
the various Brazilian states
do offer different financial
22
incentives they compete

between themselves in
order to attract companies.
Corporate Income Tax (IRPJ)
Corporate income tax is
based on the calendar year,
with monthly tax payments, and
is generally computed on the
basis of annual or quarterly
taxable income. Under the
Actual Profit Method (APM),
IRPJ is charged at the rate of
15% plus a surcharge of 10%
on annual taxable income in
excess of R$240,000
(approximately US$120,000).
Additions of expenditure to
and deductions of expenditure
from the accounting profit
figure are required in order
to calculate the amount
on which corporation tax
is based. These adjustments
are either permanent or
temporary. Permanent
adjustments include gifts
and donations, and temporary
adjustments (which are
reverted in the future)
include provisions. All
these adjustments should
be controlled in the Livro
de Apurao do Lucro Real
(LALUR), Part A.
Certain companies can also
apply to pay IRPJ according
to a presumed profit method
(PPM). The amount of (IRPJ/
corporate income tax) will be
obtained from a percentage
of the gross revenues. Service

providers will be charged at a
rate of 8% (effective tax rate).
Sellers of goods and assets will
be charged at a rate of 2%
(effective tax rate). There are
restrictions on applying the PPM
Annual where gross revenues
in the preceding calendar year
are greater than R$48m.
Financial institutions in general,
leasing companies, insurance
companies, and non-private
pension funds are not allowed
to adopt PPM.
In some cases, depending on
the effective rate obtained
in the APM, PPM can be
considered a tax incentive.
Certain classes of income
receive special tax treatment.
Some of them are excluded
from taxation or can receive
specified tax deduction.
Companies are required to file
a corporate income tax return
on an annual basis (generally
up to the last working day of
June of the subsequent year).
Other corporate returns must
also be filed by legal entities.
Social Contribution on Net

Income (CSLL)
Brazilian tax legislation also
provides for a social
contribution tax on profits,
which also has the nature
of a corporate income tax.
Its taxable basis is quite similar
to corporate income tax, but
with certain distinct adjustments.
CSLL is charged at the rate of
9%. For financial institutions,
the applicable rate is 15%.
For CSLL, temporary and
permanent adjustments
are applied in the same way
as for Corporate Income Tax.

Tax losses carry forward
(IRPJ and CSLL)
There is no time limit for the
carry forward of tax losses.
However, the taxable profit of
each year can only be reduced
by tax losses up to a maximum
of 30%. Furthermore, it is
neither possible to carry back
tax losses nor transfer them
to other Brazilian companies.
Tax losses of an acquired
company cannot be carried
forward to be offset against
the taxable income of a new
activity if the following two
conditions are both met:
i.
Some companies can also

apply to pay CSLL based
on the presumed profit method
(PPM). Service providers will
be charged at a rate of 2.88%
(effective tax rate). Sellers
of goods and assets will be
charged at a rate of 1.08%
(effective tax rate).
The same restrictions on the
application of the PPM method
to Corporate Income tax apply
to CSLL.
In some cases, depending
on the effective rate obtained
in the APM, PPM can be
considered a tax incentive.
odification in the ownership

m
of the company; and
ii. modification
in the activity
of the company.
Capital gains
Capital gains earned by localresident entities are taxed
at the normal corporate rate
(34%), while capital gains of
non-residents are taxed at the
rate of 15% (unless otherwise
specified by international
tax treaties).
Individuals are taxed at the
rate of 15% on capital gains.
Payments of any type made
to tax havens are generally
subject to withholding tax
at a rate of 25%.
Withholding Taxes (IRRF)

The current rates applicable
to the following payments
to non-residents are:
i.
Dividends Not Taxable
ii. Interest
iii.
15%*
Royalties 15%*
iv. Technical
and Admin.
Services 15%*
v.
Other Services 25%*
*These rates are effective

unless otherwise specified
by tax treaty.
Payments
of any type made

to tax havens, defined as
jurisdictions that do not tax
income or tax income at a rate
lower than 20%, are subject
to withholding at a rate of 25%.
The Brazilian concept of tax

haven jurisdictions has been
amended and has been in
effect since 1 January, 2009.
To that extent, it is likely that
any other jurisdiction (not
necessarily a country) that
falls into the new definition
(e.g. a jurisdiction that grants
tax benefits to non-resident
investors that do not perform
business activities on it; or a
jurisdiction that does not allow
access to information relating
to the ownership of shares of
local entities, the ownership
of goods, and/or rights or
information regarding
economic transactions) could
now be subject to Transfer
Pricing and Thin Capitalisation
rules in relation to the
rendering of services and the
acquisition or selling of goods,
among others.
26
At 7 June 2010, Federal Tax

Authorities published in the
Normative Instruction 1.037/10,
article 1, the new list of Tax
Havens. This new list includes
new tax havens jurisdictions in
addition to the previous list that
was published in 2002 that was
Andorra, Anguilla, Antigua and
Barbuda, Dutch Antilles, Aruba,
Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados,
Belize, Bermuda, Campione
DItalia, Cyprus, Singapore,
Costa Rica, Djibouti, Dominica,
United Arab Emirates, Gibraltar,
Granada, Hong Kong, Cayman
Islands, Cook Islands, Madeira,
Isle of Man, Channel Islands
(Jersey Guernsey, Alderney,
Sark), Marshall Islands,
Mauritius, Turks and Caicos,
U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin

Islands, Lebuan, Lebanon,
Liberia, Liechtenstein,
Luxembourg (holding 1929),
Macao, Maldives, Malta,
Monaco, Monserrat, Nauru,
Nieui, Panama, Saint Kitts, Saint
Vincent, U.S. Samoa, Western
Samoa, San Marino, Saint
Cristobal and Nevis, Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines,
Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Oman,
Tonga, Vanuatu.
The new members are:
Ascension Island, Brunei, French
Polynesia, Granada, Kiribati,
Norfolk Island, Pitcairn Islands,
Qeshm, Saint Helena, Saint
Pierre and Miquelon, Solomon
Islands, Swaziland and Tristan of
Cunha. On the other hand it was
excluded from the previous list
the jurisdiction of Malta and the
Luxembourg Holdings set up
under the Law 1929.
Introduced in the Brazilian Tax
system in 2008, via Law 9.430,
article 24-A, 'privileged tax
regime' can be defined as the
regime with the following
characteristics: (i) no income tax
or income tax lower than 20%,
(ii) tax benefits for non-resident
shareholders regardless of
whether they carry out
economic activities in the
country or dependency, (iii) tax
benefits for non-resident
shareholders to the extent that
they do not carry out economic
activities in the country; (iv)
worldwide income either
exempt or taxed at a maximum
rate lower than 20%, and (v) no
access to the identity of
shareholders, the owners of

assets/rights, and no information
on economic transactions.
Based on the concept introduced
in 2008, NI 1.037, article 2,
enumerates some types of
entities that fall under at least
one of the characteristics above.
These entities are:
The financial investment
corporations (Sociedad Anonima
Financiera de Inversion, or SAFI)
under the laws of Uruguay;
The International Trading
Companies (ITC) under the laws
of Iceland;
The offshore KFTs under the
laws of Hungary;
The limited liability companies
(LLC) under U.S. state laws that
are not subject to U.S. federal
income tax and whose members
are non-residents (in the U.S.);
The Entidades de Tenencia de
Valores Extrajeros (ETVEs)
under the laws of Spain;
The ITCs or International Holding
Companies (IHCs) under the
laws of Malta;
The holding companies under the
Laws of Denmark which do not
excise substantive activities; and
The holding companies under
the Laws of the Netherlands
which do not excise substantive
activities (suspended from
thelist).
Note that different tax effects

could impact transactions
between Brazilian counterparts
with counterparts in tax havens
or with privileged tax regime
entities.
It should also be noted that
the tax authorities respect the
exemption from withholding for
all dividend payments, including
dividend payments subject
to withholding tax under the
provisions of a tax treaty. In the
case of royalties, the royalty
contract has to be approved
by the National Institute of
Industrial Property (INPI) and
filed with the Brazilian Central
Bank.
Deductions for royalties are
generally limited to 5% of net
sales of the relevant products or
services; the percentage depends
on the type of product or activity.
Federal Excise Tax (IPI)
This Federal Excise Tax is paid by
manufacturers on behalf of their
customers at the time of sale,
either to another manufacturer
who will further the
manufacturing process or to the
retailer who sells to the end user.
The tax paid is stated separately
on the sales invoice. Certain
exemptions are given to goods
considered to be of basic
necessity to the countrys
economy. The rates are defined
28
by the products tax code

according to the Harmonised
System.
As mentioned above, when
manufactured products are
sold between producers,
the IPI is imposed. However,
the subsequent manufacturer
is allowed a credit against
its IPI liability, equal to the
IPI paid to its suppliers (noncumulative tax).
IPI is also imposed on import
transactions. Export revenues
are tax exempt from IPI
however, the IPI tax credit
recorded on the acquisition
of inputs may be kept.
Contribution for the Social
Integration Programme (PIS)
PIS, generally levied at 1.65%,
is a Federal social contribution
calculated as a percentage of
gross revenue. Note that higher
rates are imposed in certain
sectors. A PIS credit system is
meant to ensure the tax is
applied only once on the final
value of each transaction,
which means that the company
is granted a tax credit calculated
on acquisition of inputs and on
certain expenses (noncumulative system).
Note that there are certain
companies which must pay
PIS under the cumulative
system. The cumulative
system imposes a lower rate

(0.65%), however, it does not
enable the company to record
tax credits on acquisitions.
Since 1 May 2004, the PIS
contribution has applied to the
importation of goods and on
the payment of services to
non-residents. Export revenues
are tax exempt from PIS.
However, the PIS tax credit
recorded on the acquisition
of inputs and services may
be kept.
Contribution for Social
Security Financing (COFINS)
COFINS, generally levied at 7.6%,
is a monthly federal social security
contribution calculated as a
percentage of gross revenue.
Higher rates are imposed in certain
sectors. A COFINS credit system
is meant to ensure the tax is
applied only once on the final
value of each transaction, which
means that the company is
granted a tax credit calculated
on the acquisition of inputs
and on certain expenses
(non-cumulative system).
There are certain companies
which must pay COFINS under
cumulative system. The
cumulative system imposes a
lower rate (3%), but it does not
enable the company to record tax
credits on acquisitions. Financial
institutions also have a special
COFINS rate of 4% but some
deductions to the tax base
are allowed.
As from 1 May 2004, COFINS

contributions also apply to
imports of goods and on the
payment of services to nonresidents. Export revenues
are tax exempt from COFINS
(however, the COFINS tax credit
recorded on the acquisition of
inputs and services may bekept).
Financial Transactions Tax (IOF)
In October 2009, the Brazilian
government changed the IOF
tax rates that are levied on
certain foreign currency
exchange transactions related
to the inflow of funds to Brazil.
For foreign investors entering
into the financial and capital
markets, the applicable rate
was previously 0%. In 2010
the IOF rate was increased
to 2% for inflows of equities
traded through the Exchanges;
however, in December 2011
the rate went back to 0%.
Other inflows for the financial
and capital markets will trigger
IOF at 6%.
For the outflow of funds from
Brazil related to investments in
the financial markets, the IOF
rate continues to be 0%.
For investments according to
Law 4.131 (into LTDA and SA),
inflows and outflows will
trigger IOF at 0.38%.
Contribution for the

Intervention in the
Economic Domain (CIDE)
Brazilian companies with royalty,
licence, service and technical
assistance agreements with foreign
entities, shall pay a 10% CIDE,
based on the amount paid abroad.
Service Tax (ISS)
The ISS is a municipal tax on gross
billings for certain services
designated by the Federal
Government. The applicable
rates to be determined by each
municipality can vary between
2% and 5%.
In general, the service tax
is levied by the municipality
in which the Company is
headquartered. There are
some exceptions to this
rule for services involving
assembly, construction and
demolition, among others.
As from January 2004,
important changes to the ISS
legislation were made. The
original list of services subject
to the tax was expanded and
the importation of services is
now subject to ISS. Additionally,
ISS is not levied on exports of
services, except when the
services are rendered in Brazil
or the results of these services
are applied in Brazil.
Transfer Pricing
The rules of transfer pricing
in Brazil address imports and
exports of products, services
and rights charged between
related parties, inter-company
financing transactions not
registered at the Central Bank
of Brazil, as well as all import
and export transactions
between Brazilian residents
(individual or legal entity)
and residents in either low
tax jurisdictions (as defined
in the Brazilian legislation)
or jurisdictions with internal
legislation that call for secrecy
relating to corporate ownership,
regardless of any relation.
The rules require that a Brazilian
company substantiates its
inter-company import and export
prices on an annual basis by
comparing the
actual transfer price with a
benchmark price determined
under any one of the Brazilian
equivalents of the OECDs
comparable uncontrolled
price method (CUP method),
resale price method (RPM)
or cost plus method (CP
method). Tax payers are
required to apply the same
method, which they elect,
for each product or type
of transaction consistently
throughout the respective
financial year. However,
taxpayers are not required
to apply the same method for
different products and services.
Personal Income Tax

Residents of Brazil are taxed
on their worldwide income,
and non-residents are taxed
exclusively at source on their
Brazilian-source income. The
source of income is determined
by the place where the tax
payer is located, irrespective
of where the work is performed.
Foreigners, intending to live
and/or work in Brazil, whether
for a short or a long period, will
become tax-resident depending
on the type of visa they hold:
1. Permanent visas Holders of
permanent visas are considered
residents as from the date of
arrival in Brazil.
2. Temporary visas Holders
of temporary visas are also
considered residents as from
the date of arrival in Brazil,
as long as they have an
employment contract in Brazil.
Otherwise, they will become
tax residents as from their
184th day of presence in Brazil
within any given 12-month
period.
Tax rate Income tax is
normally withheld at source, at
rates varying from 0% to 27.5%,
depending on the income
bracket. The final liability is
determined upon filing the
tax return. Any difference
between the amounts as
determined by the tax return
and that withheld at source
must be paid or is refunded
to the taxpayer. The Brazilian
Tax Authorities have issued
an annual tax table (below)

applicable to income tax
payable during tax year 2011.
Individuals are required to
submit income tax returns
by 30 April of every year.
There are penalties for late
and incorrect submission.
Monthly Income
(Brazilian
currency BRL)
Income tax arising from

employment should be
withheld by the employers
at the above-mentioned rates.
Social charges and other
employee rights are referred
to below.
Tax Rate
Amount to be
deducted from
tax in R$
From 1,566.62 to
2,347.85
7.5%
117.49
rom 2,347.86 to
F
3,130.51
15%
293.58
From 3,130.52 to
3,911.63
22.5%
528.37
A bove 3,911.63
27.5%
723.95
Up to 1,566.61
*Source: http://www.receita.fazenda.gov.br/Aliquotas/ContribFont2012a2015.htm
Sales tax/VAT
State Value Added
Tax (ICMS)
The Constitution of 1988
granted authority to the
Brazilian States to collect tax
on the circulation of goods and
on the supply of inter-state and
inter-municipal transportation
services on communications,
even when the transaction and
the rendering of services start
in another country.
ICMS is not a cumulative tax,
that is, the tax is only assessed
on the increase in the price of
the product in each part of the
supply chain. The calculation
process involves a system
that, in each payment period,
the taxpayer must check the
amount of debits and credits
related to the State Value
Added Tax and, if the taxpayer
has more debits than credits,
they will have to pay the tax on
the difference between them.
It is a value added tax and
is collected by most States at
the usual rate of 17%, except
for the States of So Paulo,
Minas Gerais and Paran,
where the tax rate is 18%
and Rio de Janeiro, where
the rate is 19%. Some products
trigger a higher rate (usually
25%) or a lower rate
(automotive industry and other
special industries are below
17% or 18%). Intra-states
transactions are subject to
lower rates, depending on the
State of origin and destination.
32
Other taxes
ICMS is also imposed on import
transactions. Export revenues
are tax exempt from ICMS,
however the ICMS tax credit
recorded on the acquisition of
inputs and services may be kept.
Please note that industries
located in certain States of
Brazil, such as Mato Grosso,
Gois, Bahia, among others,
may apply for State tax
incentives, which correspond
mainly to reduction of tax due,
deferral of tax due or recording
of presumed tax credits. It is
important to mention that, as
most of such incentives are
not supported by the necessary
agreements pre-approved by
all States (CONFAZ meeting),
these tax incentives may be
questioned.
Property Taxes
(IPTU and ITBI)
A property tax IPTU (Imposto
Predial e Territorial Urbano) is
levied annually based on the
fair market value of property
in urban areas at rates that
generally vary between
0.2 and 5% according to the
municipality and location of
the property. Payments can
be made in up to 10 monthly
instalments. In a few cases it
is possible to obtain exemption
from this tax.
Another property tax ITBI
(Imposto de Transmisso de
Bens Imveis Inter Vivos) is
levied at rates of up to 6% on
sales or transfers of properties
and is payable by the acquirer.
A reduced rate of 0.5% applies
to transactions under housing
programmes financed by federal
government schemes.
Audit and accountancy

Audit requirements
Audited Financial statements
are required for listed companies,
financial institutions and insurance
companies. Listed companies
with total annual gross revenue
above R$100m must present
quarterly information reviewed
by independent auditors.
Other regulated segments
might require audited financial
statements.
In light of recent changes to
the Corporate Law, all entities,
independent of their statutory
structure or whether they are
listed or regulated entities, must
have their financial statements
audited by an independent
auditor if they are deemed to
be large. Large companies
are defined as those whose
gross revenue in the last year
was greater than R$300m
(approximately US$150m) or
held total assets over R$240m
(approximately US$120m)
within Brazil. These limits
are applicable not only
to individual legal entities but
also to a group of entities under
common control, even if the
control is abroad. Please note
that the analysis considers
the operations in Brazil only.
34
Accounting Practices
Adopted in Brazil
The Accounting Practices
Adopted in Brazil (BR GAAP)
are based on the Corporate
Law, which was updated in
2008 with Law 11.638/07.
This Law has approximated
the BR GAAP to International
Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS), although there still are
many remaining differences.
Although the starting point for
the BR GAAP is the Corporate
Law, there were inconsistencies
in the accounting treatment
between different companies
in Brazil due to the lack of
guidance in the Law, which
is very superficial on accounting
issues. The Brazilian Stock
Exchange Securities (CVM)
and other regulators, including
the Brazilian Federal Council
of Accountants (CFC), used
to issue accounting guidance
to the entities regulated by
them. After a round of
negotiations, from 2008 this
problem tends to disappear
in view of the creation of the
Brazilian National Standard
Setter (CPC Comit de
Pronunciamentos Contbeis),
which, from now on, will be
responsible for issuing the new
Brazilian accounting standards,
which will be subject to the
endorsement from the different
regulators. Once the regulators
are part of the CPC, it is
supposed that most of the
standards, if not all,
will be approved by them as

soon as they are issued in final
form. Prior to 2010, standalone
Financial Statements could be
prepared in accordance with
BR GAAP. However, the CVM,
the Brazilian Central Bank
(BCB) and Insurance Regulator
(SUSEP) have issued regulations
determining that entities must
prepare consolidated financial
statements in accordance
with IFRS from 2010.
The format of the financial
statements in Brazil is similar
to IFRS. Disclosure in BR GAAP
is very limited if compared
with disclosure requirements
prescribed by IFRS.
The Transitional
Tax Regime (RTT)
As mentioned above, Law
11,638/07 introduced new
accounting principles in Brazil.
In order to guarantee the tax
neutrality of such changes, the
Brazilian government issued
Law 11,491 on 27 May 2009.
The focus of this measure was
to guarantee that no adverse
tax consequences should be
triggered from the adoption
of the new accounting criteria
in connection with the
recognition of revenues, costs
and expenses computed on
the assessment of net profits.
To achieve this result, Brazilian
taxpayers will have the option
to elect for a Transitional Tax
Regime (Regime Tributrio de
Transio RTT), under which,

for tax purposes only, taxpayers
will be allowed to calculate
corporate income tax and follow
the applicable accounting
criteria before the enactment
of Law 11,638.
The transitional tax regime
was optional for the 2008 and
2009 calendar-years but has
been mandatory since 2010
and is in force until a new law
is enacted setting forth the
tax effects (if any) stemming
from the new methods and
accounting criteria. In addition,
the option of the RTT for the
Corporate Income Tax (IRPJ)
shall imply the adoption of
the tax regime also for social
contributions purposes
(CSLL, PIS and COFINS).
Human Resources
and Employment Law
Labour Relations
Employment and labour
relations in Brazil are primarily
governed by the Brazilian Federal
Constitution, the Brazilian Labour
Code CLT and Collective
Labour Agreements. The CLT
imposes on the employer
a series of obligations that
protect employees, reflecting
the paternalistic philosophy
of the Brazilian Legal System.
Main Employees Rights
Remuneration
According to the Brazilian
Labour Laws, an employment
contract (written or verbal)
must state the remuneration
of the employee. The
remuneration of an employee
includes, besides base salary,
fringe benefits and bonuses,
amongst others.
36
Government Severance
Indemnity Fund for
Employees (FGTS)
For individuals considered as
employees, the company must
make a monthly deposit to
the Government Severance
Indemnity Fund for Employees
(FGTS), at an amount equal
to 8% of an employees
remuneration. In case of a
dismissal without just cause,
incited by the company, an
employee may withdraw this
fund with an additional penalty
(to be paid by the employer)
equivalent to 40% of the
accumulated FGTS balance.
The company must contribute
an additional 10% fine to the
social fund.
13th Salary
The employer must pay annually
to the employee, the 13th
salary, which is a Christmas
bonus due to employees,
regardless of their remuneration.
It corresponds to an additional
one month salary and includes
annual or semi-annual bonuses
and fringe benefits.
The payment occurs, most
commonly, in two instalments,
50% in November and 50%
in December. An anticipation
of the first instalment may be
requested when the employee
leaves for vacation.
Social Security Contribution
Companies are subject to
the following social charges,
due on the employees
monthly remuneration:
Social Security contributions,
equal to 20% (with no ceiling),
plus:
Corporate charges:
SESI, SESC, SEST
SENAI, SENAC or SENAT
INCRA
SEBRAE
Education Salary
Work accident insurance
(from 1% to 3%)
Total (maximum rate)
1.5%
1.0%
0.2%
0.6%
2.5%
3.0%
8.8%
The corporate charges listed above

vary according to the nature of
the companys activities.
In addition to the companys

contribution (20%), employees
are required to pay a monthly
social security contribution
that varies from 8% to 11%
of their monthly compensation,
with a current set ceiling of
R$405.80 (approximately
US$202.50) per month (this
ceiling is altered from time
to time).
Working conditions/
hours worked
The Brazilian Federal
Constitution determines that
regular working hours should
not exceed 8 hours per day and
44 hours per week. Specifically
for financial institutions, working
hours should not exceed
6 hours per day. A series
of constitutional and legal
provisions establish a shorter
working week for a variety of
professional categories such as
bank clerks, telephone operators
and so forth, who are subject
to different working weeks
pursuant to specific regulations.
Time worked in excess of the
above is treated as overtime.
In general, compensation for
overtime work is paid at least
50% above the compensation
paid for normal working hours.
Wages and salaries

All work of equal value must
be remunerated at the same
rate, irrespective of the
nationality, age, sex, or marital
status of the employee.
A minimum wage is established
by law and is currently set
at approximately US$311 per
month (R$622). It should be
noted that the minimum wage
serves mainly as a base index
for adjusting wages and
certain prices. In practice,
it is paid only to some rural,
unskilled and migrant workers.
Foreign personnel
Legal entities with 3 or
more employees, are obliged
to maintain a proportionality
of 2/3 of Brazilian employees
to 1/3 of foreign employees.
The proportionality must also
be observed in relation to
total employee remuneration.
Lower proportionality may
be granted by the relevant
authorities in specific
circumstances (e.g. lack
of Brazilian workforce in a
specific sector). For
proportionality purposes,
foreigners residing in Brazil
for more than ten years who
are spouse or parent to a
Brazilian national, and those
of Portuguese nationality,
are considered as Brazilians.
Immigration law states that

a foreign individual may only
enter the country, to be
engaged in gainful activity,
under certain types of visas
(permanent and temporary,
type V), which will vary
depending on the kind of
activity performed and the
period of physical presence
in the country.
Temporary visa
Business Trip (Temporary visa)
The business visa permits a
foreign individual to enter Brazil
for a short term on specific
business assignments. The
business visa is recommended
to business owners or their
representatives that come
to Brazil exclusively in the
interests of their companies,
to offer or search for products,
to learn about the Brazilian
market or to close or draw
up agreements, for example.
Temporary visa V
with a labour contract
A foreign national who enters
the country holding a temporary
visa type V with a labour
contract, must have an
employment relationship
with a Brazilian company.
Temporary visa V without
a labour contract (technician)
A foreign national entering
the country without a labour
contract and consequently,
without an employment
relationship with a Brazilian
company, must be under a
technology transfer and/or
technical assistance contract.
Permanent visa
A permanent visa is granted
to foreign individuals who intend
to settle in Brazil and that
satisfy specific requirements
established by the National
Immigration Council and/or
the Labour Ministry.
Trade
Import Tax (II)
Tax Treaty
Import tax is levied on the

CIF price. The rate depends
on the degree of necessity
and is defined by the products
tax code according to the
Harmonised System. Taxes
on the importation are levied on
top of one another, as follows:
Currently, Brazil has double

tax treaties with the following
jurisdictions: South Africa,
Argentine, Austria, Belgium,
Canada, Chile, China, Korea,
Denmark, Ecuador, Spain,
Philippines, Finland, France,
Netherlands, Hungary, India,
Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg,
Mexico, Norway, Peru, Portugal,
Czech Republic, Slovakia,
Sweden and Ukraine.
i.
Import tax is applied to the CIF

price (FOB price plus insurance
and freight).
ii.
IPI is levied on the total of (i)

above (CIF price plus import tax).
iii.
PIS and COFINS are applied

to the total of (ii) above (CIF
price, import tax, and IPI) plus
ICMS due on imports and the
contributions are included in
their own basis.
iv.
ICMS is applied to the total of

(ii) above (CIF price, import tax,
IPI) plus PIS, COFINS and ICMS
is included in its own basis.
Import tax (II) is a cost to
the company (not recoverable).
ICMS, IPI, PIS and COFINS
paid on imports are generally
creditable.
38
Personal loan
(emprstimo pessoal). It is
repayable in up to 24 or 36
instalments, depending on the
bank. Competition is strong and
rates vary from bank to bank.
Banking in Brazil
All banking business is closely
monitored by banks themselves
and by the Central Bank of
Brazil (Banco Central do Brasil).
Banking rules are strictly
enforced.
interest rate (SELIC Special

Settlement and Custody
System) is equal or under 8.5%
per year, the interest paid to
customer is 70% over SELIC,
plus the reference rate (TR)
variation.
In addition to the extensive

branch network of the major
retail banks, many of which
have self-service ATM halls,
most services available at the
bank itself are also available
via internet banking.
Currently, many banks

combine these two accounts
into an investment account
(conta investimento). Deposits
are automatically routed to the
savings account, and transferred
to the current account to cover
checks, debit card payments
and cash withdrawals. These
accounts are also used for
investments in funds, with all
investments and redemptions
transiting through the account.
Types of bank accounts:

Brazilian banks offer current
accounts, savings and
investment accounts, credit
and debit card services,
personal loans and overdrafts,
and in some cases, foreign
exchange services. Following
are the details of each one:
Current accounts
(conta- corrente). Usually
entitle the account holder to a
chequebook and/or debit card.
These accounts are normally
non-interest-bearing.
40
Savings accounts
(conta poupana). Pay monthly
interest on average daily
balances for the month. This rate
is currently 0.5% over the basic
reference rate, (Taxa Referencial
TR). Interest earned on these
accounts is tax-free.
Due to a new local regulation,
deposits made on May 4th
2012 and onwards, have new
interest basis. Whenever
the Brazilians benchmark
Salary payment account

(conta salrio). A simple type
of checking account which was
launched by Brazilian Central
Bank in 2006 (Res. 3402/06)
with the following objectives:
i.
Allow low income customers

to withdraw their salaries
through Branches or ATM's
without the need to keep a
normal fee chargeable
checking account in the Pay
roll processor Bank chosen
by its Employer Company;
ii. Allow
individual customers
to readily transfer their salaries
to a checking account held in a
Bank which is not the same as
the Pay Roll processor chosen
by its Employer company. The
idea is to stimulate competition
among Banks for better quality
services and lower fees.
Overdraft
(cheque especial). It is normally
done by arrangement and
subject to the proper credit
analysis by the bank. Usually,
on opening an account, the
bank may make such a credit
line available. Interest rates
on such facilities are very high.
Setting up a bank account
(individual account)
The following documents
are required to open a retail
bank account, such as:
A valid identity document.
In the case of a foreigner
resident in Brazil, this will
mean their foreigners identity
card (Cdula de Identidade
para Estrangeiro CIE)
which contains the foreign
register (Registro National
De Estrangeiro RNE).
Individual Taxpayers number
(Cadastro de Pessoa Fsica
CPF).
Proof of residency, such as a
utility bill in the name of the
person opening the account.
To obtain the CPF, it is
necessary to fill out the
application form at any Post
Office, branch of Banco do
Brasil or branch of the Caixa
Econmica Federal and
present the documentation
required (usually the original
or a certified copy of the RNE).
The applicant will receive
a counterfoil with a code
number and there is a small
fee. Thereafter, the applicant
will be notified to appear at
a unit of the Federal Revenue
Service and present their
documents and the
counterfoil in order to obtain
their definitive CPF.
HSBC in Brazil
Who are we?
HSBC Bank Brazil represents
one of the main financial groups
worldwide in our country.
Based on four pillars Stability,
Proximity, Relationships and
Know-how, the institution
follows Principles and Values
that ensure an ethical, fair and
responsible standard when
doing business, always focusing
on the client.
Services offered by HSBC
Bank Brazil include Retail,
Commercial Banking,
Corporate, and Private Banking.
Head Office
HSBC Bank Brazil has its
headquarters in Curitiba (PR).
An International Brand
In March 1997, HSBC
Bamerindus S.A. was born,
which in 1999 became HSBC
Bank Internacional Brasil
S.A. Banco Multipo. The
HSBC logo and hexagon
are used in order to adhere
to the worldwide brand.
Network in Brazil
Corporate Sustainability
HSBC Bank Brazil is now

present in 564 Brazilian cities,
with 867 agencies, 390
bank service offices, 1,059
electronic service stations
and 5,284 ATMs. The clients
also have over 39 thousand
ATMs in the network shared
with other banks in Brazil and
24hr Bank.
At HSBC, our commitment

to sustainability involves
taking a look at our own
business and endeavouring
to do more and do it,
better. The target of acting
sustainably can only be met
if sustainability is one of the
drivers for our processes,
organizational culture,
customer care, creation of
new products and services
and, above all, credit policies.
Clients
Over 5.2m individual clients
and 368,932 legal
entity clients.
National Ranking
4th largest non-state-owned
bank ranked by total assets.
6th largest by branches.
6th largest by deposits.
4th position on the Central
Bank FX ranking by volume.
2nd largest International
Custodian and 4th
Domestic Custodian.
6th largest by AUM.
ANBID Local Banking

2
3
42
CVM Brazil SEC

ANBID Local Banking
We apply policies and

processes to manage
potential social and
environmental risk in our
lending and other financial
activities in sensitive sectors.
We help our clients to identify
the opportunities presented
by the shift to a low-carbon
economy.
We try to reduce our own
environmental footprint and
share good practice on this
with our clients and other
stakeholders.
We focus our community

investment (philanthropic
activities) on education and
the environment.
Our education programmes
strive/aim to lift people out of
poverty, build financial literacy
and promote environmental
awareness.
Our environmental programme
focuses on the HSBC Climate
Partnership a five-year
environmental programme
to reduce the impact of
climate change on people,
forests, freshwater and cities.
HSBCs programme partners
are carrying out original
scientific research, developing
demonstration projects,
creating working models,
and proving clear solutions so
that governments can enact
legislation for the adoption of
low-carbon policies.
Country overview
Capital city
Brasilia
Area
3,287,000 square miles
Population
190,732,694*
Language
Portuguese
Currency
Real
International dialling code
+55
National Holidays
Scheduled Public Holidays for 2013

11 February
Good Friday
29 March
Tiradentes Day
21 April
Labour Day
1 May
Corpus Christi
30 May
Independence Day
7 September
Brazils Patron Saint Day (N.S.Aparecida)
12 October
All Souls Day
2 November
Proclamation Republic
15 November
Christmas Day
25 December
Business and banking hours
Commercial 9am to 6pm

Banks
10am to 4pm
Political structure
Federal Republic
Stock Exchange
BM&FBovespa. Leading share indexes: IBOVESPA & IBrX
*Source: Censo IBGE 2010
44
Shrove Tuesday (Carnival)
Contacts
Alvaro Taiar
Tel: +55 11 3674 3628
Email: alvaro.taiar@br.pwc.com
Thierry Franois-Marsal
International Banking Centre
Phone: +55 11 3847 5450
Email: thierry.f.marsal@hsbc.com.br
3rd Edition: July 2012
Copyright
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
46
141TP_Brazil_100712_3
PwC and PricewaterhouseCoopers

refer to the network of member firms
of PricewaterhouseCoopers International
Limited (PwCIL), or, as the context
requires, individual member firms of
the PwC network. Each member firm
is a separate legal entity and does not
act as agent of PwCIL or any other member
firm. PwCIL does not provide any services
to clients. PwCIL is not responsible or
liable for the acts or omissions of any
of its member firms nor can it control
the exercise of their professional judgment
or bind them in any way. No member
firm is responsible or liable for the acts
or omissions of any other member
firm nor can it control the exercise
of another member firms professional
judgment or bind another member
firm or PwCIL in any way.
Legal Guide
for Foreign Investors
in Brazil
ISBN 85-98712-71-X
Brazil. Ministry of External Relations. Centro de Estudos das Sociedades de Advogados (CESA)

Legal Guide for Foreign Investors in Brazil / Ministry of External Relations.

Braslia: MRE: BrasilGlobalNet, 2012

308p.

1. Investments - Brazil 2, Foreign Investment - Brazil. I. Title

CDU 330.322
CREDITS
This Legal Guide for Foreign Investors was prepared by Centro de Estudos das
Sociedades de Advogados (CESA) a non-profit organization, with collaboration
from member institutions. It has been ceded for publication and dissemination
over the BrasilGlobalNet (http://www.brasilglobalnet.gov.br), through a
partnership with the Department of Trade and Investment Promotion (DPR) of
the Ministry of External Relations of Brazil.
COOPERATORS
The CESA Board of Directors would like to thank the following law firms that collaborated in the
preparation, updating and translation of each chapter of this Legal Guide for Foreign Investors in Brazil.
ADVOCACIA PIAUHYLINO MONTEIRO

ARAJO E POLICASTRO ADVOGADOS
AZEVEDO SETTE ADVOGADOS ASSOCIADOS
BARBOSA, MSSNICH & ARAGO ADVOGADOS
BARROS PIMENTEL, ALCANTARA GIL, RODRIGUEZ E VARGAS ADVOGADOS
BASTOS-TIGRE, COELHO DA ROCHA E LOPES ADVOGADOS
CASILLO ADVOGADOS
DEMAREST E ALMEIDA - ALMEIDA, ROTENBERG E BOSCOLI ADVOCACIA
FELSBERG, PEDRETTI, MANNRICH E AIDAR ADVOGADOS E CONSULTORES LEGAIS
GREBLER ADVOGADOS
MACHADO, MEYER, SENDACZ E OPICE - ADVOGADOS
MATTOS FILHO, VEIGA FILHO, MARREY JR. E QUIROGA ADVOGADOS
MATTOS, MURIEL, KESTENER ADVOGADOS
MELO CAMPOS ADVOGADOS ASSOCIADOS
MOTTA, FERNANDES ROCHA E ADVOGADOS
NEHRING E ASSOCIADOS ADVOCACIA
NOVAES, PLANTULLI E MANZOLI - SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS
PAULO ROBERTO MURRAY ADVOGADOS
PINHEIRO NETO ADVOGADOS
TELLES PEREIRA, AZZI, FERRARI E ALMEIDA SALLES - ADVOGADOS S/C
TESS ADVOGADOS
TOZZINI FREIRE ADVOGADOS
TRENCH, ROSSI E WATANABE ADVOGADOS
ULHA CANTO, REZENDE E GUERRA ADVOGADOS
VEIRANO ADVOGADOS
VENTURI SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS
WALTER STUBER CONSULTORIA JURDICA
XAVIER, BERNARDES, BRAGANA, SOCIEDADE DE ADVOGADOS
YARSHELL, MATEUCCI E CAMARGO ADVOGADOS
Legal Guide for Foreign Investors in Brazil
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. THE BRAZILIAN LEGAL SYSTEM ............................................................................... 13
2. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS................................................................ 17

2.1. Ministries....................................................................................................... 17.
2.2. Chambers of Commerce................................................................................. 25
3. FOREIGN CAPITAL.....................................................................................................

3.1. General Features.............................................................................................

3.2. Registration of Foreign Capital.........................................................................

3.3. Currency Investments.....................................................................................

3.4. Investment via Conversion of Foreign Credits..................................................

3.5. Investment via Import of Goods without Exchange Cover.................................

3.6. Capital Market Investments.............................................................................

3.7. Remittance of Profits......................................................................................

3.8. Reinvestment of Profits...................................................................................

3.9. Repatriation....................................................................................................

3.10. Transfer of Foreign Investments....................................................................

3.11. Restrictions on Remittances Abroad..............................................................

3.12. Restrictions on Foreign Investment................................................................
27
27
27
27
28
28
29
30
30
31
31
31
32
4. THE BRAZILIAN FOREIGN EXCHANGE REGIME...........................................................

4.1. FX Control......................................................................................................

4.2. The Brazilian Exchange Regime and FX Market ...............................................

4.3. Non-resident Account in Local Currency, and International Transfers

in Brazilian Reals...................................................................................................
35
35
36
39
5. TYPES OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS...................................................................... 41

5.1. General Aspects............................................................................................. 41

5.1.1. Joint-stock Company (Sociedade Annima).......................................... 42

5.1.2. Limited Liability Company (Sociedade Limitada)................................... 44

5.1.3. Rules Common to Both Joint-stock Companies and Limited Liability
Companies..................................................................................................... 45

5.1.4. Other Types of Companies and Forms of Association ........................... 45

5.1.5. Individual Limited Liability Company (Empresa Individual de

Responsabilidade Limitada EIRELI).............................................................. 45

5.1.6. Limited Co-partnership (Sociedade em Comandita Simples) or Limited
Partnership by Shares (Sociedade em Comandita por Aes)......................... 47

5.1.7. General Partnership (Sociedade em Nome Coletivo) ............................. 47

5.1.7. Joint Venture Partnership (Sociedade em Conta de Participao - SCP)....... 47
Calendrio Brasileiro de Exposies e Feiras 2012

5.1.8. Consortium (Consrcio).......................................................................

5.2. Procedures for Registration.............................................................................

5.2.1. The Commercial Registry.....................................................................

5.2.2. Civil Registry of Legal Entities...............................................................
47
48
49
51
6. PUBLICLY-HELD COMPANIES.....................................................................................
6.1. General Information........................................................................................

6.2. Securities Market............................................................................................

6.3. Management .................................................................................................

6.4. Periodic Filing Requirements and Other Information.........................................

6.5. Public Tender Offer (OPA).............................................................................

6.6. Primary and Secondary Public Offerings ........................................................

6.7. Differentiated Listing on BM&FBOVESPA S.A. Bolsa de Valores,

Mercadorias e Futuros (BM&FBOVESPA).............................................................
53.
53
54
55
57
62
64
7. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF LOCAL CAPITAL MARKETS.......................................

7.1. Relevant Laws Affecting Local Capital Markets................................................

7.2. Local Regulatory and Supervisory Authorities.................................................
7.2.1. The National Monetary Council.............................................................
7.2.2. The Brazilian Securities Commission - CVM..........................................
7.2.3. The Central Bank..................................................................................
7.2.4. Self-Regulation.....................................................................................

7.2.4.1. Stock Exchanges....................................................................

7.2.4.2. The Organized OTC Market.....................................................

7.2.4.3. BrazilianFinancial and Capital Markets Association ANBIMA.....

7.3. Definition of Securities....................................................................................

7.4. Offer and Distribution of Securities in Brazil.....................................................
7.4.1.The Concept of Public Offer and Distribution of Securities.......................
7.4.2. Registration Process.............................................................................
7.4.3. Registration of the Issuer as a Publicly-Held Company..........................
7.4.4. Requirements for Public Distributions of Securities................................
7.4.5. Issuance of Depositary Receipts: Access to Foreign Capital Markets.....
7.4.6. Access to the Brazilian Market by Foreign Companies through Security
Depositary Certificate (BDR) Programs...........................................................

7.5. Tender Offers for Acquisition of Shares of Brazilian Companies........................

7.5.1. Takeovers by Tender Offer....................................................................

7.5.2. Going Private - Delisting Tender Offer...................................................

7.5.3. Voluntary Tender Offer.........................................................................

7.6. Investor Protection Rules................................................................................

7.6.1. Disclosure by Public Companies..........................................................

7.6.2. Disclosure by Shareholders of Public Companies.................................

7.6.3. Market Manipulation and other Fraudulent Practices in the Securities
Market...........................................................................................................

7.6.4. Insider Trading.....................................................................................
65
71
71
71
71
72
73
74
74
76
76
78
78
78
80
81
82
83
84
84
84
85
85
86
86
87
87
88

7.7. Money Laundering Law...................................................................................

7.8. Civil Remedies................................................................................................

7.8.1. Securities sold in violation of the registration and/or prospectus
requirements.................................................................................................

7.8.2. Insider Trading.....................................................................................

7.8.3. Fraudulent Brokerage Activities and Handling of Brokerage Accounts....

7.8.3.1. Excessive or Unfair Profits or Commission..............................

7.8.3.2. Operating While Insolvent or Not in Sound Financial

Condition and Other Losses Caused by Intermediaries.........................

7.8.4. Class Actions......................................................................................

7.8.5. Waiver of Rights..................................................................................

7.8.6. Procedural Requirements.....................................................................

7.8.6.1. Jurisdiction............................................................................

7.8.6.2. Venue....................................................................................

7.8.6.3. Statute of Limitations.............................................................
89
89
89
90
90
90
90
91
91
91
91
91
91
8. TAX SYSTEM.............................................................................................................. 93

8.1. General Features............................................................................................. 93.
8.2. Federal Taxes.................................................................................................. 94

8.3. State and Federal District Taxes....................................................................... 98

8.4. Municipal Taxes.............................................................................................. 98

8.5. Contributions.................................................................................................. 99

8.6. Foreign Investors......................................................................................... 101
9. ANTI-TRUST LEGISLATION....................................................................................... 105
10. LABOR LAW IN BRAZIL.......................................................................................... 111
11. FOREIGN WORKERS IN BRAZIL..............................................................................

11.1. Short-term Business and Tourist Visas........................................................

11.2. Temporary Work Visas................................................................................

11.3. Other Temporary Visas................................................................................

11.4. Permanent Employment Visa......................................................................

11.5. Registration upon Entry into Brazil...............................................................

11.6. Travel in Advance of Permanent or Temporary Employment.........................

11.7. Employment of Spouses/Offspring .............................................................
115
115
117
119
120
121
122
123
12. ACQUISITION OF REAL ESTATE IN BRAZIL..............................................................

12.1. Introduction................................................................................................

12.2. Possession and Ownership.........................................................................

12.3. Acquisition and Loss of Ownership.............................................................

12.3.1. General Provisions.........................................................................

12.3.2. General Considerations and Requirements for Purchasing

Real Property.............................................................................................
125
125
126
128
128
129

12.3.3. Acquisition of Rural Land by Foreigners..........................................

12.4. Taxation......................................................................................................

12.4.1. Inter-Vivos Transfer Tax - ITBI.........................................................

12.5. Real Estate Investment Funds.....................................................................
130
132
132
133
13. ENVIRONMENTAL LAW.......................................................................................... 135

13.1. Laws......................................................................................................... 135

13.2. National Environmental Policy.................................................................... 136

13.3. Environmental agencies and their roles ...................................................... 137

13.4. Definitions................................................................................................. 137

13.5. Environmental Licensing............................................................................ 138

13.6. Environmental Guardianship and Liability.................................................... 140
14. PUBLIC TENDERS CONTRACTING OF CIVIL CONSTRUCTION WORKS, SERVICES,
PROCUREMENT AND TRANSFERS BY THE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION......................... 145

14.1. Introduction.............................................................................................. 145

14.2. Procurement Modalities............................................................................ 146

14.3. Authorization, Concession, and License to Provide Public Services............ 148

14.4. Qualification.............................................................................................. 149

14.5. Tender Waiver........................................................................................... 150

14.6. Administrative Contract............................................................................. 151

14.7. Guarantees............................................................................................... 151

14.8. Inspection and Extinction of Administrative Contract.................................. 152

14.9. Other Contractual Features........................................................................ 152
15. PRIVATIZATION, CONCESSIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE GOVERNMENT...

15.1. The National Privatization Program (PND).................................................

15.2. Public Service Concessions.....................................................................

15.3. Major industries privatized or undergoing privatization...............................

15.4. Developments and Results of the Privatization Program.............................

15.5. Public-Private Partnerships.......................................................................
155
156
157
158
158
159
16. TELECOMMUNICATIONS.......................................................................................

16.1. Telecommunications in Brazil Brief Overview.........................................

16.2. Development of Mobile Telephony............................................................

16.3. The Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANATEL)............................

16.4. General Telecommunications Law............................................................

16.5. Telecom Service Regime.........................................................................

16.6. Transfer of Control of Telecom Companies ..............................................

16.7. Taxes on the Telecommunications Sector.................................................

16.8. Incentives................................................................................................

16.9. The Future of Telecommunications Services.............................................
163
163
165
166
167
167
170
171
173
173
17. ELECTRIC ENERGY............................................................................................... 175
17.1. Introduction.............................................................................................
17.2. Sector Agents .........................................................................................
17.3. Activities and Agents of the Sector...........................................................
17.4. Contracting in the Energy Sector..............................................................
17.5. Planning..................................................................................................
17.6. Conclusion..............................................................................................
175
177
180
183
187
187
18. REGULATION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND LEASING IN BRAZIL...................

18.1. Financial Institutions................................................................................

18.2. Main Financial Institutions........................................................................

18.3. Main Requirements for the Operation of Financial Institutions in Brazil.......

18.4. Minimum Capitalization Standards...........................................................

18.5. Foreign Investment in Brazilian Financial Institutions.................................

18.6. Leasing ..................................................................................................
189
189
190
191
192
194
195
19. THE INTERNET AND ELECTRONIC COMMERCE.....................................................

19.1. The Internet.............................................................................................

19.2. Domain Name.........................................................................................

19.3. Intellectual Property.................................................................................

19.4. General Aspects of Electronic Commerce.................................................

19.5. Legal Aspects of Electronic Commerce....................................................

19.6. Brazilian laws on virtual transactions.......................................................
19.6.1. Rules applicable to contracts........................................................
19.6.2. Applicable Law and jurisdiction....................................................
19.6.3. Rules applicable to documentary evidence...................................
19.6.4. Rules applicable to the responsibility of suppliers of goods
or services...............................................................................................
19.6.5. Spam...........................................................................................

19.7. Tax legislation applicable to electronic commerce.....................................

19.8. Electronic Documents as Evidence in Court.............................................

19.8.1. General Theory of Evidence.........................................................

19.8.2. Electronic documents among types of documentary evidence ....

19.8.3.Representative Support................................................................

19.8.3.1. Types of Evidence....................................................................

19.8.3.2. Evidence of existence of an electronic document......................

19.8.3.3. Origin of declaration and electronic signature............................

19.8.3.4. Evidence of the content of a document.....................................

19.8.4. Legislative initiatives....................................................................

19.8.4.1. Provisional Measure 2200-2, August 24, 2001, and other

bills of law in Brazil.................................................................................

19.8.5. Conclusions ...............................................................................
199
199
200
201
202
203
205
205
205
207
207
208
209
209
210
212
212
213
214
215
216
217
219
220
20. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY................................................................................ 223

20.1 Information Technology in Brazil............................................................. 223
20.2 Legal Protection .................................................................................... 226

20.3 Tax Benefits............................................................................................ 230
21. COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATION AND DISTRIBUTION CONTRACTS.....................

21.1. Commercial Representation (Agency)....................................................

21.2. Distribution Agreements........................................................................

21.2.1.Commercial Distribution Agreements...................................................

21.2.2. Ordinary Distribution Contracts...........................................................
235
235
237
237
242
22. INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.................................

22.1. General Aspects International Contracts..............................................

22.2. Brazil and International Intellectual Property Treaties..............................

22.3 International Contracts on Intellectual Property........................................

22.3.1 International Contract for Granting Copyright to Literary Works...

22.3.2 International Agreement on Trademark Licensing......................

22.3.3 International Patent Licensing Agreement.................................

22.3.4 International Technology Transfer Agreements..........................
243
243
246
247
247
249
251
253
23. INTERNATIONAL TREATIES...................................................................................

23.1. Overview...............................................................................................
23.2. International Trade ................................................................................

23.3. Intellectual Property...............................................................................

23.4. Taxes....................................................................................................

23.5. Latin America........................................................................................

23.6. MERCOSUR..........................................................................................

24. COMMERCIAL AND CIVIL LITIGATION...................................................................

24.1. Jurisdiction in civil and commercial cases.............................................

24.2. Litigation costs......................................................................................

24.3. Initial Proceedings.................................................................................

24.4. Evidence...............................................................................................

24.5. Court Rulings........................................................................................

24.6 Provisional Remedies ...........................................................................

24.7. Appeals.................................................................................................

24.8. Enforcement of Court Rulings................................................................

24.9. Collection Proceedings..........................................................................
257
257.
257
258
260
260
263
25. DUMPING IN BRAZIL.............................................................................................

25.1. Introduction...........................................................................................

25.2. Concept and Core Elements of Dumping................................................

25.3. Investigating Dumping in Brazil..............................................................

25.4. Conclusion............................................................................................
281
281
281
284
287
273
273
273
274
275
276
276
277
277
279
26. CONSUMER RIGHTS IN BRAZIL LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ENFORCEMENT....... 289
10
26.1. Development of the Law........................................................................

26.2. General Definition..................................................................................
26.3. Scope...................................................................................................
26.4. Enforcement.........................................................................................
26.5. Trends...................................................................................................
289
289
291
292
293
27. ARBITRATION AND UPHOLDING OF FOREIGN COURT RULINGS AND ARBITRATION

AWARDS IN BRAZIL.................................................................................................... 295

27.1. Purpose and Applicable Rules............................................................... 295

27.2. Arbitration Proceedings......................................................................... 295

27.3. Upholding and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitration Awards...................... 296

27.4. Foreign Sentences................................................................................. 297
28. INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF BRAZILIAN JURISDICTION......................................

28.1 General Jurisdiction of Brazilian Courts...................................................

28.2 Choice of Forum....................................................................................

28.3 Judicial Cooperation...............................................................................

28.4 Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Brazil..................

28.5 Jurisdiction of International Arbitration Tribunals.....................................
301
301
301
302
305
307
11
1. THE BRAZILIAN LEGAL SYSTEM

The Federative Republic of Brazil is
formed by the indissoluble union
of its states, municipalities and
the Federal District. In the Brazilian
legal system, rules are created
mainly by the Legislative and
Executive branches and these are
mainly interpreted by the Judiciary
branch. Although it has a tripartite
system (based on the executive,
legislative and judiciary branches
of government), Brazil also adopted
the checks and balances system,
whereby each of the branches plays
roles that would be originally played
by another branch.
Brazils political and administrative

framework. All Brazilian states have
also passed their own constitutions,
which must be consistent with the
Federal Constitution and must not be
in conflict with it.
These rules are arranged in different

hierarchical levels, at the top of
which is the Federal Constitution,
which was discussed, voted on
and promulgated by a National
Constituent Assembly in 1988 with
a democratic focus. Although it was
passed only a few decades ago,
the Federal Constitution has been
amended 67 times, the last one on
December 22, 2010. The Constitution
addresses a wide range of topics
and ensures a comprehensive list of
rights and guarantees to citizens and
corporations, apart from establishing
The Federative Republic of Brazil

is made up of four politicaladministrative entities: the Union
(federal government), the States,
the Federal District and the
Municipalities. All of them have
three branches of government:
the Legislative, Judiciary and
Executive branches, except for the
Municipalities, which do not have a
Judiciary branch.
The entire Brazilian legal system

is based on the provisions of the
Federal Constitution and it comprises
international treaties and conventions
(which must be approved by
Congress to be enforced in
Brazil), as well as laws and other
administrative instruments, such as
decrees and administrative rules.
The Federal Legislative Branch

is composed of the House of
Representatives and the Senate,
13
which together form the National

Congress, and its main role is that of
legislating. The Federal Constitution
provides that some matters can
only be regulated by the Union and,
therefore, the National Congress is
in charge of legislating on matters
concerning Civil, Commercial,
Criminal, Procedural, Electoral,
Agrarian, Maritime and Aviation laws
and on matters related to water,
energy, IT, telecommunications,
the monetary system, insurance in
general, foreign trade, the national
transportation policy, port regulation,
mineral resources and nuclear
activities, among others.
The Legislative Branch of the States
and of the Federal District is in
charge of drawing up state- and
district-level laws, as well as of
legislating, on a supplementary
basis, on Tax, Financial and
Economic matters and on issues
related to production, consumption,
defense of the soil, natural resources
and responsibility for damages
caused to the environment. If
there is no federal law to address
such matters, the states are fully
competent to legislate on them.
The Legislative Branch of the
14
Municipalities, in turn, is only

competent to regulate local matters.
The Brazilian judiciary branch
consists of state-level courts, federal
courts, and specialized courts. Legal
cases are judged at two ordinary
court levels and at an extraordinary
level by the high courts of each
jurisdiction, by the High Court of
Justice (STJ), which is in charge of
judging infra-constitutional cases,
and by the Supreme Federal Court
(STF), which judges constitutional
matters.
Judges base their decisions on their
interpretation of existing rules and,
if there is a legislative gap, they can
apply analogy, custom and general
principles of law to a case. In recent
years, however, the Supreme Federal
Court was allowed to create the socalled Smulas Vinculantes, which
are binding precedents that can be
enforced as law. In addition, appeals
related to the same judicial issue can
now be jointly judged by the STJ and
STF. These reforms were intended to
enhance the effectiveness of court
decisions and reinforce an increasing
reliance on judicial precedents in
the Brazilian legal system, although
the civil law system continues to

prevail in Brazil (as opposed to the
common law system adopted in
other countries).
Within duly established constitutional
and legal limits, the Executive Branch
has the competence to self-regulate,
to apply rules to supplementary legal
issues and to regulate economic
activities through regulatory
agencies.
The legal rules provided for in the
Brazilian legal system, issued by the
Union, the States, the Federal District
and the Municipalities, must comply
with the Constitution, or else they
may be deemed unconstitutional.
Acts of the public administration
must comply with principles such
as legality, morality and efficiency.
Private acts must be in accordance
with constitutional provisions, as well
as the Civil Code and other specific
laws. All this regulatory system
provides for rights and duties and
was designed to lend safety to legal
relations and ensure the availability of
legal instruments to guarantee such
rights.
15
2 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS

Decree-Law n. 200/67 and its
amendments divide the Federal
Administration into Direct and
Indirect administration. The former
consists of all services contemplated
in the administrative framework
of the Presidency of the Republic
and the Ministries, while the latter
consists of services provided by
several legal entities belonging
to the Union, which can be both
public (Independent Government
Agencies and Foundations) or private
(Joint Capital Companies, Public
Companies and Foundations) entities
linked to a Ministry.
The Public Federal Administration
is headed by the President of the
Republic, assisted by his Ministers of
State.
As provided for in article 1 of
Law n. 10,683 of May 28, 2003,
the Presidency of the Republic is
essentially made up of the Civil
House (Office of the Chief of
Staff), the Secretariat General, the
Institutional Relations Secretariat, the
Social Communication Secretariat,
the Presidents Personal Cabinet,
the Institutional Safety Cabinet, the
Secretariat for Strategic Affairs, the

Secretariat for Policies for Women,
the Human Rights Secretariat,
the Secretariat for the Promotion
of Racial Equality, the Secretariat
for Ports, andthe Civil Aviation
Secretariat.
The Ministries are autonomous
agencies of the Federal Administration
ranking immediately below the
Presidency of the Republic whose
multiple roles were defined by the
Administrative Reform of 1967 and its
amendments.
The independent government
agencies include the Regulatory
Agencies, which are public-law legal
entities set up by law with political,
financial, regulating and management
autonomy. The regulatory agencies
are in charge of controlling and
inspecting public activities carried
out by private companies (ANP,
ANEEL, ANATEL and others) under
concession, permit or authorization.
2.1. MINISTRIES
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
17
The Ministry of Justice is in charge

of addressing issues related to:
defense of the legal system, political
rights and constitutional guarantees;
judiciary policy; nationality,
immigration and foreigners; drugs;
public safety; indigenous rights;
federal, highway and railway
police and Federal District police
activities; planning, coordination
and administration of the national
prison policy; defense of the national
economic order and consumer
rights; ombudsman activities for
indigenous people and consumers;
Federal Police ombudsman activities;
full and free legal, judicial and
extrajudicial assistance to those
in need (characterized as such in
the law); defense of Union assets
and of its own assets and those of
entities linked to the indirect Federal
Public Administration; Government
actions to repress undue use,
illegal trafficking and unauthorized
production of narcotic substances
and drugs that cause physical or
psychological addiction; coordination
and implementation of activities
designed to consolidate normative
acts of the Executive branch,
prevention and repression of money
laundering, and international legal
cooperation.
18
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS

The Ministry of External Relations
is in charge of defining Brazils
international policy; of managing
diplomatic relations and providing
consular services; of implementing
international cooperation programs
and taking part in trade, economic,
technical and cultural negotiations
with foreign organizations and
governments; and of supporting
Brazilian delegations, entourages
and representations in multilateral
international agencies and bodies.
In sum, it assists the President
of the Republic in drawing
up Brazils foreign policy, in
ensuring its implementation,
in keeping diplomatic relations
with governments of foreign
States, international bodies and
organizations, and in promoting the
interests of the Brazilian State and
society abroad.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION
The Ministry of Transportation
is in charge of matters related to
railway, highway and waterway
transportation; merchant navy,
ports and waterways; and air and

road transportation. The following
agencies, among others, are linked to
this ministry:
- DNIT National Transportation
Infrastructure Department;
- ANTT National Land
Transportation Agency.
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE,
LIVESTOCK AND SUPPLY
The Ministry of Agriculture,
Livestock and Supply is in charge
of the following topics: agricultural
policy, comprising production,
trade, supply, storage and minimum
price guarantees; agribusiness
development and production;
agricultural/livestock market, trade
and supply; agricultural information;
animal and vegetal sanitary
defense; inspection of inputs used
in agriculture/livestock activities;
classification and inspection of
animal and vegetal products and
by-products; soil protection,
conservation and management;
agriculture/livestock technological
research; meteorology and
climatology; rural cooperatives and
associations, agro energy, technical
assistance and rural extension;
policies for coffee, sugar and

alcohol, planning and implementation
of government actions in the
sugarcane industry. The following
entities, among others, are linked to
this ministry:
- EMBRAPA Brazilian Agriculture/
Livestock Research Company,
which is responsible for developing
sustainable development solutions in
rural areas and for agribusiness;
- CEAGESP General Warehousing
Company of So Paulo, which
ensures most of the supply of
agricultural products in the State
of So Paulo through a network of
warehouses.
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
The Minister of Education is in
charge of the following matters: the
national education policy; childrens
education; education in general,
comprising basic, secondary and
higher education, special education
and distance education, except
for military education; education
for young people and adults;
professional education; educational
evaluation, information and research;
university extension and research;
ensuring teachers and financial
19
assistance for educational purposes

to children and dependents of lowincome families
MINISTRY OF CULTURE
The Ministry of Culture is in charge
of the national cultural policy; of
protecting the Brazilian historical
and cultural heritage; and of defining
the bounds of lands occupied by
quilombo communities and for
demarcating them.
MINISTRY OF LABOR AND
EMPLOYMENT
The Ministry of Labor and
Employment is in charge of drawing
up the policy and guidelines
for generating jobs and income
and for supporting workers; for
defining the policy and guidelines
for modernizing labor relations; for
labor inspection activities, including
in ports, and for applying sanctions
provided for in legal or collective
rules; for the wage policy, for the
immigration policy; for professional
development and training activities;
for ensuring healthy and safe
working environments; and for urban
cooperatives and associations.
20
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL WELFARE

The Ministry of Social Welfare is
responsible for caring for social
security and supplementary social
security, and assuring to their
beneficiaries indispensable means
of maintenance, for reasons of
disability, old age, involuntary
unemployment, family burdens and
imprisonment or death of those
on whom they were economically
dependent.
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
The Ministry of Health is in charge
of: the national health policy;
coordinating and inspecting the
Unified Health System; environmental
health and actions to promote,
protect and recover individual and
collective health, including the health
of workers and indigenous people;
health information; critical health care
inputs; preventive actions in general,
sanitary control and surveillance on
borders and sea, river and air ports,
health surveillance, especially with
regard to drugs; food and medicines;
scientific and technological research
in the health area. The following
this ministry:
- ANVISA National Health
Surveillance Agency;
- ANS National Health Agency.
MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT,
INDUSTRY AND FOREIGN TRADE
The Ministry of Development,
Industry and Foreign Trade is in
charge of the industrial, trade
and service development policy;
intellectual property and technology
transfer; metrology; industrial quality
and standardization; foreign trade
policies, including participation in
related international negotiations;
trade defense; support to micro and
small enterprises and handicraft;
and trade registration activities. The
following entities, among others, are
linked to this ministry:
- INMETRO National Metrology
Institute;
- INPI National Industrial Property
Institute;
- BNDES National Economic
and Social Development Bank,
a federal public company with a
private law legal personality with
assets of its own that supports
undertakings contributing to
Brazils development. BNDES has
two wholly owned subsidiaries,

namely, FINAME (Special Industrial
Financing Agency) and BNDESPAR
(BNDES Participations), respectively
created for the purpose of financing
the marketing of machines and
equipment and enabling the
subscription of securities in the
Brazilian capital market. The three
companies make up the so-called
BNDES System.

MINISTRY OF MINES AND ENERGY
The Ministry of Mines and Energy
is in charge of matters related
to geology, mineral and energy
resources; hydraulic energy
utilization; mining and metallurgy; oil,
fuels and electricity, including nuclear
energy. The following entities, among
others, are linked to this ministry:
Agencies:
- ANEEL National Electricity
Regulatory Agency, which is
responsible for regulating and
inspecting electricity generation,
transmission, distribution and
marketing;
- ANP National Petroleum Agency,
which is in charge of promoting
21
the regulation, contracting and

inspection of economic activities in
the oil industry.
Linked companies:
PETROBRS Petrleo Brasileiro S.A.;
ELETROBRS Centrais Eltricas
Brasileiras S.A.;
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
The Ministry of Communications
is in charge of the national
telecommunications policy,
including radio broadcasting;
telecommunications services; radio
broadcasting and postal services.
The following entities, among others,
are linked to this ministry:
ANATEL National
Telecommunications Agency, which
is responsible for promoting the
development of telecommunications
in Brazil, with the aim of providing the
country with a modern and efficient
telecommunications infrastructure
offering suitable and diversified
services to users at fair prices
throughout the national territory.
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY
The Ministry of Science and
22
Technology is responsible for

drawing up and implementing
the national scientific and
technological research policy; for
planning, coordinating, supervising
and controlling science and
technology activities; for drawing
up the information technology and
automation development policy; for
the national biosafety policy; for the
space and nuclear policy, and for
controlling exports of sensitive goods
and services.
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
The Ministry of Environment is
responsible for drawing up policies
for actions related to the environment
and water resources; policies for
the preservation, conservation and
sustainable use of ecosystems,
biodiversity and forests; policies
for improving environmental quality
and promoting the sustainable use
of natural resources; policies for
integrating environmental concerns
and production needs; environmental
policies and programs for the Legal
Amazon region and ecologicaleconomic zoning. The following
this ministry:
ANA National Water Agency;

IBAMA Brazilian Institute for the
Environment and of Renewable
Natural Resources.
MINISTRY OF DEFENSE
The Ministry of Defense is basically
in charge of the national defense
policy; of the military policy and
strategy; of the national maritime
policy; of managing and coordinating
the Armed Forces; of the aeronautical
policy, etc.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE
The Ministry of Finance is basically
responsible for drawing up and
implementing Brazils economic
policy. It is in charge of matters
concerning currency, credit,
financial institutions, capitalization,
savings of the population, private
insurance and private social
security; for the customs and tax
policy, management, inspection
and collection; for public financial
management and accounting;
for managing domestic and
foreign public debt; for economic
and financial negotiations
with governments, multilateral
organizations and governmental

agencies; for prices in general and
public and administrative tariffs;
for inspecting and controlling
foreign trade; for carrying out
studies and research to keep track
of the economy scenario and
authorizations, expect in areas under
the competence of the National
Monetary Council; for awarding
prizes free of charge for publicity
purposes by means of lottery;
for consortium operations, retail
sales of goods by means of public
offerings, among other operations.
The following bodies make up the
organizational framework of the
Ministry of Finance, among others:
CMN NATIONAL MONETARY
COUNCIL. As one of the bodies of
the Ministry of Finance, the CMN
was established to draw up Brazils
monetary and credit policy with the
aim of promoting its economic and
social progress.
The National Monetary Council is
responsible for setting the general
guidelines of the monetary, exchange
and credit policies; for regulating
conditions for the establishment,
operations and inspection of financial
institutions and for disciplining
23
monetary and exchange policy

instruments.
BACEN The CENTRAL BANK OF
BRAZIL, which is also linked to the
Ministry of Finance, is mainly in
charge of complying and ensuring
compliance with rules regulating the
operation of the National Financial
System (issued by the National
Monetary Council); of providing
currency-related services; of acting
as the depositary of official reserves
in gold and foreign currency; of
controlling credit in all its forms; of
controlling foreign capital according
to the law; of regulating the clearing
of checks and other securities;
of engaging in negotiations with
international and foreign financial
institutions in behalf of the Brazilian
Government; of inspecting and
granting authorizations to financial
institutions; of carrying out, as
monetary policy tools, operations to
buy and sell federal public securities,
etc.
MINISTRY OF PLANNING, BUDGET
AND MANAGEMENT
The Ministry of Planning, Budget
and Management is responsible for
24
Brazils national strategic planning;

for evaluating the socioeconomic
impacts of policies and programs
of the Federal Administration, and
for conducting special studies with
the aim of redefining policies, etc.
The following entity is linked to this
Ministry, among others:
IBGE Brazilian Institute for
Geography and Statistics.
MINISTRY OF AGRARIAN
DEVELOPMENT
The Ministry of Agrarian
Development is basically in charge
of the land reform and of promoting
sustainable development among
families of farmers in rural areas.
The following entity is linked to this
Ministry, among others:
INCRA National Institute for
Colonization and Agrarian Reform.
MINISTRY OF NATIONAL
INTEGRATION
The Ministry of National Integration
is basically responsible for: drawing
up and implementing the integrated
national development policy; drawing
up and implementing regional
development plans and programs;
establishing integration strategies for

regional economies, among other
responsibilities.
MINISTRY OF FISHING AND

AQUACULTURE
The Ministry of Sports is in charge

of the national policy for sports and
social inclusion through sports.
This is the ministry in charge of

providing direct advisory to the
Government in drawing up policies
and guidelines for developing and
promoting fishing and aquicolous
production.
MINISTRY OF TOURISM
2.2. CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
Responsible for the national tourism

development policy.
With the aim of fostering closer

economic relations between Brazil
and other countries and enhancing
trade and financial flows between
them, different Chambers of
Commerce have been set up in our
country, including the American
Chamber of Commerce; the
Japanese Chamber of Commerce
and Industry; the Italian-Brazilian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
the Foreign Trade Chamber (CAMEX),
among others.
MINISTRY OF SPORTS
MINISTRY OF CITIES
The Ministry of Cities is in charge
of the urban development policy; of
sectoral housing policies; of basic
and environmental sanitation; of
urban transportation, traffic and
water supply systems, among other
responsibilities.
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
AND HUNGER COMBAT
Ministry in charge of coordinating
national social development policies;
food and nutrition security; social
assistance and citizenship income
initiatives.
These Chambers of Commerce are

a source of solid information for
contractors of different countries to
establish trade relations among them
and they assist them in contacting
potential interested parties and
support them in their needs.
25
The Chambers of Commerce

cooperate with the business
community as strong allies of
different countries by making every
effort to ensure the success of their
undertakings, always respecting the
laws of those involved in securing
their progress.
26
3 - FOREIGN CAPITAL
3.1. General Features
Foreign capital in Brazil is governed
by Law 4.131 (the Foreign Capital
Law) of 3 September, 1962, and Law
4.390 of 29 August, 1964. Both of
these laws were put into effect by
Decree 55.762 of 17 February, 1965
and subsequent amendments.
According to the Foreign Capital Law,
foreign capital is considered to be
any goods, machinery or equipment
that enters Brazil with no initial
foreign exchange disbursement,
intended for production of goods
and services, and any funds brought
into the country for use in economic
activities, provided that they belong
to individuals or corporate entities
domiciled or incorporated abroad.
3.2. Registration of Foreign Capital
Foreign capital must be registered
by means of an Electronic Statement
of Registration Foreign Direct
Investment Module (RDE-IED), on
the Central Bank Information System
(SISBACEN).
For the purposes of the Electronic
Statement of Registration, foreign
direct investment is defined as

permanent holdings in Brazilian
companies or, in accordance with
common market practices, long-term
ownership by non-resident investors;
individuals or corporate entities
residing, domiciled or incorporated
abroad, through ownership of shares
or stock in Brazilian companies, or
investments in foreign companies
authorized to operate in Brazil.
Foreign investments to be made and
registered are not subject to prior
review or verification by the Central
Bank. The declaratory nature of the
statement implies that the Brazilian
company receiving the investment
and/or the representative of the
foreign investor are responsible for
the registration.
All foreign investments must be
registered with the Central Bank of
Brazil. Such registration is required
for remittances abroad, repatriation
of capital and registration of profit
reinvestment.
3.3. Currency Investments
No prior official authorization is
27
required for investment in currency.

To subscribe capital or purchase
stock in an existing Brazilian
company, the investor must only
transfer the funds by means of a
banking institution authorized to
operate with foreign exchange.
However, authorization of the
exchange contract is conditional
upon presentation of a RDE-IED
registration number for the foreign
investor and for the Brazilian
company receiving the investment.
The investment must be registered
through the RDE-IED System by
the Brazilian company receiving the
investment and/or the representative
of the foreign investor, within 30 days
of closing the exchange contract.
In the event that the registration of
the foreign investment is to be paid
from a non-resident account in Brazil,
it can be made in Brazilian currency.
All transactions relating to such
investments must be carried out
through the non-resident account,
with updating of the corresponding
investment registration by means of
the RDE-IED Module.
3.4. Investment via Conversion of

Foreign Credits
Conversion into investment of
foreign credits duly registered in the
RDE-IED Mode is not conditional
on the Central Banks prior
authorization. Conversion into foreign
direct investment is defined as
transactions whereby credits eligible
for transfer abroad, under current
rules, are used by non-resident
creditors to purchase or pay up
holdings in a Brazilian company.
In order to effect registration,
however, the investor and company
in which the investment is to be
made must provide: (i) a statement
from the creditor and committed
investor, defining precisely the due
dates of installments, the respective
sums to be converted and, with
respect to interest and other charges,
the period they refer to, and the
respective rates and calculations;
and (ii) a binding statement from the
creditor, agreeing to the conversion.
3.5. Investment via Import of Goods
without Exchange Cover
Investment in the form of imports
28
of goods without exchange cover

(applicable only to tangible goods),
made as a means of acquiring
paid-up stock, do not require prior
approval from the Central Bank.
Registration of foreign direct
investments, resulting from the
import of intangible assets without
coverage of an exchange contract,
requires prior approval from DECIC.
For tangible assets, the value
recorded on the Register of Financial
Transactions (ROF) Module of the
RDE System, linked to the Import
Declaration (DI); and the currency
stated on the corresponding ROF
may be used.
Registration through the RDE-IED
Mode requires that both tangible
and intangible assets be exclusively
intended for paying-up of capital.
Registration of foreign capital that
enters Brazil in the form of assets
must be made in the currency of the
investors country or, at the express
request of the investor, in another
currency, with exchange parity
preserved.
Foreign capital is defined as any
goods, machinery or equipment

that enter Brazil with no initial
disbursement of foreign currency,
intended for production or marketing
of goods or provision of services.
Imports of used goods are
conditional on the absence of similar
goods in Brazil. Used goods must be
employed in projects that foster the
countrys economic development.
Once the tangible goods have been
cleared by customs, the Brazilian
company has a 90- day deadline
to register the investment with the
Central Bank of Brazil.
3.6. Capital Market Investments
Non-resident investors, whether
individuals or corporate entities,
can invest in the Brazilian financial
and capital markets individually or
collectively.
Non-resident investors can now use
the same registration to invest in the
fixed- and variable-income markets
and can migrate freely from one type
of investment to another. To access
these markets, foreign investors
must appoint a representative in
Brazil to register the transactions
29
by filling out a form attached to

Resolution 2689/00 and to make the
required registration with the Brazilian
Securities Commission (CVM).
or stock as a proportion of paid-up

corporate capital in the company.
Bonds and securities belonging

to foreign investors must be kept
in custody by entities authorized
by CVM or by the Central Bank or,
as appropriate, registered with the
Special Settlement and Custody
System (SELIC) or in the registration
and financial settlement system
managed by the Clearing House for
Custody and Financial Settlement of
Securities (CETIP).
Reinvestments are profits of

companies established in Brazil
and paid to persons or companies
residing or domiciled abroad which
are reinvested in the company that
produced them or in another sector
of the domestic economy.
3.7. Remittance of Profits

No restrictions are applied to
the distribution and remittance
of profits abroad. Dividends or
profits distributed to shareholders
or partners of companies
headquartered in Brazil, even when
remitted abroad, are not taxed,
except those derived from profits
booked before January 1, 1996.
Profit remittances must be registered
as such through the RDE-IED
Module, considering the stake held
by the investor in the total shares
30
3.8. Reinvestment of Profits
Reinvested earnings are registered

in the currency of the country to
which such earnings are to be
remitted, while reinvestments derived
investments in Brazilian currency are
registered in Brazilian currency.
Foreign investor profits to be
reinvested in Brazilian companies
(even if the companies in question
are other than those in which the
earnings were obtained) for purposes
of paying up or purchasing shares
and/or stock must be registered
as Investment in the RDE-IED
System. Such reinvestments must
be registered as foreign capital (in
the same manner as the original
investment) and thereby increase
bases for tax assessment on any
future repatriation of capital.

In cases of reinvestment of profits,
interest on net equity and profit
reserves, the stake of foreign
investors vis--vis the total number
of paid-up capital stock in the
company in which the earnings were
generated must be observed.
3.9. Repatriation
Repatriation of foreign capital
Brazil to its country of origin requires
no prior authorization.
Foreign currency registered with the
Central Bank of Brazil as non-resident
investment may be repatriated and is
not subject to withheld income tax. In
this case, sums in foreign currency
proportionally exceeding the original
investment (capital gains), are
subject to withheld income tax at the
rate of 15%.
in-fact, in the case of acquirers

residing or domiciled abroad, are
responsible for withholding and
paying income tax on capital gains
earned by individuals or legal entities
residing or domiciled abroad that
transfer property located in Brazil.
Foreign purchasers are entitled to
register capital in the same amount
as the registration previously held
by the selling company, regardless
of the price paid for the investment
abroad. Nonetheless, the registration
number on the RDEIED Module of
the Central Bank of Brazil should
be changed to reflect the name of
the new foreign investor, which is
essential to allow the new investor to
remit/reinvest profits and to repatriate
capital.
3.11. Restrictions on Remittances
Abroad
Remittance of funds abroad is

restricted when such funds are
3.10. Transfer of Foreign
not registered on the RDE-IED
Investments
System, since remittance of
profits, repatriation of capital, and
Acquirers, whether they are
registration of reinvestment are all
individuals or legal entities residing or based on the amount registered as
domiciled in Brazil, or their attorney- foreign investment.
31
3.12. Restrictions on Foreign

Investment
The following prohibitions and
limitations apply to foreign capital in
the Brazilian economy.
(A) Prohibitions:
Foreign capital investment is
prohibited in the following activities:
activities involving nuclear energy;
health services;
mail and telegraph services; and
the aerospace industry1.
(B) Limitations
The acquisition, operation or
lease of rural lands by a Brazilian
company under foreign control, an
alien residing in Brazil or a foreignbased legal entity authorized to
operate in Brazil are subject to
certain conditions provided for in
the law, as well as to congressional
authorization in certain cases.
1 Launching and orbital positioning of

satellites, spacecraft, aircraft and related activities, not
including manufacture or marketing of said items or
accessories.
32
For national security reasons,

limitations are applied to the
acquisition of property alongside
border areas. Acquisition of land in
such areas is conditional on prior
authorization from the Secretariat
General of the National Security
Council.
Restrictions are also applied to
the participation of foreign capital in
financial institutions, although these
restrictions may be waived in the
national interest.
A concession is required
for operating regular public air
transportation services. By law, such
concession can only be granted
to Brazilian legal entities (those
incorporated and managed in Brazil)
in which at least 80% of the voting
capital is owned by Brazilians, which
limitation also applies to increases
in capital stock. Moreover, such
companies must be exclusively
managed by Brazilians. Finally,
foreign capital participation cannot
exceed the authorized limit of 20% of
voting capital and requires approval
from aeronautical authorities.
Restrictions are applied to foreign

ownership and management of
newspapers, magazines and other
periodicals, as well as of radio and
television networks.
Brazilian companies, even if under
foreign control, can request and be
awarded permission to operate in the
mining sector.
33
4 - THE BRAZILIAN FOREIGN EXCHANGE REGIME

The foreign exchange (FX) regime
consists in a means to set the
exchange rate in a country. The
choice of such a regime is an
economic policy decision and is
related to the FX market in which
the exchange rate will be set, e.g.
an official exchange rate market or a
floating exchange rate market.
Historically, the Brazilian FX regime
has been defined by the Brazilian
government through exchange
control measures. Exchange controls
in Brazil are applied not only through
FX rules and regulations, but also by
means of tax and foreign trade rules
and regulations, for the purpose of
either encouraging or discouraging
inflows of foreign capital and
investments of Brazilian capital
abroad.
In this context, Brazilian tax
authorities made changes to tax
regulations recently to increase
tax rates applied to foreign capital
entering Brazil with the aim of
curbing the increasing appreciation
of the Brazilian currency against
other foreign currencies, such as the
U.S. dollar.
4.1. FX Control
Exchange control in Brazil is closely
linked to the regulation of foreign
capital flows. Historically, such
regulation has imposed barriers on
the outflow of funds to protect the
Brazilian currency. In the 1930s,
following sharp reductions in
the price of basics products that
accounted for a high percentage of
Brazilian exports, Brazilian authorities
issued the first rules designed to
structure an exchange market in
Brazil.
For this purpose, rules were issued
to establish the obligation that funds
from Brazilian exports should be
brought back to the country, such
as Decree n. 23,258/33, which
has been revoked, and the Brazilian
government began to apply strict
controls on exporters to avoid funds
from exports from being kept abroad.
Such exchange controls were
justified because, back then, funds
from exports constituted the main
source of funds to ensure equilibrium
in the Brazilian balance of payments.
It was only in the 1960s that the
35
two main legal instruments applied

to foreign capital and FX markets
were issued in Brazil, namely, Law n.
4,131/62 and Law n. 4,595/64.
Law n. 4,131/62 provides for key
rules defining foreign capital in
Brazil, lists categories of foreign
investments and requires that foreign
capital must be registered with the
Central Bank upon entering Brazil.
Law n. 4,595/64 sets out general
rules for the Brazilian financial
system and creates the Brazilian
Monetary Council (CMN) and the
Central Bank. After this law was
passed, the CMN and the Central
Bank began to control and regulate
the Brazilian FX market. The CMN
is in charge of drawing up the
general foreign exchange policy, and
according to its guidelines, exchange
controls, regulations affecting foreign
capital, and the management of
international reserves fall under the
Central Banks jurisdiction.
Law n. 4,131/62 and Law n.
4,595/64 changed the legal
environment of the FX market and
foreign investments in Brazil and
are fundamental legal instruments
36
regulating these areas that are in

force to this day.
4.2. The Brazilian Exchange Regime
and FX Market
Up to 1988, the exchange rate
regime in Brazil was one based on
official exchange rates set by the
Brazilian government, rather than
by demand on the market. The FX
market was therefore the official
exchange market, fully regulated by
the Central Bank.
The official exchange rate regime
reflected the successive FX crises
faced by Brazil, which led the
Brazilian government to impose limits
and bureaucratic requirements on the
purchase of foreign currency.
As a result of such official
exchange market and strict FX
controls, a parallel FX market
developed that was not provided for
in any regulation or recognized by the
Brazilian authorities. In this parallel
FX market, foreign currencies were
illegally bought and sold at rates
different from the ones set in the
official market.
In response to the development

of this parallel FX market, the now
revoked Resolution n. 1,552/88 was
issued to create a floating exchange
rate market known as the tourist
exchange rate market. This was a
separate market from the official
market where foreign currencies
could be bought and sold at prices
and conditions freely agreed upon.
The floating exchange rate market
was thus characterized by freefloating exchange rates that varied
according to the supply of and
demand for foreign currencies. These
floating exchange rates marked
the early stages of a more flexible
Brazilian FX market.
In 1990, the CMN established the
free exchange rate market through
Resolution CMN n. 1,690/90,
which has been revoked. This free
exchange rate market put an end
to the official FX market and the
Brazilian FX regime took the twofold
form of a floating rate regime,
represented by a floating rate market,
and of a free rate regime, represented
by a free exchange rate market.
The first regulatory measure to
unify these markets was taken early

in 1999, when the Central Bank
issued rules to unify the exchange
rates negotiated in both markets. Its
Communiqu n. 6,565/99 informed
Brazilian markets that, as of January
18, 1999, the Central Bank will
let the interbank market () set
the exchange rate, indicating,
however, that the Central Bank could
occasionally intervene in those
markets to curb disorderly exchange
rate movements.
Therefore, a floating exchange rate
regime with minimal government
intervention was adopted in 1999.
4.2.1. Unification of Brazilian Exchange
Rate Markets
Since its exchange rate markets
were unified, Brazils exchange rate
system experienced a remarkable
development, particularly as a result
of CMNs Resolution n. 3,265. As
mentioned above, before Resolution
3,265 was issued, FX operations
were mainly carried out in the
free exchange rate market the
so called commercial market and in the floating exchange rate
market. Resolution 3,265 unified
37
both markets. Apart from unifying

the commercial and the floating
exchange rate markets, the new
exchange rate regulation relaxed
controls on buying and selling
foreign currencies and on Brazilian
investments abroad for both
individuals and legal entities, besides
lifting limitations on the amounts
involved.
Through Resolution 3,265, the
commercial and the floating
exchange rate markets became part
of the same market.
As a result of this unification, free
access to the Brazilian exchange
rate market became the general rule.
That resolution was revoked by the
currently in force CMNs Resolution
n. 3,568/08, which preserved
the free market access rule and
introduced even more flexible rules.
Free access to the exchange rate
market is provided for in article 8
and first paragraph of the Resolution,
which read as follows:
Article 8. Natural and legal persons
may buy and sell foreign currencies
or carry out international transfers of
38
any nature in the Brazilian currency,

without any limitations imposed on
the amounts involved, provided that
the counterpart in the transaction is
an agent duly authorized to operate
in the exchange rate market and all
legal requirements are complied
with, based on the economic
justification and responsibilities
set out in the supporting
documentation.
Considering the provisions of the
aforementioned regulation, no
obstacles are imposed on Brazilian
natural persons to access the
exchange rate market to remit funds
deposited in Brazil abroad, provided
that the transaction is carried out by
an authorized agent, i.e. a financial
institution authorized by the Central
Bank to operate in the exchange rate
market (an Authorized Agent) and
that the remittance is in accordance
with the exchange rate principles
set out in article 8 of Resolution
3,568, that is, provided that all legal
requirements are complied with,
based on the economic justification
and responsibilities set out in the
supporting documentation.
In addition, as a result of Resolution
3,265, the Central Bank issued

Circular Letter n. 3,280/05, through
which the International Capital and
Foreign Exchange MarketRegulation
(RMCCI) was adopted. The RMCCI,
as amended from time to time, is
a practical tool for implementing
the Brazilian exchange rate market
regulations.
The Brazilian exchange rate market
is therefore much more flexible
today than in the past. Exchange
rate operations can now be freely
carried out, provided that the abovementioned principles are complied
with. It should be noted that some
institutions and investment vehicles,
such as financial institutions and
mutual funds, are still subject to
specific rules in relation to exchange
rate transactions that will not be
analyzed here.
accounts must register with the

Central Bank when they open them
and all their operations using these
accounts must consist in unilateral
transfers in the Brazilian currency
that must comply, as appropriate,
with the same provisions applied to
FX transactions.
Therefore, international transfers
in the Brazilian currency constitute
operations in reals in current
accounts opened and kept by
non-residents in banks in Brazil.
Operations using these accounts are
limited to regular bank transactions
carried out by their holders and
money orders.
4.3. Non-resident Account in

Local Currency, and International
Transfers in Brazilian Reals
According to the RMCCI, natural
or legal persons residing or
headquartered abroad can have
deposit accounts in Brazil in the
local currency. The holders of these
39
5 - TYPES OF BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS

5.1. General Aspects
The Brazilian legal system provides
for types of business organizations
under which parties can set up
corporate entities or establish other
forms of incorporation that do not
imply corporate structure. The latter
group includes consortia and other
forms of legal businesses whose
parties do not relinquish their status
as individuals. Incorporation of a
company, on the other hand, entails
a written agreement, either private
or public, in which the contracting
parties express their aims either
individually or as a partnership
(sociedades personificadas
partnerships forming a legal entity
- or sociedades no personificadas
partnerships not forming a legal
entity). The latter includesociedades
em comum(unregistered
partnerships) and sociedades em
conta de participao (joint venture
partnerships).
Brazilian law provides
for the following types of
companies:sociedade
simples(simple
partnership),sociedade em nome
coletivo (collective partnership),

sociedade em comandita simples
(limited co-partnership), sociedade
limitada (limited liability company),
sociedade annima(joint-stock
company) and sociedade em
comandita por aes (partnership
limited by shares).
The law lends corporate status to
such companies upon registration
with the competent pubic registry
office, turning them into legal entities
with distinct liability to that of their
partners.
Brazilian law also provides for
associations, foundations and
cooperatives. Such forms of
association are not-for-profit either
due to their charitable nature or to their
specific characteristics and aims, and
they are thus different from commercial
organizations, regardless of whether
they generate revenues or not.
It should be stressed that, except for
joint-stock companies (sociedades
annimas), all the types of business
organizations contemplated in the
Brazilian Law can operate either as
simple partnerships (sociedades
41
simples) or as business corporations

(sociedades empresariais). However,
their nature must be expressed in
their articles of incorporation. Simple
partnerships must be registered
with the Civil Registry of Corporate
Entities, while business corporations
must be registered with the board of
trade.
5.1.1. Joint-stock Company
(Sociedade Annima)
wordsSociedade Annima in full

or abbreviated as S/A or preceded
by the wordCompanhia in full or
abbreviated as Cia. A corporate
name may take the form of the name
of a person, e.g.of its founder or of
a person one wants to pay homage
to. A corporate name can describe
corporate purposes or the activity
carried out by the company in
question, but such a description is
not mandatory.
A joint-stock company (Sociedade

Annima or Companhia), as
described in article 1,088 of the
Brazilian Civil Code and provided
for in Law 6,404 of December 15,
1976, as partially amended by Law
9,457 of June 5, 1997, by Law
10,303, of October 31, 2001, by Law
11,638 of December 28, 2007, and
by Law 11,941 of May 27, 2009, is
fundamentally a legally constituted
business corporation with capital
stock divided into shares. The main
purpose of these companies it to
generate profits for distribution
among its shareholders as dividends
or interest on their own capital.
There are two kinds of sociedades

annimas: publicly held companies
that raise capital through public
offerings and subscriptions and are
supervised by the Brazilian Securities
Commission (CVM) and closed
capital companies that raise capital
with its shareholders or subscribers,
whose accounting and management
are simpler.
ASociedade Annimais identified

by a name followed by the
Apart from conferring special rights,

common shares give their holders
42
Capital stock is represented by

securities known as shares.
Depending on the nature of the rights
or advantages conferred to their
holders, they can have common,
preferred or fruition shares.
the right to vote, while preferred

shares, which also grant special
rights to their holders, can restrict or
suppress the right to vote. Fruition
shares give their holders the right
to continue to participate in the
companys profits from ordinary or
preferential shares even upon their
amortization, without reduction in
capital.
By means of a Shareholders
Agreement, shareholders can decide
on issues relating to purchase
and sale of their shares, establish
preferential acquisition rights, or
exercise voting rights. All obligations
set forth in Shareholders Agreement
are binding, and must be respected
by the Company. All obligations set
forth in Shareholders Agreement are
binding, and must be complied with
by the company.
A sociedade annima can be
managed by a Board of Directors and
Management Council or only by a
Board of Directors, as determined in
law or in its by-laws.
The Management Council is a
collegiate decision-making body.
Such councils are optional for
closed-capital corporations and

mandatory for open-capital or
authorized-capital corporations. A
Management Council must have at
least three members, who must be
individual shareholders residing in
Brazil or not.
The Board of Directors is the
executive body of a sociedade
annima. It is responsible for
representing the company and to
carry out all acts required for its
regular operation. It is made up of
at least two directors, who may or
may not be shareholders and must
be individuals residing in the country
electedfor a maximum term of three
years.
Shareholders can inspect their
company through the Audit
Committee (Conselho Fiscal).
The Audit Committee is in charge of
inspecting the companys accounts
and management and it can be either
a permanent body or one set up for
specific tasks. The Audit Committee
is set up according to the desire of
the shareholders to ensure more
stringent control over corporate
management. It must comprise no
43
less than three and no more than

five members, each with an alternate
who may be a shareholder or not
elected by the General Assembly.
In special cases, representatives of
a specific category of shareholders
can take part in the Audit Committee.
5.1.2. Limited Liability Company
(Sociedade Limitada)
Articles 1,052 to 1,087 of the Civil
Code and the Corporations Act
regulate the operations of limited
liability companies, which may
take the form of a simple company
(sociedade simples) or of a business
corporation (sociedade empresria),
according to their corporate aims and
type of business.
A sociedade limitada is set up
through articles of association and
has limited liability partners. Since
the liability of its partners is limited to
the value of their shares, all of them
are jointly liable for its capital stock
until it is completely paid up.
Under the New Civil Code, limited
liability companies must have
an organic structure made up
of a Meeting of Shareholders,
a Management Board and an
44
Audit Committee established

by the partners in the articles
of association. The meeting of
shareholders is the main decisionmaking body of a corporate
organization which meets as
required by law or by the articles of
association. Management is carried
out by one or more individuals who
may be shareholders or not assigned
to this role by the companys articles
of association, which also defines
their term in this role.
The capital stock of a limited liability
company is divided into shares.
Each share represents an amount
in money, credits, rights or assets
which a shareholder contributes to
the companys capital. Shares must
be registered and are not represented
by securities. As the ownership and
number of shares are expressed
in the Articles of Association, any
transfer of such shares requires an
amendment to them. At the meetings
of shareholders, changes resulting
in amendments to the articles of
association or in the reorganization of
the company require favorable votes
representing at least three-fourths of
the capital stock.
5.1.3. Rules Common to Both Jointstock Companies and Limited Liability

Companies
Both joint-stock and limited
liability companies can engage in
operations involving transformation,
merger, consolidation or split-up in
accordance with articles1,113 to
1,122 of Law 10,406 of January
10, 2002 (Civil Code) and articles
220 to 234 of Special Law 6,404,
of December 15, 1976 (the
Corporations Act).
Transformation is an operation
through which the corporate
classification of a given company is
changed without it being dissolved.
Acquisition (incorporao) is an
operation through which one or more
companies are absorbed by another
one, which assumes all their rights
and liabilities.
Merger (fuso) is an operation
through which two or more
companies amalgamate to form a
new one that assumes all their rights
and liabilities, as the former ones
cease to exist.
A split-up (ciso) is an operation

whereby a company transfers a part
or all of its net equity to one or more
existing companies or to companies
specifically set up for this purpose,
resulting in the extinction of the
parent company, if all of its net equity
is transferred, or in the reduction
of its capital, if only part of its net
equity is transferred.
5.1.4. Other Types of Companies and
Forms of Association
Because of their nature as partial or
unlimited liability companies, other
types of companies are rarely used,
but they can be interesting options
for certain business purposes. Brief
information will be provided below on
some of the most common options.
5.1.5. Individual Limited Liability
Company (Empresa Individual de
Responsabilidade Limitada EIRELI)
The newest type of company in
Brazil is the individual limited liability
company, which was created on July
11, 2011 by Law n. 12,441.
The Law, which introduced article
980-A and the only paragraph of
45
article 1,033 of the Civil Code of

2002, provides for the possibility of
establishing a limited liability company
in which a single person holds all the
quotas of the capital stock, which
is necessarily paid-up in an amount
of no less than one hundred (100)
times the highest minimum wage
in effect in the Country. The rules
applied to limited liability companies
also apply to individual limited liability
companies, as appropriate.
5.1.6. Limited Co-partnership
(Sociedade em Comandita Simples)
or Limited Partnership by Shares
(Sociedade em Comandita por Aes)
A limited co-partnership (sociedade
em comandita simples) or a limited
partnership by shares (sociedade
em comandita por aes) can have
partners of two kinds: partners with
unlimited liability, who are in charge
of corporate management and
representation, known as full partners
(comanditados), and partners whose
liability is limited to their participation,
represented by social quotas in
the case of limited co-partnerships
and by shares in the case of limited
partnerships by shares, known as
silent partners (comanditrios).
46
In limited co-partnerships, the

participation of full partners is also
represented by corporate shares,
but their liability is governed by the
rules applied to general partnerships
(sociedades em nome coletivo),
meaning that liability of the partners is
unlimited and shared.
5.1.6.1. Limited partnerships by
shares are governed by articles
1,090/1,092 of the Brazilian Civil
Code and by a special chapter of the
Corporations Act and the respective
participation of both their types of
partners consists in shares.
5.1.7. General Partnership (Sociedade
em Nome Coletivo)
This corporate type is characterized
by the unlimited and shared liability
of its partners, meaning that they
only have joint partners. However,
these partners are only liable for
the companys social obligations
on a subsidiary basis, i.e. their
assets can only be executed after
all the companys assets have been
exhausted.
Responsibility for the companys
management falls on all of the
partners if its articles of association
do not specifically determine

a specific partner to bear this
responsibility. If they do, this partner
will have the exclusive right to use the
firm or corporate name.
This companys corporate name is
made up of the name of one, some or
all of its partners, with the expression
& Cia added to it when there is no
express reference to the names of all
partners.
5.1.7. Joint Venture Partnership
(Sociedade em Conta de Participao SCP)
Ajoint venture partnership has
two types of partners: ostensible
and unidentified partners. These
partnerships are unincorporated, i.e.
they have no corporate status even if
registered.
These partnerships are established
solely for the purpose of conducting
a specific undertaking for a specific
period of time.
Apart from the ostensible partner,
these partnerships involve a
category of hidden partners which
contribute capital or other inputs
toward the undertaking. Their liability
is exclusively toward the ostensible

partner, pursuant to the corresponding
articles of association, which also
record their status as creditors. In the
event of bankruptcy of the ostensible
partner, the participating partners
become creditors of the former with
no priority or preference rights.
Joint venture partnerships can be
established with few formalities other
than the registration of their articles of
association, and they are acceptable
under Brazilian law. They are therefore
companies that exist only between
their parties and not for third parties,
as these deal only with the ostensible
partner, who bears full responsibility
for the undertaking.
Joint venture partnerships are
exclusively managed by the ostensible
partner, who is responsible for all its
operations and must render accounts
to the other partners after the joint
venture is over or as provided for in
their contract.
5.1.8. Consortium (Consrcio)
Etymologically, the word
consrciomeans union,
combination, association.
According to the Brazilian corporate
47
law, however, aconsrciois

an association of two or more
companies around a specific
project in which they preserve their
corporate identity.
A consortium is established by
means of an agreement between two
or more companies under which they
do not lose their autonomy, as they
preserve their corporate identity while
pooling efforts to achieve specific
objectives.
Although this association is
based on a contract, it does not
havecorporate standing, since the
parties only bind themselves to the
terms ofthe consortium agreement.
Each party is liable for its specific
obligations asset out therein, without
presumption of joint liability before
third parties,except with regard
to labor relations, according to the
Brazilian labor law (CLT).
The consortium agreement must
be approved by the signatory
companies at a general meeting in
the case of limited liability companies
or by the corresponding competent
authorities in other cases.
48
A consortium agreement must

contain the following items:
the name of the consortium, if any;
the objectives of the consortium;
the duration, address andvenue of
the agreement;
the obligations, responsibilities and
commitments of the participants;
rules for receipt and distribution of
profits;
management and accounting
policies, shares of each of the
participating companies and
administrative charges, if applicable;
rules for deliberation and the voting
rights of each participant; and
the contribution of each participant
to common expenses, if applicable.
The consortium agreement and any
subsequent amendments thereto
must be filed before the Board of
Trade in whose jurisdiction its head
office is located, whose certificate
must be published in the federal
or state Official Gazette and in a
newspaper with large circulation.
5.2. Procedures for Registration
There are two kinds of public
registries for companies in Brazil:
a) Commercial Registry - for

registering the documents of
business companies (apart from the
registration of individual partners
and of his representatives and other
agents) with trade boards, which are
bodies under state jurisdiction; and,
b) Civil Registry, for registering the
documents of simple partnerships
with the registry office for legal
entities, which are bodies under the
jurisdiction of their districts.
5.2.1. The Commercial Registry
The Commercial Registry, whose
executive bodies are the State
Trade Boards (one per unit of the
Federation), is compulsory for all
those engaged in business activities
(businesspersons and companies)
entailing production or circulation of
goods and services.
According to the law, all joint-stock
companies are business companies.
Apart from these, any general
partnership (sociedade em nome
coletivo), limited co-partnership
(sociedade em comandita simples
or por aes) or limited liability
company (sociedade limitada) is
also a business company that must
register with the trade board in the

state where it operates or where it
might open branches, provided that
its purpose is engaging in economic
activities through production or
circulation of goods or services by
means of a corporate structure.
According to the corporate type
chosen by the company and the
definition of its corporate purpose,
which must be clearly and accurately
stated, it will register either with a
State Trade Board or with a Registry
Office for Legal Entities.
The application for filing articles
of association for joint-stock
companies must be accompanied by
Articles of Incorporation or
Minutes of the General Incorporation
Meeting, listing the particulars of the
subscribers and proof of payment of
the entire capital stock;
Bank deposit slip (fromBanco do
Brasil S.A.) confirming the deposit
in cash of no less than ten percent
(10%) of the companys subscribed
capital for payment in cash;
By-Laws signed by all subscribers.
A report indicating the subscribed
49
capital signed by the original

subscribers or by the Secretariat of
the General Meeting providing the
full name, nationality, marital status,
profession, residence and domicile
of the subscribers, in addition to the
number of subscribed shares and the
amount paid;
A power-of-attorney granted by
any foreign shareholder residing
or headquartered abroad signed
before a Public Notary in the country
of origin, stamped by the Brazilian
Consulate, translated by a public
sworn translator in Brazil and
registered with a Registry of Deeds
and Documents;
Documentary proof of the
existence of partners residing
abroad;
Photocopy of the identity cards
of elected directors and board
members.
Forms duly filled out with data
on the company and its partners,
accompanied by proof of payment of
all charges due for filing.
For all business companies, the
incorporation documents and any
subsequent amendments thereto
must be filed with the Trade Board
in the jurisdiction of the companys
head office accompanied by a
50
petition signed and dated by a

partner, attorney or other duly
authorized person.
The application to file articles
of incorporation of a business
company with the trade board must
be accompanied by the following
documents:
Three original copies of the articles
of association signed by all partners
and two witnesses;
A certificate that the articles of
association were agreed upon in a
public deed, if they were;
A certified photocopy of the
identify card of each partner;
A power-of-attorney granted
by any foreign partner residing or
headquartered abroad signed before
a Public Notary in the country of
origin, stamped by the Brazilian
Consulate, translated by a public
sworn translator in Brazil and
and Documents;
Documentary proof of the
existence of partners residing
abroad;
A personal declaration signed
by each partner or manager of the
partnership stating that he or she is
not legally prevented from engaging

in business activities, which
may be contained in the articles
of association or submitted in a
separate document;
Forms duly filled out with data
on the company and its partners,
accompanied by proof of payment of
all charges due for filing.
country of origin, stamped by the

Brazilian Consulate, translated by a
public sworn translator in Brazil and
and Documents;
The articles of association of simple
partnerships can only be filed with
the Registry Office for Legal Entities
after being duly certified by a lawyer.
5.2.2. Civil Registry of Legal Entities

Simple partnerships, i.e. those that
did not adopt the structure of a jointstock company or of a company
engaged in business activities, must
register their articles of incorporation
with a Registry Office for Legal
Entities.
For registering a simple partnership,
an application must be filed with a
Civil Registry accompanied by the
following documents:
Articles of incorporation or
respective amendments thereto duly
signed by its partners;
Certified photocopies of the
identity cards of the partners;
A power-of-attorney granted by
any foreign partner residing abroad
signed before a Public Notary in the
51
6 - PUBLICLY-HELD COMPANIES
6.1 General Information
Law 6,404/76 (also known as the
Brazilian Corporations Act) makes
a distinction between closed
and open companies. Open (or
publicly-held) companies must
necessarily take the form of a
corporation and their securities are
admitted for trading on the securities
market, allowing them to raise funds
from the public.
Because publicly-held companies
are permitted to raise funds through
public offerings of their securities,
they are subject to a series of
specific obligations imposed by law
and by regulations issued principally
by the Brazilian Securities and
Exchange Commission (Commisso
de Valores Mobilirios the CVM).
The CVM, which was created by Law
6,385/86, is a federal agency linked
to the Treasury. The purpose of the
CVM is to regulate, develop, control
and supervise securities markets
in Brazil. As a result of changes
introduced by Law 10,303/01, the
CVMs jurisdiction was enlarged
to include the Commodities and
Futures Markets, the organized over-
the-counter market and securities

transactions clearing and settlement
entities. The CVM is an independent
agency operating under a special
regime. Although it is linked to the
Treasury, the CVM is not subordinate
to the minister. The CVM has
independent administrative authority,
with financial resources and
budgetary powers of its own. The
CVMs commissioners have a fixed
mandate and stability in their role.
One of the CVMs purposes is to
protect investors. Protection of
investors, through various control
and supervisory mechanisms, is
ultimately aimed at stimulating
investment of savings in stock and
financial markets.
Thus, while in privately-held
companies there is great freedom
to establish rules for the operation
of a company that will best serve
the shareholders interests, because
publicly-held companies can seek
funds from the investing public,
they are subject to a number of
restrictions that reduce the flexibility
of shareholders to establish such
rules.
53
Publicly companies can register

with the CVM in order to have their
securities admitted for trading on
the stock exchange or on the overthe-counter market, in addition to
meeting the registration requirements
imposed by the stock exchange or
over-the-counter institutions.
Only publicly-held companies may
issue depositary receipts (DRs),
which are certificates representing
shares in the company. DRs are
traded on foreign markets, enabling
the company to raise funds from
foreign investors directly in their
markets of origin.
to issue accounting rules that are

mandatory for publicly-traded
companies and optional for privatelyheld companies.
Recently, Law 12,431/11
made further amendments to
Brazilian Corporations Act. These
amendments include (i) the
possibility of remote participation
in shareholders meetings, (ii) more
flexible rules for issuing debentures,
and (iii) the end of the requirement
that members of the board of
directors be shareholders of the
company.
6.2. Securities Market
In recent years, the Brazilian

Corporations Act underwent a
series of small corporate, tax and
accounting reforms. Law 11,638/07
and Law 11,941/09 amended
the Brazilian Corporations Act to
introduce due accounting rules for
valuation of assets and liabilities,
and for the recognition of costs,
expenses and revenues, in order to
bring Brazilian accounting rules into
line with international standards. In
addition, these laws gave the CVM
greater independence with respect to
accounting standards, with powers
54
The sector of the Brazilian

financial system referred to as
the Securities Market includes
a variety of transactions involving
securities issued by publiclyheld companies, such as shares,
debentures, subscription bonuses
and promissory notes for public
distribution. Aside from these
securities, Law 6,385/76 lists all
the types of securities that may be
traded on the Securities Market that
are subject to the CVMs jurisdiction.
Transactions involving securities

issued by publicly-held companies
may be carried out on stock
exchanges or in over-the-counter
markets (organized or not), with the
CVM as the main regulatory agency.
Stock exchanges, which are
governed by Resolution n. 2,690/00
of the National Monetary Council,
can take the form of associations
or corporations and, among other
related obligations, they must
establish a place or system that is
appropriate for buying and selling
bonds and/or securities in a free and
open market especially organized
and supervised by the stock
exchange itself, its member societies,
and regulatory authorities.
The organized over-the-counter
market is a securities trading
system where securities issued by
publicly-held companies that are
not registered on stock exchanges
are traded. The trading system is
maintained by a self-regulatory
entity charged with supervising and
inspecting market participants and
the trades made on the market.
Registration of assets for trading
on the organized over-the-counter
market is simpler than registration
for trading on stock exchanges and,

in practice, stocks traded on the
organized over-the-counter market
have less liquidity than stocks traded
on stock exchanges.
When publicly-held companies are
not registered with either a stock
exchange or on the organized overthe-counter market, their securities
can be traded on the unorganized
over-the-counter market, where
trades are made directly between
securities brokers, without the
supervision of a self-regulating entity.
6.3. Management
Publicly-held companies are required
to have a two-tiered management
structure composed of a board of
officers and a board of directors,
unlike privately-held companies,
in which a board of directors is
optional.
The board of directors is a
deliberative body, with powers to
supervise the companys business
and to establish its internal structure.
The board must have at least three
directors, all elected at the general
annual meeting of the shareholders
55
of the company. Directors may

be non-residents, but with the
amendments recently made by
Law 12.431/11, they are no longer
required to hold at least one share
in the company, although they
are permitted to be shareholders.
However it is still usual to find many
By-Laws which repeat the former
Law and, doing so, pursue to require
that the members of the Board of
Directors are shareholders of the
company. Non-resident directors
must appoint a representative who is
resident in Brazil to receive service of
process in legal proceedings based
on Brazilian companies legislation.
The Brazilian Corporations Acts gives
holders of voting shares in a publiclyheld company that represent at least
15% of the total number of voting
shares the right to elect and remove
one member (and alternate) of the
board of directors, in a separate vote
at the annual general meeting of
shareholders.
The Brazilian Corporations Law
also provides for a separate vote by
holders of preferred shares without
voting rights or with restricted voting
rights that represent at least 10%
of the capital of a publicly-held
56
company, to elect and remove one

member (and alternate) of the board
of directors, provided they have not
exercised any right to elect a member
of the board of directors provided for
under the companys by-laws.
In both cases, the shareholders must
show that they have held the 15% of
the voting capital of the company, or
the 10% of the total capital company,
uninterruptedly during at least the
three months prior to the general
meeting for election of directors.
Furthermore, if the holders of voting
shares and the holders of preferred
shares without voting rights or
with restricted voting rights are
unable to secure the percentages
required for a separate vote to elect
one member (and alternate) to the
board of directors, the two groups
may join to elect a single member
(and alternate), provided that their
aggregate shareholdings represent at
least 10% of the companys capital.
The board of officers is an executive
body. With powers to conduct dayto-day business activities, the board
of officers has exclusive authority
to represent the company before
third parties. The board of officers is

composed of at least two members,
and all officers must be resident in
Brazil, although they do not need to
be shareholders of the company.
The officers are elected by the board
of directors. Up to one-third of the
members of the board of directors
may also serve as officers.
In order to have their securities
traded in the stock exchanges or
over-the-counter market, publiclyheld companies must have, in
addition to a board of directors, an
investor relations officer responsible
for providing information to members
of the public who invested in the
company, to the CVM and, if the
company is registered with the stock
exchanges or organized over-thecounter market, to those entities,
in addition to ensuring that the
companys registration is up to date,
in accordance with CVM Ruling no.
480/09.
Finally, publicly-held companies
must set up a fiscal council to
advise them on matters related
to their governance. The audit
committee is the instrument available
to shareholders to inspect the
management of the company. The

council may function permanently
or only when requested by the
shareholders.
6.4. Periodic Filing Requirements
and Other Information
to disclose and/or communicate
various types of information related
to their business.
On January 1, 2010, CVM Ruling n.
480/09 came into effect, replacing
CVM Ruling n. 202/93. The new
Ruling sets out rules for registration
of issuers of securities traded on
regulated markets and the filing
requirements applicable to those
issuers.
According to CVM Ruling 480/09,
all information related to an issuer is
consolidated in a single document,
the Reference Form (Formulrio
de Referncia), which must be
updated regularly, replacing the old
Annual Information Form. Thus,
when making a public offering of
securities, the issuer need only
prepare a supplementary document
on the securities being offered and
57
the features and conditions of the

offering, and the offering document
and the Reference Form will,
together, provide investors with the
information found in a traditional
prospectus.
The information that must be

submitted on a regular basis, at the
times and in the form established by
regulation, consists of:
The CVM Ruling 480/09 classifies

securities issuers according to
the type of securities admitted
for trading. Category A issuers
are authorized to list any type of
securities for trading on regulated
markets, while Category B
issuers are only authorized to list
for trading securities other than
shares, depository receipts, and
securities that are convertible into, or
give rights to, shares or depositary
receipts. The main difference
between these two types of issuers
is the quantity of information required
by CVM to be released to the issuers
shareholders and to the market.
ii. the reference form (formulrio de

referncia);
Once a publicly-held companys

securities have been registered with
the CVM, the registered company
must provide periodic and eventrelated information to the CVM, by
means of the electronic system
available on the CVMs webpage
(CVM Ruling n. 480/09).
viii. the minutes of the annual general

shareholders meetings; and
ix. the quarterly information
form (formulrio de informaes
trimestrais ITR)
58
i. the issuer information form

(formulrio cadastral);
iii. financial statements;

iv. the standardized financial
statements form (formulrio
de demonstraes financeiras
padronizadas DFP);
v. notices of call to the annual
general shareholders meeting;
vi. all the documents necessary for
the exercise of voting rights at annual
general shareholders meetings;
vii. a summary of the decisions
made at annual general shareholders
meetings;
In addition to the information listed

above, Category A issuers are also
required to submit information

related to certain events or facts, at
the times and in the form established
by regulation, such as:
i. notices of call to meetings
of debenture holders and to
extraordinary and special
shareholders meetings;
ii. the minutes of meetings
of debenture holders and of
extraordinary and special
shareholders meetings;
iii. the minutes of meetings of the
board of directors, when the minutes
contain resolutions intended to
produce effects against third parties;
iv. the minutes of meetings of the
audit committee (conselho fiscal) at
which opinions are approved;
v. the evaluation reports required
under art. 4 4, art. 4-A, art. 8 1,
art. 45 1, art. 227 1, art. 228 1,
art. 229 2, art. 252 1, art. 256
1, and art. 264 1 of Law 6,404 of
1976 and under regulations issued
by the CVM;
vi. shareholders agreements;
vii. statements of material fact;
viii. share trading policies;
ix. debenture deeds;

x. any other information that may be
requested by CVM.
Items (i), (ii), (vii), and (ix) also apply
to Category B issuers.
At the same moment that CVM
issued its Ruling 480/09, which
detailed the information to be
provided by the issuers of securities,
is also issued Ruling 481/09 which
widened even more the amount and
quality of information of mandatory
release by publicly-held companies.
Such additional obligation granted
investors more elements to instruct
their vote at shareholders meetings.
In this regard, by means of CVM
Ruling n. 481/09, the CVM started to
require that publicly-held companies
release detailed information about
the matters that will be considered at
each general shareholders meeting,
when such meetings are summoned.
This information is expressly
provided for in that ruling and it
differs accordingly to the matter to be
discussed, e.g. information related
to capital reduction, capital increase,
issuance of debentures, acquisition
of control and withdrawal rights.
59
With respect to the release of the so

called Material Fact, CVM Ruling
n. 358/02 defines as relevant any
act or fact related to the business of
a company (including any decision
by the controlling shareholder
and any resolution adopted by the
shareholders in a general meeting or
by any of the management bodies of
the company) that could influence (i)
the quoted price of securities issued
by the company; (ii) the decision by
investors to trade in the companys
securities or to continue holding
them; (iii) the decision by investors
to exercise any rights attached to
their ownership of the companys
securities.
CVM Ruling n. 358/02 gives
examples of events that may
constitute a material fact:
i. changes in control of the
company, including changes in
control resulting from the signing,
amendment or termination of
shareholders agreements;
ii. the signing, amendment or
termination of shareholders
agreements to which the company is
a party or which have been entered
in the companys books;
60
iii. authorization for trading securities

issued by the company in any
domestic or foreign market;
iv. a decision to apply for
cancellation of the companys
registration as a publicly-held
company;
v. merger, consolidation or spinoff involving the company itself or
related companies;
vi. transformation or dissolution of
the company;
vii. renegotiations of debt;
viii. approval of stock option plans;
ix. changes in the rights and
privileges attached to securities
issued by the company;
x. share splits and reverse splits
and the issue of share dividends;
xi. acquisition of shares to be held
in treasury or for cancellation, and
the sale of shares so acquired;
xii. signing or termination of
agreements, or failure to close a
deal, when the expectation of closing
the deal is public knowledge;
xiii. any change in the projections
disclosed by the company;
xiv. filing for judicial arrangement
with creditors, petition or confession

of bankruptcy, or the bringing of any
lawsuit that could affect the financial
situation of the company.
The CVM may require a publicly-held
company to disclose, correct, amend
or republish information related to
a relevant fact whenever the CVM
believes that this is necessary.
Likewise, both the CVM and the stock
exchange or over-the-counter market
on which the companys securities
are admitted for trading may require
the companys investor relations
officer to provide further information
to clarify communications and/or
disclosures made in connection with a
relevant fact.
Exceptionally, a publicly-held
company may omit to disclose
information required under periodic
filing and other requirements,
including relevant fact disclosure
requirements, if the controlling
shareholders or the management
of the company conclude that
disclosure of the information
would put a legitimate interest of
the company at risk, provided the
information is not leaked and there
is no unusual variation in the quoted
price or trading volume of the

securities issued by the publicly-held
company or related to it. In such
cases, the company must submit to
the CVM a statement of the reasons
that led it to believe that disclosure
would put a legitimate interest of the
company at risk.
The basic information contained in
the companys registration with the
CVM must be kept up to date and
the CVM must be informed of any
change in that information.
The information must not only be
submitted to the CVM but also be
kept available to security holders at
the investor relations department
of the company. The CVM also
makes the information available to
the public, with the exception of
information classified as confidential
by the company.
The means of publication of
required information by publiclyheld companies are also regulated.
The information must be published
in the official gazette (Dirio
Oficial) published by the federal
administration or state governments,
depending on where the company
61
is established, and in a widelycirculated newspaper issued in the

same city as that of the companys
headquarters. The company must
use the same newspaper for all
publications, and any change in
the newspaper the company uses
must be notified in advance to the
shareholders in the extract of the
annual general meeting.
6.5. Public Tender Offer (OPA)
to make a public tender offer
(Oferta Pblica para Acquisio
de Aes, called an OPA), in
accordance with the terms of the
Brazilian Corporations Act and CVM
regulations, in the following cases:
i. public tender offer for cancellation
of registration for listing of shares on
regulated securities markets, which
must be made by the controlling
shareholder or by the company
itself, with a view to acquiring all the
shares issued by the company (art. 4
4 of the Brazilian Corporations Law
and CVM Ruling n. 361/02);
ii. public tender offer to increase
shareholdings, which must be made
when the controlling shareholders
62
interest reaches a percentage that,

under CVM regulations, impedes
the market liquidity of the remaining
shares. The offer must be for all
the shares of the affected class
or type. (Art. 4 6 of the Brazilian
Corporations Law and CVM Ruling n.
361/02); and
iii. public tender offer for transfer of
control, which constitutes a condition
for the validity of any transfer, direct
or indirect, of control of a publiclyheld company. The offer must
be made by the shareholder who
acquired control and cover all shares
issued by the company that have
full and permanent voting rights (art.
254-A of the Brazilian Corporations
Act and CVM Ruling n. 361/02).
Late in 2010, CVM Ruling 361/02,
which governs public tender offers,
was amended by CVM Ruling
487/10. According to the CVM, the
changes were motivated principally
by the need to adapt the public
tender offer rules to a scenario in
which public tender offers to acquire
control of publicly-traded companies
are becoming more frequent. The
amendments are also intended to
update the provisions of CVM Ruling
361/02 in light of the experience
acquired by the CVM in public tender

offers since that ruling was issued,
in 2002.
The main changes made by CVM
Ruling 487/10 are the following ones:
(i) more specific rules on the
offerors confidentiality obligations
prior to making the offer, and
procedures to be followed if
information on the offer escapes the
offerors control;
(ii) detailing of the auction rules
for public tender offers for control,
prohibiting (a) third party intervention
in the auction for acquisition of
a smaller number of shares than
sought by the offeror, and (b) any
increase in the auction price by
the offeror when a competing offer
is made; as well as a substantial
increase in the quantity and quality
of information to be disclosed in
the case of a public tender offer for
control, by the offeror, the target
company, its management and its
main shareholders, especially on
transactions involving shares and
derivatives during the period of the
public tender offer; and
(iii) fine-tuning of the provisions on
the evaluation reports to be obtained
by the offeror in some types of

public tender offers, regarding the
work expected and the liability of the
valuators.
Generally speaking, the public tender
offer is made to all holders of the
same type and class of shares
covered by the offer by publishing
a notice at least once in the widelycirculated newspaper normally
used by the company to publish its
communications.
If at the end of the public tender
offer for cancellation of registration
procedure less than 5% of all the
shares issued by the company
remain in the market, the
shareholders may, at a general
meeting, authorize redemption of the
shares for the price established in the
public tender offer, and so withdraw
them from circulation.
The public tender offer must be
carried out by means of an auction
on the stock exchange or organized
over-the-counter market on which
the shares covered by the offer are
admitted for trading; if they are not
admitted for trading, the offer may
be carried out on a stock exchange
63
or organized over-the-counter market

chosen by the offeror.
6.6. Primary and Secondary Public
Offerings
Publicly-held companies may make
public offerings for distribution
of securities in the primary and
secondary markets, subject to the
requirements established under
applicable legislation, and particularly
in CVM Ruling 400/03.
An offering is a primary offering
when the issuing company offers
the securities for distribution to
the public with the aim of raising
funds. A secondary offering occurs
when one or more of the issuers
shareholders offer all or part of the
securities they hold to the public.
Primary and secondary offerings
often occur simultaneously.
Any public offering of securities in
Brazilian territory must be submitted
for prior registration with the CVM.
Among the registration requirements
established in CVM Ruling 400/03
that deserve particular attention
are those related to the prospectus,
64
which must contain information on

the offer, the offered securities and
the issuing company and its financial
situation. The prospectus must be
written in readily accessible language
and the information contained
in it must be complete, precise,
accurate, current, clear, objective
and necessary, so that investors can
make an informed decision regarding
the investment.
The use of advertising materials in
connection with the offer depends
on prior approval by the CVM. In no
circumstances may information that
is different from or inconsistent with
the prospectus be disseminated to
potential investors.
Depending on the specific
characteristics of the offer, the CVM
may waive registration of the offer,
or certain registration requirements,
such as publication, deadlines and
other procedures established under
the regulations, as the public offering
set forth in CVM Ruling 476/09.
Publicly-held companies that have
already carried out a public offering
of their securities may file Securities
Distribution Programs with the CVM

with the aim of facilitating the grant
of registration for future offerings.
To carry out a public offering, the
offeror must engage an underwriter
to place the securities with the
public. The offeror may authorize
the underwriter to distribute a
supplementary lot of securities, if
demand is greater than expected,
at the same price as the initial lot of
securities. The prospectus must set
out the limits for the supplementary
lot, which may not be larger than
15% of the number of securities
initially offered.
In addition, the offeror may, at its
own discretion, increase the offering
by up to 20%, without making a
new application for registration or
modifying the terms of the original
registration.
The CVM has the power to suspend
(for up to 30 days) or cancel an
offering that is being carried out
contrary to the law in force or to the
terms of the offerings registration,
or that is illegal, contrary to CVM
regulations or fraudulent.
6.7. Differentiated Listing on

BM&FBOVESPA S.A. Bolsa de
Valores, Mercadorias e Futuros
(BM&FBOVESPA)
BM&FBOVESPAs Differentiated
Levels of Corporate Governance
are a set of rules of conduct for
companies, their managements and
their controlling shareholders that
BM&FBOVESPA considers important
for increasing the value of shares and
other assets issued by publicly-held
companies.
There are currently four special
listing segments on BM&FBOVESPA
for securities issued by publiclyheld companies. The listing level
depends on the issuing companys
adherence to the Differentiated Levels
of Corporate Governance: (i) Level
1 Corporate Governance (Nvel 1);
(ii) Level 2 Corporate Governance
(Nvel 2); (iii) BM&FBOVESPAs
New Market (Novo Mercado);
and (iv) The New Entrants Market
(BOVESPA MAIS).
Voluntary adherence by a company
to these rules, and the consequent
adoption of corporate governance
65
practices in addition to those

applicable to all companies by law,
allows the company to be listed on
Level 1, Level 2 or the New Market,
depending on the degree of its
commitment to BM&FBOVESPA,
or on BOVESPA MAIS, where the
company is listed on the organized
over-the-counter market managed by
BM&FBOVESPA.
Corporate governance consists of
a set of principles and practices
intended to minimize potential
conflicts of interest between those
who supply capital to the company
and those in charge of managing
it. Three pillars support an efficient
corporate governance: (i) the rules
of conduct of the company, which
may be established by law or by
contract (corporate governance as
such); (ii) the level of transparency in
material information communicated
to the public (disclosure); and (iii)
the means used to ensure that these
rules are effectively complied with
(enforcement).
Adherence to BM&FBOVESPAs
Differentiated Levels of Corporate
Governance affords various benefits
to all involved. For investors, it
allows for (i) more accurate pricing
66
of shares; (ii) improvements in the

process of monitoring and inspecting
the companys business; (ii) greater
security as to their rights in the
company; and (iv) reduction of risks
associated with the investment. For
companies, it allows for (i) improved
institutional image; (ii) increased
demand for its shares; (iii) increased
value of its shares; and (iv) lower
cost of capital.
A publicly-held company may enter
any of the BM&FBOVESPA listing
levels by signing a participation
contract that binds it to comply with
the set of corporate governance rules
for the selected level, which are set
out in listing regulations issued by
BM&FBOVESPA (the Level 1 Listing
Regulations, the Level 2 Listing
Regulations, the New Market Listing
Regulations, or the BOVESPA MAIS
Listing Regulations).
In 2010, BM&FBOVESPA submitted
new Listing Regulations for Level
1, Level 2 and New Market to the
CVM for review. The CVM gave full
approval to the regulations and they
came into effect on May 10, 2011.
Companies that had listed securities
prior to May 10, 2011 are required
to amend their corporate by-laws
to bring them into compliance with

the time periods set forth in new
regulations.
The main practices currently required
by BM&FBOVESPA for listing on
each of the Differentiated Levels of
Corporate Governance are described
below:
In order to be listed at Level 1,
companies must undertake, chiefly,
to comply with a set of rules
designed to improve the information
made available to the public and the
dispersion of shares. The main Level
1 practices are the following ones:
i. the company must maintain a
free float representing at least 25%
of the companys capital;
ii. it must adopt mechanisms that
favor dispersion of the companys
capital when public offerings are
made;
iii. it must meet additional
requirements when preparing
prospectuses for public offerings of
securities;
iv. it must not issue participation
certificates;
v. it must improve the companys
financial statements, quarterly

informational filings, and reference
form, particularly by including a note
in the quarterly informational filings
on transactions with related parties
containing the information required
under the accounting rules applicable
to the annual financial statements
and by describing the shareholdings,
by kind and class of share, of
all shareholders that hold 5% or
more of each kind and class of the
companys shares, either directly or
indirectly, up to the level of individual
persons (provided the company
holds this information);
vi. it must hold an annual public
meeting with analysts and other
interested parties to disclose
information on the companys
financial situation and its projects
and outlook;
vii. it must comply with disclosure
rules in transactions involving assets
issued by the company and held by
the controlling shareholders;
viii. it must disclose the terms of
contracts between the company and
related parties;
ix. it must make available an annual
calendar of corporate events;
x. it must have a unified term of no
67
more than two years for all members

of the board of directors;
xi. the positions of Chairman of
the Board of Directors and Chief
Executive Officer must not be held by
the same person, except in cases of
vacancy; and
xii. it must prepare and disclose its
code of conduct.
To obtain a Level 2 classification,
in addition to adopting the Level 1
practices, a company must adhere
to a much wider set of corporate
governance rules, which include
the granting of additional rights to
minority shareholders. The main
Level 2 practices are the following
ones:
i. the company must have a board
of directors composed of at least five
members, 20% of whom must be
independent directors;
ii. it must ensure that all common
and preferred shareholders are given
the same price obtained by the
controlling shareholders when selling
control of the company, on the same
terms and conditions;
iii. it must give voting rights to
preferred shareholders on some
68
matters, such as transformation,

merger, consolidation or split-up
of the company and approval of
contracts between the company and
other members of the same group;
iv. the companys bylaws must
not contain provisions that (a)
limit the number of votes of any
shareholder or group of shareholders
to percentages below 5% of the
total number of voting shares,
except in the cases provided for
in the regulations, (b) establish
supermajorities for matters that must
be submitted to the shareholders
in general meeting, or (c) prevent
shareholders from voting in favor
of the exclusion or amendment of
provisions of the by-laws or impose
burdens on shareholders who vote in
favor of exclusions or amendments;
v. the companys board of directors
must publish a position statement on
any public tender offer for shares in
the company, setting out the reasons
for the boards position;
vi. it must make a public tender
offer for all shares in circulation, for
at least their economic value, if the
company cancels its registration as
a publicly-traded company or leaves
the Level 2 listing segment; and
vii. corporate disputes must be

submitted to the Arbitration Chamber
for resolution.
A companys securities may be listed
on the New Market if the company
adheres to the rules for Levels 1 and
2 and, in addition, undertakes to
ensure that the companys capital is
composed exclusively of common
shares.
BM&FBOVESPA MAIS is a new
segment of the organized over-thecounter market created to increase
the opportunities for entering
BM&FBOVESPA available to new
publicly-held companies. In order
to be listed on BM&FBOVESPA
MAIS, the company must adhere
to advanced corporate governance
practices, similar to the rules
applicable to the New Market,
which ensure greater transparency
and more shareholder rights.
BM&FBOVESPA MAIS is intended
to assist new entrants through a
strategy of gradual access to capital
markets, building up their exposure
in the market and supporting their
evolution in terms of transparency,
shareholder base and liquidity.
69
7 - REGULATORY FRAMEWORK OF LOCAL CAPITAL MARKETS

7.1. Relevant Laws Affecting Local
Capital Markets
The key law dealing with the
securities market in Brazil is Law
n. 6,385 of December 7, 1976,
as amended (Securities Law).
In addition, Law n. 6,404 of
December 15, 1976, as amended
(Corporations Act), contains
important provisions for regulating
the securities market in Brazil.
by resolutions, circular letters,

rulings, opinions, deliberations and
other rules issued by the National
Monetary Council (CMN), the
Central Bank of Brazil (Central
Bank), CVM, stock exchanges and
organized over-the-counter market
(Organized OTC) entities.
7.2. Local Regulatory and
Supervisory Authorities
7.2.1. The National Monetary Council
The Securities Law regulates the

overall operation of the securities
market in Brazil, including public
distribution of securities, the
listing of securities for trading
in stock exchange and/or overthe-counter market (OTC),
disclosure requirements, financial
intermediation, brokerage, clearing,
types of securities admitted for
trading and types of companies
whose securities can be traded in
the Brazilian securities market. The
Securities Law has also created the
Brazilian Securities Commission
(CVM), granting it regulatory and
police powers over the Brazilian
securities market.
The Securities Law is regulated
According to the Securities Law,

the CMN is, with respect to the
Brazilian securities market, in charge
of (1) defining the policy on the
organization and operation of the
securities market, (2) regulating
the use of credit in the securities
market, (3) setting general rules to
be followed by CVM in exercising its
functions, (4) defining the activities
CVM has to carry out jointly with the
Central Bank, (5) approving CVMs
personnel and regulation applicable
to CVMs personnel, and (6)
establishing the remuneration to be
paid CVMs employees, including its
president, officers and key personnel.
71
7.2.2. The Brazilian Securities

Commission - CVM
CVM is in charge of regulating the

Securities Law and Corporations
Act in accordance with the policy
defined by CMN and for inspecting,
on a permanent basis, the disclosure
of market-related information, their
participants and values traded in the
market.
and custody of securities, (5) the

audit of publicly-held companies
and (6) the services of securities
advisors and analysts, whether
these services, as applicable, are
carried out by participants in the
securities distribution system:
(a) financial institutions or other
companies engaged in distributing
securities, (b) companies engaged
in purchasing outstanding securities
for the purpose of reselling them,
(c) companies and individuals that
intermediate the trading of securities,
whether in stock exchanges or on
the over-the-counter market, (d)
stock exchanges, (e) entities of
the Organized OTC, (f) commodity
futures brokerage firms, (g) special
traders and commodity futures
exchanges, and (h) securities
clearing houses.
CVM is also in charge of regulating

and inspecting (1) the issuance
and distribution of securities in the
securities market, (2) negotiations
and intermediations in the securities
and derivatives markets, (3) the
organization, operation of and
transactions carried out by stock
and commodity futures exchanges,
(4) the management of portfolios
CVM can apply administrative

penalties to individuals and entities
that violate the Securities Law, the
Corporations Act or any other law
or regulation CVM is responsible
for enforcing. The main penalties
CVM can impose include: (1)
warnings, (2) fines, (3) suspension
or revocation of authorization or
registration to engage in activities
CVM is an independent government

body linked to the Ministry of Finance
and managed by a president and
four officers, who are appointed by
the President of Brazil after being
approved by the Brazilian Senate for
a five-year mandate and are selected
from individuals with a spotless
reputation and solid expertise in the
securities market.
72
CVM is responsible for regulating

and inspecting, (4) temporary
suspension, for up to twenty years,
of officers, directors or members of
the audit committee of a publiclyheld company, entities of the
securities distribution system or
other entities that must be authorized
by or registered with CVM to operate,
(5) temporary prohibition, for up
to twenty years, from carrying
out certain activities or operations
for participants in the securities
distribution system or other entities
that must be authorized by or
registered with CVM to operate, and
(6) temporary prohibition, for up to
ten years, from operating, directly
or indirectly, in one or more types
of transactions in the securities
markets.
The penalties applied by CVM do
not affect in any way any the civil or
criminal liability of parties found to
have breached securities regulations.
CVM is a member of the Council
of Securities Regulators of the
Americas (Conselho de Reguladores
de Valores Mobilirios das Amricas,
or COSRA), of the International
Organization of Securities
Commissioners (IOSCO), of
the Iberian American Institute
for Securities Markets (Instituto
Iberoamericano de Mercado de
Capitais, or IIMV) and of the
Southern Common Market Mercosur (Mercado Comum do Sul
Mercosul).
CVM has also entered into
memoranda of understanding
for sharing information and legal
assistance with securities regulators
in the following countries: United
States (the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission and
Commodity Futures Trading
Commission), Argentina, Australia,
Bolivia, Canada/Quebec, Cayman
Islands, Chile, China, Equator,
France, Germany, Greece, Hong
Kong, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg,
Malaysia, Mexico, Paraguay,
Peru, Portugal, Romania, Russia,
Singapore, South Africa, Spain,
Thailand and Taiwan.
7.2.3. The Central Bank
Pursuant to Law No. 4,595 of
December 31, 1964, as amended,
the Central Bank is responsible
for implementing CMNs policies
73
concerning monetary policy,

exchange controls, regulation of
financial institutions, control of
foreign capitals and any other
matters related to the securities
market under its competence, as
determined by CMN.
The Central Bank is managed
by a president and eight officers
appointed by the President of Brazil
after being approved by the Brazilian
Senate for an indefinite mandate
and are selected from individuals
with a spotless reputation and solid
expertise in economic-financial
matters.
7.2.4 . Self-Regulation
Self-regulatory entities, typically
stock exchanges and Organized
OTC entities, are subject to
CVMs oversight. Self-regulatory
entities are in charge of inspecting
their members and of ensuring
compliance with applicable rules and
regulations. There are also purely
self-regulatory entities, such as
the Brazilian Financial and Capital
Markets Association (Associao
Brasileira das Entidades dos
Mercados Financeiro e de Capitais
ANBIMA).
74
7.2.4.1. Stock Exchanges

Stock exchanges are in charge of
organizing, maintaining, registering
and overseeing operations
involving securities, among other
responsibilities. For this purpose,
stock exchanges can set additional
rules to those issued by CVM.
The main Brazilian stock exchange
is the BM&FBOVESPA S.A. Bolsa
de Valores, Mercadorias e Futuros
(BM&FBOVESPA). A number
of securities may be traded at
BM&FBOVESPA (1) securities, (2)
rights, (3) indexes, (4) derivatives,
(5) government bonds and (6)
other negotiable bonds issued
by private entities as long as
previous authorization is granted by
the Central Bank and/or CVM, as
appropriate.
BM&FBOVESPA offers a homebroker system, allowing investors
to deliver their orders through the
Internet to their brokers, who are
in turn connected to the electronic
systems of BM&FBOVESPA.
In December 2000, BM&FBOVESPA
launched the New Market, Level
2 and Level 1, which are special
listing segments of the stock market

designed for companies that accept
to abide by stricter corporate
governance rules and disclosure
standards than those provided for in
the Brazilian law.
The New Market is a listing segment
that requires companies to comply
with higher corporate governance
standards than those applied to Level
2 and Level 1. Under the New Market,
companies (or their controlling
shareholders, as the case may be)
undertake, among other things, to (1)
keep their capital stock represented
only by common shares with voting
rights, (2) keep at least 25% of their
shares in the free float, (3) offer to
all shareholders the same terms and
conditions as those enjoyed by the
controlling shareholders in case of
sale of the controlling stake (100%
tag along), (4) launch a tender offer
to repurchase their shares from
all shareholders for at least the
economic value, in case of delisting
or cancellation of the agreement
with BM&FBOVESPA that formalized
the companys adhesion to the New
Market, (5) keep a board of directors
made up of at least five members,
20% of whom are independent
members, with a two-year mandate
at most, (6) provide annual financial

reports prepared in accordance with
an internationally accepted standard,
(7) issue more complete financial
reports, including quarterly cash-flow
reports and consolidated reports
reviewed by an independent auditor,
and (8) disclose, on a monthly basis,
the trading, by its officers, executives
and controlling shareholders, in
securities issued by it.
Level 2 imposes similar obligations
to those of the New Market, and
companies adhering to it may have
their capital stocks represented by
common shares with voting rights
and preferred shares with restricted
or no voting rights. Under certain
circumstances, preferred shares
are granted with voting rights,
such as for approval of merger and
acquisition transactions involving
the company and agreements
between the controlling shareholder
and the company, whenever these
decisions are subject to approval at a
shareholders meeting.
Level 1 requires adhering companies
to, among other things, (1) keep
at least 25% of their shares in the
free float, (2) disseminate more
75
complete financial data, (3) issue

annual financial reports prepared in
accordance with an internationally
accepted standard, and (4) disclose,
on a monthly basis, the trading,
by its officers, executives and
controlling shareholders, in securities
issued by it.
7.2.4.2 - The Organized OTC Market
BM&FBOVESPA also created the

BOVESPA MAIS, a special listing
segment designed to make the stock
market more readily accessible
mainly to small and medium
enterprises. Overall, the BOVESPA
MAIS listing rules are similar to
those applied to the New Market, and
companies adhering to the BOVESPA
MAIS can have their capital made up
of preferred shares, which cannot,
nevertheless, be traded.
A number of securities may be

traded at the Organized OTC market
(1) shares, (2) debentures,
(3) audiovisual certificates of
investment, (4) quotas of closedend investment funds, including
real estate funds and credit rights
investment funds, (5) warrants,
(6) indexes representing share
portfolios, (7) put and call options
over securities, (8) subscription
rights, and (9) subscription receipts.
CETIP S.A. (Balco Organizado de
Ativos e Derivativos) is an Organized
OTC entity that also operates as
custody and clearing house.
Custody and clearance of

transactions involving securities
are carried out by a clearing house
of BM&FBOVESPA and are carried
out, as a general rule, on the 2nd
and 3rd business days following
the respective transaction date
(financial and physical settlement,
respectively).
76
The Organized OTC market is a

trading environment managed by
institutions authorized by and subject
to the oversight of CVM that offers a
trading system and establishes selfregulatory rules and mechanisms.
7.2.4.3. BrazilianFinancial and Capital

Markets Association ANBIMA
ANBIMA is a private regulatory
agent that currently represents more
than 340 institutions, including
commercial, multiple and investment
banks, asset managers, brokerage

firms, securities underwriters and
investment advisors.
On June 1, 2011, ANBIMA approved
a new self-regulatory code (ANBIMA
Code) that sets out certain
disclosure standards to be followed
by its members while coordinating
public offerings of securities in the
Brazilian market. The ANBIMA Code
establishes operational standards
similar to those established in more
mature countries in terms of capital
markets organization.
The objective of the ANBIMA Code is
to establish full disclosure standards
on which the activities of financial
institutions in the Brazilian capital
market must to be based on. Going
beyond the requirements provided
for in the Brazilian law, the selfregulatory regime regulated by the
ANBIMA Code is similar to the ones
adopted in modern self-regulatory
regimes throughout the world and it
created uniform rules for the public
distribution of fixed and variable
income securities in the primary
and secondary markets. According
to the ANBIMA Code, financial
institutions acting as coordinators
of underwriting syndicates
(underwriters) are also responsible
for the contents of prospectuses and
Brazilian 10-K-like forms (formulrios
de referncia). They are also
required to conduct independent
due diligence to verify all material
information concerning the issuers
business, properties and financial
status, relevant securities and other
material facts that may have a
bearing on an investors decision
with regard to offered or requested
investment funding.
The ANBIMA Code also
establishes comprehensive rules
for the minimum content of the
prospectuses and Brazilian 10-K-like
forms (formulrios de referncia),
namely: (1) information concerning
risk factors, with no mitigations,
(2) description of the issuers
main sector-related aspects,
(3) description of the issuers
business and corporate governance,
environmental protection and
social responsibility policies, (4)
managements discussion and
analysis of the issuers financial
condition and results of operations
carried out in the three previous
fiscal years, (5) information about
77
the issuers existing securities

and securities to be issued, (6)
relevant administrative and judicial
proceedings that affect the issuer, (7)
description of operations with related
parties and underwriters for issuance
of securities, and (8) description of
operations with underwriters acting
as coordinators of the offering.
7.3. Definition of Securities
In Brazil, the concept of securities
is formal and statutorily defined.
According to the Securities Law,
securities include (1) shares,
debentures and warrants, (2)
coupons, rights, subscription
receipts and splitting certificates
related to the securities mentioned in
(1) above, (3) security certificates,
(4) debenture certificates, (5)
quotas of security investment funds
or any asset investment clubs,
(6) commercial papers, (7) future
agreements, options and other
derivatives whose underlying assets
are securities, (8) other derivatives
agreements, regardless of the
underlying assets, and (9) if publicly
offered, any negotiable instrument
or collective investment agreement
granting participation, partnership
78
or remuneration rights, including

those resulting from the provision of
services whose income derives from
the work of an entrepreneur or third
parties.
.
The following are expressly excluded
from the category of securities and
are therefore subject to the Central
Banks oversight: (1) instruments
representing federal, state and
local governments public debt and
(2) exchange instruments issued
by financial institutions, except
debentures.
7.4. Offer and Distribution of
Securities in Brazil
7.4.1. The Concept of Public Offer and
Distribution of Securities
Public offerings of securities in
Brazil are subject to the restrictions
imposed by the Securities Law. Any
such offerings are subject to prior
registration with CVM.
According to the Securities Law and
CVM Ruling n. 400 of December
29, 2003, as amended (CVM
Ruling 400), a public offering,
which is therefore subject to prior
registration with CVM, consists in

any sale, agreement, promise or
offer to sell or subscribe for and
acceptance of a sale or subscription
request for securities of a publiclyheld corporation that include any
of the following elements: (1) the
use of sale or subscription lists
or receipts (boletins de venda
ou subscrio), pamphlets,
prospectuses or advertisement
addressed to the public through
any means, (2) solicitation of
undetermined subscribers or buyers
by employees, representatives,
agents, individuals or legal entities,
whether they take part in the Brazilian
securities distribution system or
not, (3) negotiations in stores,
firms or establishments open to the
public intended for partially or fully
independent subscribers or buyers,
or (4) use of oral or written publicity,
including letters, announcements or
notices, especially through mass or
electronic communication media.
Registration with CVM is intended
to ensure adequate and accurate
disclosure of information about the
issuer and the securities offered.
However, it does not judge any risks
involved in the issuance and does not
prevent securities from being sold

by a poorly managed or unprofitable
company, for example.
CVM Ruling 400 innovated by
allowing CVM to waive registration
for an offering or for some of its
requirements (including publications,
deadlines and procedures). For
this purpose, CVM must take into
consideration (1) the category of the
publicly-held company, (2) the unit
value of the securities or the total
value of the offering, (3) the plan
for distributing the securities, (4)
whether the offering takes place in
more than one jurisdiction, (5) the
characteristics of the exchange offer,
(6) the offerings target public, or (7)
whether the offering is only intended
for qualified investors.
In addition, CVM Ruling 400 allows
publicly-held companies that have
already made a public offering to file
a securities distribution program with
CVM according to which it can make
public offerings in the future using
simpler registration and analysis
procedures. The distribution program
remains effective for a two-year
period at most and must be updated
at least once a year.
79
CVM Ruling 400 also provides for the

granting of automatic registration for
public offerings of securities issued
by well-known seasoned issuers. A
company is considered to be a wellknown seasoned issuer if it meets
all of the following requirements: (1)
its shares have been publicly traded
for at least three years, (2) it has
timely complied with its disclosure
requirements in the last 12 months
and (3) the market value of its
outstanding shares is at least R$5
billion based on the closing price of
the last day of the quarter preceding
the date on which the application for
registration is submitted to CVM.
CVM Ruling No. 471 of August 8,
2009 (CVM Ruling 471) introduced a
simplified procedure for registration
of public offerings of securities that
can be used by (1) publicly-held
companies, (2) investment funds, or
(3) foreign (or similar) companies
sponsoring Brazilian Depositary
Receipts (BDR) programs.
Applications for registration of
the first public offering of shares,
share certificates or BDRs cannot
be submitted using this simplified
procedure. Based on CVM Ruling
471, CVM and ANBIMA entered into
80
an agreement on August 20, 2008

authorizing ANBIMA to carry out
preliminary analyses and prepare
technical reports for applications for
registration of public offerings using
the simplified procedure.
In addition, CVM Ruling n. 476 of
January 16, 2009, as amended
(CVM Ruling 476), automatically
waives registration with CVM for
public offerings of commercial
papers, banking credit instruments
not issued by financial institutions,
non-convertible debentures,
quotas of closed-end investment
funds, certificates of real estate
or agribusiness receivables, and
certificates of agribusiness credit
rights, among other securities. For an
issuer to enjoy this waiver, the public
offering must be exclusively intended
for 50 qualified investors at most
and the offered securities cannot be
subscribed or acquired, as the case
may be, by more than 20 qualified
investors.
7.4.2. Registration Process
Public distribution of securities
in Brazil may only be made by
companies that are registered with
CVM as publicly-held companies.

In addition to being registered with
CVM prior to a public distribution,
securities of a company must be
admitted for trading on a stock
exchange or non-organized or
organized OTC.
7.4.3. Registration of the Issuer as a
Publicly-Held Company
According to CVM Ruling n. 480
of December 7, 2009, as amended
(CVM Ruling 480), application
for registration as a publicly-held
company must be submitted to
CVM with the following supporting
documents: (1) copy of the minute of
the shareholders meeting approving
the application for registration, (2)
copy of the minute of the board of
directors or shareholders meeting,
as the case may be, appointing the
investor relations officer, (3) copy
of the companys by-laws, (4) the
Brazilian 10-K-like form (formulrio
de referncia), (5) information form
(formulrio cadastral), (6) audited
financial statements for the last three
fiscal years, (7) audited financial
statements especially prepared for
the intended registration, if a material
change occurred in the issuers
equity structure vis--vis the latest

annual financial statements or if the
issuer was incorporated in the same
fiscal year that the application for
registration is submitted to CVM,
(8) management comments on
the differences between the latest
annual financial statements and
those prepared in accordance with
item 7 above, as the case may
be, (9) copies of the minutes of
all shareholders meetings held on
the last 12 months, (10) copies of
the shareholders agreements or
similar agreements kept in file at the
issuers head office, (11) copy of the
agreement for rendering electronic
share registry services (contrato
de prestao de servios de aes
escriturais), (12) standardized
financial statement form (formulrio
de demonstraes financeiras
padronizadas - DFP) for the last
fiscal year, (13) policy for disclosure
of information, (14) quarterly
information forms (formulrio de
informaes trimestrais ITR)
for the first three quarters of the
ongoing fiscal year, (15) copies
of the instruments formalizing the
investiture of the issuers directors
and officers, (16) policy for share
trading and (17) statements about
81
securities held by issuers directors,

officers, audit committee members
and any member of any corporate
body playing technical or advisory
roles created by the companys bylaws.
7.4.4. Requirements for Public
Distributions of Securities
Public offerings of securities, either
on the primary or on the secondary
markets, must be authorized by CVM
beforehand. For this purpose, the
leading underwriter and the offerors
must apply for registration and
submit the following documents to
CVM: (1) copy of the underwriting
agreement and of any amendment
thereto, (2) copies of the instruments
of adhesion to the underwriting
agreement, (3) copy of the price
stabilization agreement, (4) copy of
other contracts related to the offering,
(5) copy of the standard subscription
bulletin (boletim de subscrio) or
of the acquisition receipt (recibo de
aquisio), (6) copy of the draft or
final prospectus, as the case may
be, (7) copy of the minute of the
shareholders or board of directors
meeting approving the offering, (8)
copy of the announcement to the
82
market (aviso ao mercado) and of

the announcements indicating the
beginning and end of the offering
(anncio de incio and anncio
de encerramento, respectively),
(9) copy of the standard security
certificate or copy of the agreement
for rendering electronic share registry
services (contrato de prestao
de servios de aes escriturais),
as the case may be, (10) deed of
issuance of debentures and rating
reports from rating agencies, if
applicable, (11) statement that the
companys registration with CVM
as a publicly-held company is up
to date, if applicable, (12) evidence
that any other legal and regulatory
formalities were complied with,
(13) evidence that the registration
fee was paid, (14) statements of
the offerors and leading underwriter
that the information contained in
the prospectuses are true, (15)
statement of the stock exchange
or organized OTC that the issuers
securities are admitted for trading
therein, and (16) other information or
documents as required by CVM.
CVM has 20 business days as of
the filing of these documents to
either grant registration or comment
on the application package. This
20 business-day period may be
interrupted only once if CVM requires

additional information about the
application for registration. Offerors
have up to 40 business days to
comply with the requirements from
CVM, which can be extended for an
additional 20 business days and/
or interrupted for up to 60 business
days by reasoned request from the
offerors. After the offerors comply
with the requirements set by CVM,
it will either grant registration or
comment on the new application
package within 10 or 20 business
days, depending on whether the
application package was changed
only as result of CVMs requirements
or not. If CVM decides that its
requirements were not completely
met, it will grant 10 business days
for the offerors to fully comply with
them before denying registration.
7.4.5. Issuance of Depositary Receipts:
Access to Foreign Capital Markets
Brazilian wishing to access foreign
capital markets to raise funds by
issuing shares must implement
a depositary receipt program for
this purpose. Depositary Receipts
(DRs) are certificates of the
issuance of shares or of other
stock-related securities by a Brazilian
publicly-held company.
Implementation of a DR program
requires the appointment of a
depositary the foreign institution
that will issue the DRs abroad based
on the shares under custody in its
name in Brazil - and of a Brazilian
custodian, which will custody the
shares backed by the DRs.
The DR program can be sponsored
or not by a Brazilian publicly-held
corporation. The establishment and
operation of a DR program requires
prior approval from CVM and the
Central Bank. Registration with CVM
is intended to ensure the same level
of disclosure between the holders
of DRs and the holders of their
underlying shares. Registration with
the Central Bank is required to ensure
the transfer of funds from and to
Brazil.
After the DR program is registered
with CVM and the Central Bank,
shares held by Brazilians or
foreigners can be deposited with the
custodian at any time for issuance
of the corresponding DRs abroad. To
sell the investment, foreign investors
can sell the DRs abroad or request
83
their cancellation to the depositary

and sell the underlying shares in
Brazil.
7.4.6. Access to the Brazilian Market
by Foreign Companies through Security
Depositary Certificate (BDR) Programs
Foreign corporations may trade
their securities in the Brazilian stock
market through security certificates
issued by Brazilian institutions, which
will represent the securities issued
by foreign publicly-held companies
(BDRs). The establishment of BDR
programs must be approved by CVM
and the Central Bank beforehand.
BDRs may be issued either under a
three-tiered sponsored program or
under a non-sponsored program.
In either case, the issuers of the
underlying securities are subject to
the supervision of a securities and
exchange commission with similar
functions to those of CVM that
signed a cooperation agreement with
CVM in their country of origin.
7.5. Tender Offers for Acquisition of
Shares of Brazilian Companies
7.5.1.Takeovers by Tender Offer
84
Pursuant to the Corporations Act,

acquisition of the controlling stake
of a Brazilian publicly-held company
may be made in cash or through
exchange of shares. If carried out
by a share exchange transaction,
the tender offer must be previously
registered with CVM.
The tender offer must attract a
sufficient number of voting shares
to ensure control of the company
and must be intermediated and
guaranteed by a financial institution.
The notice of tender must inform,
among other things, the identity of
the acquirer, the number of shares
it intends to acquire, the price and
other payment conditions, the
procedure and other terms and
conditions of the tender offer.
While until recently the large
concentration of shares with
voting rights held by a controlling
shareholder resulted in the fact
that virtually all transfer of control
was carried out through private
transactions, a fact known as
pulverizao do controle (diffuse
share ownership) resulted from
an increase in the number of
publicly-held companies with a

shareholding structure where no
single shareholder or group of
shareholders holds the majority of
the voting capital. This fact allows for
the controlling stake of a company to
be purchased in the market through
tender offers, with no previous
negotiation with their principal
shareholders.
7.5.2. Going Private - Delisting Tender
Offer
The controlling shareholder or a
public company may, at any time,
make a tender offer for acquisition of
all voting and non-voting shares held
by other shareholders, with the aim
of delisting the corporation.
Under a delisting tender offer,
shareholders are invited to (1)
sell their shares to the controlling
shareholder or the company or (2)
express their opinion in favor of or
against the delisting.
Delisting requires acceptance of the
offer or agreement and cancellation
of the companys registration by
shareholders representing more than
2/3 of the free floating shares which,
for this purpose, are considered the

shares held by those that that have
expressly agreed to the cancellation
of the companys public registration
or have qualified to participate in the
bidding.
If, after the conclusion of the
delisting tender offer, less than 5% of
companys shares remain in the free
float, its shareholders, convened in a
shareholders meeting, can approve
the redemption of these shares at
the value offered in the tender offer,
provided that it is deposited with
a banking institution authorized by
CVM to receive such deposit.
7.5.3. Voluntary Tender Offer
A controlling shareholder of a
Brazilian publicly-held company is
required to launch a tender offer if it
acquires more than 1/3 of each type
and class of outstanding shares.
Such a tender offer requires
prior CVM approval and may be
conditioned to the acceptance of
a maximum or minimum number
of shares. The tender notice must
specify, among other things, (1) the
terms and conditions of the offer, (2)
85
whether the tender offer constitutes

a business condition for any transfer
of control and, if so, the type of
condition, (3) justification and goals
of the offer and (4) whether the
controlling shareholder intends to
delist the company.
Furthermore, if the controlling
shareholder makes a new purchase
offer within two years at a higher
price than then the one paid to those
who accepted the initial offer, these
earlier sellers must be reimbursed for
the balance of the prices between the
first and second tender offers.
If within one year of the tender
offer any event leading to exercise
of the withdrawal right occurs, the
shareholders who sold their shares
in the tender offer but would have
the right to withdrawal if they had not
sold their shares will be entitled to
any positive difference between the
withdrawal price and the price paid at
the time of acceptance of the offer.
If the purpose of the offer is
acquiring more than 1/3 of the free
float or results in the acquisition of
more than 1/3 of the free float, the
established rules for delisting tender
86
offers must be complied with.

7.6 - Investor Protection Rules
7.6.1. Disclosure by Public Companies
Public companies must publish
quarterly financial statements
(formulrio de informaes
trimestrais ITR) and standardized
annual financial statements
(formulrio de demonstraes
financeira padronizadas - DFP).
The ITR must be accompanied by
a special review report prepared by
independent auditors and the DFP
must be the object of a full audit.
In addition, pursuant to CVM Ruling
480, the information form (formulrio
cadastral) must be kept up-to-date
always. A public company must
submit an updated version of this
form to CVM within up to seven
business days after the occurrence
of a fact leading to a change in
its information form (formulrio
cadastral). The Brazilian 10-K-like
form (formulrio de referncia)
must be (1) submitted within up to
five months after the end of each
fiscal year, (2) updated together with
a registration for a public offering
or (3) updated within up to seven

business days after certain situations
occur, such as (a) replacement of
directors, officers or member of
audit committee of the issuer, (b)
issuance of new securities, even if
privately subscribed, (c) changes
in the direct or indirect controlling
shareholders, (d) variations in
shareholding positions equal to or
higher than 5% of the same type or
class of the issuers shares, and (e)
consolidation, share consolidation,
merger or spin-off involving the
issuer.
Public companies must also publish
announcements of events that can
materially affect trading in their
securities.
7.6.2. Disclosure by Shareholders of
Public Companies
Any shareholder, including direct
or indirect controlling shareholders
and shareholders with powers to
elect directors and members of
the audit committee, must notify a
public company whenever there is
a 5% increase or reduction in their
holdings of any type or class of the
companys shares. Such notice
must contain information about the

number of shares purchased or
sold, price at which the securities
were acquired or sold, reasons and
objectives related to the acquisition
and a statement by the purchaser
regarding the existence of any
agreement related to the exercise
of voting right or to the transfer of
securities issued by the company.
The investor relations officer of a
public company is responsible for
conveying such information to CVM
and stock exchanges or organized
OTC entities where the securities
of the company are admitted for
trading.
7.6.3. Market Manipulation and other
Fraudulent Practices in the Securities
Market
CVM also works to prevent the
following situations from occurring
in the securities market: (1) market
manipulation, (2) creation of artificial
demand, supply or price conditions,
(3) adoption of unfair practices, and
(4) fraudulent transactions.
Price manipulation results from use
of any process or means to, directly
or indirectly, increase, maintain or
87
decrease security prices, inducing

the market to buy or sell such
securities.
Artificial demand, supply, or price
conditions in the securities market
are those created by transactions
whose participants or brokers, by
willful misconduct or omission,
directly or indirectly alter the flow of
purchase and sales orders.
Fraudulent transactions in the
securities market are those where
any mechanism or device intended
to mislead third parties is used with
the aim of achieving illicit economic
advantages for the parties involved in
the transaction or for any other party.
Unfair practices are those resulting
in one party obtaining an unfair
dominant position vis--vis other
market participants in the trading
with securities.
Breach of such rules is deemed
to be a serious offense under
CVM regulations and may result
in administrative sanctions.
Furthermore, an investor harmed
by such unlawful conduct may
claim compensation for losses and
damages.
88
7.6.4. Insider Trading

Insiders are defined as controlling
shareholders, officers, directors,
audit committee members and any
member of any corporate body
playing either technical or advisory
roles created by the companys bylaws. Pursuant to CVM rules, insiders
cannot use information relating to
a material act or fact to which they
had privileged access due to their
position to secure any advantage for
themselves or other persons through
the trading of securities.
Although not defined as insiders,
the following individuals and entities
are subject to the same restrictions:
brokers, dealers and other members
of the distribution system and any
other person who, due to his or her
position or function or for any other
reason, has knowledge of material
information prior to its disclosure to
the market. Family relationships are
taken into account in determining
insider status.
Insider trading is also regarded
as a serious offense under CVM
regulations and perpetrators
are subject to severe penalties.
Furthermore, investors harmed by

insider trading in the purchase or sale
of securities can claim compensation
for losses and damages.
7.7. Money Laundering Law
Law No. 9613, as of March 3, 1998,
as amended (Money Laundering
Law), provides for criminal offenses
related to money laundering or
concealment of assets, rights and
valuables.
The Money Laundering Law
imposes several obligations on legal
entities in the securities industry,
including stock and commodities
exchanges, organized OTCs, banks,
brokers, dealers, asset management
companies, branches and
representatives of foreign financial
institutions.
The obligations imposed on these
individuals and entities by the Money
Laundering Law include those of
(1) identifying all of their clients and
keeping data on them, (2) keeping
on file all transactions carried out
by these clients that exceed certain
established limits, (3) complying with
all requests from the Council for the
Control of Financial Activities (COAF),

as determined by the relevant courts,
and (4) developing and implementing
internal control systems to monitor
and detect transactions that may
constitute money laundering, such
as operations involving amounts
that are not consistent with the
financial status of the parties,
trades that repeatedly cause losses
or profits to one of the involved
parties and negotiations involving
amounts substantially above market
conditions.
7.8. Civil Remedies
7.8.1. Securities sold in violation of
the registration and/or prospectus
requirements
Where an investor has purchased
a security sold in violation of the
registration and/or prospectus
requirements set out in the Securities
Law, the following remedies are
available (1) action for recovering
damages based on Law n. 7,193
of December 7, 1989, which may
be brought, ex officio, by the Public
Prosecutors Office or upon CVMs
request, and (2) action for recovering
damages based on Article 186 of the
89
Brazilian Civil Code, which can be

brought by a person harmed by any
action or inaction on the part of an
individual or company.
Investors may also claim damages
against anyone engaged in fraudulent
transactions or those involving
artificial conditions of demand,
price manipulation, or other unfair
practices.
Derivative action for misleading
information or omissions may
be brought against the managers
(directors and officers) of the issuer
based on Articles 155 and 157 of the
Corporations Act. Any shareholder
can initiate a derivative action if the
board remains inactive for more than
three months after a decision made
by the meeting of shareholders.
Shareholders representing 5% or
more of the companys capital may
initiate a derivative action, regardless
of any decision to the contrary by the
shareholders meeting.
Any investor can also sue issuers,
underwriters and intermediaries,
provided that their collusion in the
act which caused damage can be
proven.
90
7.8.2. Insider Trading

Where an investor has been harmed
by insider trading in the purchase or
sale of securities, remedy is available
through action based on CVM Ruling
8 and Articles 147, 182 and 186 of
the Civil Code.
7.8.3. Fraudulent Brokerage Activities
and Handling of Brokerage Accounts
7.8.3.1. Excessive or Unfair Profits or
Commission
Where an investor has been injured
by fraudulent brokerage practices in
the purchase or sale of securities as
a result of excessive or unfair profits
or commissions, remedies available
include action for injuries based
on Article 186 of the Civil Code or
Articles 18 et. seq. of the Brazilian
Consumer Protection Code.
7.8.3.2. Operating While Insolvent or
Not in Sound Financial Condition and
Other Losses Caused by Intermediaries
If an investor is injured by a
broker operating while insolvent
or otherwise financially unsound,
remedies available include ordinary
action under Article 186 of the Civil

Code.
7.8.6. Procedural Requirements

7.8.6.1. Jurisdiction
7.8.4. Class Actions

Class actions in Brazil are restricted
to environmental and certain other
specific issues and do not apply
to issues relating to securities.
However, the Public Prosecutors
Office may bring action on behalf of
and for the benefit of investors under
Law n. 7,913/89 of December 7,
1989.
State courts generally have

jurisdiction over civil suits and thus
over remedy for securities violations.
7.8.6.2. Venue
In general, courts in the domicile of
the defendant are competent to hear
any case based on the Securities
Law.
7.8.5. Waiver of Rights
7.8.6.3. Statute of Limitations
Investors acquiring a security may,

in principle, waive their rights under
the Securities Laws, rules, and
regulations. However, such waivers
may be disregarded by a judge if
not duly communicated to investors
or if such waiver is deemed to be
in breach of fundamental investor
protection principles. Consumer
protection provisions are considered
to be a matter of public order and,
accordingly, cannot be waived.
For the same reasons, private
agreements do not preclude action
brought by CVM or by any stock
exchange.
Under Article 205 of the Brazilian

Civil Code an action is subject, in
general, to a 10year statute of
limitation.
91
8 - TAX SYSTEM
8.1. General Features
8.1.1. The Brazilian Federal
Constitution, promulgated on October
5, 1988, confers powers to the
Union, the States, and Municipalities
to levy taxation.
8.1.2. Taxation in Brazil may take the
form of taxes, fees, betterment fees,
other contributions, and compulsory
loans. Taxes may be levied by
the three levels of government,
according to their specific
competence, as provided for in the
Constitution.
8.1.3. Fees collected at the three
levels of government are used
to fund services such as law
enforcement and to finance the
actual or potential use of other
specific and divisible public services
provided or made available to
taxpayers.
8.1.4. Betterment fees, which
are still not very much used, are
collected from owners of real
estate for improvements to their
assets resulting from public civil
construction projects.
8.1.5. The following contributions

can only be collected by the
federal administration: (a) social
contributions (payroll charges); (b)
contributions to intervene in the
economic domain, (c) contributions
in the interest of professional
or economic categories and (d)
contributions to finance social
security.
8.1.6. Compulsory loans can
only be instituted by the federal
administration to defray urgent
public investment of relevant national
interest or cover extraordinary
expenses resulting from public
calamity or war abroad.
8.1.7. Unless otherwise expressly
provided for in the Constitution,
some fundamental constitutional
rules must be complied with for
establishing and collecting taxes,
among which the following ones
deserve special mention:
The principle of legality (according
to which taxation may only be levied
or increased by law passed by the
National Congress);
93
The rule of equality (according

to which taxpayers in equivalent
situations must receive identical tax
treatment);
is subject to taxation in Brazil,

regardless of its source (whether in
Brazil or abroad).
8.2.2. Personal Income Tax (IRPF)
The principle of non-retroactivity

(according to which taxation
cannot be levied based on facts
that occurred prior to entering into
force of the law that created a new
tax or which increased rates or the
calculation basis of an existing one);
The principle of precedence
(according to which taxes cannot be
collected in the same fiscal year in
which the law that created them or
increased their rates was published,
nor prior to ninety days of said
publication. Contributions, on the
other hand, can be collected in the
same fiscal year, but must comply
with the ninety-day deadline);
The principle of non-confiscation
(according to which taxes cannot be
confiscatory).
8.2. Federal Taxes
8.2.1. Brazilian residents are
subject to taxation on a universal
basis, that is, all their income
94
Income earned by resident

individuals from domestic legal
entities is generally subject to
withholding income tax at a
progressive rate ranging from 0% to
27.5%, depending on the amount of
income received.
Income received from foreign
entities (and from resident or nonresident individuals) is subject to
income tax under a system known as
carn-leo, according to which the
tax is calculated and paid monthly
by the individuals themselves on the
basis of the same progressive rates
mentioned above.
Capital gains obtained by resident
individuals on the transfer or disposal
of any rights and assets are generally
subject to income taxation in Brazil
at a 15% flat rate, regardless of
whether such right or asset is located
in Brazil or abroad. Gains obtained
by non-resident individuals are only
subject to taxation in Brazil if derived
from the transfer of rights or assets

located in Brazil. If a non-resident
individual acquires residency status,
gains derived from rights and assets
he or she acquired as a non-resident
are only subject to taxation in Brazil
if such rights and assets are located
in Brazil, that is, gains obtained by
resident individuals on the sale of
rights or assets located abroad that
were acquired while such individual
was a non-resident are exempt from
taxation in Brazil.
8.2.3. Corporate Income Tax (IRPJ)
Brazilian legal entities can
apply three methods to verify the
calculation basis of the Corporate
Income Tax, namely, real profit,
presumed profit and arbitrated profit.
The choice of the real profit
or presumed profit method is
discretionary, but the real profit
method is mandatory for legal
entities (i) whose total annual
revenues in the preceding year
exceed R$48,000,000.00; (ii) which
earn income or gains obtained
abroad through foreign branches
and/or representative offices (income
derived from exports of services
or goods are not deemed to have

been obtained abroad); (iii) which
are financial or similar institutions;
(iv) which are engaged in factoring
activities; or (v) which are entitled to
specific tax benefits and exemptions.
In the real profit method, the tax is
calculated on an annual or quarterly
basis on profits before taxes, duly
adjusted in accordance with the
provisions of the applicable tax law.
Any tax losses incurred in the tax
period may be carried forward and
offset against taxable income earned
in subsequent periods, up to a limit
of 30% of the taxable profit in each
subsequent period.
If the legal entity opts for payment
based on yearly profits, said profits
will be calculated from the profitand-loss statement drawn up in
December, covering the results
for the entire calendar year, but
the tax must be pre-paid monthly.
The monthly pre-payment may be
reduced or suspended if the taxpayer
submits accounting evidence that
the pre-paid value p to that month
exceeds the tax value calculated on
the basis of real profit.
95
Entities that opt for the real profit

method are subject to Corporate
Income Tax at a rate of 15%, plus
a 10% additional rate on income
exceeding R$20,000.00 a month.
that can provide an estimate of the

companys profits.
Under the presumed profit regime,

the tax is calculated on a quarterly
basis at the same rates applied under
the real profit method (mentioned
above) over a profit margin
calculated through the application of
a percentage of the gross revenue
of the legal entity, without any
adjustment or deduction. Such
percentage varies according to the
taxpayers activities. The presumed
profit percentage may range from 8%
(trade/industrial operations) to 32%
(service providers).
Under the simplified and unified

taxation regime known as SIMPLES,
the amount of all taxes is determined
by applying a single rate to the
entitys gross revenue. This rate
varies according to the gross
revenue and the nature of the entitys
business activity.
The arbitrated profit basis is only

applied in exceptional cases, such
as when the tax authority detects
signs of fraud or for some reason
(such as fire and robbery of taxrelated records or documents) the
company cannot submit its income
tax returns to the tax authority.
According to this method, profits are
arbitrated considering all information
about sales, bank operations, etc.,
and information from other sources
96
8.3.4. Simplified Taxation Regime

SIMPLES
Because of its simplicity, the

simple taxation regime is seen
as sort of a tax incentive. For this
reason, legal entities must comply
with several strict requirements to
qualify for it, mainly the following
ones: (i) their annual gross revenue
must be less than R$2,400,000.00;
(ii) they cannot be incorporated
as a corporation (limited liability
companies can benefit from the
regime); (iii) only natural persons
can hold their quotas (no legal
entities can be quotaholders); (iv)
none of their quotaholders can be
domiciled abroad; (v) none of their
quotaholders can hold quotas of
another entity also benefiting from
the SIMPLES regime if the total

revenue of both of them exceeds
the R$2,400,000.00 limit; (vi) they
cannot operate interstate or intercity
passenger transportation or provide
services of an intellectual, scientific
or artistic nature, etc.
8.2.5. Tax on Industrialized Products
(IPI)
The tax on industrialized
goods (Imposto sobre Produtos
Industrializados IPI) is levied on
output and imports of industrialized
goods and it is a non-cumulative
tax, meaning that the amount of
tax due may be offset by credits
arising from the purchase of raw
materials, intermediary products,
and packaging materials. However,
no credits are granted for goods
that become fixed assets. Rates
are assessed on the value of
manufactured goods as they are
imported or output from domestic
plants, and they vary according to
the nature of goods. The average
rate is 10%, which may be raised or
lowered by the tax authority. Export
goods are exempted from IPI.
8.2.6. Import Tax (II)

The Import Tax is levied on imports
of goods into the Brazilian territory.
Its rates vary according to the nature
of the goods and their classification
under the Mercosur Common
Nomenclature (NMC), but it usually
ranges from 0% to 35%. The Import
Tax is not a recoverable tax.
8.2.7. Export Tax
8.2.8. Tax on Financial Transactions
(IOF)
The IOF is a tax on credit,
foreign exchange and insurance
transactions and on transactions with
securities. Its rates range from 0%
to 25% and it can be waived under
certain circumstances according
to monetary and foreign exchange
objectives and to fiscal policies.
8.2.9. Rural Property Tax (ITR)
The ITR is an annual tax levied
on ownership of rural real estate
property. ITR rates range from 0.03%
to 20%, depending on the region and
on the propertys productivity.
97
8.2.10. Tax on Large Fortunes

(Imposto sobre Grandes Fortunas
IGF)
The IGF) has not been instituted
yet. There are great uncertainties
among tax specialists around the
standard that should be adopted to
define the concept of large fortunes.
8.3. State and Federal District
Taxes
8.3.1. Value-added tax (Imposto sobre
Circulao de Mercadoria e Servios
- ICMS)
The ICMS is the main state-level
tax and it is due on operations
involving circulation of goods
(including manufacturing, marketing,
and imports) and on interstate
and inter-municipal transportation
and communications services.
It is non-cumulative, and thus
tax due may be offset by credits
arising from the purchase of raw
and packaging materials. Tax credits
for goods destined to become fixed
assets can be accepted, subject to
certain restrictions. The ICMS is not
levied on exports.
98
8.3.2. Inheritance and Gifts Tax

(Impostosobre Transmisso Causa
Mortis e por Doao, de Quaisquer
Bens e Direitos - ITCMD)
The ITCMD is a state-level tax
levied on the assignment of real
property, credits, shares, quotas,
equity, securities and other assets
of any nature, as well as of rights
related thereto, by way of donation or
inheritance. ITCMD rates range from
0% to 8% of the fair market value of
the assigned asset or right.
8.3.3. Tax on the Ownership of
Automotive Vehicles (Imposto sobre a
Propriedade de Veculos Automotores
- IPVA)
The IPVA is a tax assessed
annually on the ownership
of automotive vehicles and
motorcycles.
8.4. Municipal Taxes
8.4.1. Service Tax (Imposto sobre
Servios - ISS)
The ISS is a municipal tax levied
on the provision of services. The
services to which the ISS applies
are listed in a Complementary

Law. ISS rates range from 2% to
5%, depending on the domicile of
the company providing a taxable
service and the type of service
being provided. The ISS is usually
levied by the municipality in which
the company providing a service is
established, but in some cases it is
levied by the municipality in which
the service is provided.
8.4.2. Property Transfer Tax
(Impostosobre Transmisso de Bens
Imveis - ITBI);
The ITBI is a municipal tax levied
on transfers of ownership of Brazilian
real property and rights related
thereto. The basis for calculating
it is the value of the transaction or
the market value appraised by the
Municipality, whichever is higher.
Municipalities are allowed to appraise
and update the real estate value
through market research.
Usually, the ITBI is not levied on
transfer of property resulting from a
contribution to capital or corporate
reorganization. Notwithstanding,
transfers of property or related
rights by incorporation to capital
contribution of a legal entity is

subject to the ITBI tax if the business
purpose of the transferee involves
purchase and sale or lease of real
property.
8.4.3. Urban Property Tax (Imposto
Predial e Territorial Urbano - IPTU);
The IPTU is levied on an annual
basis. The IPTU tax basis is the
market value of the real property.
If the real property does not fulfill
the basic requirements of having
a social purpose as set forth in
the Municipalitys program, the tax
authorities may apply a higher rate.
8.5. Contributions
8.5.1. Social Contribution on Net Profits
(CSL)
The CSL is levied on profits
before income tax ascertained in
accordance with commercial law,
adjusted as set forth in the law.
CSLs rate for non-financial entities
is currently is 9% (15% for financial
entities). Entities which opt for the
presumed method are subject to a
presumed basis of 12% or 32%.
99
8.5.2. Contribution for Social

Security Financing (COFINS) and
Contribution to the Social Integration
Program (PIS)
PIS and COFINS are contributions
levied monthly on gross revenue
earned by legal entities. There are
two regimes for PIS and COFINS. In
general, companies that chose the
presumed profit method are subject
to the cumulative regime of PIS and
COFINS, while those opting for the
real profit method are subject to the
non-cumulative PIS and COFINS
regime.
With few exceptions, under the
cumulative regime, PIS and COFINS
are applied at a combined rate of
3.65% on revenues from sales
and services, while under the noncumulative regime, PIS and COFINS
are applied at a combined rate of
9.25% on gross revenues.
The law regulating the noncumulative regime of PIS and COFINS
is very detailed. For the purposes of
this Guide, it suffices to mention that
the following items can be used as
credits against PIS and COFINS: (ii)
assets acquired for resale; (ii) assets
100 Calendrio Brasileiro de Exposies e Feiras 2012
and services used in rendering

services or in production goods
and products for sale, including fuel
and lubricants; (iii) electricity used
by facilities of legal entities; (iv)
lease of buildings, machinery and
equipments paid by legal entities
(lease paid by individuals do not
generate PIS and COFINS credits);
(v) machinery, equipment and other
assets incorporated into fixed assets
to be used in providing services or in
production goods and products for
sale; (vi) buildings and improvements
on real estate owned by the taxpayer
or used by third parties in the
taxpayers activities; (vii) returned
goods and assets, provided that
the correspondent sale revenue
was taxed in previous months; (viii)
storage and freight paid for sales,
provided that such expenses were
borne by the seller.
PIS and COFINS are also levied
on imports of goods and services
at a combined rate of 9.25%, with
few exceptions. The amount paid
is usually recoverable as input tax
credit if the taxpayer has opted for
the non-cumulative regime.
8.5.3. Contributions on corporate

payroll
In general, the payroll of Brazilian
enterprises is subject to the following
contributions: Social Security
Contribution (INSS) at a rate of
20%; Contribution to the Social
Service of Commerce (SESC) at
a rate of 1.5%, Contribution to the
Brazilian Micro and Small Business
Support Service (SEBRAE) at a
rate of 0.2%, Contribution to the
National Institute for Colonization and
Agrarian Reform (INCRA) at a rate
of 1%, Contribution to the National
Industrial Apprenticeship Service
(SENAI) at a rate of 1%, Payrollbased Contribution to Education (SE)
at a rate of 2.5%, and Contribution
for Work Accidents (RAT), the rates
of which range from 1% to 3% (that
is, payroll-based taxes are levied at a
combined rate of 26.8%-28.6%).
8.6. Foreign Investors
8.6.1. Taxes on the income of foreign
investors in Brazil depend on the
regime adopted for registering their
investments with BACEN.
8.6.2. Two regimes are available for
foreign investments in enterprises

in Brazil, namely: (i) under Law
n. 4,131/62, as Foreign Direct
Investment by means of direct
acquisition of equity interest (4,131
Regime); or (ii) under BACENs
Resolution n. 2,689/00, as portfolio
investment.
8.6.3. In Brazil, foreign investors are
usually taxed at the source of income
through withholding. In general,
foreign investors must comply with
the following rules:
8.6.4. Tax Haven Jurisdiction
Law n. 11,727/08 introduced a
new concept of tax haven in the
Brazilian legislation, recognizing
the difference between Favorable
Tax Jurisdictions and Privileged Tax
Regimes.
On June 7, 2010, the Brazilian
Internal Revenue Service (Receita
Federal) issued two separate lists:
(i) the first one lists countries and
dependent territories/areas that do
not tax income or tax it at a rate of
less than 20% at most or whose law
does not grant access to information
about the corporate structure of
Calendrio Brasileiro de Exposies e Feiras 2012 101
legal entities or their ownership (also

known as the Black List); and (ii)
the second one lists regimes that are
considered Privileged Tax Regimes
under Brazilian law (also known as
the Grey List).
According to Brazilian tax rules,
the following jurisdictions fall under
the classification of Favorable Tax
Jurisdictions: Andorra, Anguilla,
Antigua and Barbuda, Dutch
Antilles, Aruba, Ascension Island,
Commonwealth of the Bahamas,
Bahrain, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda,
Brunei, Campione DItalia, Channel
Islands (Alderney, Guernsey,
Jersey and Sark), Cayman Islands,
Cyprus, Singapore, Cook Islands,
Republic of Costa Rica, Djibouti,
Dominica, United Arab Emirates,
Gibraltar, Grenada, Hong Kong,
Kiribati, Lebuan, Lebanon, Liberia,
Liechtenstein, Macau, Madeira,
Maldives, Isle of Man , Marshall
Islands, Mauritius, Monaco,
Montserrat Islands, Nauru, Niue
Island, Norfolk Island, Panama,
Pitcairn Island, French Polynesia;
Queshm Island, American Samoa,
Western Samoa, San Marino,
Saint Helena Island, St Lucia, the
Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Island of Saints Peter and Miquelon;
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,

Seychelles, Solomon Islands,
St. Kitts and Nevis, Swaziland,
Switzerland (currently suspended
from the list by ADE RFB n.11/10),
Sultanate of Oman, Tonga, Tristo
da Cunha, Turks and Caicos Islands,
Vanuatu, American Virgin Islands,
British Virgin Islands.
According to Brazilian tax rules,
the following jurisdictions fall under
the classification of Privileged
Tax Regimes: Holding companies
incorporated under Danish law with no
substantial economic activity; Holding
companies incorporated under Dutch
law with no substantial economic
activity (currently suspended from the
list by ADE RFB n.10/10); International
trading companies incorporated under
Icelandic law; Offshore companies
incorporated under Hungarian law;
LLCs settled under U.S. state law, held
by non-residents and not subject to
federal income tax in the U.S.; Entidad
de Tenencia de Valores Extranjeros
incorporated under Spanish law
(currently suspended from the list
by ADE RFB n. 22/10); International
trading companies (ITC) and
international holding companies (IHC)
incorporated under Maltese law.
8.6.5. Capital gains

Capital gains realized by nonresidents on investments registered
with the Brazilian Central Bank are
subject to a 15% withholding income
tax rate or 25% if the beneficiary is
resident or domiciled in black-listed
jurisdictions.
8.6.6. Dividends
Dividends based on profits
ascertained as of January 1, 1996
paid out or credited by corporations
are no longer subject to income tax
(either at the source or as part of
the taxpayers return), whether paid
out to individuals or corporations
domiciled in Brazil or abroad.
8.6.7. Interest
Interest paid to nonresidents is
subject to withholding income tax
at a rate of 15%, or of 25% if the
beneficiary is resident or domiciled in
black-listed jurisdictions.
8.6.8. Interest on Net Equity (JCP)
JCP is subject to withholding
income tax at the rate of 15%, or of
25% if the beneficiary is resident or
domiciled in black-listed jurisdictions.

Differently to what occurs with the
amounts paid as dividends, JCP paid
or credited are deductible expenses
in the calculation of taxable income
of the paying company.
8.6.9. Treaties to Avoid Double Taxation
Brazil is signatory of several
bilateral tax conventions to avoid
double taxation of income and capital
which in principle follow (though
with some important deviations)
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
model convention.
Brazil has conventions to avoid
double taxation of income and capital
in force with the following countries:
Argentina; Austria; Belgium; Canada;
Chile; China; Czech Republic;
Denmark; Ecuador; Finland; France;
Hungary; India; Israel; Italy; Japan;
Korea (South); Luxembourg;
Mexico; Netherlands; Norway; Peru;
Philippines; Portugal; Slovakia; South
Africa; Spain; Sweden; and Ukraine.
8.6.10. Transfer Pricing
As of January 1, 1997 a number
of rules were introduced in income
tax law to regulate transfer pricing

in deals carried out by resident
individuals or corporations with
non-resident parties regarding
importation and exportation, and
payment of interest abroad. These
rules apply to deals involving the
following situations: (i) a domiciled
corporation that carries out business
with non-domiciled related parties;
(ii) a domiciled corporation which
carries out business with a related or
unrelated party domiciled in blacklisted jurisdictions or under Privileged
Tax Regimes.
8.6.11. Thin Capitalization
Under Brazilian thin capitalization
rules, interest paid to related parties,
domiciled or incorporated abroad,
may be deductible on an accrual
basis for Corporate Income Tax
only if (i) indebtedness does not
exceed twice the amount of their
participation in the net equity of the
Brazilian entity, considering each
debt separately or all combined; and
(ii) indebtedness with individuals or
legal entities resident or domiciled
in favorable taxation jurisdictions
or under privileged tax regime does
not exceed thirty per cent of the
net equity of the Brazilian entity,
considering each debt separately or

all combined.
8.6.12. Financial and Capital Market
Non-residents that invest in
Brazilian financial and capital market
under the 2,689 Regime are subject
to a more favorable tax treatment:
(i) income arising from swaps,
investment funds and non-deliverable
forward agreements effected outside
the Brazilian stock exchange are
subject to taxation at a flat rate of
10%; (i) fixed income investment
and income arising from financial
transactions carried out outside
the Brazilian stock exchange are
subject to a 15% rate; and (iii) capital
gains derived in stock exchanges,
commodity exchanges, futures
exchanges and others alike are
exempt from taxation.
Brazilian law prevents the abovementioned more favorable tax
treatment from applying to foreign
investors residing or domiciled in
black-listed jurisdictions.
9 - ANTI-TRUST LEGISLATION
Law 4,137 of September 10, 1962
introduced antitrust legislation
largely based on the U.S. regulatory
model. However, it can be said that
owing to lack of interest on the
part of the Government and of the
authorities responsible for instituting
and enforcing the law, for almost
30 years Brazils antitrust system
remained virtually inoperative.
Since the 1990s, however, with the
passage of Law 8,002 and Law
8,158, new impetus was given
to combating crimes against the
economic order, to protecting free
competition, and to defending
consumers rights. This renewed
interest in ensuring fair market
conditions led to the passage of
Law 8,884 of June 11, 1994, which
brought Brazils antitrust legislation
into force.
The Administrative Council for
Economic Defense (CADE),
established in 1962, became an
independent government agency
linked to the Ministry of Justice and
was granted broad administrative
enforcement powers under Law
9,884 to protect the public and
the constitutional order. CADE

retains title to legal goods under
its protection, exercised on behalf
of the community, and in this role
it is assisted by the Secretariat
for Economic Law (SDE) and the
Secretariat for Economic Monitoring
(SEAE). Its jurisdiction may extend
to acts performed abroad that may
have consequences in Brazil. The
law regards as a company domiciled
in Brazil any foreign corporation
with a subsidiary, branch, agency,
office, representative or the like in
Brazil (article 2, 1st, as amended
by Law 10,149 of December 21,
2000, which amended Law 8,884).
Moreover, under 2nd of the same
article, foreign companies shall
receive notification and summonses
pertaining to all procedural acts,
regardless of any power of attorney,
contractual or statutory provisions, in
the name of the person responsible
for its branch, agency, subsidiary, or
other establishment in Brazil.
Prior to stipulating offenses against
the current economic order, Law
8,884/94 clearly provides for the
authorities jurisdiction over any
and all individuals and corporate
entities, public or private companies,

organizations and joint ventures,
including those of a temporary
nature or without legal personality.
The antitrust law also specifies
the individual liability of corporate
officers and managers, severally
or jointly with the company itself.
Moreover, Section 18 specifies,
under limited circumstances,
conditions in which stockholders can
be held personally responsible for
corporate liabilities.
The acts considered breaches of
the economic order prohibited by
antitrust law include efforts: to
limit or impair free competition;
to control any relevant market for
goods and services; to increase
profits arbitrarily; or abusive exercise
of economic power. Furthermore,
also forbidden under the rules
currently in force are: any price fixing
agreements among competitors;
market sharing covenants; imposition
of obstacles to market entry;
dumping; withholding of goods
with a view to forcing prices up;
and fixing of excessive prices. The
law lists no less than twenty-four
different infractions to be carefully
considered. Penalties can be severe,
depending upon the gravity of the

offence, the number of times it has
occurred, and the economic status
of the perpetrator. Penalties may be
of the order of 30% of the companys
total gross sales in the preceding
fiscal year, and may also entail a
fine to be paid by the manager as
an individual, ranging from 10% to
50% of that sum which, in the event
of recurrence, may be doubled.
Furthermore, it provides for other
penalties, such as prohibition on
conducting business, contracting, or
obtaining benefits from government
bodies.
Unjustified failure of a defendant
or third party to comply with a
summons to provide oral testimony
in the course of preliminary
investigations or administrative
proceedings may result in a fine
ranging from R$ 500.00 (five
hundred reals) to R$ 10,700.00,
(ten thousand, seven hundred
reals), taking into consideration
his financial status (article 26, 5,
of Law 10,149/2000). Moreover,
the defendant may be subject to a
penalty ranging from R$ 21,200.00
(twenty-one thousand, two hundred
reals) to R$ 425,700.00 (four
hundred and twenty-five thousand,

seven hundred reals), taking into
consideration his financial status,
in the event that he impedes,
obstructs, or in any other way
hampers any investigation, be it
under administrative proceedings or
the preliminary phase thereof (article
26-A, Law 10,149/2000)
Under an innovation introduced by
Law 10.149/2000 relating to the
above-mentioned penalties, there
is a possibility of plea bargain with
the authorities, in the event that
individuals or corporations involved
in violations against the economic
order decide to collaborate with
investigators in the administrative
proceedings, in which case they
may be spared punitive action by the
public authorities, or obtain a lesser
penalty, ranging from one to twothirds of the applicable fine (article
35-B).
It should also be noted that CADE,
SDE and SEAE proceedings may be
opened based on third-party claims.
There is no appeal against CADE
rulings in the administrative sphere,
and any party that feels aggrieved
can only seek redress in the courts.
Under Law 8.884/94 parties

are obliged to seek prior CADE
approval for agreements that may
hinder free competition or result in
market dominance. In such cases
(in accordance with article 54)
requests must be submitted prior
to completion of the transaction, or
within 15 business days thereof.
As of January 1, 2001, the fee
for filing such requests is R$
45,000.00 (forty-five thousand
reals). Prior approval from CADE
is usually preferable, given that
the complexities and untoward
consequences of an unfavorable a
posteriori ruling may even invalidate
the agreement or actions already
implemented thereunder.
It should also be mentioned at
this point that, according to article
54, acts that may damage free
competition or result in market
dominance, and thus require CADE
approval, include: mergers of
companies or groups of companies,
resulting in a market share of over
twenty percent, or in which any of
the participants has reported annual
gross billings of R$ 400,000,000.00
(four hundred million reals) in its
last balance sheet. However, CADE
Digest 1, published in the Official

Gazette (DOU) on October 18, 2005,
finds that the criteria established
in the aforementioned article 54
apply only to annual gross billings in
Brazil, of the parties involved in the
operation submitted for approval.
This finding is important, in that it
has significantly reduced the number
of submissions to CADE just based
on the fact that one of the companies
involved in the operation had foreign
annual gross billings amounting to
R$ 400,000,000.00 (four hundred
million reals) or more.
For the purposes of approval

processes prior to or after the
transactions mentioned in article
54 are completed, on August 19,
1998 CADE issued Resolution no.
15 (which was partially revoked by
Resolution n. 45, dated March 28,
2007), which details the information
and documents required to be
attached to an application. The list of
required data is very comprehensive
and may present some difficulties
to the submitting party, since some
documents refer to international
levels.
It is important to note that article

54 clearly states that mergers may
be approved, provided they meet
certain objectives and legal criteria
(productivity, quality, and technology
gains, no direct damage to current
competition and, above all, clear
benefits for consumers resulting
from lower prices). It should also
be observed that, in certain cases,
CADE may condition its approval of a
merger, when it is legal and possible,
to the signing of a performance
commitment by the parties for the
fulfillment of certain goals, on pain of
penalties for non-compliance.
In its final section, Law 8,884/94

even foresees circumstances in
which state intervention may be
imposed by means of a judicial order
or of a court-appointed interventor.
A Bill drawn up to amend Law no.

8,884 (Bill no. 3,937) is being
reviewed at the Brazilian Congress
and it is expected to be passed
before 2011 is over. It proposes
provisions such as the inclusion of
commercial practices in the list of
potential violations of the economic
order; elimination of the possibility
of CADE changing the percentage of
20% as a criterion for presumption
of dominance in a given economic

sector; adjustments in the amount of
applicable fines; and prior notification
of mergers (for prior analysis),
replacing the currently accepted
practice of reporting such operations
within 15 working days of their
completion.
10 - LABOR LAW IN BRAZIL

Labor Law in Brazil was strongly
influenced by developments and
trends in Europe resulting from
efforts made by various countries to
codify laws to protect workers and,
particularly, by Brazils commitments
to the International Labour
Organization. These influences,
alongside significant domestic
factors, including labor policies
adopted by the Brazilian Government
and burgeoning industrialization,
triggered the establishment of a body
of laws.
The Consolidated Brazilian Labor
Laws (Consolidao das Leis do
Trabalho CLT) only came into effect
in 1943, harmonizing the sparse
laws that existed then and including
provisions drawn up by the jurists
who drafted the CLT.
The CLT is the main legal instrument
governing labor relations in Brazil and
it contains more than 900 articles.
The chapters of the CLT encompass
the following rules:
Special Standards for Protection of

Labor:
- identification of the position or role
of workers;
- working hours, minimum wage and
annual vacations;
- occupational safety and health;
Special Standards for Protection of
Labor:
- special provisions on working
hours and conditions;
- nationalization of labor;
- protection for female and child
workers;
Rules for individual employment
contracts;
Rules for unions:
- establishment of unions, legal
framework for unions and union fees;
Rules for collective bargaining
agreements;
The CLT also provides for all the
rules applicable to the Brazilian labor
court system and related agencies
and those applicable to labor
proceedings.
111
Although the CLT was enacted in

1943, the Brazilian legal system has
been modernized over the years and
several laws were passed since then
to provide for important issues, such
as the strike law or laws drawn up
for the sole purpose of changing the
wording of some CLT articles.
The Federal Constitution of 1988
introduced new labor rights and
enhancements to the standards
provided for in the CLT.
7) profit and/or result sharing;

8) additional pay for overtime for
up to 2 overtime hours paid with
an accrual of 50% on the ordinary
hour or with an accrual of 100% for
working on Sundays and holidays
(these percentages may be even
higher, if contemplated in a collective
bargaining agreement);
9) 30-day annual vacation and
accrual of one third allowance,
as provided for in the Federal
Constitution;
The labor rights provided for in the

Federal Constitution, the CLT, and
specific labor laws are the following
ones:
10) 120-day maternity leave;
1) minimum wage;
13) retirement (based on the number

of years contributing to the social
security system, age, disability);
2) eight daily working hours and 44

weekly working hours at most;
3) 15-minute snack and rest break if
daily working hours exceed 4 hours
and are less than 6 hours, and at
least a 1-hour and at most a 2-hour
break if daily working hours exceed
6 hours.
4) no reduction in wages;
5) unemployment insurance;
6) 13th wage;
11) 5-day paternity leave;

12) 30-day notice for dismissal for
cause or resignation;
14) recognition of application of

collective rules;
15) severance pay (FGTS);
16) the right to strike;
17) provisional job stability for
members of an Internal Accident
Prevention Committee (CIPA),
employees carrying a disease or
who suffered an employment-related
accident, pregnant employees, etc.;

18) tips;
19) commissions;
20) family allowance;
21) transportation passes;
22) day-care allowance;
23) unhealthy working-conditions
premiums of 10%, 20% or 40% of
the minimum wage in force;
24) risk premium of 30% of the
workers wages;
25) reduction of night shifts and
night-shift premium of 20% of the
workers wages for working from 10
p.m. to 5 a.m. on the following day;
26) transfer allowance at a rate of
25% of the employees salary;
27) paid weekly rest;
c) Standards issued by the Ministry

of Labor and Employment (MTE);
and
d) Certain Conventions of the
International Labour Organization.
In addition to the above-listed labor
rights (items 1-28), collective
agreements (Collective Bargaining
and Labor Agreements) may provide
for other labor rights such as:
medical insurance, food allowance,
food stamps, etc. These collective
bargaining agreements may also
provide for more advantageous rights
than those contemplated in the law,
such as overtime pay above the
additional pay set forth in the law
(50% and 100%), more than 30day notice of dismissal for cause or
resignation, etc.
28) unemployment insurance;

among others
Other sources of law observed by the
Brazilian Labor Courts include:
a) Collective Bargaining and Labor
Agreements;
b) High Labor Court (TST)
Jurisprudence Statements;
11 - FOREIGN WORKERS IN BRAZIL

According to Law 6,815 of August
19, 1980, authority to grant work
permits to foreign nationals in Brazil
is the exclusive competence of the
Ministry of Labors Immigration
Coordination Unit (CGIg)
Authorities have a considerable
degree of discretionary power
when dealing with issues relating
to immigration, which are regarded
as matters of national sovereignty.
Therefore, they reflect national
foreign policies and reciprocity of
treatment.
Visa applications do not necessarily
imply that a visa will be granted and,
in themselves, do not signify that any
right has been acknowledged.
There are various types of visas
provided for in the Brazilian law, and
eligibility depends essentially on
the specific situation and purpose
of travel to Brazil. Not all visas
allow foreigners to work in Brazil.
Generally, criteria for obtaining a visa
are not influenced by the nationality
of the applicant or by whether he or
she has a spouse or children under
18 years of age.
The law provides for seven

categories of visas:
-
Transit visa
Tourist visa
Temporary visa
Permanent visa
Courtesy visa
Official visa
Diplomatic visa
The most common categories of

visas sought by those wishing to
immigrate to Brazil are the Tourist,
Temporary and Permanent visas.
11.1. Short-term Business and
Tourist Visas
Visas are required for nationals
of certain countries traveling to
Brazil on short-term business or
as tourists. Holders of such visas
may not work, perform technical
assistance services, nor receive
payment for services from any
source in Brazil.
A Business visa may be obtained
at the Brazilian Consulate in the
jurisdiction of residence of the
applicant. Generally, an application
for a Business visa consists of the

following:
A supporting letter from either
the foreign or Brazilian company
requesting the business trip, stating
the following:
- The purpose of the trip and the
activities the foreigner will perform
while in Brazil;
- Names, addresses and telephone
numbers of business contacts in
Brazil;
- Date of arrival and tentative
departure date;
- Guarantee of financial and moral
responsibility for the applicant for the
duration of the visit.
A Business visa allows the
foreigner to participate in meetings,
conferences, fairs, and seminars,
to visit potential clients, to conduct
market research, and perform similar
activities. As mentioned above, a
foreigner holding a Business visa
may not work in Brazil, and any
company employing such a foreigner
is subject to a fine, and the foreigner
to deportation.
A Tourist visa can usually be
obtained by shoring a round-trip

airline ticket and proof of financial
support capacity during the visit in
Brazil. A Tourist visa is valid only for
tourism purposes, and any company
that employs foreigners holding
such a visa is subject to the same
penalties mentioned in the previous
paragraph.
If an applicant for a Tourist visa
requires a visa to enter a country he/
she proposes to visit upon leaving
Brazil, that visa should be stamped
on the passport prior to requesting
the Brazilian visa.
It generally takes only 24 hours to
obtain a Tourist visa. Such visas
are generally valid for a period 90
days, counting as of the first arrival
in Brazil and allow multiple entries
during that period. An extension
for a further period up to 90 days
may be obtained from immigration
authorities in Brazil before the visa
expires. In any case, a foreigner on
a Tourist visa may remain in Brazil
for no longer than 180 days within a
given 365-day period (it should be
noted that this is not a calendar year,
but rather a period of 365 calendar
days).
11.2. Temporary Work Visas

For individuals coming to Brazil
on a temporary basis for work
purposes, several types of visas
may be applicable depending on the
specific situation or circumstance.
The categories of workers eligible for
such visas are listed below:
(1) Professionals employed by
Brazilian companies. Individuals
with specialized skills or knowledge
unavailable in Brazil coming to the
country to work for a short period as
employees of a Brazilian company
are eligible for this type of visa. Such
visas may initially be issued for a
period of up to two years and may
be renewed for an additional twoyear period. Proof is required of at
least one year of experience in the
activity the candidate is to perform
in Brazil in the case of a university
graduate, or two-year experience
in the case of a non-graduate.
The foreign national is expected
to provide proof of specialized
knowledge or skills, professional
experience, or management skills
that are not readily available on the
Brazilian domestic labor market.
The Brazilian company is required
to meet the 2/3 rule, whereby 2/3

of its employees and of those on its
payroll should be Brazilian citizens.
The company must also provide
information regarding its corporate
wage structure, and on wages to be
paid to the candidate both in Brazil
and abroad. The portion paid in Brazil
must be approximately 25% higher
than the portion paid abroad.
(2) Technical personnel with no
employment contract. Foreign
individuals coming to Brazil to
provide technical services or
technology transfers, under a
Technical Assistance or Technology
Transfer Agreement signed by a
Brazilian and a foreign company.
Such visas are not appropriate
for foreign nationals coming to
the country to perform managing,
administrative, or financial activities.
Except when the companies belong
to the same group, such Agreements
must be registered with Brazilian
Patent and Trademark Office (INPI)
prior to the visa application. In the
latter case, the technician is not an
employee of the Brazilian company
and any remuneration should be
paid exclusively from a source
abroad. The sponsoring company
is responsible for the candidates

medical expenses and for those
of his/her dependants while the
candidate is working in Brazil. This
type of visa may be granted for
one year, with the possibility of an
extension for an additional year,
provided all requirements are met.
In cases of emergency, such a
visa may be issued by the Brazilian
Consulate in the jurisdiction of
the applicants residence, for a
non-extendable period of 30 days.
An emergency is defined as an
unforeseen situation that places in
jeopardy life, the environment, or the
assets and capacity of operation of a
Brazilian company.
apply for this type of visa with the

sponsorship of the company. The
wages of such journalists may not
be paid in Brazil. The visa application
should be requested directly at the
Brazilian Consulate abroad with
jurisdiction over the individuals place
of residence.
(3) Artist and athletes. Applications

for this category of visa should be
submitted to the Brazilian Ministry of
Labor by the Brazilian organization
sponsoring the event for which the
individuals services are required.
Information about the event and
respective contract must be
submitted along with the application.
(6) Research Scientists. Such visas

are designed for foreign professors,
technicians, scientists, and
researchers intending to carry out
activities in Brazilian public or private
schools, universities or research
institutions. A letter and employment
contract from the institution
sponsoring the visa application are
required in this case.
(4) Foreign journalists. A foreign

journalist working on a temporary
basis in Brazil as correspondent of
a foreign media company should
(5) Crew of chartered vessels under

contract or lease agreements.
Such visa applications must be
accompanied by authorization for the
vessel to operate in Brazilian waters,
a report from the Navy, and a copy
of the respective contract. Part of the
crew must be comprised of Brazilian
nationals.
(7) Social work. A temporary visa

may be granted for up to two years
for a foreign volunteer wishing to
perform religious or social work

services in a Brazilian institution.
Such foreigners may not receive
remuneration for temporary volunteer
work performed in Brazil.
With the exception of foreign
journalists and social workers, all
applicants for these types of visa
must first obtain a Work Permit
from the Brazilian authorities. Such
Permits are issued by the Ministry
of Labor and, prior to granting a
permanent or temporary visa to any
person wishing to work in Brazil,
Brazilian Consular Authorities are
required by Brazilian law to demand
that applicants obtain a work
permit. When the permit is issued,
a notice is published in the Federal
Official Gazette (DOU), the relevant
Consulate is notified, and the foreign
national may be granted the visa.
11.3. Other Temporary Visas
Other types of visas may be issued
to foreigners coming to Brazil for
purposes other than work. It should
be observed that the visas listed
below do not entitle the bearer
to work in Brazil or receive any
remuneration from a Brazilian source.
Visas in this category are listed

below:
(1) Religious missions and studies:
Such a visa may be granted to clergy
on specific missions in Brazil, for up
to one year.
(2) Student visas. Student visas may
be obtained at a Brazilian Consulate
with jurisdiction over the applicants
place of residence. Foreign students
in exchange programs are required to
furnish documents from the school
and exchange program.
(3) Trainees. Such a visa is required
of foreign graduates wishing to
attend a trainee program in Brazil
for a 12 month period, with no
employment relationship to a
Brazilian entity. The visa application
requires proof of graduation within
the previous 12 months, and a
declaration that any remuneration
shall be paid exclusively from
abroad.
(4) Internships. Such a visa is
required of foreign individuals
attending internship programs
in Brazil, including employees of
foreign companies with a Brazilian
subsidiary, that have no employment

links to any Brazilian entity. Such
a visa application requires a
Commitment Term between the
intern, the Brazilian institution and
the internship program coordinators.
Such a visa is valid for no more than
one year.
(5) Health Treatment. Such a visa
is required of foreign individuals
intend who come to Brazil for health
treatment. The visa application
should be accompanied by a
doctors recommendation and
proof of capacity to pay for health
treatment.
11.4. Permanent Employment Visa
A Permanent visa may be issued
under four circumstances: (i)
family ties to a Brazilian national
(marriage, children); (ii) retirement;
(iii) appointment to a representation
and managing position in a Brazilian
company (Statutory Director); or (iv)
foreign investor natural person.
(1) Family Ties. If the applicant is
married to a Brazilian citizen or has
a Brazilian child, he or she is eligible
for a permanent visa than can be
issued by a Brazilian Consulate

abroad prior to arrival in Brazil or
by the Ministry of Justice, if the
candidate is already in Brazil. In this
case, the applicant is allowed to
work in Brazil.
(2) Retirement. Individuals who have
already retired in their home country
and intend to transfer their permanent
residence to Brazil are also eligible
for a permanent visa. They must
provide evidence that they can
transfer to Brazil at least a minimum
amount of R$6,000.00 (six thousand
reals) monthly. Foreign retirees
with more than two dependents
must make an additional transfer, in
foreign currency, of R$2,000.00 (two
thousand reals) for each additional
dependent.
(3) Foreign corporate officers. An
officer of a foreign company that has
a branch or subsidiary in Brazil
wishing to transfer residence to
Brazil is eligible for this category
of visa. Individuals who are to be
permanently transferred to Brazil
to work for a subsidiary or branch
of a foreign-owned company in the
capacity of director or manager
may also apply for a permanent
visa with the right to work. To be

eligible to apply for a permanent
visa for its director or manager,
the foreign company must have
invested no less than R$600,000
(six hundred thousand reals) in Brazil
for each foreign officer. Alternatively,
the minimum investment may be
reduced to at least R$150,000.00
(one hundred fifty thousand reals)
for each officer if the foreign
company takes on the commitment
to generate, within the two following
years, at least 10 new jobs after the
company is established or its officer
takes office. Moreover, the name of
the officer must figure in the Brazilian
Companys by-laws, conditioned to
approval of the visa, and confirmed
in the position once he/she is granted
the visa. If this foreigner is appointed
an officer in more than one company
of the same group or conglomerate,
the Ministry of Labor must issue
prior authorization.
(4) Individual foreign investor. A
permanent visa may be granted to an
individual who invests no less than
R$150,000.00 (one hundred and fifty
thousand reals) in a new or existing
Brazilian company. Exceptionally,
the Ministry of Labor may grant a
permanent visa to an individual who

invests less than R$ 150,000.00
(one hundred and fifty thousand
reals) provided that he/she presents
a detailed business plan committing
the Brazilian company to create no
less than ten new jobs for Brazilian
nationals in the following five years,
among other obligations.
Furthermore, persons who have been
employed in Brazil on a temporary
basis (regardless of whether the
employing company is Brazilian or
foreign-owned) for a period of four
years may apply for permanent
resident status. To obtain a
permanent work permit, an individual
who has worked in Brazil on a
temporary basis for four years must
submit an application to the Ministry
of Justice no less than 30 days prior
to expiry of the four-year deadline.
11.5. Registration upon Entry into
Brazil
Upon entering Brazil with a
Temporary Work Visa or a Permanent
Visa, foreigners must register with
the Federal Police (Ministry of
Justice) and obtain the foreigners
ID card within 30 days of arrival.
This rule applies only to alien

residents in Brazil, immigrants, and
temporary residents with the right to
work (artists, athletes, tourists, and
businesspersons on short visits are
not required to register).
Holders of Temporary work visas and
Permanent visas must also register
with the Brazilian Internal Revenue
Service (SRF/MF) and their earnings
are subject to taxation under Brazilian
tax law.
Employees of Brazilian companies
must obtain a Work Document
(CTPS), in compliance with the
Brazilian labor law. For its part,
the Brazilian company must sign
the work document and notify the
Ministry of Labor within 90 days of
the foreigners arrival in Brazil.
Foreigners holding a Permanent or
Temporary work visa and employed
by a Brazilian organization are
subject to Brazilian taxation as of the
date of entry into Brazil. Holders of
all other types of Temporary visas
are considered residents for tax
purposes as of their 183rd day in
Brazil.
Work visas entail an employment

link with the sponsor organization.
Any change of employer is subject
to prior approval by the Ministry of
Justice and the Ministry of Labor.
Upon finally leaving Brazil, the
foreigner must submit a Declaration
of Final Departure to the Federal
Revenue Service (SRF/MF) and
request cancellation of his/her
taxpayer registration and tax liability.
The sponsoring company must
inform the Ministry of Labor when
the foreigners employment contract
is terminated, so that the visa and
registration may be canceled.
11.6. Travel in Advance of
Permanent or Temporary
Employment
Individuals traveling to Brazil on
business may, prior to obtaining a
work permit and appropriate visa,
obtain a short-term business visa.
Such a visa does not entitle them to
work in Brazil or to receive payment
from local sources until the work
permit and visa have been issued.
Such individuals should obtain a
Permanent or Temporary visa at the
Brazilian Consulate with jurisdiction
over the individuals residence.

11.7. Employment of Spouses/
Offspring
Accompanying spouses and
offspring may remain in Brazil as
dependents of the visa holder for as
long as the visa is valid. However,
such dependants are not permitted
to engage in employment or any paid
activity while residing temporarily in
Brazil without first converting their
visa into resident status.
12 - ACQUISITION OF REAL ESTATE IN BRAZIL

12.1 - Introduction
Under Brazilian law, issues relating
to property are subject to the law of
the country where such property is
located (lex rei sitae). Essentially,
issues relating to real estate property
in Brazil are governed by the Brazilian
Civil Code (CCB).
The CCB classifies assets by
physical criteria, whereby they can
be divided into two broad categories:
movable assets and immovable
assets. Movable assets are those
that can be removed by external
forces or by themselves without
causing their own destruction or
devaluation.
Immovable assets (land and
buildings) are, by nature, immobile
or fixed to the soil, naturally or
artificially, and cannot be partially
or totally removed without causing
their own destruction or devaluation,
i.e., without substantially altering
or destroying them. Immovable
property encompasses land, and
anything that has been naturally or
artificially incorporated thereto.
Brazilian law further confers certain

rights with the status of immovable
assets for legal purposes. This is
the case with deeds to immovable
property, government stock
incorporating an inalienability clause,
and inheritance right to property
though succession, even when
inheritance is comprised only of
movable assets.
As a general rule, owners of land
also own the subsoil. Therefore,
a landowner may excavate to a
reasonable depth for construction of
basements or subterranean garages.
The landowner cannot, however,
prevent third parties from engaging in
activities at depths that do not put his
property at risk, provided that such
activities are carried out in the public
interest (e.g., excavation of subway
lines, passages for conduits, etc.).
Land ownership rights, according
to the Brazilian Civil Code, do not
encompass mineral deposits, mines
and mineral resources, potential
hydroelectric power sources,
archeological sites, or other assets
referred to in specific laws. It thus
makes a clear distinction between
land ownership and rights to such

elements of the subsoil (mineral
and hydroelectric resources),
which are considered Federal
Government property. Thus, federal
authorization or a license is required
for exploitation of mineral and
hydroelectric resources.
(CNPJ or CPF) prior to purchasing

any real estate in Brazil. Furthermore,
special conditions apply to
ownership by foreign individuals or
companies of property located in
coastal or frontier zones, as well as
in certain specifically designated
national security areas.
Air space is subject to similar rules.

A landowner may build vertically
on his land, provided he observes
limitations foreseen in law (e.g.,
zoning rules). He may refuse
construction by third parties on
his land, or block the building of
structures that may place him in
jeopardy. He may not, however,
interfere with activities taking place
above a certain height, and that pose
no risk (aircraft routes, installation of
power lines at a safe height, etc.).
Foreign individuals or foreign-owned

companies may acquire rights in
rem relating to immovable property.
Rural areas can also be acquired, as
well as rights in rem related to them,
provided that certain restrictions,
discussed in 12.3.3, are observed.
Foreign individuals or foreign-owned

companies may acquire real estate in
Brazil under the same conditions as
Brazilian individuals or companies.
However, according to Internal
Revenue Service Order (Instruo
Normativa) 200, non-resident
individuals or organizations must be
registered with the General Register
of Corporate or Individual Taxpayers
12.2 - Possession and Ownership

The two most significant concepts
relating to real estate are the right
of possession and the right of
ownership:
(i) Right of possession: The right of
possession stems from use of the
land by an agent as if he were its
owner. When said agent acting on
his own behalf behaves as if he were
the owner, he assumes the right of
possession. Possession thus implies
the right to exercise certain powers
typical of ownership, such as: the
right to claim, maintain, or recover

the possession of property, the right
to its fruits (including rents and
other incomes therefrom), the right
to be compensated for necessary
improvements effected, and the right
to retain possession.
Possession ceases when, by
voluntary or involuntary means,
power is no longer exercised
over the asset. This may occur
when the property is forfeited by
abandonment, by transference, by
loss or destruction; if it becomes
ineligible for purchase or sale, if
possession is lost to third party,
in the event of failure to maintain
a claim or reinstate possession,
or when the party legitimately in
possession transfers his right to
another, maintaining the asset in his
power in the name of the acquirer
(constituto possessrio).
(ii) The right of ownership is most
relevant of all property rights and it is
defined by the Civil Code as the right
of an individual to use, enjoy, and
dispose of his goods, and to recover
them from whoever may unlawfully
have taken possession of them. It is
an absolute and exclusive right.
Full right of ownership implies that

all the legal powers (to use, enjoy,
dispose of the asset and to recover it
from whoever unlawfully possesses
it) are concentrated in the same
hands. Limited right of ownership
implies that some such powers are in
the hands of, and may be exercised
by, another person. It should be
noted, however, that in cases of
joint ownership, or condominium, in
principle, full ownership rights, rather
than limited ownership, applies.
Under a condominium, each coowner has rights to an undivided
fraction of the asset. As a rule,
powers deriving from the ownership
can be exercised simultaneously by
all co-owners.
The right of ownership may be
restricted due to public interest or
in respect for the property rights
of third parties, as in the following
situations:
i. expropriation of real estate
properties by the government
(ownership of private property is
transferred to the expropriating
authority upon payment of fair
compensation);
ii. restrictions on urban land use or

zoning, including building codes,
limitations on the location of
industrial plants, established by a
municipal master plan;
iii. restrictions imposed in the
interests of national security,
including limitations on the sale of
private land in coast areas or within
150 kilometers of national borders;
and
iv. restrictions to the right of the
proprietor to freely dispose of his
goods, arising from insolvency,
bankruptcy, or composition with
creditors, with a view to protecting
creditors rights.
12.3 - Acquisition and Loss of
Ownership
12.3.1 - General Provisions
Under Brazilian law, ownership of
real estate property is constituted
upon the registration of the public or
private instrument (deed) whereby
the sale was accomplished at a Real
Estate Registry in the jurisdiction
where the property is located.
However, an instrument involving

real estate property that has not been
duly registered at the respective Real
Estate Registry is only binding only
between the parties to the purchase/
sale agreement and, thus, is not be
enforceable against third parties.
Real estate property is acquired
upon registration of the deed of
transfer, which may be: (i) by the
sale agreement signed by the parties;
(ii) by accession (i.e., expansion of a
property as a result, for example, of
a displacement of a land strip cased
by natural forces); (iii) squatters
rights (i.e., acquisition of ownership
rights by occupation and possession
over a certain period of time, in law);
and (iv) by inheritance.
One of the principles that govern
the real estate registration system
is the principle of priority, whereby
the person who first registers a real
estate property or presents deeds for
registration has priority.
Likewise, any action which
modifies, extinguishes, transmits or
creates rights relating immovable
properties must be registered with
the competent Real Estate Registry.
These include: (i) court decisions

enabling undivided land to be
divided among various owners; (ii)
court orders winding-up the estate
of a deceased person or division
of property for composition with
creditors; (iii) public auctions or
adjudications; and (iv) rulings on
separation, divorce, and annulment
of marriage, when settlement
of rights in rem to immovable
properties is involved.
The main grounds for extinguishing
real estate ownership are:
(i) Expropriation, i.e., a unilateral
act of public law whereby individual
ownership is transferred to a
government authority, upon prior
payment of fair and compensation, in
the public interest;
(ii) transfer, meaning transmission
to a third party, by an inter vivos
transaction or as a legacy, for a
payment or free of charge;
(iii) Waiver (for example, when an
heir renounces rights of inheritance);
and
(iv) Neglect or destruction of the
property.
12.3.2. - General Considerations and

Requirements for Purchasing Real
Property

The most usual way of acquiring
real property in Brazil is by inter
vivos transaction of real estate
property, which entails a formal sales
agreement between the purchaser
and the seller.
If said property is acquired by an
individual purchaser, as opposed
to a condominium, then he/
she has absolute title thereto. In
cases of multiple ownership, i.e.,
a condominium, each owner can
exercise any rights of ownership not
compromised by the indivisibility
of the property (i.e., one party to
the condominium cannot sell the
property without consent of all the
other owners, and any revenues from
sale of the property must be divided
among them).
Prior to promulgation of the New
Brazilian Civil Code, Law 4,591/64
provided for condominiums of
apartments and/or offices, being
an autonomous and independent
unit of property, on a single piece of
land. In this case, the indivisibility
mentioned in the previous paragraph

does not apply. Significant changes
to Law 4,591/64 were introduced
by the New Civil Code, including the
introduction of fines on co-owners
who fail to comply with their duties
(i.e., paying condominium fees, not
effecting construction work that
might jeopardize the safety of the
property, not to use the property in a
manner that disturbs the peace, etc.)
Aside from specific requirements
relating to the transfer of immovable
property, Brazilian law requires, for
all types of contract, that parties
to a sale agreement be capable of
fulfilling the transaction. They must
be of full legal age, in sound mental
health, or duly represented.
It is also advisable that any real
property acquisition is preceded
by an analysis of the situation of
the real estate and of its current
owners, in order to avoid that facts
not acknowledged by the purchaser
jeopardize the transaction and even
result in annulment or ineffectiveness
of the juridical transaction. Therefore,
it is advisable to obtain and analyze
the: (i) copy of the updated real
estate record and 20-year clearance
certificate and clearance certificate

regarding liens and claims; (ii) fiscal
clearance certificates relating to the
real estate (IPTU tax, for example);
(iii) fiscal clearance certificates
relating to the owners of the real
estate; (iv) clearance certificates
issued by the local courts to verify
the existence of lawsuits involving
disputes on the real estate that could
compromise the owners assets
(hindering, as a result, the alienation
of the real estate or resulting in the
reversal of the transaction).
12.3.3. Acquisition of Rural Land by
Foreigners
Under Brazilian law (Law No.
4,504/64), rural property ranges
from rustic buildings to continuous
areas, regardless of location, devoted
to extractive activities, farming,
cattle-raising or agro-industry,
whether by the private sector or
under public land tenure policies.
A foreign individual residing abroad
cannot acquire rural property in
Brazil. This restriction is not applied
only in the case of legitimate
succession (i.e., if the foreigner
is called upon to acquire the rural
property as a legal heir of the

previous owner).
cattle-raising, industrial or settlement

projects. In addition, in the case of
foreign entities, such projects must
According to the laws currently
be contemplated in their articles of
in force, foreigners who have
association. These projects must be
permanent residence in Brazil:
approved by the Brazilian Ministry
of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply
(i) Are free to acquire or lease one
(MAPA) and, depending on the type
(1) rural property not exceeding three of project (industrial, colonization,
(3) modules for indefinite exploitation agricultural project, etc.), other
(MEI). The MEI is a unit of rural land
federal government bodies in charge
established by the National Institute
of the respective activities may be
for Colonization and Agrarian Reform called upon to review the application
INCRA for geographic areas
as well; and
sharing the same socioeconomic and
ecological characteristics, according (ii) Congress must authorize
to the type of rural exploitation they
the acquisition or lease of areas
are best suited for; and
exceeding one hundred (100) MEIs.
(ii)Cannot acquire or lease rural real
estate exceeding fifty (50) MEIs.
The law provides that:
Additionally, the total area acquired

or leased by foreign entities or
individuals must not exceed 25%
of the total area of any given
municipality. Also, foreigners of the
same nationality (including foreigners
who control Brazilian entities) cannot
hold more than 40% of those 25% of
the area of the municipality.
(i) Foreigners who have permanent

residence in Brazil can only acquire
or lease rural property for the
purpose of implementing agricultural,
All the restrictions described above

also apply to transfers of rural real
estate as a result of transactions
involving corporate restructuring
Similar restrictions to those

applicable to foreign individuals with
permanent residence in Brazil are
applied to foreign legal entities.
(such as mergers, spin-offs,

acquisitions, changes in corporate
control, etc.).
Any transaction made in violation of
the foregoing restrictions is null and
void.
The President of Brazil may, by
specific decree, authorize the
acquisition of rural land beyond
the provisions of the current law,
in cases in which such property
contributes toward priority projects
under national development plans.
Acquisition of rural property by
Brazilian companies with foreign
equity control is a subject that has
given rise to heated debates since
mid-2010.
The 6th Constitutional Amendment
of 1995 revoked article 171 of the
Brazilian Federal Constitution, which
provided for differential treatment
to companies incorporated under
Brazilian Law if they were Brazilian
companies with Brazilian capital
directly or indirectly controlled by
individuals residing in Brazil or not,
that is, with direct or indirect equity
control held by foreigners. Since
then, there has been no debate on

the legality of Brazilian companies
with foreign equity control acquiring
rural property in Brazil.
However, the Federal Attorney
Generals Office issued an opinion in
August 2010 arguing that article 1
of Law n. 5,709/71, which subjects
Brazilian companies with foreign
equity control to the same regime
imposed on foreign companies, is
consistent with the Constitution. After
being approved by the President
of Brazil, this opinion became
mandatory for all agencies of the
Federal Administration, which must
comply with it strictly.
In this new scenario, Brazilian
companies with foreign equity
control are subject to the same
regulatory framework as that
imposed on foreign companies.
12.4. Taxation
12.4.1. Inter-Vivos Transfer Tax - ITBI
The Inter-Vivos Transfer Tax
(ITBI) is a tax assessed by the
municipalities which is due when
real property or rights in rem to
any real property (except those in

guarantee) and assignment of rights
for the acquisition of property are
transferred for remuneration. The rate
established for the municipality of
So Paulo, for example,ranges from
two to 0.5 to 2 percent, depending
on the value of the transfer.
The ITBI tax is not assessed when
the transfer of real property or
rights to any such property takes
place to pay up the capital of a
company or when resulting from
merger, consolidation, spin-off or
liquidation of the legal entity, unless
the acquirers chief activity is the
purchase and sale of such assets
and rights.
The ITBI tax is not assessed when
the transfer of real property or rights
to any such property takes place
to pay up the capital of a company
or when resulting from merger,
consolidation, spin-off or liquidation
of the legal entity, unless if, in any
of the above mentioned cases, the
legal entitys predominant activity
is the purchase and sale of such
assets and rights, the lease of real
property or the commercial lease of
real estate property, in compliance
with the applicable provisions of the

municipal law.
12.5. Real Estate Investment Funds
Real Estate Investment Funds
were created to provide funds for
developing real estate ventures for
subsequent sale, letting or leasing.
They began to be regulated by
Brazilian law in the 1990s, more
specifically by Law 8,668/93,
which was updated by Law
9,779/99. Ruling n. 472/2008
of the Brazilian Securities and
Exchange Commission (CVM),
with the wording given by Ruling
n. 498/2011, regulates the
establishment, management,
operation, public offer of quotas and
disclosure of information for Real
Estate Investment Funds.
Real Estate Investment Funds are
currently being used for raising
funds for building several shopping
centers and implementing large-scale
infrastructure projects throughout
Brazil. Previously, pension funds
were the main source of direct
investments in real estate projects,
but they are currently investing in
this market indirectly, through the
purchase of shares in real estate

investment funds.
Both individuals and corporations
residing or domiciled abroad are
entitled to acquire such shares,
provided that the funds resulting
from the investment are duly
Brazil, allowing for the investment
and respective gains to be remitted
abroad. According to the law in
force, capital gains resulting from
such investments are subject to
income tax (IR) at a rate of up to
20%, assessed upon disposal
or withdrawing of Real Estate
Investment Fund quotas.
13 - ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
13.1. Law:
The Brazilian environmental LAW
is one of the most advanced in the
world. The Federal Constitution
devotes Chapter VI to this matter,
providing that all Brazilians have the
right to an ecologically balanced
environment for general and
integral use and that the Brazilian
Government and society have the
duty to protect and conserve it.
The states and municipalities are
also competent to legislate on
environmental matters. The federal
legislator lent a regional character
to this subject in the Federal
Constitution.
The Federal Government, however,
has exclusive authority to legislate
on matters related to water, energy,
mining, biotechnology, and nuclear
activities.
According to the Federal Constitution,
it is the duty of the State to:
Preserve and recover species
and ecosystems;
Care for the variety and integrity
of the countrys genetic

heritage, overseeing the entities
acting in genetic research and
manipulation;
Provide environmental education
at all schooling levels, offering
guidance with respect to
the need to conserve the
environment;
Define territorial areas to be
protected;
Request an environmental
impact study before any activity
that could cause significant
environmental degradation is
implemented.
In addition to the Federal
Constitution, the following rules
deserve special mention:
A) Federal Legislation
The 1940 Criminal Code (Decree
Law n. 2,848 of December 7,
1940);
The Forestry Code (Law n. 4,771
of 1965)
The Law on Environmental
Crimes (Law n 9,605 of 1998),
which provides for administrative
and criminal penalties applicable
to conduct and activities that

are harmful to the environment,
such as deforestation, operations
without proper environmental
permits, emission of pollutants
above the limits permitted by law,
etc.;
Law n. 6,938 of 1981, which
provides for compensation to be
paid to parties adversely affected
by actions that are harmful to the
environment;
established the Public Civil Suit
for damages to the environment,
consumers, property and rights
of artistic, historical, aesthetic,
tourist and scenic value;
Decree n. 99,274 of June
6, 1990, which provides for
Environmental Protection
Areas (APA) and the National
Environmental Policy;
Decree n. 3,179 of 1999,
which regulates the Law on
Environmental Crimes;
sets out prices to be charged
by IBAMA and creates the
Environmental Inspection Fee
TFA;
Law n. 11,105 of 2005, known
as the Biodiversity Law, which
regulates article 255 of the

Federal Constitution, provides for
rules for supervising activities
involving Genetically Modified
Organisms (OGM) and creates
the National Biosafety Council
(CNBS).
b) State Law
State Constitutions
c) Municipal Law
Organic Law of the Municipalities
and of the Federal District
In case of divergence between
environmental laws, the one
affording environmental protection
at the highest level, that is, the
one imposing the most restrictive
measures, should prevail.
13.2. National Environmental Policy
Created in 1981, the National
Environmental Policy recognizes that
legal protection of the environment
requires decentralized actions by the
states and municipalities.
13.3. Environmental agencies and

their roles:
The following agencies, which
together make up the National
Environmental System SISNAMA,
are in charge of protecting the
environment at federal level:
National Environmental Council
CONAMA: a normative, consultative
and decision-making agency.
Ministry of Environment: in
charge of coordinating, supervising
and controlling the National
Environmental Policy.
Brazilian Institute for the
Environment and Renewable
Natural Resources IBAMA:
Executive agency in charge of
inspecting corporate activities
nationally.
Apart from other federal public
agencies, foundations and other
local agencies such as CETESB
(Companhia de Tecnologia em
Saneamento Ambiental) in the state
of So Paulo and INEA (Instituto
Estadual de Meio Ambiente) in the
state of Rio de Janeiro.
13.4. Definitions:
(a) Environmental Damage:
Damage to environmental resources
and its resulting degradation, adverse
alteration or harm to the ecological
balance.
(b) Environmental Impact Study
and Report (EIA/RIMA): A study
and respective report designed
to evaluate changes in the
physical, chemical and biological
characteristics of the environment
caused by any form of matter
or energy resulting from human
activities that could directly or
indirectly affect the health, welfare
and safety of the population.
(c) Pollution: Degradation in
environmental quality resulting
from activities that directly or
indirectly affect the health, welfare
and safety of the population. Any
activity that can potentially pollute
the environment or which use
environmental resources must be
registered with the Federal Technical
Registry managed by IBAMA.
(d) Environmental Protection Area
(APA): Usually a large area sparsely
populated by humans with abiotic,

biotic, esthetic or cultural features
that are particularly important to the
quality of life and welfare of human
populations. Its basic purpose is to
protect biological diversity, control
occupation processes and ensure
sustainable use of natural resources.
It can be established in a publicly- or
privately-owned area by the Federal
Government, states or municipalities
without the need to expropriate land.
13.5. Environmental Licensing
An environmental license is an
administrative tool in which the
competent environmental agency
(at the federal, state or municipal
level) sets out environmental
control conditions, restrictions and
measures to be complied with by
enterprises and their partners in
setting up, expanding and operating
enterprises or activities that use
natural resources and can actually or
potentially pollute the environment or
cause environmental degradation in
any way.
Because of their actual or potential
environmental impact, a PreLicensing (Licena Prvia - LP)
procedure is required for some

activities.
IBAMA is the agency in charge
of issuing an environmental
license when an undertaking
has a regional or national impact
that causes undesired changes
in the physical, chemical and
biological characteristics of the
environment. However, the statelevel environmental agency has the
competence to grant environmental
licenses to undertakings and
activities implemented in more
than one municipality or whose
environmental impact goes beyond
the territorial limits of one or more
municipalities.
If an undertaking or activity has only
a local environmental impact, that
is, an impact restricted to municipal
limits, it is up to the municipal
agencies to grant an environmental
license to it or not. Because of their
weak administrative structure, some
municipalities transfer the authority
to grant environmental licenses to the
state-level agency.
CONAMAs Resolution 237 of 1997
lists the activities and undertakings
for which an environmental license is

required:
1. Extraction and handling of
minerals;
2. Non-metallic mineral industry;
3. Metallurgical industry;
4. Mechanical industry;
5. Transportation material industry;
6. Lumber industry;
7. Paper and cellulose industry;
8. Rubber industry;
9. Leather and fur industry;
10. Chemical industry;
11. Plastic material industry;
12. Textile, clothing, shoe and fabric
industry;
13. Food and beverage industry;
14. Tobacco industry;
15. Miscellaneous industries;
16. Civil construction projects;
17. Public utility services (power and
waste);
18. Transportation, terminals and
warehouses;
19. Tourism;
20. Agricultural and cattle raising
activities;
21. Use of natural resources.
The administrative procedure to be

granted an environmental license
involves obtaining the following
licenses:
(a) Pre-Licensing (LP): License
issued during the planning phase
of an activity, setting out basic
requirements to be met by a project
in terms of location, establishment
and operation based on rules for
soil use, industrial zoning and city
planning laws.
(b) Installation License (LI):
Document issued after the executive
project of an undertaking is analyzed
and documents are submitted to
confirm that the requirements set out
in the pre-licensing were met, that
solutions were adopted to neutralize,
mitigate or offset environmental
impacts, and that environmental
control procedures were established.
This license authorizes the
implementation of approved projects.
(c) Operational License (LO):
Document authorizing the start
of the activities of an industrial
enterprise or undertaking, after the
correct operation of pollution control
equipment is checked.
CONAMA may also require specific

licenses according to the nature of
the activity or undertaking, such as
the following ones:
1. Authorization for removal of
vegetation;
2. Authorization for use of
Permanent Conservation Areas
APP;
3. Concession for use of water
resources;
4. Exploitation of mineral resources;
5. Production and use of nuclear
minerals and nuclear energy;
6. Electricity generation and
transmission projects;
7. Petroleum prospecting,
exploitation and refining projects;
8. Use of areas belonging to the
Federal Administration;
9. National historical and artistic
heritage;
10. Indigenous populations and
areas;
11. Afro-Brazilian culture;
12. General coordination of
conservation units; and
13. Prior evaluation and
recommendation from the
National Health Foundation

FUNASA.
In accordance with Law 9,960 of
2000, all the costs of licensing
services, environmental analysis
and preparation of EIA-RIMA
(Environmental Impact Study and
Environmental Impact Report) are to
be borne by the applicant, even when
the license is not granted in the end.
The amounts involved can be paid in
installments and they are intended to
cover the costs of services provided
by the competent government
agency and are proportional to the
environmental impact caused by the
activity.
*For more information, kindly visit:
www.ibama.gov.br, www.inea.gov.br
or www.cetesb.sp.gov.br.
13.6. Environmental Guardianship
and Liability
Actions by citizens and companies
that are harmful to the environment
generate administrative, civil and
criminal liability, as provided for in
the Law on Environmental Crimes.
All conduct causing damage must
be compensated for, even when it is
tolerated by legal standards, as is the

case of emission of polluting wastes.
a) Civil sanctions:
Civil liability for environmental
damages is extra-contractual,
objective and of a joint nature,
according to the Federal Constitution
(article 225), Law n. 6,938/81
(article 14) and the Civil Code
(article 942).
It is extra-contractual because
it does not depend on any link
between the parties;
It is objective because it does not
depend on the guilt of the agent;
and
It is of a joint nature because
it can involve more than one
person, whether natural or legal.
b) Administrative sanctions:
Based on the duty of the Government
to preserve the environment, whether
by means of law enforcement
powers (inspection) or by means
of regulatory powers (creating
and revoking laws and rules),
various administrative measures
can be adopted, such as officially
recognizing public or private assets

as heritage; requiring the submission
of an environmental impact report;
imposing restrictions and limitations
on the right to build, among others.
When a violation is identified, a
formal notice of environmental
infraction is issued mentioning
the legal rule that was violated
and starting an administrative
proceeding.
The Law on Environmental Crimes,
regulated by Decree n. 3,179 of
September 21, 1999, provides for
administrative penalties applicable
to conduct and activities that are
harmful to the environment:
1. Warning;
2. One-time or daily fine of up to R$
50 million;
3. Seizing, destruction or
suspension of the sale of the
products used in the violation;
4. Prohibition, suspension or
demolition of the illegal building
or activities;
5. Obligation to pay compensation
for damages;
6. Restriction of rights;
7. Suspension or cancelation of
registration;
8. Denial of license, permit or
authorization for irregular
companies;
9. Loss, restriction or suspension
of tax incentives and benefits, as
well as of financing from official
credit institutions; and
10. Prohibition to enter into contracts
with the Public Administration for
a period of 3 years.
c) Penal sanctions:
Conduct and activities that are
harmful to the environment subject
violators, whether individuals
or companies (with personal
involvement of the partners,
administrators, directors, council
members, agents, proxies,
managers or auditors) to criminal
and administrative sanctions, in
addition to the obligation to provide
compensation for the damage
caused.
Contractors are advised to specify
the civil liability for material damages
in their contracts with subcontracted
companies, so as to hold them liable
for any damaging conduct.

The Law on Environmental Crimes
provides for environmental crimes
and their respective sanctions.
Individuals are subject to deprivation
of freedom, penalties restricting
rights and fines, while companies are
subject to penalties restricting rights,
fines and community service.
d) Jurisdictional sanctions:
Through a public civil suit, provided
for in Law n. 7,347 of 1985, it is
possible to ensure protection to the
environment by holding violators
liable for damages caused to the
environment and to property of
artistic, aesthetic, historical, tourist
and scenic value.
The Public Prosecutors Office, the
Public Defenders Office, the Federal
Administration, States, Municipalities,
Independent Government Agencies,
Public Companies and Foundations
and Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs) are parties that can bring this
kind of suit.
Section 6 of article 5 of Law n.
7,347/85, which governs public
civil suits involving liability for

environmental damages, provides
that public agencies can sign a
commitment with interested parties
for adjusting their conduct in the light
of legal requirements, establishing
penalties under an extrajudicial
executive document called Conduct
Adjustment Commitment (Termo de
Ajustamento de Conduta - TAC).
Violations of the environmental
law can usually be negotiated with
the Public Prosecutors Office, the
agency in charge of protecting the
environment and applying criminal
penalties in this area. However,
certain conditions related to the
seriousness of the violation must be
considered for this purpose.
Other lawsuits may also be brought
to protect the environment and
ensure sustainable activities and
projects, such as citizen lawsuits,
individual or collective injunctions
and direct unconstitutionality suits.
14 - PUBLIC TENDERS - Contracting of Civil Construction Works,

Services, Procurement and Transfers by the Public Administration
14.1. Introduction
Public tenders are the formal
procedure whereby the State selects
the best contractor for providing
services, implementing civil
construction projects, or supplying
or buying goods. Their purpose is to
ensure that the Public Administration
selects the most advantageous
proposal for contracts in the public
interest.
Public managers are under the
obligation to abide by tender
procedures. The 1988 Constitution,
in its article 37, clause XXI, provides
that civil construction works,
services, purchases and transfers
may be contracted by the direct and
indirect public administration of any
of the Branches of the Union, the
States, the Federal District and the
Municipalities by means of public
bidding, taking into account legal
exceptions provided for in specific
laws, when contracts may be entered
into directly with a vendor.
Article 175 of the Constitution of
1988 requires tenders for concession
and licenses to provide public

services, which are regulated by
Law 8,987/95 with the amendments
made thereto by Law 9,648/98. Prior
to the new standards introduced by
the 1988 Constitution, licenses were
granted and revoked at the discretion
of the administration and were not
subject to tenders. For this reason,
Law 8,987/95 requires formal
licensing by means of a contract,
while maintaining the unilateral
revocability by the granting authority.
Law n. 8,666 of 6/21/93, with the
amendments made thereto by Law
n. 12,349 of 12/15/10, regulates
the above-mentioned clause XXI of
article 37 and provides for general
rules for tenders and contracts with
the Public Administration.
There are various modalities of
public tender that may be used in
accordance with criteria defined
by law. The main factor to be
considered in choosing the modality
of tender is the estimated value of
the contract to be signed. There
are, however, situations in which
the object of a tender leads to other
considerations prevailing over the

contracting value. Regardless of
the modality of tender selected,
the supremacy of the public
interest must always prevail. The
procedure must always seek to
secure the most efficient result
for the Public Administration and
preserve of its economical-financial
balance by preserving the initiallyagreed relationship between the
parties, ensuring fulfillment of
the contractors obligations and
fair remuneration by the Public
Administration for the contracted
work or service.
14.2. Procurement Modalities
Tender modalities are provided
for in art. 22 of Law 8,666 of
June 21, 1993 and no other
modalities or combination thereof
is allowed. These are call for bids
(concorrncia); price consultations
(tomada de preos); letter of
invitation (convite); contests
(concurso); and public auction
(leilo). In addition to these
modalities, the federal legislator
created the procurement auction
(prego), disciplined by Law 10,502
of July 17, 2002.
Call for bids (concorrncia) is

used for procurement or transfer
of fixed assets, concessions for
use and provision of services or
public civil construction works,
when the amounts involved exceed
R$1,500,000.00 (one million and
five hundred thousand reals), and
for engineering works and services
valued at over R$650,000.00 (six
hundred and fifty thousand reals).
This is the modality of tender used
in international tenders, when
the procuring agency does not
have short list of international
suppliers that would enable price
consultations.
Call for bids is the most complex
modality of tender procedure and
entails proof of capacity to fulfill
minimum requisites called for the
call for proposal and a so-called
prequalification phase, when the
commercial proposals will have
already been received.
Price consultation (tomada de
preos) is quite similar to the call
for bids and is a modality whereby
evaluation of bids takes place
beforehand, since they must be
registered before the commercial

proposals are received. The limit for
contracting is R$1,500,000.00 (one
million, five hundred thousand reals)
for engineering works and services
and R$650,000.00 (six hundred and
fifty thousand reals) for procurement
and miscellaneous engineering
services.
Letter of invitation (convite) is a
procurement modality in which
bids are requested from interested
parties, whether registered or not,
and a minimum number of three
are chosen. Other registered parties
may request to participate in the
proceedings. Of the modalities of
tender, letter of invitation is the one
used for services of lower value,
worth no more than R$150,000.00
(one hundred and fifty thousand
reals) for engineering works and
R$80,000.00 (eighty thousand reals)
for other items.
Contests are the method used to
select technical and artistic works
from among any parties, and
payment is effected by award or
remuneration to the winners.
Auction is a modality reserved for the
sale of assets of no use to the public
authorities, seized assets, pledges,

assets delivered to courts or given
in payment. These are sold to the
highest bidder, above a minimum
floor value.
Finally, the procurement auction
(prego) was instituted to select
contractors or procure common
goods or services, occasionally
or routinely, with no limitation
of value. Such contracts are
awarded in a public session based
on written proposals or verbal
bids, with the aim of obtaining
the most economic, safe, and
efficient purchase. Procurement
auctions are often conducted using
information technology (electronic
bidding). However, this modality
is not appropriate for contracting
engineering works and services, or
for lease or transfer of real property.
Whatever the modality of tender
employed, public sector procurement
must always be guided by principles
of legality, neutrality, morality,
transparency and efficiency, with the
objective of selecting the proposal
that is the most advantageous to
the Public Administration, while
ensuring equality of conditions to all
participants prior to announcement

of the winner, establishing technical
and economic qualification
standards, and preserving the
conditions effectively expressed in
the proposal.
14.3. Authorization, Concession,
and License to Provide Public
Services
In article 21, insets XI and XII, the
Federal Constitution provides that the
following services are to be exploited
by the Federal Administration: (i)
telecommunications and radio
broadcasting; (ii) services relating
to electricity and exploitation of
waterways for electricity production;
(iii) air, aerospace and airport
infrastructure; (iv) railway and
waterway transportation services
between Brazilian ports and borders;
(v) interstate and international
highway passenger transportation
services; and (vi) services related to
sea, river and lake ports.
The execution of these services can
be carried out directly or by means of
authorization, concession or license.
The Union is authorized to delegate
provision of these services, mainly
through concessions or licenses, to
Corporate Entities of private law with

competence to provide them.
Authorization is a unilateral,
discretionary administrative act
whereby the Public Authorities
delegate public services provision to
the private sector, and which may be
revoked at any time.
A concession entails a formal
administrative contract, awarded
by means of a tender procedure
under the call for bids modality,
upon which the delegation of
responsibility for providing the
service is legally transferred by the
Public Authorities to a company
or a consortium that, for its part,
assumes the risks inherent to the
business for the duration of the
contract and is remunerated by rates
charged from users of the services.
The aforementioned contract is
also intended to fulfill conditions of
regularity, continuity, efficiency and
moderate rates in the provision of
services.
Standards for public service
concessions are provided for in by
Law 8,987/95, with the amendments
made thereto by Law 9,648/98,
whereas Law 9,472/97, with the
amendments introduced by Law

9,986/00, provides for concessions
of telecommunication services.
Permission to provide a public
service, as previously emphasized,
is a simple, discretionary and
ephemeral act of unilateral delegation
by public authorities through a
contract of adhesion that can be
revoked at any time or to which
the public authorities can add new
conditions to be observed by the
grantee.
14.4. Qualification
To institute a public tender, the
Public Authorities must publish
a justification for the licensing
procedure defining the objective,
scope and duration of the contract
prior to a call for proposals. The
tender procedure is constituted upon
publication of call for proposals,
which serves as the by-laws of the
tender and must be observed by both
the Administration and the bidders.
The principle of binding the tender
procedure to the terms of the call for
proposals is provided for in article
3 of the Tender and Contracts Law
(Law 8,666/93).
Any party interested in participating

in the tender must fulfill the
requirements stated in the call for
proposals and specific registry
requirements for each modality
and submit legally-required
documentation demonstrating legal,
technical, economic and financial
capacity and that it is current on
taxes.
If the call for proposals permits
formation of consortia, each
component company must submit all
the above-mentioned documentation
as if it were an individual bidder.
Having fulfilled these requirements,
bidders are qualified to present their
proposals in compliance with the
requirements set forth in the call
for proposals. At this point, any
person can view the documentation,
including certificates, decisions,
contracts, or opinions relating to
the tender and to the concession or
permission in question.
It should be stressed that article
34 of the Tender and Contracts
Law provides for the possibility of
maintaining a record for qualification
purposes, valid for a maximum of
one year, containing documents

pertaining to participants in public
tenders.
Companies included in this record
receive a Certificate of Registration,
enabling them to participate in price
consultations, which according to
paragraph 2 of article 36 of that Law
replaces the documentation required
for other modalities of tender.
Criteria for appraisal of proposals
are: (i) lowest price, when the
selection criteria specified in the call
for proposals is that the winning
proposal will be the one which
presents the lowest price; (ii) the
best technical proposal; (iii) a
combination of the best technical
proposal and price; or (iv) highest
offer, in cases of sale of assets or
concession of in rem right to use
assets.
In case of deadlock between two
or more contenders, after analyzing
compliance with all specified
conditions in the call for proposals,
selection is by lot in a public session
to which all bidders are summoned,
registered in the minutes.
Law n. 12,349 of December 15,

2010 created a margin of preference
for manufactured goods and services
that meet the Brazilian technical
standards, in other words, preference
for products and services of national
origin.
Preference margins are up to 25%
and they are determined, by decree,
by the Interministerial Commission
for Public Procurement established
by Decree n. 7,546 of August 2,
2011, which regulated the application
of preference margins.
14.5. Tender Waiver
The law provides for three situations
in which the requirement to tender
may be waived: (i) low value of the
bidding object; (ii) emergency or
public disaster situations, war or
serious disorder; or (iii) purchase
or lease of real estate, which for
specific reasons (e.g. geographic
location of the property) make
competitive bidding unfeasible. These
and twenty-one other exceptions that
justify direct contracting are listed in
article 24 of Law 8,666/93.
Article 25 of the same law states
that waivers may be justified by
the impossibility of tendering in

view of the unfeasibility of holding
a competition among competitors
as a consequence of only one
supplier being able to fulfill the
tender requirements (though brand
preference is forbidden) or in cases
of renowned expertise on the part of
professionals or companies providing
specialized technical services or of a
publicly acclaimed professional.
14.6. Administrative Contracts
A contract is mandatory under the
call for bids and price consultation
modalities and when a tender
is waived because the amounts
involved are within the limits set
for these two modalities of tender.
Such contracts must contain clauses
defining: (i) the parties; (ii) the
object; (iii) scope and duration; (iv)
form and conditions for the provision
of services; (v) parameters for
the quality of the services to be
provided; vi) price; (vii) criteria for
adjustment of contract prices; (viii)
rights, guarantees and obligations of
users; (ix) projections for expansion
and modernization; (x) inspection
and supervision; and (xi) penalty
clauses.
Physical-financial schedules for

the execution of works may be
included, as well as guarantees for
fulfillment of obligations, in cases of
contracts relating to public service
concessions after execution of
engineering works.
The concession holder may contract
third parties to carry out inherent,
accessory or complementary
activities under private law.
Contracting of third parties does
not release the concession holder
from responsibility for damages
caused to the granting authority,
users, or third parties. Provided that
it is contemplated in the contract,
authorized by the granting authority
and preceded by competitive bidding,
subcontracting may be accepted.
14.7. Guarantees
Guarantees are a common
requirement in services, works or
procurement contracts. Although
they are not mandatory, to be
legitimate and binding guarantees
must be foreseen in the call for
proposals. Except in situations
contemplated in article 56 of
the Tender and Contracts Law,
guarantees tend to take the form of

bond, insurance or bank guarantees,
at the discretion of the contractee,
providing that the corresponding
insurance value does not exceed five
per cent (5%) of the total value of the
contract.
14.8. Inspection and Extinction of
Administrative Contract
In defense of the consumers
interest, the granting authority bears
responsibility for supervision of
contract execution, and to this end
it may set up inspection committees
entitled to access all administrative,
accounting, technical, economic, and
financial information and with powers
to intervene in the concession.
Contracts for procurement and
public works aim to ensure delivery
of goods and investments, and
likewise concessions or licenses
aim to ensure adequate provision
of a service to the full satisfaction
of customers, in compliance with
principles of continuity, efficiency
and safety. Thus, default or noncompliance with such principles may
result in penalties and termination of
contract.
Other circumstances that might

warrant termination of contract
include: end of the contract duration;
expropriation (in the public interest);
forfeiture for total or partial failure
to provide a service; termination;
annulment; bankruptcy or dissolution
of the company; death or incapacity
of the contractor in the case of
individual companies.
In the event of breach of contract by
the contractee, sanctions foreseen
in the contract clauses, in the Tender
and Contracts Law, and in the call for
proposals shall apply. If the breach of
contract is on the part of the granting
authority, the private party may move
special court action to terminate the
contract and seek fair compensation.
14.9. Other Contractual Features
With the aim of optimizing public
resources and streamlining
administrative contractual
procedures, Decree 45,085/2000
of the Government of So Paulo
authorized electronic contracting and
on-line procurement in that State.
Electronic auctions are a
procurement modality under
which best price is the criterion for
selection of suppliers. These can

be used for contracts whose value
does not exceed R$8,000.00 (eight
thousand reals), a situation in which
art. 24 of Law 8,666/93 waives the
requirement of tender. Any company
with prior registration in the system
can participate in electronic auctions.
Management contracts, introduced
by Constitutional Amendment 19/98
in article 37, paragraph 8 of the
Federal Constitution, are used as a
means to promote decentralization
and set goals and objectives to be
achieved under contracts whose
execution is subject to inspection
and authorization by the Public
Administration.
Leasing contracts provide a means
whereby the Public Administration
can transfer responsibility for
management of public services to a
private entity, at the latters expense
and risk, placing public property at
its disposal. Finally, a Partnership
Commitment can be signed between
the Public Administration and entities
qualified as public-interest civil
society organizations according
to the provisions of law 9,790 of
03/23/99.
Such an instrument is intended to

establish a cooperative link between
the parties for the execution of
activities of public interest. Public
resources may be transferred to
an entity thus qualified. When such
activities imply delegation of services
under the responsibility of the Public
Administration, the so-called publicprivate partnerships (PPP) may be
established.
Law 11,079 of December 30,
2004, subsequently regulated
by Decree 5,385/2005, set out
general standards for tendering
and contracting of public-private
partnerships by the Public
Administration. Law no. 12,409/2011
set the limit for federal financing of
such PPPs at R$ 6,000,000,000 (six
billion reals).
This law defines PPPs as two
modalities of concession contracts,
which may be either sponsored or
administrative.
There are generally four models of
PPP financing : (I) a traditional model
for sub-contracting and procurement
by the public sector; (II) a model
in which the public sector finances
the project but the actual work is

carried out by a private partner;
(III) a model in which design,
construction, operation, exploitation
and financing are all carried out
through concession, which is the
most common model; and (IV) a
model in which everything is owned
and operated by the private sector.
These models provide a spectrum
ranging from the first one, in which
the public sector assumes all
responsibilities and liabilities, to
the fourth one, in which the private
sector assumes full responsibility
and liability. Most PPPs are
established under models II or
III, whereby responsibilities and
liabilities are shared based on the
unique strengths and weaknesses
of the parties. These models allow
for projects to be implemented
with minimum support from public
funding programs and government
resources. This aspect also allows
for projects that do not depend on
approval of governmental budget
oversight to be more swiftly
implemented.
It should be noted, finally, that the
mere contracting of a public civil
construction work and a common

concession, i.e. delegation of public
services or engineering works, do
not constitute a PPP, meaning that
the provisions of the Tender and
Contracts Law (8.666/93) and of
concession laws (laws 8,987/95 and
9,074/95) apply to such concession.
15 - PRIVATIZATION, CONCESSIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH

THE GOVERNMENT
This section addresses means
whereby the private sector is
becoming increasingly involved
in activities previously performed
exclusively by Government and
examines privatization, concession
of public services and other forms of
partnership between governmental
and private entities.
Privatization is generally defined
as the act by means of which the
government transfers, to a private
entity, the control of state-owned
companies. This is usually achieved
through a public bidding process
where interested parties may bid
for the acquisition of the offered
government shares. A privatization
may involve simultaneous transfer
of equity control and delegation of
public services to be rendered by
the relevant company (in which
case the delegation is made under a
concession agreement).
Concession is the act by means of
which the government transfers, to
a private entity, the rendering of a
public service and the private entity
accepts to undertake it on behalf
of the State but at its own risk.

The concessionaire (the entity to
which the concession is granted)
is remunerated by charging a tariff
from the users of the services. A
concession also requires a previous
public bidding process.
A partnership, in turn, is a
broad term used to designate an
association between the government
and private entities to pursue a
specific goal of public interest,
such as the construction of a public
building, the rendering of public
services, or both. Partnerships differ
from concessions essentially in how
the private entities are remunerated,
since under partnerships they can be
remunerated by both rates charged
for the services and by direct
payments from the government, or
by a combination of the two, while
under concessions they are only
remunerated by the rates charged for
the services.
Thus, concessions are operated
under a free enterprise system, i.e.,
at the risk of the concessionaire,
whose profitability depends
exclusively on efficiency.
Partnerships, on the other hand,
cannot operate on a free enterprise
model, since the private partner is
(either partially or fully) remunerated
by the State, and therefore enjoys a
higher degree of security.
15.1. The National Privatization
Program (PND)
Brazils National Privatization
Program was established by Law n.
8,031 of April 12, 1990, as regulated
by Law n. 9,491 of September 9,
1997 and its respective Decree n.
2,594 of May 15, 1998. This is the
legal basis for the sale of companies,
including financial institutions,
directly or indirectly controlled by
the Federal Government, as well as
for the transfer, to private initiative,
of public services provided by the
Federal Government either directly or
through its controlled entities.
The National Privatization
Board (Conselho Nacional de
Desestatizao CND), whose
members are Ministers of State,
reports directly to the President
of the Republic and is the body in
charge of conducting the privatization
process.
The National Economic and Social

Development Bank (BNDES) is the
manager of the National Privatization
Fund and provides administrative
and operational support to CND
by contracting consultants and
specialists in supporting privatization
initiatives and coordinating the
distribution of securities through
stock exchanges, etc.
So far, most privatizations were
carried out by means of public
auctions held in Brazilian stock
exchanges. These auctions must
comply with the requirements of
Law n. 8,666 of June 21, 1993,
which regulates Article 37, XXI, of
the Federal Constitution and sets out
rules for public tenders. This federal
act was successively amended to
include new requirements for, inter
alia, bid invitations and methods,
payments and guarantees. These
amendments were mainly made by
Law n. 8,883 of June 8, 1994, by
Law n. 9,648 of May 27, 1998, by
Law n. 11,196 of November 21,
2005, and by Law n. 12,349 of
December, 2010. This legislation
is constantly changing and there is
already another Bill being reviewed
by Congress to improve the
provisions applied to public tender

procedures.
An important development for the
Brazilian Privatization Program
was the passage of the General
Telecommunications Act (Law n.
9,472 of July 16, 1997), which
regulates Constitutional Amendment
n. 8 of August 15, 1995 and
allows the private sector to provide
telecommunications services.
Before that, the Brazilian Congress
had adopted Law n. 9,295 of July
19, 1996, according to which
concessions for mobile telephony,
classified as a restricted public
service, are to be granted by
means of a public tender to Brazilian
companies with at least 51% of their
voting capital controlled, directly or
indirectly, by Brazilian nationals.
Apart from allowing for the transfer
of companies under Federal
Government control, the Privatization
Program also enabled the transfer
of companies controlled by states
and municipalities to private
management. Each state and
municipality has the competence
to set rules for their program,
meaning that privatization at these
levels is subject to specific local

laws. The State of So Paulo
has carried out one of the most
successful privatization programs
in Brazil. Since the So Paulo State
Privatization Law was passed, the
State has transferred companies to
the private sector in the fields of:
piped gas distribution services (both
in metropolitan areas (COMGS) and
in rural areas (Gas Brasiliano and
Gas Natural); electricity generation
(from plants on the Paranapanema
and Tiet rivers belonging to CESP);
and distribution of electricity (CPFL
and Eletropaulo, two of Brazils
largest distribution companies).
15.2. Public Service Concessions
Law n. 8,987 of February 13, 1995
(Concessions Act) regulates Article
175 of the Federal Constitution
and sets out requirements for
the concession of all public
services, except for radio and TV
broadcasting services. This statute
was later amended by Law n.
9,074 of July 7, 1995 and by Law
n. 11,196 of November 21, 2005.
The most important provisions of
the Concession Act are regulated
by Decree n. 2003 of September
10, 1996 and by Decree n. 1,717

of November 24, 1995, which
established new rules for the
approval and extension of public
service concessions, including
electricity-related concessions.
The Concessions Act expressly
requires a public tender process for a
concession to be granted to a private
entity.
15.3. Major industries privatized or
undergoing privatization
Among the principal industries
privatized to date or currently
undergoing privatization in Brazil, the
following are included:
- electricity and gas generation,
transmission and distribution;
- petrochemicals;
- highway, railroad, waterway and
air transportation;
- telecommunications;
- ports, airports, aerospace
infrastructure, road construction,
dams, canal locks, dry docks and
containers;
- financial institutions;
- sanitation, water treatment and
supply, waste treatment; and
- mining and metallurgy
15.4. Developments and Results of

the Privatization Program
According to the 2009 BNDS Activity
Report2, between 1990 and 2009 the
Government was able to conclude
71 privatizations, totaling more than
US$ 105.8 billion in revenues from
these deals. This amount was raised
not only by selling state-owned
companies, but also by transferring
their previous debts to the acquiring
private parties.
Privatized companies include
CSN (a national steel mill); CVRD
(Brazils largest mining company);
Mafersa (a manufacturer of railroad
equipment); Escelsa, Light, CERJ,
CEEE (partially privatized), CPFL,
Eletropaulo, Gerasul, COELBA, CESP
(also partially privatized) (electrical
utilities); the TELEBRS System
(virtually all telephone companies);
COMGS and CEG (gas distribution
companies); RFFSA (the national
railway line); Usiminas, Cosipa,
Acesita and CST (steel plants),
Poliotelinas (petrochemicals);
Ultrafertil (fertilizers), Embraer
http://www.bndes.gov.br/SiteBNDES/export/sites/
default/bndes_pt/Galerias/Arquivos/conhecimento/pnd/
PND_2009.pdf - accessed on July 21, 2011.
(the worlds fourth largest aircraft

manufacturer), and Banespa and
Meridional (banks).
Despite inevitable delays and
obstacles, the National Privatization
Program implemented in the 1990s
resulted in considerable gains for
the Public Administration. Between
1997 and 2000, the privatization
of companies in the electricity and
telecommunications industries
brought in revenues of approximately
US$ 70 billion for the Federal
Government alone, and foreign
capital investment in these sectors
has risen to about 40% of that
amount.
Twp of the largest privatizations ever
held in Latin America, of CVRD, the
mining and transportation giant, and
of TELEBRAS, the holding company
for the telecommunications system,
attracted worldwide interest and
greatly increased foreign investment
in Brazil.
In 2010, the exclusion of VALEC
from the PND was one of the main
developments in the privatization
sector in Brazil, as the stateowned company is responsible for
considerable investments in the

north-south railway construction
project. In 2011, the Brazilian
government intends to continue to
implement the national privatization
program, with a focus on expanding
and improving the countrys
electricity grid and on continuing
to privatize stretches of Brazilian
highways.
15.5. Public-Private
Partnerships
Law 11,079 of December 31,
2004 set out rules for PublicPrivate Partnerships (PPPs). The
PPP Act was further amended by
Law n. 12,024 of August 27, 2009
and by Law n. 12,409 of May 25,
2011. Under these new rules, the
Government aims to attract local and
foreign private investment of roughly
US$ 13 billion for basic infrastructure
projects, particularly in the fields of
transportation and sanitation.
These new rules enable the transfer
of responsibility for execution of
public works and delivery of public
services to the private sector, and
may be applied by all executivebranch agencies, special funds,
government agencies, foundations,

state-owned companies and
other entities controlled by the
Federal Government, States and
Municipalities.
Furthermore, common public service
concessions (described in the
previous section and governed by
Public Service Concession Law
Law 8,987/95), two new modalities
of public service concessions were
created. The first of these is the
sponsored concession (concesso
patrocinada), whereby the private
concessionaire is remunerated not
only by rates paid by users of the
services, but also by transfers of
funding from the public partner.
The second is the administrative
concession (concesso
administrativa), undertaken by
means of a service provision contact,
when the Public Administration is
the direct or indirect beneficiary
of the service (as in the case of
construction and management of
public buildings), even if it involves
execution of works or supply and
installation of goods.
The difference between the new
modalities of concession and the
common concession, which is
still effective as described above,

consists exactly in the remuneration
of the private entity by the Public
Administration. Therefore, when
the concession does not involve
any remuneration from the Public
Administration, it will not be a PPP
contract, but rather a common
concession.
The PPP law also sets limits for
Public-Private Partnerships. For
instance, it forbids contracts (i)
under the amount of R$ 20 million;
(ii) with a duration shorter than 5
years; or (iii) for the sole purpose of
labor supply, supply and installation
of equipments, or execution of public
construction works.
Administrative contracts under
the rules established by the PPP
Law contemplate periods for
return of capital compatible with
that of investments in the private
sector: never less than five or more
than thirty-five years, including
any possible extensions. For a
PPP contract to be entered into,
establishing a Specific Purpose
Company is required for the sole
purpose of implementing and
managing the PPP project.
A highly significant innovation

introduced under the PPP law was
the creation of an up six-billion
dollar Guarantee Fund (comprised of
shares of state-owned companies,
real estate properties, liquid assets,
etc.). This fund underwrites financial
obligations of the public-sector
partner assumed under contract to
the private partner, and its assets
serve as collateral against any
possible claims filed against the
Public Partner.
The law also innovates by
contemplating the possibility of
arbitration in disputes arising under a
PPP contract. Previously, the law did
not allow the Public Administration to
participate in arbitration procedures.
Because the governments principal
aim in introducing the framework for
PPPs was to streamline procedures
for timely execution of infrastructure
works to enhance and sustain
development, it was necessary to
introduce new mechanisms in public
tender procedures to speed them up.
In addition to Federal Legislation,
the Brazilian states, within their
jurisdictional sphere, also enacted

laws to facilitate implementation of
local projects (without interference
of the Federal Administration) that
provide for new forms of guarantees,
including the establishment of new
state-owned companies responsible
for signing and management PPP
contracts. So Paulo, Minas Gerais,
Santa Catarina, Bahia and Rio Grande
do Sul are the main that have passed
laws for PPPs.
It is interesting to note that,
according to recent estimates, Brazil
will need investments of more than
R$ 100 billion to comply with the
commitments involved in hosting
the 2014 World Cup and the 2016
Olympic Games. This initial appraisal
included improvements in the
transportation sector, in electricity
generation and distribution, in basic
sanitation systems, and in ports
and airports, among others. PPPs
are expected to play a decisive role
in ensuring the feasibility of major
infrastructure projects, for which
purpose quick action on the part of
the government to formalize these
partnerships is a must.
16 - TELECOMMUNICATIONS
16.1. Telecommunications in Brazil
Brief Overview
For over 35 years, Law 4.117/62
of August 27, 1962, known as
the Brazilian Telecommunication
Code (Cdigo Brasileiro de
Telecomunicaes CBT), governed
the provision of telecommunications
services in Brazil. This law
authorized the establsihment of
the Brazilian Telecommunications
Company (Empresa Brasileira de
Telecomunicaes S.A.-EMBRATEL).
Law 5792 of July 11, 1972
authorized the creation of the
public/private joint stock company
TELEBRAS (Telecomunicaes
Brasileiras S.A)to promote,
through subsidiaries and
associate companies, public
telecommunications services in
Brazil and abroad. TELEBRS,
its subsidiaries and associate
companies comprised the TELEBRS
System, which ultimately also
incorporated EMBRATEL.
Liberalization of the Brazilian
telecommunications market
started with the promulgation
of Constitutional Amendment
08/95 of August 15, 1995, which
enabled the Federal Government
to transfer the right to provide
telecommunications services to
privately owned companies by
means of authorization, concession
or permission.
Shortly thereafter, Law 9265/96 of
July 19, 1996 (the Minimum Law)
fully deregulated and liberalized the
provision of value-added services,
relaxed requirements for the
provision of satellite communication
and non-public telecommunications
services, and defined the process for
the tendering and licensing of B-Band
mobile cellular services.
In 1997, Law 9472/97 of July
16, 1997, known as the General
Telecommunications Law (Lei
Geral de Telecomunicaes
-LGT), created the Brazilian
National Telecommunications
Agency (Agncia Nacional de
Telecomunicaes ANATEL)
and established the criteria for the
privatization of state telephone
companies as well as other rules
concerning liberalization and
competition in telecommunications
markets.
The General Telecommunications
Law determined that networks be
organized to promote free circulation
along integrated routes, and provided
for mandatory interconnection
between all networks and support
services of collective interest.
Furthermore, it guaranteed integrated
operation and made property rights
over the networks conditional on the
fulfillment of their respective social
role. In this respect, interconnection
is a major instrument for ensuring
convergence.
Law also provided a legal
definition of value added services,
clearly stating that these are not
telecommunications services, and
classifying providers of value added
services as users of the underlying
telecommunications service or
network.
Therefore, except for data
transmission services, general
internet services are outside
ANATELs jurisdiction, and may
be provided without regulatory
constraints.
In mid-1998 the TELEBRS System

underwent a complete restructuring
process, which included privatizing
its subsidiaries and ensuring
significant investments to expand
telecommunications services in view
of new technologies.
For the purpose of introducing
competition into the fixed telephony
market, fixed switched telephone
services were separated into three
different service levels, which were
subjected to distinct licensing
requirements. Brazil was divided
into four Regions, and the number
of competitors in each service level
for the period between privatization
and December 31, 2001 was limited
to two companies per Region:
the concessionaire and its mirrorcompany (General Licensing Plan
approved by Decree 2534/98 of April
2, 1998).
Provision of local telephone services
was entrusted to a concessionaire
and a mirror-company (under a
duopoly system) in each service
area in Regions I, II and III. Provision
of national long-distance services
was assigned to two regional
companies (the concessionaire and
the mirror-company) in Regions

I, II and III, and to two national
companies (the incumbent and the
mirror-company) in operation all over
the Brazilian territory, i.e. Region IV.
International long distance licenses
were granted to the two national
companies, which were authorized
to originate calls anywhere in Brazil
(Region IV).
The objective of the duopoly
system, a striking feature of this
first phase of liberalization of the
telecommunications sector, was to
allow companies enough time to
establish and consolidate themselves
in the market before the introduction
of free competition in 2002. During
the transition period between
privatization of companies within
the TELEBRS System and the full
liberalization of the fixed and mobile
telephony markets, competition
was limited to the dispute between
incumbents and mirror-companies
in the fixed telephony market, and
between Band A and Band B mobile
telephony concessionaires.
The second phase of liberalization
of the Brazilian telecommunications
market started in 2002, eliminating
any limits on the number of service

operators. Nevertheless, ANATEL still
reserves the right to set limits and
other legal-administrative restrictions
in exceptional cases, on grounds of
technicalunfeasibility or when an
excessive number of competitors
might negatively affect the provision
of a service of collective interest.
16.2. Development of Mobile
Telephony
Mobile telephone services in Brazil
were initially provided by companies
within the TELEBRS System (in
a frequency sub-level known as
Band A). Following approval of
Constitutional Amendment 8/95,
regulations were issued in 1996
governing the provision of mobile
cellular services (Servio Mvel
Celular SMC) in preparation for the
private provision of Band B services.
Initially exploited through
concessions, since the entry
into force of the General
Telecommunications Law (LGT)
mobile cellular services have
been provided exclusively by
private companies upon previous
authorization.

Law replaced all preexisting
regulations, standards and rules on
mobile communications with the new
rules issued by ANATEL, which have
been gradually implemented since
2000 and are known as Personal
Mobile Services (Servio Mvel
Pessoal -PMS).
Between 2001 and 2003, up to
three additional mobile licenses per
region corresponding to Bands C,
D and E were auctioned. Interested
companies were allowed to bid for
PMS authorizations in each of the
three regions as well as to acquire
licenses for all three regions.
However, they were forbidden to
acquire more than one authorization
within each region.
Any company organized under
Brazilian laws and controlled by a
Brazilian holding company may hold
a PMS license, even if under foreign
control.
The new rules increasing service
areas have led to mergers and
acquisitions between operators. In
Brazil, mobile telephony has grown
rapidly, with an emphasis on pre166 Calendrio Brasileiro de Exposies e Feiras 2012
paid mobile services. Currently, the

technology most widely used is
GSM, followed by CDMA and TDMA.
16.3. The Telecommunications
Regulatory Agency (ANATEL)
Brazils telecom regulator, the
National Telecommunications
Agency (ANATEL) enjoys
administrative independence and
financial autonomy and is under no
hierarchical subordination.
Basically, ANATEL is empowered
to: (i) issue rules on the licensing,
provision and use of public
telecommunications services
under the public regime (universal
services); (ii) establish, control
and supervise tariff structures
for each level of service provided
under the public regime; (iii) sign
and manage concession contracts;
(iv) issue rules concerning the
provision of telecommunications
services under the private regime;
(v) control, prevent and enforce
sanctions in the event of violation
of the economic order in the field
of telecommunications, without
prejudice to the competences of the
Administrative Council for Economic
Defense (Conselho Administrativo

de Defesa Econmica - CADE);
(vi) manage the radio-frequency
spectrum and the use of satellite
orbits; (vii)define service levels
based on their objectives, scope,
form, means of transmission,
technology used, and other
attributes; (viii) supervise the
provision of services and impose
administrative sanctions on service
providers that fail to comply with
telecommunications rules.
16.4. General Telecommunications
Law
Except for certain provisions
relating to criminal offenses and
broadcasting provisions, the Brazilian
Telecommunications Code was
revoked with the coming into force
of the General Telecommunications
Law.
This Law provides a framework for
the provision of telecommunications
services, the establishment and
operation of a regulatory agency, and
sets certain fundamental principles
of the Telecommunications Law in
Brazil.
This framework ensures
free, unencumbered and fair
competition among providers of

telecommunications services, while
establishing general standards for
protecting the economic order. Any
acts of service providers that might
hamper free competition in any way
or form are prohibited by law.
Interconnection is defined by the
General Telecommunications Law
(article 146, sole paragraph) as the
connection between functionally
compatible telecommunications
networks, allowing users of one
network to communicate with
users of another network or access
the services available within it.
Interconnection is to be ensured
through contracts freely negotiated
between operating companies. In the
absence of an agreement, ANATEL
may only intervene if called upon to
do so by one of the parties.
16.5. Telecom Service Regime
The organizational framework of
the telecommunications sector
established by the General
Telecommunications Law is
based on a system of limits and
restrictions applicable to service
operators. Exploitation of any
telecommunications services or
network is conditional on prior
licensing by ANATEL, except in
certain specific situations, when
mere notification to ANATEL will
suffice. Licenses are also granted
according to different service levels,
as defined by ANATEL.
Thus, exploitation of
telecommunications services is
conditional on (i) prior concession or
permission; (ii) authorization; or (iii)
notification to ANATEL.
Law classifies services under
two different criteria. The first
criterion relates to the scope of the
commercial provision of services
classified as (i) services of collective
interest; and (ii) services of restricted
interest.
Services of collective interest are
those which must be available to
all interested persons under nondiscriminatory conditions. Services
of restricted interest, in turn, are
those intended for service providers
or offered to selected classes of
users at the operating companys
discretion.
The second criterion set by the

General Telecommunications Law
classifies services according to the
legal rules under which they are
provided, i.e., public services or
private services.
Telecommunications services
provided under the public regime
are those which the Federal
Government has either the
obligation or competence to provide
on a permanent, universal and
continuous basis. The fixed switched
telephony service (FSTS) provided
commercially to the general public is
the only telecommunications service
that the General Telecommunications
Law establishes as a legal duty of
the Federal Government. Thus, the
only public telecommunications
service subject to being universal
and continuous is the FSTS aimed at
end users. This duty is to be fulfilled
through delegation, by means of
concession contracts.
Telecommunications services
under the private regime are those
provided under a free enterprise
system by the private sector, through
simple authorization by ANATEL
and conditional on fulfillment of
expansion and service-provision

requirements.
Concessions to provide services
entail an administrative contract
with ANATEL, awarded by means of
a public tender procedure, without
exclusivity. Concessionaires whose
revenues come from billings are
subject to business risks. The
maximum term of a concession is
20 years, with the possibility of a
one-time-only renewal or extension
for an equal period. In January 2006,
current concession contracts were
renewed and will be reviewed by
ANATEl every five years, with a view
to establishing new conditions, new
universal service obligations, and
quality parameters.
Retail prices for fixed switched
telephony services under the public
regime are subject to price caps.
ANATEL may grant concessionaires
an unrestricted tariff system,
provided there is general and
effective competition among service
providers.
Fixed switched telephony services
may also be provided by companies
other than concessionaires, under
a private regime, and therefore are

not subject to universal service
obligations.
Exploitation of FSTS under a private
regime is based on the constitutional
principle of economic activity, and
should be guided by principles of free
and unfettered competition among
service providers, consumer rights,
and incentive to the technological
and industrial development of the
sector.
Prices charged by service providers
under the private system are not
subject to regulation. Nevertheless,
any anticompetitive behavior or
abuse of economic power may be
punished.
Exploitation of services under
a private regime requires prior
authorization from ANATEL and
entails the right to use the associated
radio frequency. No limits exist on the
number of authorizations that may be
granted by ANATEL for exploitation
of services under a private regime,
except when technical limitations or
excessive numbers of competitors
may be detrimental to the provision
of services in the collective interest.
In such exceptional situations where

it proves necessary to limit the
number of authorizations, granting of
an authorization may be preceded by
a public tender procedure, similar to
those for granting PMS licenses.
The right to use the radio-frequency
spectrum, exclusively or otherwise,
requires prior authorization from
ANATEL, linked specifically to the
concession or authorization for the
exploitation of telecommunications
service. Authorization for the use of
a radio frequency in connection with
the provision of a service under the
public regime is for the same term
as that of the concession to which it
is associated. Although authorization
for the exploitation of services under
a private regime is independent
of the term, the right to use radio
frequencies associated thereto is
for a term of up to 20 years, with
the possibility of a one-time-only
extension for an equal period.
Transfer of the right to use a radio
frequency is conditional on the
transfer of the concession or
authorization to which it is linked.
Basic consumer rights have been
reinforced through the regulation of

Fixed Switched Telephony Services
recently introduced by ANATEL and
applicable to all FSTS providers,
whether concessionaires or not. For
PMS users, basic consumer rights
are reinforced through the new rules
recently announced by ANATEL.
16.6. Transfer of Control of Telecom
Companies
The rules for transferring
the controlling interest in a
telecommunications service provider
in Brazil are provided for in the
General Telecommunications Law.
ANATEL, in its role of fostering
effective competition and preventing
economic concentration, has the
legal power to set restrictions, limits
or conditions as regards obtaining
and transferring service concessions
and authorizations.
One of the most important ex
ante merger control rules is
ANATEL Resolution 101/99, which
establishes criteria and concepts to
oversee both control and transfer of
control that might lead to economic
concentration.
Under the terms of this Resolution,

the controller is an individual or
corporate entity that directly or
indirectly: (i) participates in or
appoints a person or member of the
Board of Directors, the Governing
Body or other board with similar
duties, of another company or its
controller; (ii) holds statutory or
contractual veto over any matter
or decision of the other; (iii) is
sufficiently empowered to prevent
a qualified forum or decision
required by force of statutory or
contractual provision, with regard to
the decisions of the other; (iv) holds
shares of the other, of a class which
grants separate voting right.
Also according to this Resolution,
a company is deemed to be an
affiliate of another if it holds, directly
or indirectly, at least 20% of the
other companys voting stock, or if
at least 20% of the voting stock of
both companies is held, directly or
indirectly, by the same individual or
corporate entity.
The Resolution further establishes
that any legal transaction which
results in partial or total transfer by
the controller of a controlling interest
in the service provider represents a

transfer of control.
Finally, any changes to the corporate
structure of a company that could
represent a transfer of control require
prior approval by ANATEL, especially
when: (i) the controlling entity or
one of its members withdraws or
when its participation in the voting
capital of the service provider or its
controlling entity drops below five
percent; (ii) the controlling entity
ceasesto hold a majority of the
companys voting stock; or (iii) the
controlling entity, through any form of
agreement, totally or partially assigns
to a third party powers to manage
the companys corporate activities or
business operations.
16.7. Taxes on the
Telecommunications Sector
Law 9998 of August 17,
2000 created the Universal
Telecommunication Services Fund
(Fundo de Universalizao de
Servios de Telecomunicaes
- FUST) to defray fulfillment
of universal service targets
unrecoverable through efficient
service provision. As of 2001,
operators have been paying 1%

of gross pre-tax (ICMS, PIS and
COFINS) revenues from the provision
of telecommunications services into
the fund.
To avoid a cascade effect of FUST
charges on the production chain of
telecommunications services, Law
9998 applied the tax to revenues
from retail services provided to end
users, exempting wholesale minutes
to other carriers (interconnection)
and leased lines fees. However, a
recent interpretation by ANATEL
(the agency managing FUST)
challenged this exemption, and the
FUST charge is now applied to all
services. This administrative change
to the law is being challenged in both
administrative and judicial spheres,
and the outcome will certainly impact
all telecommunications service
providers.
The purpose of the
Telecommunications Supervision
Fund (Fundo de Fiscalizao das
Telecomunicaes - FISTEL)
created by Law 5070/66 of July 7,
1966 and ratified by the General
Telecommunications Law is to defray
ANATELs expenses incurred in the
supervision of telecommunications
services. All concessionaires
and authorized companies are
liable for an Installation Inspection
Fee (Taxa de Fiscalizao de
InstalaoTFI) upon licensing of
their telecommunications stations.
The TFI fee is determined based on
a table prepared by ANATEL, and
varies according to the number of
antennas and equipment in use.
These companies are also liable for
the annual payment of an Operation
Inspection Fee (Taxa de Fiscalizao
de Funcionamento TFF), which is
calculated at on the basis of 50% the
TFI fee.
Law 10052 of November 28,
2000 established the Fund for
Technological Development of
Telecommunications (Fundo para o
Desenvolvimento Tecnolgico das
Telecomunicaes -FUNTTEL),which
received an endowment of R$100
million from the Telecommunications
Supervision Fund (FISTEL). FUNTTEL
receives 0.5% of gross revenues
from telecommunications services
plus 1% of income generated form
telephony based events by authorized
institutions. The aim of FUNTTEL
is to fund technological research
conducted by small and mediumsize companies, thereby increasing

the competitiveness of the Brazilian
telecommunication industry.
Furthermore, telecommunications
services are also subject to ICMS tax
(state VAT), which is provided for in
the Federal Constitution.
16.8. Incentives
Brazilian law offers providers of
telecommunications services
incentives for developing
telecommunications products
through specific credit, tax, and
customs policy instruments.
Thus, although the Brazilian
Government has practically
eliminated ex-tariff special
importation regulations, significant
exceptions remain in effect for
certain components used in
telecommunications, which had
formerly been liable to import duties
of up to 16%.
Law 10176 of January 11, 2001
extended the exemption of the
IPI tax (Tax on Industrialized
Products) through December 31,
2000 on items specified in the
Law. Since then, exemptions have

been converted into reductions of
applicable IPI rates. The percentage
reduction is due to be gradually
reduced until December 31, 2009,
when full rates are to be applied.
16.9. The Future of
Telecommunications Services
The major developmentanticipatedin
the telecommunications
industryregards the choiceof
theDigital TVstandardto be
adoptedin Brazil.No decision as
to the standard to be adopted has
been made to date. The criteria
forchoosing thedigital television
standard will still besetby
Congressand this choice isa
government priority.Themodelto
be chosen mustsupportmobile
reception,portability, multimediaand
interactivity, with a view to
promotingdigital inclusion,updating
andrevitalizing thebroadcasting
sector and thenational
industry,optimizing the use
ofradiofrequency spectrum,and
contributing tothe convergence
oftelecommunications services.
With the aim of fostering competition,
ANATEL has issued new rules for

switched fixed telephony services,
the provision of leased lines and a
mandatory cost accounting system,
by introducing into the Brazilian
regulatory framework the European
concept of significant market power
(SMP). Other anticipated exante obligations to be imposed on
concessionaires include developing
networks where concessionaires
have no available capacity. The
Agency has also announced
measures to regulate the numbering,
portability, resale and the possibility
of using technologies such as WLL
(Wireless Local Loop), cable TV and
Power Line Networks (PLN) in new
service delivery models.
Another government priority is to
settle legal issues that hinder the
use of FUST funds, which entails
an anaticipated amendment to the
General Telecommunications Law.
A package of bills aimed at
harmonizing paid TV and
broadcasting legislation with a view
to digital inclusion is also anticipated.
The transmission ofcontent
byprovidersof telecommunications
servicesvis--visthe scope of
theconstitutional restrictionon
foreign capitalapplicable
tobroadcasters has led to a
heated debate, especiallyfollowing
the inclusion in newly
renovatedconcession contracts
ofaclause (in force since
January 1st, 2006), according
to which content-related
servicesshouldcomply with foreign
capitalrestrictions provided forin the
Constitutionfor broadcasting.
A bill on the powers of Brazilian
regulatory agencies currently under
discussion at the National Congress
may significantly alter the status
of ANATEL, its powers to grant
telecommunications licenses, and
its role of controlling and preventing
violations of the economic order and
ensuring fair competition.
17 - ELETRIC ENERGY
17.1. Introduction
entrants into the sector.4
The energy sector in Brazil underwent

extensive and significant changes
in the 1990s under the Fernando
Henrique Cardoso Administration3.
These entailed a redefinition of
the role of the State, the gradual
implementation of an economic
model based on free competition,
and a massive increase of private
investment in the sector.
In 1996, Law 9427 provided

for the creation of the Brazilian
Electricity Regulatory Agency
(Agncia Nacional de Energia
Eltrica - ANEEL), an independent
agency, to regulate the electricity
sector. Subsequently, Law 9648
introduced important elements for
the implementation of a new model
for the Brazilian electricity sector.
Essentially, this new model sought
to gradually liberalize the electric
energy sector by introducing
concessions or authorizations for
the provision of electricity generation
and distribution services by private
companies and the privatization
of concessionaires under the
supervision of an independent
regulatory agency, thus opening
Constitutional Amendment 6 of 1995

set the stage for these changes
by removing the requirement
that only Brazilian companies of
national capital could participate
in the electricity sector, thereby
enabling the participation of foreign
capital, including ownership of
concessionaires. In the same year,
Laws 8987 and 9074 defined the
rules for concession to explore
electricity, provided a framework for
new concessions and the privatization
of public-service concessionaires,
and defined rules governing new
President Fernando Henrique Cardoso served two

presidential terms, from 1995 to 1998 and from 1999
to 2002. Significant changes in the energy sector took
place during his first term in office.
The Brazilian privatization process was based on

Law 8031/90, which created the National Privatization
Program; Law 8666/93 (Tenders Law), which defined
applicable bidding procedures; Laws 8987and 9074/95,
which established the general rules for concessions;
Law 9427/97, which created ANEEL and established
the guidelines for the concession of public electricity
services; Law 9648/98, which, inter alia, provides for the
restructuring of the energy sector and the privatization
of ELETROBRS and its subsidiaries (ELETROSUL,
ELETRONORTE, CHESF and FURNAS).
up the sector to private investment

while introducing competition among
service providers.
However, the model was only
partially implemented, for although
many new generation concessions
were granted between 1995 and
2002, only some 70% of distribution
companies and 20% of generation
companies were privatized.
In 2001, the country experienced
an electricity supply crisis, which
led the government to take a host
of measures to curtail electricity
use, foster investments in
electricity generation, and enact
Law 10438/2002 introducing new
regulations. At the time, problems
inherent in the sector were broadly
discussed by civil society, making
it clear that the model, despite its
merits, required some adjustments.
After President Luiz Incio Lula da
Silva took office in January 2003,
a new policy with new guidelines
and regulatory standards for the
electricity sector was announced in
July 2003 by the Ministry of Mines
and Energy (MME). On December
11, 2003, Executive Orders (MP) 144
and 145, subsequently transformed

into Laws 108485and 10847 of
March 15, 2004 went into effect,
providing the present regulatory
model.
The most significant changes
introduced under the present
model include increased powers
to the MME and the curtailing
of ANEELs responsibilities.
Moreover, two new distinct trade
environments for contracting
electricity were formally introduced:
the Free Trade Environment and the
Regulated Trade Environment or
Pool, in which all generation and
distribution concession holders
are obliged to participate. The
Electric Power Trading Chamber
(Cmara de Comercializao de
Energia Eltrica - CCEE) was
created to replace the Electric
Power Wholesale Market (Mercado
Atacadista de Energia Eltrica MAE) established in the previous
Administration, and is entrusted
with the tasks of accounting for
and settling operations not covered
by bilateral contracts. The new
5
Law 10848 was regulated by Decree 5,163/04, which
was subsequently amended by Decrees 5249/04,
5271/04 and 5499/05.
model is characterized by strong

sector planning instruments to be
implemented the Ministry of Mines
and Energy with the support of the
Energy Research Company (Empresa
de Pesquisa Energtica EPE,
created by Law 10847/2004) and
centralized control of electricityrelated activities by the Ministry.
17.2. Sector Agents
The stimulusto competition,
however, reinforcedthe need fordeep
restructuringof the electricity sector,
whichwas done intwosteps,
as explained above,comprising
the definitionof(i)the agents
responsible for the regulation
andoperation of the newBrazilian
electric system; (ii)the basic
featuresthat such a system
shouldhave toenable the
implementation ofanefficient and
competitive model; and(iii)the
contractual modelsapplicable to the
sector.
TheNational Energy PolicyCouncil
(Conselho Nacional de Poltica
Energtica - CNPE)6,an advisory
6
The CNPE was created by Law 9478/1997.
body tothe President,was created

withthe aim of proposingto the
President national policiesand
specific measuresto promotethe
rational use ofenergy
resources,ensure the supply
ofinputs inmore remote areasor
areas of difficult access,periodically
reviewthe energy matrices and
establish guidelines forspecific
programs,among other goals.
Special mention should be
made of theestablishment,by
Law9427/96,of thespecific
electricity regulatory agency, ANEEL7
- an autarchy linked to theMinistry
of Mines and Energy8, butendowed
withpowersandrevenues of its
own - and of the National Electric
SystemOperator (Operador
Nacional do Sistema ONS),a
private,nonprofit entity established
by Law9648/98and integratedby
agents of the electricity sectorand
Created by Law 9247/1996, its duties were
subsequently altered by Laws 9648/1998, 9649/1998,
9986/2000, 10438/2002 and 10848/2004.
8
Law 10683/2003 defined the subjects within the
MMEs jurisdiction. For example: geology, mineral
and energy resources, hydraulic energy use, mining
and metallurgy, oil, fuel and electric energy, including
nuclear. Also, rural energizing and agro energy, including
rural electricity, when based on resources related to the
National Electric System.
free consumers, according

torelevant legislation.
In summary, ANEELis responsible
for regulating andsupervising
the production, transmission,
distribution andsale of
electricity(Law 9427, art. 2)9, while
theONSisbasicallyresponsible
for coordinating and
controlling activitiesrelated
to the operationof electricity
generation andtransmissionin
the interconnected systems
(Decree2655/98,art.25).
In 2004 ANEELandthe Ministry
of Mines and Energy had
theirdutieschanged. The Ministry10
was granted significant powers to
decide on relevant issuesin the
sector.ANEELis now responsible for
promoting bidding-related activities,
State Agencies. Law 9,427/1996 authorized ANEEL
to decentralize its activities to the Brazilian States.
Decentralization has occurred by means of cooperation
agreements with state regulatory agencies created
by law. The activities delegated are supervision,
ombudsman and mediation between consumers and
concession holders, with the aim to streamline their
respective processes. ANEEL transfers part of the
proceeds from the collection of supervision fees to state
agencies.
10
The MME was responsible for drafting concession
plans, establishing guidelines for bidding processes and
promoting concession bids.
9
but has kept its authorityas regards

reviewingconcessionsand regulating
electricity tariffs andsales.
Coordination and controlof
generation and transmissionof the
interconnected systemcontinued to
be carried out bythe ONS,a private
legal entity which, however, is no
longer authorizedby ANEELbut by
theGovernment,although supervised
and regulatedby ANEEL.11
TheBrazilian electricity sector is,for
the most part,interconnected.
Its mainagentsoperatein a
coordinated mannerto maximizethe
efficiencyof the production
process.Thiscoordinated operation,
which was implemented back
in the 1970s andfor a long time
led by the Coordinating Group
forInterconnected Operation (Grupo
Coordenador para Operao
Interligada - GCOI),is currently
carried out by the ONSthrough
generation dispatches.
TheGovernment also established the
Law 10484/04 amended articles 13 and 14 of Law
9648/98. Of the 5 ONS directors, 3 are appointed by
the Ministry of Mines and Energy, including the Director
General.
11
Energy Research Company(Empresa

de Pesquisa Energtica EPE)12and
the Electric Energy Trading Chamber
(Cmara de Comercializao de
Energia Eltrica - CCEE).13EPEwas
createdas a publicresearch
andplanning company linked to
theMME. The studies andresearch
conductedby the entitywill serve as
input for the formulation,planning
and implementationof MME
actions.CCEE was createdto
replace MAE14(whichwas
abolishedby the current model),as
a nonprofitprivate legal entity
under Government authorization,
regulated and supervised by
ANEEL,in order tofacilitate thesale
ofelectricity.CCEE isnecessarily
The creation of EPE was authorized by Law
10847/2004.
13
The creation of CCEE was authorized by Law
10848/2008 and Decree 5177/2004.
14
MAE was created (Law 9648/98) and initially
based on the so-called Market Agreement (Acordo do
Mercado), a multilateral adhesion agreement executed
by agents of the energy sector (voluntary or mandatory
participants in MAE, according to the provisions of
Decree 2655/98 and applicable ANEEL Resolutions),
for processing the free purchase and sale operations
of electricity, with emphasis on short-term operations
(spot market). Subsequently, the creation of MAE was
authorized according to Law 10433/2002, as a private
legal entity submitted to ANEELs authorization, regulation
and supervision. MAE, therefore, used to establish the
commercial and financial rules for electricity purchase
and sale transactions. On the other hand, the dispatch
and delivery of the contracted energy were mostly
coordinated and carried by the ONS.
12
formed byindustry players,including

free consumers. ANEELwas
responsible for developing the
Trading Conventionthat set the
conditions for thesale of electricity
and the basis for theorganization,
operation andduties ofCCEE, as well
as tradingrulesand procedures.15
The Electricity Sector Monitoring
Committee (Comit de
Monitoramento do Sector Eltrico
CMSE)16 was also established
within the MME, with the task
of permanently monitoring and
evaluating the continuity and safety
of the electricity supply across the
country.
Finally, mention should be made
ofELETROBRS(Brazilian
Electricity Companies S.A.)
-a publicly traded company
with52.45% ofshares owned by
the Brazilian Government,12.3%
The Trading Convention was regulated by Decree
5177/04 and ANEEL Regulatory Resolution 109 of
10/26/04.
16
Created by Decree 5175/2004, the CMSEs main
purpose is to avoid the lack of supply in the electric
energy market. Therefore, it must follow the consumer
markets evolution, the development of civil works
programs, including by identifying difficulties of
technical, environmental, commercial and institutional
nature that may affect the regularity and security of
supply.
15
byBNDESPar,4.2%by the FNDand

more than30% ofshares tradedon
the stock exchangesof So Paulo,
Madridand New York - which
acts as an agentof the Brazilian
Government.It is theholding
company ofelectric energy
concessionaires under federal control
(CHESF,Furnas,ELETRONORTE,
ELETROSUL, etc.); a shareholder
inItaipuBinacional with
50%of the shares; a minority
shareholderin somestateownedelectricitycompanies
controlled by the
states;managesfundsmade
up of resources fromRGR,
CCC, andCDE, as well as
purchase andsale operations
ofPROINFA;financespublic
and private ventures in the
energy sector;and sells in Brazil
theelectricity producedatItaipu
Binacional.
of liberalization of the Brazilian

electricity sector.
As the model was aimed at fostering
competition, new agents entered the
sector with a view to making offer
and demand more flexible:
17.3. Activities and Agents of the

Sector
Under this model, competition has

been introduced into generation
and trading activities, with only a
minimum level of regulation, whereas
transmission and distribution,
regarded as natural monopolies, are
strictly regulated.
As the first step toward reorganizing

traditional generation, transmission,
and distribution activities, in 1995
concessions were redefined with
the aim of launching a process
(i) Electricity Traders and Importers;

(ii) Independent Producers, i.e.,
corporate entities or consortia
holding concessions or authorization
to produce electricity for their own
use or for sale, at their expense and
risk (i.e., without captive markets that
electricity concessionaires usually
enjoy and without the right to set
tariffs);
(iii) The so-called free consumers,
who are free to choose their
electricity supplier, a group that is
likely to experience progressive
increases in the coming years.
In 2004, new rules redefined the

trading of energy between these
agents, especially as regards the
generation and distribution system.
Brazils Federal Constitution
empowers the Federal Government,
as holder of potential hydraulic
energy resources, to exploit electric
power services, plants, and energy
from water courses17 either directly
or through concession, permission,
or authorization.
Thus, within the Brazilian energy
sector, activities related to
generation, transmission, distribution
and trading are considered
separately, including for the purpose
of licensing and contracting services.
The rules for each of these segments
are summarized below:
Generation
Generation is defined as the
transformation of any other form of
energy into electricity. Differently
from other countries, hydroelectric
plants account for 93% of the
Brazilian electricity generation
capacity.
17
Art. 21, XII, b of the Federal Constitution.
Rules for licensing hydroelectric

and thermoelectric plants take into
account the type of exploitation
(provision of public utility services,
Independent Producer, or SelfProducer18) and the potential capacity
of hydroelectric or thermoelectric
resources.
Transmission
Transmission is defined as a
public service for transporting
high-voltage electric power
produced at generating plants to
consumer centers. Since most of
Brazils electricity is produced at
hydroelectric plants, generation
often takes place at a considerable
distance from consumer markets.
Brazil has thus developed one of the
most modern transmission networks
in the world, with a number of
regional connections that comprise
the Interconnected Electrical System
Network, also known as the National
Interconnected System (Sistema
18
Law 9074/95 and subsequent amendments thereto,
and Decree 2003/96 established rules for the activities of
Independent Producers and Self-Producers of electricity.
Self-Producer is an individual, legal entity, or consortium
of corporations that are granted a concession or
authorization to produce electricity for their own use, and
are entitled, through specific permission, to trade any
surplus electricity.
Interligado Nacional SIN). Other

transmission lines not connected to
this system comprise the so-called
Isolated Systems.
From a structural standpoint, it is
the Interconnected System that
enables contracting the electricity
supplier by ensuring all agents and
consumers in the sector, free access
to the concessionaires (or permit
holders) of public transmission and
distribution systems against payment
of the corresponding transport fees.
It should finally be pointed out
that transmission services are
exploited only under the public
service concession regime, and
this is undoubtedly one of the most
regulated segments in the sector.
It is worth mentioningthataccording
toLaw12111ofDecember
9, 2009,regulatedby
Decree7246ofJuly
28, 2010, transmission
facilitiesforinternational
interconnections, connectedto the
Basic Network have become, as
of January 1st,2011,the object
ofpublic serviceconcession
thorough auction preceded byan
International Treaty.
Distribution
Distribution is a public utility service
for the transport of low-voltage
electric power by means of a multilined network, from transmission-line
terminals (where high voltage is
transformed into low voltage) to end
consumers.
Distribution service concession
contracts ensure distributors a
constant supply of power to meet
the needs of captive consumers
located in their concession areas.
These so-called captive consumers
are not allowed to purchase electric
power from another supplier. Free
consumers, on the other hand,
depending upon their consumption
and voltage requirements (at
present, those whose requirements
are in excess of 69 KV and higher
than or equal to 3 MW), although
located in a concession area of a
given distributor, may choose to
receive their electric power from
another supplier, by means of a
specific contract. In such cases, the
distributor is obliged to provide free
access to its distribution facilities,
upon reimbursement of transport

costs.
Trading
Since the enactment of Law
9648/98, electricity trading has been
carried out separately from other
electricity sector activities by means
of an authorization. Thus, aside
frommarketing activitiescarried out
byproducersand distributors, there
are thesuppliers, i.e.,companies
that,without holdingphysical
assetscan purchase electricity and
sell it tofree consumersandfor
distribution companies, as well as
importand exportelectricity.
Unbundling
Law 10848/2004 forbids the
control or association of generation
concessionaires and other parties
authorized to use the interconnected
system with companies engaged
in distribution activities. Likewise,
distribution companies may
no longer engage in generation
and transmission activities;
sell energy to free consumers,
except for consumers located in
their concession areas; perform
activities beyond the scope of the

concession; or hold direct or indirect
interests in other companies (with
a few exceptions). Generation and
transmission activities may continue
to be vertically integrated. The law
also sets a deadline for companies
to implement the separation of
activities.
17.4. Contracts in the Energy
Sector
The current modelhas
substantially changedthe
rules forcontracting energy by
establishing two environments
forenergy trading-theFree
TradeEnvironment(Ambiente
de Livre Contratao - ALC)
andtheRegulated Trade
Environment(Ambiente de
Contratao Regulada Pool).Allagents have tosellthe
energy of the interconnected system
either inthe ALC orthe Pool.
The purchase of electricity by
concession and permit holders and
authorized entities of the public
service of electricity distribution
within the Interconnected System,
as well as the supply of electricity to
the regulated market must be made

in the Pool. Therefore, all energy
sales to distributors must be made in
the Pool and through auctions, and
distributors must fully guarantee its
market through regulated trade.
In this system, purchase and sale are
carried out through bilateral contracts
known as Energy Trading Contract in
the Regulated Environment (Contrato
de Comercializao de Energia no
Ambiente Regulado CCEAR),
concluded between each concession
holder or authorized party of
generation and all distribution
companies. The contracts may be
in the form of electricity quantity
or availability. Distributors are
required to provide guarantees and
contracting will be done through an
auction held by ANEEL either directly
or through a CCEE. Additionally,
supply tariffs in this environment will
be strictly regulated and must be
ratified by ANEEL.
Electricity purchaseand sale
contracts concludedin the
Poolwill necessarily involvelongterm suppliesto businessesthat
alreadyholda license or
authorization(called old energy),
with a supply period of at

leastthreeand no more than15
years, andto newventures
(callednew energy), with a supply
of at least15 andno more than
35years.According to theMinistry
of Mines and Energy, this will
ensureinvestors astable flow of
returnand help tofinance expansion
worksin the electricity sector.
Independent Producers(hydroand
thermal)andSelf-Producersselling
theirsurplus mayparticipate in
the Pool,in the ALC of in both
simultaneously.Those participating
in the Pool thatstart to contract
energyin such an environmentwill
be subject toallrules applicable
thereto and their activities inthe
ALC will be carried out at their
ownexpense and risk.
The only operations allowed to be
held in the ALC will be the purchase
and sale of electricity involving
generation concessionaires and
authorized agents, traders, electricity
importers and free consumers.
Trading inthe ALCshould be
formalized throughbilateral
contractsfreely negotiatedby
the parties, pursuant to specific

rules and procedures, and the
CCEEwill onlybe responsible
for registration andsettlementof
contracts.TheCCEEwill be
charged with registering all energy
sale contracts betweentrading
agents,generators,distributors
and free consumers, includingthe
Itaipucontract andinitial
contracts,among others.All
energypurchases in the shortterm
market (notcovered by bilateral
contracts) should be settled in the
CCEE, which will set the difference
settlement price applicable tothese
transactions.
sales by any agent in the sector

must be guaranteed by its own
generation or by energy purchase
and sale agreements. Under the
new model, any conflicts between
CCEE participants will be settled by
arbitration.
Free consumers may purchase

energy only from public service
concession holders, independent
producers, self-producers with
excess energy, suppliers, importers
and distributors in their concession
area. Therefore, distributors are no
longer allowed to sell energy to free
consumers, with the exception of
those located within their concession
areas.
As provided for in Law 12111/2009,

the purchase of electricity by
distributors within the Isolated
Systems must be necessarily
preceded by an auction, as it
already happens in the National
Interconnected System.
Contracts registered with the

CCEE do not entail the actual
delivery of electricity, and energy
Underthepresent model,
concessions and authorizations
for the expansion of generation
areawarded through auctionscarried
out by the Ministry if Mines and
Energy (except forsmall facilities).In
these auctions the full sale (or almost
all of it) of the energy to be produced
is ensured.
Transmission and Distribution

As transmission and distribution are
different activities, mention should
now be made of specific contracts.
As regards transmission, the lines
comprising the Interconnected

Electric System Network are
made available to the ONS by
transmission concession holders
through Contracts of Provision of
Transmission Services, and the
ONS then enters with the respective
interested parties into Contracts
For Use of Transmission Systems
as the representative of such
concession holders. The other
transmission installations that do
not comprise the Basic Network are
available directly to the users by the
transmission concession holders and
the respective contracts are entered
into with the ONS intervention. In
both cases, it is still necessary to
execute the Connection Contract
with the respective transmission
concession holder, so as to establish
responsibility for the implementation,
operation e maintenance of the
connection installations.
Regardingtransmission,the
linescomprising theBasic
Interconnected Electric
SystemNetwork are made available
tothe ONSby transmission
concessionairesthrough Contracts
for the Provision ofTransmission
Services andthe ONS thensigns
contracts with the respective

stakeholders, as the representative
of these concession holders. Other
transmission installations that are
not included in theBasic Networkare
made availabledirectly to usersby
transmission concessionaires
andthe respective contracts are
signed with the intervention of
theONS.In both cases, aConnection
Contract still needs to be concluded
with the respectivetransmission
concessionaire, with a view to
establishing responsibility forthe
implementation, operationand
maintenance of connection
installations.
As for thedistribution segment,a
Contract for Use of the Distribution
Systems (Contrato de Uso
do Sistema de Distribuio CUSD)must be signed with the local
distribution concession or permit
holder. ANEEL sets thetariffs for the
useoftransmission installationsand
the ratesfor the useof electricity
distribution systems, pursuant to
relevant resolutions.
It is worth notingthat one of
thegreat meritsof the previous
model (keptin the current
model),wasthe guaranteeof
free access to transmissionand
distribution lines by industry players
and the regulation of this access.
17.5. Planning
Planning and control activities are
central to the present model, and
the EPE will conduct studies and
research that will serve as input
for the development, planning, and
implementation of the Ministrys
actions within the scope of the
national energy policy.
The Ministry will prepare a list of the
new ventures that may be put up
for tender and approve the amount
of electricity to be contracted for
meeting the needs of the Brazilian
market, as well as the list of new
generation ventures to be tendered.
For their part, it is incumbent
upon generation and distribution
companies, traders, and free
consumers to inform the Ministry
of the amount of energy required to
meet the needs of their respective
markets or loads.
17.6. Conclusion
The current framework was
designed by the Government as the
best institutional arrangement for
achieving the following objectives:
(i)lower tariffs; (ii) increased
quality of services; (iii) guarantee of
continuous supply; (iv)fair return
on investment, so as to encourage
the expansion of services; and
(v)universal access.
With public funding in short supply,
attracting private investment to
the Brazilian electricity sector to
ensure the countrys economic and
social development will be a major
challenge for the present model.
18 - REGULATION OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND LEASING

IN BRAZIL
18.1. Financial Institutions
The legal basis for the regulation
of Brazils financial and banking
sectors is provided for in Article
192 of the Federal Constitution;
in Law 4595 of December 31,
1964, that sets rules for financial
institutions; and in related legislation
(e.g. Law 4728 of July 14, 1965,
which regulates capital markets
and their development; Law 6385
of December 7, 1976, which
provides for the securities market
and establishes the Securities
Commission (Comisso de Valores
Mobilirios - CVM); and Law 4131
of September 3, 1962, which
regulates foreign investment in Brazil
and remittances of funds abroad).
In addition to these laws, Brazilian
monetary authorities issue normative
rules in the form of Resolutions of
the National Monetary Council, and
Central Bank Circulars and CircularLetters.
The national financial system is
comprised of: the National Monetary
Council (Conselho Monetrio
Nacional - CMN); the Central
Bank of Brazil (Banco Central do

Brasil -BACEN);Banco do Brasil
S.A.;the National Bank for Economic
and Social Development (Banco
Nacional de Desenvolvimento
Econmico e Social-BNDES), and
other private and public financial
institutions. The CMN is the highest
monetary authority, responsible for
establishing monetary and credit
policies, including matters relating
to foreign exchange, and regulation
of the overall operations of financial
institutions.
BACEN, in turn, is responsible for
complying and enforcing compliance
with the normative rules issued by
the CMN, and for implementing all
provisions set by law, including:
exercising credit control in all its
forms; controlling foreign capital;
effecting rediscounts and loan
transactions to financial and banking
institutions; acting as depository
for the Governments gold and
foreign currency reserves and
special drawing rights; supervising
all financial institutions; imposing
all penalties prescribed by law;
issuing operating licenses to financial
institutions; and setting standards

for the instatement into office and
holding of management positions in
private financial institutions.
18.2. Main Financial Institutions
Public Sector
In Brazil, some commercial banks
and financial institutions are
controlled by the Federal and State
Governments, for the primary
purpose of fostering economic
development, especially in the
agriculture and industry sectors. In
addition to performing commercial
banking activities, state banks
also act as independent regional
development agencies.
Among the banks controlled by
the Brazilian Federal Government
areBanco do Brasil, BNDES and
other public sector development,
commercial, and multiple-service
banks.Banco do Brasilprovides
a full range of banking products
to both public and private sector
customers, and is Brazils largest
commercial bank. BNDES is primarily
engaged in the provision of medium
and long-term financing -either
directly or through other public and
private sector financial institutions

- to the private sector, mainly for
pursuing industrial activities. Other
federal public-sector development,
commercial and multipleservice banks includeBanco da
AmazniaandBanco do Nordeste do
Brasil S.A., in addition to commercial
and multiple-service banks under
State Government control.
Private Sector
The private financial sector includes
commercial banks, multiple-service
banks, investment, finance and
credit companies, investment banks,
brokerage firms, credit cooperatives,
leasing companies, insurance
companies, and others. The largest
participants in Brazils financial
market are financial conglomerates
involved in commercial banking,
investment banking, financing,
leasing, securities dealing,
brokerage, and insurance activities.
There are a variety of different types
of private-sector financial institutions
in Brazil, including:
(a) Multiple-Service Banks: private
or public financial institutions that
conduct banking and ancillary
transactions through commercial,

investment and/or development,
real estate credit, leasing and credit,
financing and investment portfolios.
Such transactions are subject to the
same laws and regulations that are
applicable to institutions operating
with each of the above mentioned
portfolios (a development portfolio
may only be transacted by a public
bank). A Multiple-Service Bank must
operate with at least two of such
portfolios, including one commercial
or investment portfolio, and must be
organized as Brazilian corporations
(Sociedade Annima). Institutions
with commercial portfolios may raise
funds by means of at sight deposits.
Their corporate name must include
the word Banco (CMN Resolution
2099/94).
(b) Commercial Banks: private or
public financial institutions primarily
engaged in short and medium-term
funding for commerce, industry,
service-supplier companies,
individuals, and third parties in
general. Fundraising by means of
freely-transferable at sight deposits
is a typical activity of commercial
banks, which may also raise
funds by means of time deposits.
These banks must be organized as

Brazilian corporations (S.A.) and
their corporate name must include
the word Banco (CMN Resolution
2099/94).
(c) Investment Banks: private banks
specialized in temporary equity
interest transactions and production
financing, providing fixed and
working capital, and management
of third party assets. They do not
manage bank accounts, but raise
funds by means of time deposits,
on-lending of national or foreign
funds, and sale of participation
(quotas) in funds managed by them.
These banks must be organized as
Brazilian corporations and include the
expression Banco de Investimento
in their corporate name, pursuant to
CMN Resolution CMN 2624/99.
18.3. Main Requirements for the
Operation of Financial Institutions
in Brazil

Law 4595/64 and applicable
normative regulations provide for
the operation of financial institutions
in Brazil. Under such regulations,
financial institutions are required:
(a) To obtain prior approval from

the Central Bank of Brazil. Foreign
institutions must obtain approval
in the form of an Executive Branch
Decree.
(b) Private financial institutions
(excepting investment companies)
may only hold an equity interest
in another company with prior
authorization ofthe Central Bank
of Brazil. Applications for such
authorization must include a
justification and is granted on an
express basis, excepting cases
relating to underwriting of subscription
guarantees, under general conditions
established by the CMN.
(c) If they own real estate, to use
such property exclusively for
purposes directly related to their
business. In the event that a real
estate property is received in
payment of a debt, the financial
institution must dispose of such
property within one year, extendable
for an additional two identical periods
at the Central Banks discretion.
(d) To limit exposure to a single
client to 25% of Reference Equity, in
credit and leasing transactions and
provision of guarantees, including
credits arising from derivatives

transactions (CMN resolution No.
2,844, of July 29, 2001).
(e) Not to grant loans to any
company holding over 10% of their
capital stock, safe in exceptional
circumstances subject to the prior
approval of the Central Bank.
(f) Not to grant loans to any company
in which they hold more than 10%
of their capital stock, except for
acquisition of debt securities issued
by their leasing subsidiaries.
(g) Not to grant loans to their
executive officers, members of
their advisory, administrative and
fiscal boards or the like, or to their
respective spouses or relatives up to
the 2nd degree.
18.4. Minimum Capitalization
Standards
CMN Resolution 2099 of August
17, 1994 (as amended), introduced
some changes in the Brazilian
banking regulations, with a view
to adjusting it to the risk-weighted
capital adequacy standards of the
Basel Accord. It also set minimum
capital requirements for financial
institutions, based upon the types of

activities performed. Subsequently,
supervening regulations instated
more rigorous solvency standards
which are generally more stringent
than the provisions of the Basel
Accord. CMN Resolution 2099/94 set
the following minimum capitalization
indices:
I Seventeen million five hundred
thousandreals(R$17,500,000.00):
commercial banks with MultipleService Bank commercial portfolios;
II Twelve million five hundred
investment banks; development
banks with corresponding MultipleService Bank portfolios; and savings
banks;
III Seven
millionreals(R$7,000,000.00):
credit, financing and investment
companies; real estate credit
companies; leasing companies; and
corresponding Multiple-Service Bank
portfolios;
IV - Four million reals
(R$4,000,000.00): development
agencies;
V Three millionreals(R$
3,000,000.00): mortgage
companies;
VI One million five hundred

securities brokerage companies and
securities dealership companies
managing investment funds
regulated by the Central Bank
(BACEN) (excepting mutual funds)
or investment companies authorized
to carry out matched transactions,
firm commitment underwriting of
securities for resale, margin account
and/or swap transactions, through
assumption of counterpart rights and
liabilities;
VII Five hundred and fifty
thousandreals(R$550,000.00):
securities brokerage companies and
dealerships engaged in activities not
mentioned in the previous item;
VIII Three hundred and fifty
thousandreals(R$350,000.00):
foreign exchange brokerage
companies; and
IX - Two hundred thousand reals
(R$200,000.00): institutions
providing credits for small business
owners and small enterprises.
For institutions with a branch,
principal place of business or
headquarters, and at least ninety
percent (90%) of operating facilities
located outside the States of Rio de

Janeiro and/or So Paulo, the paidup capital and net equity requirement
is reduced by thirty percent (30%),
except for foster agencies and
institutions providing credits for
small business owners and small
enterprises.
In the case of institutions operating
in the foreign-exchange market, an
additional six million and five hundred
thousandreals(R$6,500,000.00)
should be added to the paid-up
capital and net equity requirements.
Aside from minimum capital and
net equity requirements, financial
institutions must maintain adjusted
net equity values that are compatible
with the degree of risk inherent in
their asset structure, in accordance
with risk classification standards
established in CMN Resolution 2099.
CMN Resolution 3398 of August
29, 2006 states that, in the event
of noncompliance with minimum
capital requirements and operating
limits, the Central Bank will require
the legal representatives of the
financial institution and, if necessary,
their controlling partners, to report
on the measures to be adopted to
correct the situation. The financial
institution must submit to the Central
Bank a settlement plan containing the

adjustment measures to be adopted
and the timetable for implementation,
which shall not exceed six months,
renewable at the Central Banks
discretion for an additional two
identical periods.
18.5. Foreign Investment in
Brazilian Financial Institutions
Article 52 of the Temporary
Constitutional Provisions Act of
Brazils Federal Constitution states
that the establishment of new
branches of financial institutions
headquartered abroad and increases
in the equity interest of financial
institutions headquartered in the
country by individuals and legal
entities resident or domiciled
abroad is forbidden except when
the respective investment to be
made results from international
or reciprocity agreements or
agreements of interest to the
Brazilian Government. Such
foreign investments are subject to
registration with the Central Bank,
in the same manner as foreign
investments in other sectors of the
economy, under the provisions of
Law 4131/62.
Furthermore, authorization for the

establishment of foreign financial
institutions in Brazil can only
be granted by Executive Branch
Decree, and such institutions are
subject to the same limitations and
restrictions applicable to Brazilian
banks currently (or prospectively)
established in the host country of
said foreign financial institutions
18.6. Leasing
Leasing transactions are governed by
Law 6099 of September 12, 1974,
as amended by CMN Resolution
2309 of August 28, 1996.
Brazilian leasing companies. Only
leasing companies authorized to
operate by the Central Bank may
operatein the Brazilian market.
For foreign investment in leasing
companies the applicable regulations
are the same as those applicable to
financial institutions in general.
To be eligible to perform leasing
transactions, a company must
be organized as a corporation
(Sociedade Annima). It must meet
the minimum capital requirements
set by the National Monetary Council.
Such companies must limit their
activities exclusively to leasing, and

the corporate name must include the
words Arrendamento Mercantil
(leasing).
Under current legislation, in Brazil the
minimum term for financial leasing
transactions varies between two
and three years, depending on the
usable life of the asset. The value
of installments must be stipulated
in Brazilian currency, and may be
adjusted by floating interest rates or
changes in internal-market funding
costs or, in the case of operations
with funding originating abroad,
the U.S. dollar (or other currency)
exchange rate.
The aforementioned regulations
regarding minimum term and
adjustments to lease consideration
and other lease payments do
not apply to operational leasing
transactions, which are restricted to
Multiple-Service Banks with a leasing
portfolio, or by leasing companies,
and are governed by CMN Resolution
No. 2,309/96 and the Brazilian Civil
Code.
International Leasing. Cross-border
leasing transactions, both financial
and operational, are currently

governed by Central Bank Resolution
3844 of March 24, 2010 and Circular
3491 of March 24, 2010. According
to said regulations (i) cross-border
financial leasing transactions
between a lessor domiciled abroad
and a lessee in Brazil, with a payment
term longer than 360 days, and (ii)
cross-border operational leasing
transactions between a person or
legal entity resident, domiciled or
headquartered abroad and a person
or legal entity resident, domiciled or
headquartered in Brazil, with a term
longer than 360 days are subject to
registration with the Central Bank.
Contracts for financial or crossborder operational leases may
provide for capital assets, real
property and assets, new or
secondhand, owned by foreigners,
pursuant to the rules governing
imports at the time the goods enter
Brazil.
For purposes of registration with
the Central Bank, cross-border
operational leases must comply with
the following rules: (i) lease payment
shall consider the leasing cost of the
asset/good and services inherent
in their provision to the lessee, and
the aggregate total amount of the
lease payments shall exceed 90% of

the price of the asset/good; (ii) the
contractual term shall not exceed
75% of the useful life of the asset/
good; (iii) the price for exercising the
purchase option shall be equivalent
to the market price of the asset/good;
and (iv) the contract shall not provide
for the payment of a guaranteed
residual value.
With regard to cross-border financial
leases, the following rules shall
apply: (i) the total term of the
transaction shall be limited to the
useful life of the asset/good; (ii) the
consideration shall be compatible
with international market prices; (iii)
the fixed payment installments shall
be distributed over the contractual
term, so as to guarantee that the
proportion between the amount
already paid abroad and the total
amount of the lease payments does
not exceed the proportion between
the elapsed term and the total term of
the transaction; and (iv) the contract
shall contain a clause providing for
the purchase option or renewal of the
contractual term.
In accordance with Central Bank
Resolution 3844/2010 and Circular
3491/2010, for purposes of

registration of cross-border leasing
transactions, the Central Bank of
Brazil considers the usable life of
the asset informed, as appropriate:
(i) by the manufacturer in the case
of new assets/ goods; (ii) by the
manufacturer or a specialized
Brazilian or foreign organization, in
the case of used assets/goods; or
(iii) by a specialized company in the
case of real estate property.
19 - THE INTERNET AND ELETRONIC COMMERCE

19.1. The Internet
The Brazilian Internet Steering
Committee (Comit Gestor da
Internet no Brasil - CGI.br) was
established in 1995 by Interministerial Ordinance 147 issued
by the Ministry of Communications
and the Ministry of Science and
Technology. Based on its design,
the main responsibilities of the
Committee included:
I - monitoring the availability of
Internet services in the country;
II - coordinating the allocation of IP
(Internet Protocol) addresses and the
registration of domain names; and
III - establishing strategic, technical
and operational recommendations for
the Internet in Brazil.
In 2003, Presidential Decree 4829
modified CGI.brs duties and
created new operating rules for
the Committee. As a result of this
legislative change, CGI.brs main
roles and responsibilities currently
include:
I - establishing strategic guidelines

related to the use and development
of the Internet in Brazil;
II - establishing guidelines for the
organization and management of
Domain Name registration and
assignment of IP addresses;
III - sponsoring studies, proposing
R&D programs related to the Internet
and recommending procedures as
well as technical and operational
standards for network security and
Internet services;
IV - coordinating actions related
to the proposal of policy and
procedures to regulate Internet
activities.
In order to carry out its activities,
CGI.br established a civil nonprofit
entity called Dot BR Information
and Coordination Center (Ncleo
de Informao e Coordenao do
Ponto BR - NIC.br). The creation of
this legal entity has ensured CGI.br
greater autonomy, thus facilitating the
implementation of its activities such
as collecting fees on domain name
registrations.
Currently, the Civil Regulatory

Framework (Marco Civil) is the main
legislative initiative in Brazil for the
Internet. This Framework seeks to
establish the rights and obligations of
users, service providers, portals and
other Internet players. The principles
of this initiative include:
I - maintaining records and other
connection data to enable tracking
criminal acts committed on the
Internet;
II - ensuring network neutrality;
III - ensuring the privacy of users
data;
IV - assessing liability for offences
committed online as well as for
contents posted on the Internet.
19.2. Domain Name
The domain name is used to identify
and locate computers on the Internet.
Domain name registration in Brazil is
carried out by NIC.br, by delegation
of CGI.br (CGI.br Resolution 01/05).
The registration of domain names is
governed by the provisions of CGI.br
Resolution 08/08.
Pursuant to the above mentioned

resolutions, domain names will be
assigned on a first-come first-serve
basis (provided that the applicant
meets the relevant requirements).
Unacceptable domain names include
those containing swear words,
names on the reserved lists of the
Steering Committee and NIC.br, any
name which might be misleading, or
well-known trademarks (except when
requested by the lawful owner).
Domain names must respect thirdparty industrial property rights. Thus
the holder of a trademark registered
with INPI may bar its use by third
parties as a domain name. Unlike
trademark registration before INPI,
domain name registration at NIC.br
does not entail intellectual property
rights. The purpose of registering
a domain name is merely to avoid
duplication and to enable the
technical procedures that make the
address accessible over the Internet.
Registration of a domain name may
be canceled in the event of violation
of the rules established by the
Steering Committee, or by a court
order (Item 5 of the Regulation for
Internet Domain Names in Brazil).
There have been various lawsuits

seeking the cancellation, enjoinment,
or suspension of a domain name,
or assignment thereof to a plaintiff
along with prohibition of use by the
defendant. In most such lawsuits,
when sufficient grounds are
demonstrated, plaintiffs have been
granted provisional remedies. Neither
NIC.br nor the Steering Committee
offers the public an administrative
procedure for reviewing or requesting
cancellation of domain names that
have been assigned.
Brazil is implementing an
administrative mechanism to settle
disputes related to domain names
.br, called the Administrative
System of Internet Conflicts (Sistema
Administrativo de Conflitos de
Internet - SACI-Adm). The purpose
of the system is to settle disputes
between the holder of a domain
name .br and any third party over
the legitimacy of that registration.
SACI-Adms scope is limited to
determining whether the registration
status should be maintained,
transferred or canceled. The holder
of the domain name accepts to
submit a dispute to SACI-Adm
through the contract governing the
registration of domain names .br.

19.3. Intellectual Property
Provisions of the Copyright Law
(Law 9610 of February 19, 1998)
and of the Software Law (Law
9609 of February 19, 1998)
apply to authorship of works
traded in the electronic commerce
environment (texts, songs,
drawings, photographs, computer
programs, etc). At least four types
of intellectual property may apply to
media currently used for electronic
commerce: (i) computer programs;
(ii) multimedia works; (iii) websites;
and (iv) databases.
Computer programs are protected
under the Software Law and
Copyright Law. Multimedia works,
which encompass several forms of
expression, are also protected under
the Copyright Law through provisions
relating specifically to each form
of expression. Websites are also
protected under said law to the same
extent as the different protected
works they comprise (graphics,
sounds, computer programs, etc.).
Electronic databases are protected
under the Copyright Law when, by
virtue of the disposition, selection

or format of its contents, they
constitute a work of authorship;
however, when such requirements
fail to be met they are not protected.
Issues related to whether or not extra
protection is needed to cover other
forms of creative work incorporated
into websites (e.g., structure and
business methods), aside from
database contents (data considered
per se) have been the subject of
discussions among specialists,
and have not yet been adequately
provided for by law in Brazil.
19.4. General Aspects of Electronic
Commerce
Electronic commerce consists
of the sale of products or the
provision of services over electronic
systems such as the Internet and
other computer networks. It is
based upon electronic exchanges
of information among three basic
groups of participants: businesses,
governments and individuals.
M-Commerce and T-Commerce
stand among the most recent
forms of electronic commerce.
M-Commerce entails commercial
operations performed through

mobile devices (cellular phones,
palmtops, among others),
whereas T-Commerce is a form of
E-Commerce conducted by means
of digital television connected to the
web, working as a communication
device for the purchase and sale of
any product by simple remote control
commands.
To respond to developments in
electronic commerce, in May 2001
the Brazilian Electronic Commerce
Chamber (Cmara Brasileira
de Comrcio Eletrnico) was
founded, with the aim of promoting,
representing and defending the
collective rights of companies,
entities and users engaged in
e-commerce transactions.
In response to this trend,
governmental electronic services
have assumed increasing importance
and entailed considerable investment
and planning. In October 2000, the
Electronic Commerce Executive
Committee was founded, for the
purpose of drawing up guidelines,
coordinating and promoting activities
for implementation of Electronic
Government services, focused on
providing services and information to

citizens.
Electronic Government Service
(E-Gov) entails the use of information
technology for use in governmentto-government (G2G), governmentto-business (G2B), and governmentto-citizens (G2C) applications, and
ushers in important changes in
relations between government and
society. Implementation of E-Gov
systems demands investment in
technological infrastructure, so as
to provide the minimum necessary
security to guarantee citizens
privacy and promote Government
transparency. Examples of online
programs offered in these sites are:
federal electronic auctions and public
tenders,Rede Governo(Government
Network), Portal Minas;Dutch
auctions andComprasnet, among
other services provided by state and
municipal governments.
19.5. Legal Aspects of Electronic
Commerce
Currently, there is no specific law in
Brazil controlling e-commerce and
industry experts and Government
authorities are discussing the scope
of legislation required. They concur,

however, on the need for specific
legislation to ensure the legality of
business carried out in a virtual
environment.
At present, several bills providing
for electronic commerce are under
review in Congress. These include
Bill 1589/99 (that is being examined
jointly with Bill 1483/99), and Bill
3303/00 (that is being examined
jointly with Bill 3016/2000), which
are currently before the Chamber
of Deputies, and Bills 672/99 and
4906/01 introduced by the Federal
Senate.
Bill 1589/99, drafted by the Special
Committee on Computer Law of the
So Paulo chapter of the Brazilian
Bar Association, takes its inspiration
from a European Community
Draft Directive (1999/93/CE) and
proposals set out in the Model Law
on Electronic Commerce (1996) by
the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
Bill 1589/99, in short, addresses the
following topics: (i) waiver of special
prior authorization for displaying
goods or services in an electronic
environment; (ii) requirement of
proper identification of the seller, the

host, the access provider, and the
security systems used for recording
the electronic agreement; (iii) rules
for using private information; (iv)
transaction security and certification;
(v) liability of information
intermediaries, carriers, and hosts;
(vi) applicability of consumer
protection laws to e-commerce; (vii)
legal validity of electronic signatures
and electronic documents; (viii)
publicly-issued and privately-issued
electronic certificates; (ix) liability of
notaries public in connection with
electronic certification; (x) electronic
records; (xi) powers of the courts to
authorize, regulate and oversee the
practice of business certification;
(xii) powers of the Ministry of
Science and Technology to regulate
the technical aspects of certification;
and (xiii)administrative and criminal
penalties.
Bill 3303/00 proposes regulations
for operation and use of the Internet
in Brazil, and proposes rules on
issues such as: (i) classification
of the service provider as seller
of a value-added service to the
telecommunications service; (ii)
creation of security mechanisms,
user databases with service

providers, and proper means for
identifying illegal activities on
the internet; (iii) registration and
coordination of domain names by the
Brazil Internet Steering Committee
(Comit Gestor da Internet do
Brasil); and (iv) creation of the
Internet Ethics Council (Conselho de
tica da Internet).
Bill 672/99 was introduced just a
few months after Bill 1589/99, and
features nearly all of the provisions
of the UNCITRAL Model Law. More
concise than the former, it deals with:
(i) legal effect of data messages;
(ii) equal validity of electronic
and printed messages; (iii) equal
validity of authentication methods
and signatures; (iv) authentication
of information in the electronic
environment; (v) obligations
related to the retaining of electronic
messages; (vi) lawfulness of binding
statements and contracts made by
electronic messages; (vii)principles
applicable to identification of the
sender and the addressee, and to
determining the time and venue of
messages.
Finally, Bill 4906/01 introduces rules
to govern electronic commerce

within Brazil, in view of the need
to standardize rules relating to
the electronic commerce at the
international level, setting out
provisions for application of legal
validity to electronic messages and
electronic messages, including
execution and validity of contracts
signed within a virtual environment.
19.6. Brazilian laws on virtual
transactions
In view of the lack of specific
legislation on virtual transactions,
electronic commerce is governed
by existing rules of law applicable to
traditional commerce, either by direct
application or by analogy. Relevant
parts of the Brazilian Law for
Introduction of the (New) Civil Code
also apply, in view of the international
nature of electronic commerce.
19.6.1 Rules applicable to contracts
Just as with any other legally binding
commitment (applicability of which
requires that a capable party has
entered into a legal obligation, with
a lawful objective, through a format
recognized in law) under the Brazilian
Civil Code legal obligations assumed

in an electronic environment are also
valid, provided such requirements
are met.
Consequently, electronic contracting
between parties in direct contact is
considered to have been effected
when proposals and acceptance
are effected immediately (online),
in which case article 428, I, of
the new Civil Code shall apply.
Conversely, electronic contracting
between parties may be deemed to
have been effected when proposal
and acceptance are effected by
e-mail between parties not directly
connected online, in which case
article 434 of the new Civil Code
shall apply.
19.6.2 Applicable Law and jurisdiction
Under article 435 of the new Brazilian
Civil Code, contracts are deemed to
go into effect at the place where the
proposal is presented. Article 9 of the
Law for Introduction to the Civil Code
states that obligations arising out of
a contract shall be governed by the
laws of the country in which it was
entered into, and that said obligations
shall be deemed entered into in the
domicile of the proponent. Thus, an

electronic commercial agreement
between parties located in different
countries shall be governed by the
laws of the country of residence
of the proponent. In other words, if
an offer is made by a company or
individual resident abroad, and is
accepted by a company or individual
resident in Brazil, the governing law
shall be that of the foreign country
and, conversely, if the offer is
made by a company or individual
resident in Brazil, and is accepted
by a company or individual resident
abroad, the governing law shall be
the Brazilian law.
The matter of jurisdiction for settling
disputes arising from electronic
contractshas not been addressed
by any law in Brazil. The absence of
boundaries or physical references
on Internet trade makes it difficult
to identify the competent court for
settlement of such disputes. Bill
672/99 adopts the basic provisions
of the UNCITRAL Model Law which,
with regard to jurisdiction, proposes
that the place of remittance or receipt
of an electronic message shall be
deemed the physical location of the
parties, unless (i) the sender and
addressee have no physical venue

which (for purposes of jurisdiction)
can be considered their domicile; or
(ii)the contracting parties have more
than one address, in which case the
venue most closely related to the
transaction shall be considered.
General international jurisdiction of
Brazilian courts, when a contract
is entered into by parties located in
different countries, is governed by
articles 88, 89 and 90 of the Code
of Civil Procedure, which states
that the Brazilian courts shall be
competent when: (i) the defendant,
regardless of nationality, is domiciled
in Brazil (including corporate entities
that maintain branches, affiliates or
agencies in Brazil); (ii) the obligation
is to be performed in Brazil; and
(iii) the lawsuit arises in connection
with an event that occurred or an act
performed in Brazil.
Thus, electronic contracts executed
between two companies located
in different countries, where the
proponent is headquartered in a
foreign country and does not have
offices or branches in Brazil, shall be
governed by the law of the foreign
country. If, on the other hand, the
obligation arising out of the contract

is to be performed in Brazil, Brazilian
courts shall be competent to
adjudicate the dispute.
19.6.4 Rules applicable to the

responsibility of suppliers of goods or
services
Liability in connection with goods

19.6.3 Rules applicable to documentary and services sold by electronic
evidence
means is subject to the same rules
as other forms of commerce.
According to the Brazilian Code
of Civil Procedure, all morally and
Electronic transactions involving
legally acceptable means may be
sales to consumers are subject to
used to prove the truth of facts.
the Consumer Protection Code (Law
8078/90). The Code applies to all
Under the Brazilian Code of Civil
transactions involving a consumer
Procedure, all morally and legally
(individual or corporate entity that
acceptable means may be pursued
acquires products or services as
to uphold the truth.
end user) or the supplier of goods or
services (individual, corporate entity
Under article 225 of the new Civil
or unincorporated entity, whether
Code, any electronic reproduction
national or foreign, engaged in
of facts or things are acceptable as
manufacturing, assembly, creation,
evidence, provided the other party
construction, transformation, import,
does not claim a lack of accuracy.
export, distribution or trade of
Therefore, should the other party
products, or provision of services) in
dispute the veracity of electronic
a business transaction.
evidence, expert examination of
said evidence may be required.
Provisions of the Consumer
Nonetheless, no specific legal rules
Protection Code apply to consumer
govern matters relating to alteration
transactions conducted over the
of content of electronic documents
Internet, especially in connection
or uncertainty of authorship.
with: (i) the right to information about
the seller and features of the offered
good or service; (ii) protection
against unfair business practices

and misleading advertising; (iii)
databases and consumer records;
(iv) the right to return a purchase;
and (v) the binding nature of the
offer.
Provisions of the Consumer
Protection Code do not apply to
business-to-business transactions,
whether performed through the
Internet or by electronic mail
(electronic data interchange), given
that the company is not considered
the end consumer.
Under article 9, paragraph 2 of
the Law for Introduction of the
Civil Code, obligations arising in
connection with a contract shall
be deemed to arise in the domicile
of the proponent, and this applies
also to cross-border consumer
transactions. Thus, in the event that
the proponent company is domiciled
abroad and has no branches or
offices in Brazil, the consumer is
not entitled to protection under the
Brazilian Consumer Protection Code,
and the governing law shall be that of
the proponents venue.
Some controversy still surrounds this

matter, as there have been cases on
international consumer transactions
where the supplier has a branch
in Brazil, and claims based on the
Brazilian Consumer Protection Code
have been filed against said branch,
in view of the joint and several
liability applicable to consumer
transactions.
19.6.5. Spam
Sending unsolicited e-mails is
forbidden under the Brazilian
Consumer Protection Code, which
establishes that the supplier may
only deliver or send products upon
request. Suppliers that send spams
are liable to penalties under articles
6-V and 84 of the Brazilian Consumer
Protection Code. Presently, bills
addressing the problem of spam are
under discussion in Congress: Bills
21/04 and 36/04 (to be examined
jointly with Bill 367/03), Bills
2766/03 and 757/03 (spamming
by cell telephone) and Bill 2186/03
(to be examined jointly with Bills
1483/99, 2423/00, 3731/04,
3872/04 and 2423/03).
19.7. Tax legislation applicable to

electronic commerce
25%, whereas the maximum ISSQN

rate is 5%.
Electronic commerce implies a

variety of transactions with tax
implications that are a matter of
worldwide concern.
The Federal Constitution grants to

Municipalities powers to levy taxes
on certain services (ISSQN) outside
the scope of ICMS. However, Internet
access services are not included in
the list attached to Complementary
Law 116/03, which defines the
services subject to ISSQN. Thus,
besides not being liable for ICMS,
Internet access services are not
deemed taxable events for purposes
of ISSQN.
The ICMS tax (state VAT) is

applicable to goods supplied by
means of electronic commerce, even
where the products are imported,
under the provisions of article 155,
2, IX of the Federal Constitution.
With respect to the provision of
Internet access (though some
controversy exists as to whether
or not ICMS or ISSQN should be
applied) recent court rulings have
stated that ICMS does not apply
to Internet access services, which
are not deemed a communication
service under Supreme Federal
Court (STF) resolution 456650/PR of
6/24/2003.19 The matter is of some
importance, in view of rates that vary
by as much as 20%: for electronic
transactions ICMS may be as high as
19
Confirmed by subsequent decisions (MC 10388/
SP, Justice Luiz Fux, DJ 20/02/06, Resp 736607/PR,
Justice Francisco Falco, j. 25/10/2005; Resp 511390/
MG, Justice Luiz Fux, j. 19/05/2005).
Bill 3303 currently under review in

the Coordination Standing Committee
of the Chamber of Deputies proposes
classifying Internet providers as
service providers, under the terms of
the Consumer Protection Code.
19.8. Electronic Documents as
Evidence in Court
The purpose of this document is to
briefly evaluate peoples ability to
use technological developments as
evidence in a court of law. Does the
constitutional principle of Right to
Defense allow the party to use the
newly created contractual techniques
deriving from telematics? The

answer to this question will be the
main concern of this paper.
19.8.1.General Theory of Evidence
Evidence is a means whereby
litigants seek to convince a Judge
of the justness of their claims.
Judgments in most litigation depend
upon clarification of questions
of fact. Generally, the courts
determination of the facts depends
upon the evidence. Theoretically, the
probability of obtaining a favorable
decision is proportional to the
strength of the evidence presented.
The purpose of evidence is to
convince the Judge. Article 128
of the Code of Civil Procedure
states that rulings are based upon
evidence presented to the court.
A judges decision is based on the
truth reflected in the record and not
on natural truth. This limitation is
justified in that it reduces the scope
for arbitrary decisions.
During the fact-finding phase, a
judge must be extremely cautious
while seeking ample access to all
the necessary means for appraising
and examining all evidence brought

to his attention. Unwarranted
dismissal of evidence by a judge
constitutes curtailment of the right
to defense (article 5, LV, of the
Federal Constitution). A Judge,
based on criteria established in Law
(rational persuasion), must attempt
to reconstruct the facts on record
to determine how they occurred. He
is free to examine the facts. Such
freedom cannot, naturally, extend to
judicial arbitrariness.
Article 332 of the Code of Civil
Procedure does not specifically list
types ofevidence, but rather accepts
all legal and morally legitimate
means, even if not specified herein.
It even accepts, atypical or unnamed types of evidence, but
repudiates illegitimate evidence,
i.e., evidence that violates Procedural
Law, having been illicitly or
improperly obtained.
Documentary evidence is that which
represents and serves to reproduce
a manifestation of thought. Since
events and ideas are held in court
to be facts, a document is the
representation of a fact and, as
such, a document has no natural
existence of its own, but forms a part

of an action, and is thus a form or
medium.
Documents may be written or nonwritten, public or private. Some
scholars further classify documents
according to authenticity, origin,
signature, form of preparation
(direct, indirect; written or graphic),
content (narrative or constructive),
form (formal or otherwise) etc. A
document is ad solemnitatem,
when indispensable to the very
substance (nature, form and
constitution) of the act; and ad
probationem when it constitutes
mere evidence of an act or of its
effects. Public documents, if signed
by a public official (authority) are
presumed to be authentic (juris
tantum) excepting when evidence
exists as to their forgery or
misrepresentation.
With respect to private documents,
the question of their value as
evidence is controversial, given the
diversity of forms in which they
may be presented. For example,
in the case of a private document
that has been written and signed,
or merely signed, there is a legal
presumption that any declarations

contained therein are true. According
to article 388, I, of the Code of
Civil Procedure, a private document
ceases to merit credence when the
signature is contested and when
its veracity cannot be attested. To
refute the veracity of any public or
private document, the interested
party needs only to argue that it is
false, (principaliter or incidenter
tantum) with the aim of having
it declared so in court. A private
document must necessarily be
written by one of the parties, or
by a third party or it may even be
unsigned. Under traditional doctrine,
the author of a private document
is the person who signed it, such
signature being unnecessary only in
cases where such documents are
not usually signed, i.e., commercial
records.
A number of questions about
electronic documents and their
enforceability as evidence arise
from this analysis. The use of
electronic media in the commission
of juridical acts is a reflection of the
progressive replacement of writing
and printing by electronic impulses
or transmissions. The signature
of the author does not necessarily

accompany the document, in view
of its replacement with individual
passwords and codes.
19.8.2. Electronic documents among
types of documentary evidence
information which, when processed

through the appropriate electronic
device is capable of transmitting a
representation of a present or past
event.22
19.8.3. Representative Support
Legal doctrine had to abandon

traditional notions of documentary
evidence to take into account a
new form of expression which is
neither oral nor written, but rather
digital20. All documents serve as
a declaration or representation of
a present or past event. The same
applies to digital documents, the only
difference being that the sensorial
perception of the receiver/observer is
not immediate. Moreover, to put said
representation into an accessible
and intelligible form, an appropriate
(intermediary) electronic device
(hardware) is needed.21 Within a
broad classification of documents,
digital documents are categorized as
indirectly representative documents.
Therefore, the category of digital
documents encompasses all and any
In view of the immaterial nature

of electronic documents, their
content must necessarily rest
upon a medium (i.e., a floppy disk,
magnetic tape, compact disk, etc.).
This invokes issues relating to legal
standards for the preservation of
documents.
20
Graziosi, Andrea, Premesse ad una teoria probatoria del documento informtico, in Rivista Trimestrale di
Diritto e Procedura Civile, Anno LII, n. 2, jun/98, Milano,
Giuffr, p. 487.
21
Graziosi, Andrea, op. cit., p. 491.
Graziosi, Andrea, op. cit., pp. 491 and 492.

Amory, Bernard e Poullet, Yves, Le droit de la preuve
face a linformatique et a la tlmatique, in Revue Internationale de Droit Compar, n. 2, apr/jun/ 1.985, pp.
340/341.
Legal doctrine, in principle,

regards the magnetic medium
(representative) as the original
of the document23 rather than the
information contained therein in
digital form. This position is now
considered outmoded, and the
medium is today regarded merely
as the means of storage of the
document, the importance whereof
resides solely in its content.
22
23
In the 1980s24, in some Western

European countries like Belgium
and France, any transcription of the
contents of an electronic document
onto paper was always considered
a copy. Nonetheless, this does not
imply that copies (meaning in this
context print-outs of an electronic
document onto paper) could not be
produced in court. An interpretation
provided under French legislation
(art. 1348, line a, of the French
Civil Code) allows the use of a
faithful and durable copy, provided
the original is either nonexistent or
irrecoverable.
Since the 1980s the doctrinal
position of European legislation has
undergone considerable change. The
medium is no longer regarded as
the original of a document. Directive
97/7 of the European Parliament for
Distance Selling provides rules for
contracts between consumers and
suppliers using communications
media and without the physical
presence of either of the parties.25
Amory, Bernard e Poullet, Yves, op. cit., p. 341.
Silva, Ricardo Barretto Ferreira da e Paulino, Valria
in Relevant issues in conducting commerce on the Internet, paper presented on the 10th Annual Conference
on Legal Aspects of Doing Business in Latin America,
1.998, pp.10/11.
24
25
Article 5 of this Directive, foreseeing

the insecurity posed by data stored
on magnetic media, and with the
aim of affording protection to
contracting parties, provides that
declarations in distance selling
contracts should be confirmed in
writing or any other durable medium.
This new EC legislation distils a
doctrine with regard to means for
preserving electronic documents.
In 1998, the European Unions
Prospective Uniform Commercial
Code (UCC), in article 2B, uses the
term record rather than writing
since, for the purposes of the UCC,
record is equivalent to information
on a tangible medium or filed on
electronic media, or in any other
intelligible recoverable form26.
19.8.3.1. Types of Evidence
Analysis of the value of an electronic
document as evidence in court
rests upon three principal aspects:
26
Selected Provisions and Comments from Proposed
Article 2B September, 1997, p. 14, apud Silva, Ricardo Barretto Ferreira da e Paulino, Valria, op. cit., p. 15.
Other new EU directives on the issue: Directive 21/2002
institutes a common network and services framework
for electronic communications; Directive 65/2002 provides for distance selling and banking services; Directive
58/2002 - preservation of privacy in the electronic communications sector.
evidence of the existence of the

document; evidence of origin of
declarations contained therein;
and evidence of the content of the
document.
19.8.3.2. Evidence of existence of an
electronic document
If, on the one hand, telematics
has the advantage of being swift,
its drawback lies in its ephemeral
nature. This may raise difficulties
for presentation in court of proof of
the very existence of documentary
evidence. Thus, under archaic
features of the Brazilian legal system
(such as article 333, I and II of
the Code of Civil Procedure) the
burden of proof of the existence of
documentary evidence lies with the
party claiming its existence.
As a rule, Brazilian law ensures great
freedom to use various forms of
evidence, whether or not provided
for by law (article 332, II of the
Code of Civil Procedure). However,
exceptions to this rule include certain
juridical acts (e.g., contracts with a
value higher than that established by
law).
Italian doctrine, in practice and for
purposes of evidence, holds that a

declarative document (a category
that includes electronic documents)
is equivalent to a private document
under the terms of article 2702 of
the Italian Civil Code.27 This article
also provides hypotheses in which a
private document acquires the status
of evidence.
Common law systems acknowledge
two basic rules that could pose
obstacles to proof of the existence of
an electronic document, namely, the
hearsay rule, and the best evidence
rule.28 Examination of these two rules
provides a general view of how these
issues are dealt with.
As a consequence of the hearsay
rule, testimony of a witness (one
of the most important forms of
evidence under the Anglo-Saxon
legal systems) is allowed only if
the witness has direct and personal
knowledge of the facts of his
testimony. When this rule is applied
to written documents it is held that
a document can not be considered
a trustworthy source of evidence
if its author (issuer) is not present
27
28

Amory, Bernard e Poullet, Yves, op. cit., p. 335.
to testify to it. Since in the case of

an electronic document the original
information may involve various
people, then clearly the hearsay rule
poses an obstacle to proof of the
existence of the document.
According to the best evidence rule,
in principle, a document is only valid
as evidence if presented in its original
version. In its original form, an
electronic document requires support
of a digital electronic device in order
to materialize. Thus, in principle, the
best evidence rule poses an obstacle
to the use of electronic documents
as evidence.
There are, nonetheless, numerous
exceptions to the hearsay rule and
the best evidence rule. The British
Civil Evidence Act of 1968 and the
United States Business Records
Exception are two such exceptions to
be further analyzed.
19.8.3.3. Origin of declaration and
electronic signature

Another relevant theme arises when
doubt exists as to the identity of
the declarant. This theme is closely
linked to the issue of electronic
signatures, also discussed herein.

Clearly, a name simply typed at the
bottom of a document does not have
the same value as a conventional
signature. A conventional signature
has features (and reflects the
handwriting of the signatory) that
inhibit or preclude forgery.
Commercial practice has come
up with some solutions to these
problems. A secret user code of
access to the electronic system
provides one means of identification
often used in electronic transactions.
A weakness of this means of
identification lies in that it does not
enable physical identification of the
individual making the declaration.
To this end, it is necessary that
techniques for verifying the physical
characteristics of the individual at a
distance, such as finger-printing or
voice recognition, be developed.
Advances in IT have been
accompanied by modern techniques
for identifying the author of an
electronic document. What are
commonly referred to today as
electronic signatures are in effect
special computerized procedures for
controlling the origin of electronic
documents. This entails addition of
a cryptographic system, the value

of which as evidence is comparable
to a traditional signature.29 The user
of the electronic system is provided
with a couple of asymmetric keys one is private, and the other is public.
Both have an alphanumerical code,
but the private key has a secret code
known only by the user. The code
corresponding to the other key is of
public domain and is part of a list
accessible to other users. The two
keys are reciprocally compatible
and identifiable, which enables their
use as digital signature or electronic
signature.30
For the purpose of evidence,
electronic signatures are quite
different from conventional
signatures, since the latter
constitutes documentary proof,
thereby enabling a judge to move
on to direct examination of the
evidence. In the case of a digital
signature, other necessary steps
include verification of the origin the
declaration, which depends upon the
availability of an electronic device,
29
Graziosi, op. cit., lapposizione della firma digitale
integra un atto di volont, giuridicamente rilevante,
di assunzione di paternit della dichiarazione cui si
riferisce.
30
so that the above-described method

of control can be verified. Thus, an
electronic signature is not directly
representative evidence. This results
in a curious conundrum: evidence of a
declaration in an electronic document
is documental, whereas proof of
provenience isconstituenda. 31
19.8.3.4. Evidence of the content of a
document
The crucial issue relates to
the credibility of the document
content. As it is well known,
electronic documents can be easily
manipulated without leaving any
trace.
There are two types of risk to
which electronic documents are
subject: errors and fraud. Errors
may be of various types: human,
technical or external. A major
portion of human errors results from
flaws in manipulation of the data.
External errors are generally due to
environmental factors (e.g., adverse
weather conditions). Technical errors
are usually a result of software flaws,
or failure of the electronic device
31
on which they are being run. Fraud

is different from errors in that it is
maliciously intentional.
There is no easy solution to
fraud-related problems involving
electronic commerce. Proposals
for typifying new crimes and stiffer
sentences have been suggested.
In Brazil, an example of this is Bill
84/99 (proposed by Congressman
Luiz Piauhylino) which has now
been approved in the Chamber of
Deputies, and its counterpart Bill
89/03 currently before the Federal
Senate, and Bill 407/2005 providing
for penalties for hackers and
crackers.
19.8.4 Legislative initiatives
The British Civil Evidence Act of
1968 was the first law to provide for
electronic evidence and its validity in
courts. It foresaw certification of a
document to be signed by the person
responsible, attesting to the veracity
of its content, for use in court.
In the United States, the Uniform
Business Records as Evidence Act
and the Uniform Rules of Evidence,
both of which date from the 1960s,
contain exceptions to hearsay and

best evidence rules, under which
electronic evidence is admissible
in cases where the content is of a
commercial nature. Moreover, under
the Business Records Exception,
documents of electronic origin are
admissible without accompanying
testimony of the author.
In France, a law of July 12, 1980
ratified the case-law understanding
that not only written documents
were acceptable as evidence.
One of the most complete and
modern approaches to the issue is
the Italian Law 59 of 1997, which
provides detailed rules on conditions
of admissibility of an electronic
document as evidence, and express
provisions on cryptographic
signatures, digital copies, etc.
In Brazil, examples of recent
regulations characterized by
advances in relation to electronic
documents include: Law 9800 of
May 26, 1999, which authorizes
the parties to submit electronic
documents and send petitions for
certain procedural purposes by
fax; Federal Revenue Secretariat
Normative Instruction 1077 of

October 29, 1999, regulating the
IRS Virtual Call Center (e-CAC); Law
10259/2001, which authorizes the
courts to send and receive electronic
documents; Supreme Court
Resolution 1, regulating electronic
procedures on law suits at that
Court; Supreme Court Procedural
Amendment 6, which authorizes
the parties to incorporate into their
appeals a high-court sentence
published on the internet.
The following Bills are under
discussion in the Brazilian legislature:
Bill 5732/2005 and Bill 1692/2003
on the use of e-mail; and Bill
7316/2002 on the use of electronic
signatures. Law 11.419, 2006
regulates the electronic procedure on
law suits.
Brazilian courts, for their part,
have been adapting to such new
legislative standards. In July 2003,
the Regional Federal Court (TRF) of
the 4th region adopted electronic
records in four specialized federal
courts, including paperless records
and distance dispatch of petitions
and documents by e-mail. Certain
Courts, however, still discourage the
use of electronic documents. The

Superior Court of Justice (STJ), for
example, acknowledges the validity
of electronic documents only: (i) if
the electronic file has been correctly
received by the Court; and (ii) if
the originals have been duly filed in
accordance with the terms of Law
9800/99.32
The first standards for electronic
communications were set by Decree
3505 of June 13, 2000, which also
established an Information Security
Policy for bodies of the Federal Public
Administration. Subsequently, Decree
3587 of September 5, 2000 (revoked
by article 6 of Decree 3996 of
October 31, 2001) set the standards
for the Key Public Infrastructure
for the Federal Executive Branch
(ICP-Gov), with the aim of creating
and using digital signatures through
asymmetric cryptography.
In the private sphere, Executive
Order (MP) 2200-2 of August 24,
2001 established a Key Public
Infrastructure (ICP-Brasil) to
32
Resp 594352/SP, Resp 594.352/SP, REsp. 525067/
ES, j. 19.02.2004. In opposite sense: Appeal n
11.960/RJ), from the Superior Court of Justice.
ensure the authenticity, integrity,

and legal validity of documents
in electronic formats, support
applications, applications using
digital certification, and the conduct
of secure electronic transactions.
19.8.4.1. Provisional Measure 2200-2,
August 24, 2001, and other bills of law
in Brazil
Under the terms of Executive Order
(MP) 2200-2 of August 24, 2001,
ICP-Brasil is an organization made
up of a Policy Steering Committee
(linked to the Office of the Presidents
Chief of Staff) and certification
authorities (i.e., entities responsible
for issuing electronic certificates
and establishing the identities of
persons and organizations requesting
certification).
Although Executive Order (MP)
2200-2/01 does not require digital
certification for the validation of
electronic documents, its article 10,
1 attributes presumption of relative
authenticity for digital signatures on
documents electronically certified
by a Certification Authority (AC)
accredited by the ICP-Brasil Steering
Committee.
If the parties choose to use another

Certification Authority (not accredited
by the Steering Committee) to
authenticate their electronic
documents, in order to ensure their
juridical validity before third parties,
article 10 2 of the aforementioned
Executive Order recommends that
there be a contract stipulating
that the parties accept that AC
for authentication purposes. This
procedure is important to ensure the
juridical validity of a document if, for
example, it is required as evidence in
court.
This Executive Order was issued
three times before assuming
its present form as MP 22002/2001. It overrode various
Bills circulating in the National
Congress. Such Bills addressed
the same issues, and some were
even more comprehensive. Bill
4906/2001, for example, aside from
providing for digital signatures and
electronic certification, deals in a
more comprehensive manner with
relationships and responsibilities
stemming from Electronic
Commerce.
In the same context, Bill 7316/2002
(proposed by the Secretariat

for Parliamentary Affairs of the
Presidency of the Republic), inspired
by European Parliament Directive
1999/93/EC, fills gaps in Executive
Order (MP) 2200 by providing
for the civil liability of certified
service providers, procedures to
be observed in the event of failure
of a certification authority, and the
juridical value of certificates issued
abroad.
can produce the same effects as

conventional signatures; on the other,
the juridical and evidence value of
electronic signatures cannot be
refuted, provided that the parties
have previously agreed to accept
their validity. In the latter case, the
validity of an electronic signature
derives from the express will of the
contracting parties.
19.8.5. Conclusions
While much still remains to be

done, the progress in overcoming
the barrier of legislation and court
decisions deserves to be stressed.
There is truth in the saying that Law
is always left behind by advances in
Science. This justifies the approach
whereby legislative regulations on
issues of a scientific nature must
always be sufficiently generic to
encompass the greatest possible
number of hypotheses while leaving
room for further developments.
Brazilian law has sought to introduce

adequate instruments for settling
new issues stemming from the
rapid adoption of new technologies.
Executive Order(MP) 2200 provides
standards for two aspects of juridical
and evidence value of electronic
signatures. On the one hand,
advanced electronic signatures
An electronic document is thus fully

admissible as evidence (the rule
established in article 332 of the
Brazilian Code of Civil Procedure
being no exception), provided that
guarantees of individual freedom,
foreseen in the Federal Constitution,
and the principles of public order are
observed.
The aforementioned Bill distinguishes

between the categories electronic
signatures and qualified electronic
signatures (the latter having the
same juridical and evidence value
as a traditional signature, provided
requirements of the standard are
met), and between certification and
qualified certification.
Furthermore, through the Key Public

Infrastructure (ICP-Brasil) initiative,
etablished under Executive Order
(MP) 2200-2/01, Brazilian legislation
has, to a great degree, adopted a
system capable of providing security
and validity to operations conducted
by electronic means.
20 - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
20.1. Information Technology in
Brazil
The traditional configuration of
hardware and software is no longer
sufficient to define the industry. The
concept of information technology
(IT) includes, in addition to hardware
and software elements, networks,
multimedia and specialized labor.
For purposes of this Section, the
expression information technology
- IT will encompass all these
meanings.
From a technical standpoint,
hardware comprises the physical
elements of the computer, while
software comprises the logical
ones. Under Brazilian Law, software
is protected by Law 9609/1998,
the Software Law, and may be
protected by Law 9279/1996, the
Industrial Property Law, or by Law
11484/2007, which provides for
the protection of original layoutdesigns of integrated circuits,
when such hardware or integrated
circuit topography meets the legal
requirements to be protected.
The first government initiatives

in the IT industry date back to
the early 1970s. In April 1972,
Presidential Decree 70370 created
the Commission for the Coordination
of Electronic Processing Activities
(Comisso de Coordenao das
Atividades de Processamento
Eletrnico) CAPRE. The
Commission was linked to the then
Ministry of Planning and General
Coordination and its main duties
included controlling government
and private computers, advising the
government on the purchase and
lease of equipment, coordinating
training programs and the proposing
measures to finance data processing
businesses.
CAPRE was replaced by the Special
Secretariat of Information Technology
(Secretaria Especial de Informtica
- SEI)33, whose main objective
was to develop an IT policy for
Brazil. This transition also marks a
significant administrative change in
the objectives of state intervention
in the IT industry. When CAPRE
was created, the governments
33
Created by Decree 84067 of October 8, 1979.
main concern was to control and

learn how to use IT resources. SEIs
main objective, on the other hand,
was to promote the development of
domestic technology.
In this context of change, Law 7232
was enacted in 1984 to regulate
the national IT policy. At the time,
restrictions on imports, production,
operation and trade of IT goods and
services were the means for the
country to achieve expertise in IT.
And this expertise was expected to
boost Brazils development.
By enforcing the Law, the
government imposed the
aforementioned restrictions and
created tax and financial incentives
to favor Brazilian companies of
national capital34, especially for the
manufacture of hardware products.
The result of this policy was an
IT market restricted to Brazilian
companies of national capital
that had no interest in investing in
technology development, offering
customers obsolete goods and
services.
Companies exclusively, permanently, effectively and
unconditionally under the control of individuals resident
and domiciled in Brazil.
34
This scenario changed dramatically

with the enactment of Laws
8191/1991 and 8248/1991, which
reduced substantially the restrictions
on imports, production, operation
and trade of IT goods and services.
In 1995, Constitutional Amendment 6
suspended the privileges to Brazilian
companies of national capital. A new
order for the development of the IT
industry in Brazil was then set.
Under the new policy, the federal
government created tax incentives for
the production of IT and automation
goods in Brazil, especially in the
Manaus Free Trade Zone (Zona
Franca de Manaus).35 To be eligible
to benefit from these incentives,
manufacturers should add value to
their goods locally and follow basic
production processes approved
by the Ministry of Science and
Technology (MCT), in addition
to investing in the research and
development of IT-related activities.
Also in the 1990s, the development
of the IT industry in Brazil led
35
Later amendments of the Laws and their regulation
extended the incentives to companies established in
the Amazon area, and the Northeast and Central-West
regions of Brazil.
to the creation of governmental

programs to promote the export of
software. The National Software
Program (Programa Nacional de
Software - SOFTEX) was created and
implemented under the coordination
of the Council for Technological
Development (Conselho Nacional
de Desenvolvimento Tecnolgico
- CNPq). In 1994, SOFTEX was
considered a priority by MCTs
Ordinance 200/1994. The Brazilian
Society for the Promotion of
Software Export (Sociedade
Brasileira para Promoo da
Exportao de Software) was
established as a non-governmental
entity to perform, promote,
encourage and support innovation
activities and scientific and
technological development in the
creation and transfer of technologies
for software products targeting
foreign markets.
In addition to tax benefits, the IT
industry is eligible to receive funds
from the federal government. The
Information Technology Sectoral
Fund (Fundo Setorial de Tecnologia
da Informao - CT-INFO/CATI),
which was established as a branch
of the National Fund for Scientific
and Technological Development

(Fundo Nacional de Desenvolvimento
Cientfico e Tecnolgico FNDCT),
is one of Brazils most important
funds in the sector. Managers of
this fund are the Brazilian Innovation
Agency (Financiadora de Estudos
e Projetos FINEP) and CNPq.
CT-INFO/CATI funds come from the
transfer of a percentage of gross
revenues by companies that benefit
from tax incentives established by
Law 8248/1991. As other industry
funds in Brazil, CT-INFO/CATI funds
are invested in IT companies whose
projects are qualified in public
tenders.
Laws 10973/2004 and 11196/2005
were enacted to promote
technological innovation in Brazil
and have been widely used by IT
companies. Law 10973/2004,
also known as the Innovation Law,
establishes incentives for innovation
and scientific and technological
research. The Innovation Law intends
to link academic research and market
demands through cooperation
agreements entered by academic
research centers (e.g. university
research centers) and corporations.
Law 11196/2005, known as Law
of Good (Lei do Bem), provides

for tax incentives for technological
innovation.
20.2. Legal Protection
Brazil is a signatory of the
Agreement on Trade Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property Rights
(TRIPS).36 As such, the provisions
of TRIPS are enforced as minimum
standards for intellectual property
protection and have guided the
formulation of intellectual property
laws.
In terms of intellectual property
protection and trade secret, the most
important Brazilian legislation for the
IT industry includes the Software
Law, the Industrial Property Law
and Law 11484/2007. For purposes
of this section, only some of the
provisions of the Industrial Property
Law prohibiting unfair competition
practices will be reviewed.
Software
According to TRIPS and the Berne
Convention,37 computer programs
36
37
Legislative Decree 1355/1994.

Legislative Decree75699/1975.
are protected under copyrights laws.

In Brazil, Law 9610/1998 (Copyright
Law) will apply to software in the
absence of specific provision in the
Software Law.
Under the Software Law,38 a
computer program is protected for
a period of 50 years from the 1st
of January of the year following
its release, or from the date of its
creation, whichever occurs first.
The legal protection of computer
programs in Brazil does not require
previous registration and is also
granted to foreigners domiciled
abroad, provided that the country
of origin of the software grants
equivalent rights to Brazilian citizens
and foreigners domiciled in Brazil.
Unless otherwise provided for in an
agreement, the copyright of software
developed by employees, service
providers or public servants as a
consequence of their respective
contracts will be the property of
their employers, customers or
government entity. On the other
hand, the respective authors will own
the copyright of software developed
without connection to the respective
38
Complementedby Decree 2556/1998.
employment and service contracts,

and without use of resources,
technical information, trade and
industrial secrets, materials,
premises or equipment of their
employers, customers or government
entity, as the case may be.
Software registration in Brazil is
not mandatory for it to enjoy legal
protection. However, the owner of
the softwares rights may register
its code with the National Institute
of Industrial Property (Instituto
Nacional da Propriedade Industrial
INPI).39 According to article 3,
paragraph 1 of Law 9609/1998, the
registration application must identify
the softwares author and owner, if
different, and provide a description
of the programs features and other
data considered sufficient to identify
the software (i.e., portions of its
source code). All data provided to
INPI for the registration will be kept
confidential and disclosed only
when required by a court order or if
requested by the registry holder.
Articles 7 and 8 of the Brazilian
Software Law establish that the
The INPIResolution 58/1998establishes thespecific
proceduresfor software registration.
39
company licensing the software in

Brazil must establish a technical
validity term for each version of
the software. During such term the
licensor shall make available to end
users all services that such version
of the software may require (support
and maintenance, consulting, etc.).
Technical validity is not a product
warranty but rather a statement of
the software versions lifetime. Such
term must be clearly stated in the
software license agreement, tax
invoice, media or package.
With regard to resale, distribution and
other agreements granting Brazilian
citizens or companies domiciled in
Brazil the rights to resell, distribute
or to sublicense software developed
abroad, article 10 of the Software
Law states that will be null and void
contractual provisions (i) establishing
limits for the production, distribution
or marketing of the software in
violation of current regulations, or (ii)
exempt either contracting party from
liability in connection with software
defects and flaws, or violation of
third partys copyrights.
In addition to civil law violations,
most software violations are also
criminal offenses under Brazilian

Law, subjecting offenders to
imprisonment terms ranging from six
months to two years, or a fine. In the
event of violations consisting in the
reproduction of software in violation
of third partys copyrights for sale
or display for sale, acquisition,
concealing or keeping in deposit
for purposes of trade, violators will
be subject to imprisonment terms
ranging from one to four years and a
fine.
According to Law 11484/2007, the

protection of IC layout-designs40
depends on prior registration
with INPI, and will be granted
to an original topography that is
unknown to technicians, experts or
manufacturers of ICs at the time of
its development. IC layout-designs
will be protected for 10 years from
the date of filing41 or from the date
of the first commercial exploitation
anywhere in world, whichever occurs
first.
Law 9609/1998 also establishes

relevant rules in connection with the
collection of taxes levied in softwarerelated transactions, the period
of time during which evidence of
payments made to software owners
outside Brazil must be kept on file,
and the registration of software
technology transfer agreements.
The registration of a layout-design

grants its rights holder the exclusive
right to its exploitation as well as
the right to prevent third parties
from (i) reproducing, fully or in
part, the layout-design, including
by incorporating it in an IC; (ii)
importing, selling or otherwise
distributing for commercial purposes
Layout-Design of Integrated Circuits

The protection of integrated circuits
(IC) layout-designs (topographies)
under Brazilian Law is also based
on the principles contained in
international treaties, especially the
TRIPS Agreement.
40
For purposes of Law 11484/2007, integrated circuit
means a product in final or intermediate form, of which
at least one element is active and with some or all of
the interconnections on a fully formed piece of material
or in its interior and whose purpose is to perform an
electronic function. The topography of integrated circuits
is defined as a series of related images, built or coded in
any form or manner, representing the three-dimensional
configuration of the layers of an integrated circuit, and
in which each image represents, fully or in part, the
geometric arrangement or arrangements of the surface
of the integrated circuit at any stage of its design or
manufacturing.
41
The date when the application was filed with INPI.
a protected topography or an article

incorporating such an IC only in
so far as it continues to contain an
unlawfully reproduced layout-design.
For purposes of Law 11484/2007,
the following actions will not be
deemed violation of the rights to
the layout-design granted under
such Law: (i) acts carried out
by unauthorized third parties for
purposes of analysis, evaluation,
education and research; (ii) acts
for the creation or exploitation of
a layout-design resulting from the
analysis, evaluation and research of
a protected layout-design, provided
that the resulting layout-design is
not substantially identical to the
protected one; (iii) acts consisting
in the import, sale or distribution for
commercial or private purposes of
ICs or products incorporating such
an IC made available in the market by
the rights holder of such IC layoutdesign or with its consent; and (iv)
acts described in (ii) of the preceding
paragraph, where the person
performing or ordering such acts
did not know and had no reasonable
ground to know, when acquiring the
IC or article incorporating such an
IC, that it incorporated an unlawfully
reproduced layout-design.
Violation of layout-design rights

is also considered a crime under
Brazilian Law and perpetrators will be
subject to imprisonment from one to
four years and a fine, in the event of
reproduction, import, sale, keeping in
stock or distribution for commercial
purposes of a protected layoutdesign or of an IC incorporating such
layout-design.
Law 11484/2007 establishes the
Support Program for Technological
Development of the Semiconductor
Industry (Programa de Apoio ao
Desenvolvimento Tecnolgico
da Indstria de Semicondutores
- PADIS) and the Support
Program for the Development of
Technological Equipment Industry
for Digital TV (Programa de Apoio
ao Desenvolvimento Tecnolgico da
Indstria de Equipamentos para a
TV Digital - PATVD). Both programs
consist of tax benefits for the
development of layout-designs and
the production of ICs in Brazil.
Protection of Undisclosed Information
The protection of confidential
information in Brazil follows the
principles set forth in article 39 of
the TRIPS Agreement. As such,
any person shall have the right to

prevent information lawfully within
its control from being disclosed to,
acquired or used by others without
his consent in a manner contrary
to honest commercial practices,
provided that such information:
(i) is secret in the sense that it
is not, as a body or in the precise
configuration and assembly of its
components, generally known by or
readily accessible to persons within
the circles that normally deal with
the kind of information in question;
(ii) has commercial value due to
its confidential nature; and (iii)
has been the object of reasonable
precaution by the person lawfully in
control of the information, under the
circumstances, to keep it secret.
In addition to a contractual breach
(when confidential information is
disclosed in violation of the terms
of a confidentiality agreement), the
following violations of secret are
also deemed unfair competition
practices and a crime under the
Brazilian Industrial Property Law: (i)
unauthorized disclosure, exploitation
or use of confidential knowledge,
information or data for use in
manufacturing, trading or provision
of services, except those of public
knowledge or known to an expert on

the subject, to which the perpetrator
had access to during a contractual
or labor relationship, even after
termination of such contract; (ii)
unauthorized disclosure, exploitation
or use of knowledge or information
mentioned in (i) obtained through
unlawful means or accessed through
fraudulent means; (iii) unauthorized
disclosure, exploitation or use of
test results or other undisclosed
data obtained through considerable
efforts and that were presented to
government entities as a condition
for having the marketing of a product
approved. These crimes subject the
perpetrator to imprisonment from
three months to one year, or a fine.
20.3. Tax Benefits
The IT industry enjoys several tax
benefits throughout the country.
These vary from simple services tax
reduction for software development
and licensing, to complex,
production-based benefits for the
manufacturer of hardware products.
For purposes of this section,
however, the focus will be on tax
benefits originally established by Law
8248/1991.
The most important federal tax

benefits currently applicable to
local manufactures of IT goods
are:42(i) accelerated depreciation
of new machines, equipment
and instruments used in the
manufacturing process; and (ii)
reduction of the excise tax (Imposto
sobre Produtos Industrializados IPI) for companies developing or
producing IT goods and services that
invest in research and development
(R&D). The reduction of IPI for these
companies is the following:
IPI
Reduction
Period
80%
From January 1st 2004 through

December 31st 2014
75%

December 31st 2015
70%

December 31st 2019
The reduction of IPI for

companies located in the
Amazon area (subjected to
42
Law 8248 also provides for a non-tax benefit
consisting of preference in procurement by agencies
and entities of the federal government, foundations
established and maintained by the government and
other organizations under the direct or indirect control
of the federal government. This preference is granted,
in order, to goods and services incorporating Braziliandeveloped technologies, or to goods and services
produced according to a basic production process.
SUDAM Superintendncia de
Desenvolvimento da Amaznia),
Northeast region (subjected to
SUDENE Superintendncia de
Desenvolvimento do Nordeste)
and Central-West region43 is the
following:
IPI
Reduction
95%
90%
85%
Period
From January 1st 2004
through December 31st 2014
In addition to IPI reduction in

final products, the law allows
companies to use IPI credits
obtained in the purchase of raw
and packaging materials used in the
manufacturing of IT goods.
The list of products and services
eligible for these benefits has
changed several times over
the past 20 years. The current
list encompasses the following
Companies based in the SUDAM, SUDENE and CentralWest areas are subject to specific regulations, usually
more favorable than those applicable in other parts of
Brazil.
43
products and services: (i) electronic

components for semiconductors,
optical-electronics, as well as
respective raw materials that are
electronic in nature; (ii) machinery,
equipment and devices based on
digital technology for the collection,
processing, structuring, storage,
switching, transmission, recovery
or presentation of information, their
respective electronic raw materials,
parts, components and media for
operation thereof; (iii) software,
machines, equipment and devices
that process information and
respective technical documentation;
and (iv) technical services related to
the goods and services described
above.
Also, portable computers (including
tablets), low capacity digital
processing units and products
developed in Brazil are subject to
specific tax regulations and IPI
benefits.
With respect to software, it should
be clarified that IPI benefits are only
applicable to software embedded in
hardware and that are not separately
licensed.
To enjoy these benefits the company

must submit a basic production
plan (PPB) to the approval of the
Minister of Science and Technology,
in addition to other legal and financial
information. In short, the PPB must
clearly state the manufacturing
process and establish a quality
control program and a profit sharing
program for employees. The
applicant company cannot have
outstanding and undisputed debts
related to federal taxes and social
contributions and the employees
severance fund (Fundo de Garantia
por Tempo de Servio - FGTS).
In addition to the above
requirements, the company applying
for the benefits must invest in its
own R&D program in Brazil at least
5% per year of the companys gross
revenues from the sale of IT goods
and services in the domestic market,
less the taxes levied on such sales
and the acquisition cost of products
benefited by such incentives. A
portion of the R&D funds must be
invested in projects with:
Investment Amount
Beneficiaries
no less than 1%
Research centers or institutes, or Brazilian educational entities certified by

the Information Technology Committee (Comit da rea de Tecnologia da
Informao - CATI).
no less than 0.8%
Research centers or institutes, or Brazilian educational entities certified by

CATI, with head offices or main campuses located within the SUDAM area,
the SUDENE area and the Central-West region, excepting the Manaus Free
Trade Zone.
no less than 0.5%
FNDCT.
R&D investment percentages will

decrease as IPI benefits decrease.
Investment in R&D is not required
from companies with gross annual
revenues below R$15 million.
21 - COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATION AND DISTRIBUTION

CONTRACTS
Among the types of contracts
provided for in Brazilian Law, two
play a key role for foreign businesses
and investors: commercial
representation and distribution.
In these contracts, the contracted
party undertakes to promote
business transactions at the expense
of the contracting party.
In general, a Commercial
Representation contract (also an
Agency Contract) exists when
the relationship between the
parties involves intermediation
by the Distributor on behalf of
the Contracting Partys products,
without the obligation to buy such
products for resale. Commercial
Representation contracts are
governed by Law 4886.44 However,
where the Distributor keeps the
merchandise in storage, the contract
may be deemed to be a Distribution
contract, which is regulated by the
Brazilian Civil Code.
On the other hand, there are some eminent Brazilian
Scholars, such as Jos Alexandre Tavares Guerreiro,
who accept the possibility of Law 6729 governing
Distribution Contracts, in addition to those dealing with
automotive vehicles as defined by that specific Law.
44
Nevertheless, it is important to
notice that if the parties distribution
relationship is linked to products
considered as Automotive Vehicles
under Law 6729, these parties are
forbidden to regulate their contract
by any Law other than this one,
being null and void any provisions in
contrary.
The specific aspects of these types
of contract are described below.
21.1. Commercial Representation
(AGENCY)
Law 8420 of May 8, 1992 governs
Commercial Representation in
Brazil. Under this law, Commercial
Representation is defined as an
intermediation activity performed on
a permanent basis by any person
or company45 contracted to operate
in the market for goods or services
on the behalf of a company or of
several companies.46 Nevertheless,
45
Referred to in Brazilian Law as Representante
Comercial (Commercial Representative) or Agente
(Agent)
46
Representation of just one company would depend on
whether an exclusivity provision exists in the contract
signed by the parties.
the recently enacted Brazilian Civil

Code (Law 10406 of January 10,
2002) ruling on the matter refers
to Commercial Representation as
Agency.
Commercial Representatives (or
Agents) gather buying proposals
from prospective customers and
submit them to the approval of
the represented company. When
a proposal is accepted, the
Commercial Representative is entitled
to a previously and contractually
agreed percentage of the transaction
(commission), conditional on
the effecting of payment by the
purchaser, unless the contract
stipulates that the commission shall
be paid independently of the payment
by the purchaser. Moreover, the
Agent is entitled to a commission for
all sales in a contractually defined
area of intermediation activities,
unless otherwise specified in the
agency contract.
The above mentioned laws also
specify that every Agent must
be registered with the Council of
Commercial Representatives of the
respective Brazilian State where
activities take place, bearing in mind
that these Councils have regulatory

powers over the profession.
Moreover, companies that provide
Agency services must register their
articles of incorporation with the
Board of Trade, where freelance
Agents must also register.
Furthermore, under section 27 of
Law 8420, Agency contracts must
be in writing and, in addition to the
specific provisions agreed upon by
the parties, contain the following
topics: (i) general conditions of
Representation; (ii)indication and
features of products; (iii) duration
of the contract; (iv) indication
of the area, or areas where the
representation is to be performed
and permission (or otherwise) for
the represented company to perform
direct sales in the indicated area or
areas; (v) total or partial exclusivity
in the sales area; (vi) commissions
owed to the Commercial
Representative and payment
schedules, conditional (or not) on
effective receipt of the purchasers
payments; (vii) exclusivity (or not)
of the represented companys
products; (viii) compensation for
the Commercial Representative in
the event of unjustified contract
termination, which shall be less

than the equivalent to 1/12 of total
remuneration paid to the Commercial
Representative throughout the
contractual relationship.
It is very important to emphasize
that, despite the provision of article
1 of Law 488647 the scope of the
Brazilian Labor Law is such that the
represented company might have to
bear the costs of labor claims from
former Commercial Representatives48
- except where the representative is a
company.
Thus, to avoid such claims and its
liabilities, it is of crucial importance
that the represented company
include the following restrictions
in all Commercial Representation
Contracts: (i) the Commercial
Representative must always be
established as a company formed
by at least two partners; (ii) the
represented company must avoid
issuing orders directly to staff of the
representative company, and such
47
Provides for the non-existence of labor relations
between the contracting parties.
48
Based, among other allegations, on the legal
presumption of a labor relationship, which requires
the concomitance of personalty, salary dependence,
habitualness and subordination.
orders must be limited to fulfillment

of the representatives obligations.49
21.2. Distribution Agreements
Distribution Agreements in Brazil may
be divided into two similar but not
identical categories:
(A) Commercial Distribution
Agreements
(B) Ordinary Distribution
AGREEMENTS
21.2.1. Commercial Distribution
Agreements
Commercial distribution agreements
are governed by Law 6729 of
November 28, 1979 (amended by
Law 8132 of December 26, 1990)
and its scope is limited to relations
between Producers of Automobiles
and Spare Parts (Auto Makers) and
their Distributors (Dealers).
Under article 2 of Law 6729, only
automobiles, trucks, busses,
agricultural tractors and motorcycles
are subject to these provisions,
49
As provided for in the contract, in Law 4886 and in the
Brazilian Civil Code.
leading to the conclusion that any

other sort of automotive vehicle,
such as boats or non-agricultural
tractors are not encompassed, and
thus fit into the second category, i.e.,
Ordinary Distribution Contracts.
Dealers are entitled to trade in

second-hand automobiles and
original spare parts produced by
other makers, as well as other goods
and services compatible with the
Contract.
Under article 3 of Law 6729,

the Dealers role in Commercial
Distribution Agreements
encompasses: (i) sales the
automotive vehicles described in
section 2; (ii) spare parts thereof
manufactured or supplied by the
respective makers; (ii) technical
assistance to consumers; (iii)
concession for the use of the
Makers trademark.
Article 5 of Law 6729 specifies

basic provisions which must be
present in all Commercial Distribution
Contracts, namely: (i) definition of
the Dealers area;52 (ii) minimum
distances between different
Dealers.53
Pursuant to the provisions of article

3 of Law 6729, a Commercial
Distribution Agreement may forbid
the sale of new automobiles
produced by other makers.50 On
the other hand, Dealers have the
right to trade in new spare parts
manufactured or supplied by third
parties, while abiding by the socalled loyalty levels.51 Moreover,
50
In Brazil, it is common to find such prohibitions in this
type of contract.
51
Loyalty level is defined in Section 8 of Law 6729 as
the minimum amount of the makers spare parts which
the Dealer is obliged to acquire, according to provisions
Also, the Dealer is committed to

trade the makers automobiles
and spare parts and provide
technical assistance to customers,
in compliance with the respective
Commercial Distribution Contract.
Nevertheless, the Dealer is forbidden,
personally or through third parties,
from performing such activities
outside its area.54
foreseen in the Dealers Convention.
52
The operational area may be reserved for more than
one Dealer, except when exclusivity is granted to a
specific Dealer.
53
These distances are established in accordance with
marketing potential criteria.
54
In any case, consumers are always entitled to choose
any Dealer in order to purchase goods produced by the
maker, whereas, on the other hand, a Dealer has the right
to be reimbursed for any technical assistance given to
a customer who purchased the product from another
Despite the fact that the area

is defined in the Commercial
Distribution Contract, article 6 of Law
6729 allows the maker to contract
a new Dealer, provided that the
market in the operational area proves
able to sustain it, or in the event
of a vacancy or termination of an
agreement.55
Under article 7 of Law 6729, the
Commercial Distribution Contract
must also encompass a binding
quota of automobiles to be acquired
by the Dealer, defined in accordance
with the following items: (i) estimates
of the makers production;56 (ii) the
quota must correspond to a part
of the estimated production;57 (iii)
mutual agreement as to the Dealers
quota;5856 (iv) definition of the
quota must not take into account
Dealer.
55
However, in any such event, Law 6729 prohibits any
new contracting which may jeopardize Dealers who are
already contracted, although it grants no preference to a
Dealer already established in that particular operational
area, once the new contracting has proven feasible in
terms of market prospects within that operational area.
56
This estimate is calculated per product and limited to
the domestic market in the subsequent fiscal year, and in
accordance with market prospects.
57
The part of estimated production is comprised of a
diversity of different and independent products.
58
The quota may correspond to the Dealers business
capacity and trading performance, the operational area,
and sales prospects.
the Dealers inventory59 and must be

revised annually.60
Article 10 of Law 6729 allows the
contracting parties to include in the
Commercial Distribution Contract
the obligation, on the part of the
Dealer, to maintain in its inventory
a previously stipulated amount
of products, which should be
proportional to its turnover of new
products.61
As provided for in section 10 of Law 6729.
In case no adjustment has been made before then
due to discrepancies between the makers present
production and previous estimates.
61
Nevertheless, whenever a Commercial Distribution
Contract establishessuch a minimum inventory
obligation, the dealer is entitled to set the following limits:
(a) For Automotive Vehicles in general: 65% of the
corresponding monthly portion of the annual
quota foreseen in section 7 of Law 6729,
commented above;
(b) For Trucks: 30% of the corresponding monthly
portion of the annual quota;

(c) For Tractors: 4% of the total annual quota;

(d) For Spare parts:
(d.1) 5% of all sales in the past 12 months for
Implements;
(d.2) any agreed value which cannot exceed
the purchase price from the maker relating to
the Dealers previous 3 months retail sales, for
other components.
Where the Commercial Distribution Contract
contains a minimum inventory provision,
besides the Dealers right to the above
mentioned limits, Law 6729 also provides that :
(1) For Automotive Vehicles, Trucks and Tractors:
every six months there must be a comparison
between the above mentioned Automotive
Vehicles Quota, foreseen in section 7 of Law
6729, and the Dealers actual market conditions
59
60
Article 12 of Law 6729 forbids

Dealers from selling new automobiles
to other dealers (for resale) rather
than to final consumers. This is due
to the fact that the law does not
countenance sales for purposes of
resale, except in the following cases:
(i) trades between Dealers linked
to the same Maker limited to 15%
and 10% of the quota of trucks and
of other automobiles, respectively;
(ii)international trading.
Furthermore, under Law 6729 the
Maker is bound to preserve the
equality of prices and conditions of
payment among all Dealers which,
for their part, are free to set their own
consumer prices.
Although Makers are bound to
respect the Dealers operational area,
they may perform direct sales in the
following cases:
(1) Independently of the Dealers
at that time and his trade performance for the
purpose of reducing minimum inventory limits;
(2) For products being altered or breaches of
delivery conditions, the maker is obliged, in a
period of no more than one year from the event,
to buy back the Dealers inventory of auto parts
(except for tools) at the current price offered to
all Dealers or, alternatively, replace it with new
products at the Dealers discretion.

performance or request: (i) to

the Public Administration or the
Diplomatic Corps; (ii) to consumers
considered as Special Buyers by
the Dealers Convention.
(2) Through Dealers: (i) to the
Public Administrations or the
Diplomatic Corps; (ii) to owners of
automobile fleets; (iii) to consumers
considered as Special Buyers by
the Dealers Convention, when so
requested by a specific Dealer.
Anyway, the level of direct sales
and its impact on the Dealerships
quota must be always present in
the Dealers Convention and any
act which may lead to a Dealers
subordination or to interference in its
business management is expressly
forbidden.
In accordance with articles 17
and 18 of Law 6729, the Dealers
Convention is inherent in the
Commercial Distribution Agreement
and may be defined as a General
Agreement, which must be
concluded between the civil entities
representing the Makers and the
National Representatives of the
Dealers. Likewise, in accordance
with Law 6729, this Dealers
Convention is legally binding upon

signatory parties, and serves to
regulate their relationship.
Furthermore, pursuant to Law
6729 all Commercial Distribution
Contracts must observe a standard
written form and their content,
according to articles 20 and 21,
must contain provisions on: (i)
product specification; (ii) definition
of the operational area; (iii) minimum
distances between dealers; (iv)
dealersquotas; (v) standards for
the financial status, management,
equipment, specialized personnel,
facilities, and technical capacity of
dealers; (vi) indeterminate duration
of the contract, which can only be
terminated in accordance with the
provisions of Law 6729, after an
initial duration of no less than five
years.62
Finally, the Commercial Distribution
Contract may be terminated in the
following circumstances: (i) by
agreement between the parties;
(ii) by written notice (mentioned
above) during the course of an initial
62
After the five-year period the agreement will
automatically become one of undetermined duration,
unless a written tearmination notice is sent to the other
party within the 180 days prior to termination.
five-year contract; (iii) by initiative

of the aggrieved party, in the event
of breach of contract, violation of
the Dealers Convention, or of Law
6729.63
Moreover, if the Maker provides
the Dealer with a written notice
to terminate the initial five-year
contract under articles 23 to 25
of Law 6729, the Maker is bound
to: (i) buy back the Dealers entire
inventory of automotive vehicles
and spare parts at a price offered
to Dealers on the day of payment
of such compensation; (ii) buy all
the Dealers equipment, machinery,
tools and plant (except real estate)
at market prices, provided that their
acquisition has been determined
or not contested by the Maker
upon receipt of written notice
from the Dealer informing of such
acquisitions. On the other hand, if
the Dealer provides the termination
notice foreseen in section 21 of
Law 6729, according to section 23
63
Also foreseen in section 22 of Law 6.729, termination
based on events described in this item must always
be preceded by gradual penalties. Also, in case of
termination, the parties must be granted a minimum
period of 120 days after termination to fulfill any pending
operations.On the other hand, if Dealer issues termination
notice as foreseen in section 21 of Law 6.729, according
to section 23 of the same Law, the Maker will not have
right to any compensation whatsoever.
of the same Law the Maker will not

be entitled to any compensation
whatsoever.
to 5% of the total amount of all

merchandise purchases in the four
months prior to termination.
The consequences of termination of

a Commercial Distribution Contract
of indeterminate duration, set forth in
articles 24 to 27 of Law 6729, are as
follows:
Regardless of which party caused

the agreement to terminate, all sums
owed to the aggrieved party must
be paid no later than 60 days as of
termination of the agreement.
(1) Termination caused by the

Maker: (i) the Maker must buy
back the Dealers entire inventory of
new automotive vehicles and new
spare parts, at the price offered to
consumers on the day of termination
of the contract; (ii) the Maker
must buy all Dealers equipment,
machinery, tools and plant (except
real estate) at market prices; (iii)
the Maker must also pay the Dealer
compensation for the next 18 months
corresponding to 4% of its latest
gross billings of goods and services,
plus three months for each five years
of the contracts duration, based on
the two years prior to termination.64
21.2.2. Ordinary Distribution Contracts
(2) Termination caused by the

Dealer: the Dealer must pay a
compensation corresponding
Unlike Commercial Distribution

Contracts, under Ordinary
Distribution Contracts no specific
law governs the relationship between
the parties and such contracts are
therefore governed by the general
provisions of the New Civil Code.65
Thus, contracting parties may define
their relationship almost exclusively
by contract, provided they comply
with the general provisions and
obligations specified in the Civil
Code.66
Sections 710 to 721.

If the contract has no provision on its respective
duration, this is legally assumed to be undetermined, and
termination thereof may occur at any time by means of a
simple 90-day notice.
65
66
The Maker must also pay the Dealer an additional

compensation if so provided for in the Commercial
Distribution Contract of the Dealers Convention.
64
22 - INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

22.1. General Aspects
International Contracts
With the advances of economic
globalization and the rapid
development of communications
and logistics experienced in recent
decades, the market integration
process and the internationalization
of companies has become a
clear, complex and irreversible
phenomenon in the 21st Century.
As a result of Latin Americas, and
most specifically Brazils recovery,
the volume of international contracts,
in general, signed in our country
has increased significantly every
year. In this sense, it immediately
becomes necessary to underscore
the essential particularities of an
international contract and what
distinguishes it from a national
contract. Indeed, a contract
will always be considered to be
international in as much as one of its
elements is subject to or connected
with another legal framework. In
other words, it is precisely the
presence of these multi-connected
international elements commonly
known as connection or crossborder elements that will imply the
possibility of applying more than

one legal framework to govern
the relationship in a specific legal
contract. This element may be, for
example, depending on the case, the
domicile of the contracting parties
in different countries, or the location
where the contract obligation is to be
complied with, or even the location
of the asset that is the object of the
commercial transaction.
Therefore, in essence an international
contract requires more than one
competent State with the possibility
of applying its own domestic law
to the same contract, due to the
presence of one or more elements
of connection. Thus the need for
contracting parties in any contract
relationship of an international nature
to define at the outset which of
the two or more legal frameworks
connected to that specific contract
will govern the contract relationship.
As a result, the choice of a countrys
law applicable to an international
contract starts with the principle of
autonomy of the parties will, which
ensures them freedom to determine
the applicable law as well as the
terms and conditions that will govern
the international contract, as long

as the limits of public order, good
customs and sovereignty of each
State are respected.
If the contracting parties fail to
choose a specific law to govern
the international contract theyve
entered into, and should a dispute
between them emerge in the future,
this will be settled in accordance
with the applicable law resulting from
the application of internal norms of
Private International Law (PIL) of
the country qualified to judge the
dispute and settle the dispute. It is
worth observing that in face of the
lack of choice of an applicable law
for the international contract, in Brazil
the domestic and indirect norms
of Private International Law are
stipulated in the Law of Introduction
to the Civil Code LICC (Decree-Law
4657 of September 4, 1942).
However, pursuant to the Brazilian
legislation, there are two different
rules: (i) the first applicable to the
situation where the parties are
present at the location where the
international contract is concluded.
Thus, the head of Art. 9 of the LICC
determines that to qualify and
govern the obligations, the law of the

country in which they are constituted
will apply thereby establishing the
principle of lex loci celebrationis;
and (ii) the second rule applies to
the case of an international contract
entered into in the absence of the
parties, for example, by letter,
telephone, or over the Internet. In
this case, the applicable law, in
accordance with Paragraph 2, art.
9 of the LICC will be the law of
country of residence of the offering
or proposing party, regardless of
where the contract was signed: The
obligation resulting from the contract
shall be deemed established at the
place o residence of the proposing
party.
In general, these rules apply to all
international contracts, regardless
of their nature, including, as a result,
international intellectual property
protection contracts. This represents
an element of great economic value
for both the companies and states
that do not stop discussing and
entering into agreements aimed at
further increasing the protection
of intellectual property rights,
including industrial property, which
encompasses trademarks, inventions
(patents) and industrial designs, as

well as copyrights more related to
the protection of literary, scientific or
artistic works in different forms such
as: books, photos, paintings, music,
choreography, drawings (including
technical drawings), maps,
sculptures, films and audiovisual
material, etc.
Copyright protection basically
guarantees two different objectives,
namely: (i) the exercise of the socalled moral right of the author,
that is, a right inherent in the author
to claim authorship of their work and
guarantee its integrity against any
attempt to change or deform the
original work; and (ii) the exercise
of the so-called economic right to
the commercial exploitation of their
work upon express authorization to
guarantee the legitimate use by third
parties of all or part of the work in
reproductions of the authors work
intended for sale to the general public
through the publication of books,
recording of songs, transmission of
images, etc.
On the otherhand, thelegal
protectionof industrial propertyaims
to ensure that the trademark,for
example, thatidentifiesaproduct
ora service provided by aparticular

company,after itsdue registration
with the competent body will no
longerbe usedbyanother person
or company,making it illegalto
copyorreproduce it withoutthe
prior permission ofits owner,and no
unauthorized - and therefore illegal copy can be sold.The same applies
to patents andindustrial designs.In
Brazil, intellectual propertyis
provided for in ourConstitution,
whichprotectsthese assetsin
accordance withArt.5,paragraphs
XXVIIand XXIX, which read,
respectively:
XXVII the authors have the
exclusive right of use, publication or
reproduction of their works, which
can be transferred to heirs for the
period of time stipulated by law;
XXIX the law will ensure the
authors of industrial inventions the
temporary privilege of their use, as
well as the protection of industrial
creations, of trademark ownership,
of company names and of other
distinguishing signs, considering
the countrys social interest and
technological and economic
development.
22.2. Brazil and International

Intellectual Property Treaties
Concern about international legal
protection of intellectual property
rights is not recent. For some time,
the States have been trying to ensure
that these rights are respected by
prohibiting and curbing the illegal
trade of unauthorized copies, in order
to encourage the regular, legal and
productive licensing of trademarks,
patents and, more recently, software.
The first efforts for the international
date back to the 19th Century,
with the 1883 Paris Convention on
Intellectual Property Protection, and
then the 1886 Berne Convention on
the Protection of Artistic and Literary
Works, with the former having been
revised and subsequently updated.
Brazil ratified the 1883 Paris
Convention the following year
through Decree 9233 of June 28,
1884. Later on, through Decree
19056 of December 31, 1929,
it incorporated the amendments
introduced by the first review of the
Paris Convention held in The Hague,
Holland, in 1925. In the second half
of the 20th Century a new review
was organized, resulting in the

Stockholm Convention of 1967,
ratified by Brazil through Decree
75572 of April 8, 1975. Later on,
through Decree 635 of August 21,
1992, Brazil incorporated articles
1 to 12 and art. 28, item 1, of the
Stockholm text. One of Stockholms
great contributions lies in that it
established the foundation for the
creation of the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO),
of which Brazil is a member. Its
fundamental objective is to promote
and stimulate intellectual creation,
ensuring the protection of its rights
and repressing unfair competition
through cooperation between
States and the formulation of new
treaties on the matter and inspiring
the modernization of the domestic
legislation of different countries.
WIPO has become a specialized UN
agency.
Brazil also ratified another important
treaty related to the legal protection
of intellectual property, the so-called
TRIPS Agreement - Trade Related
Intellectual Property Rights), signed
in 1994 at the end of the Uruguay
Round started in 1986, within the
scope of the General Agreement
on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that

culminated in the creation of the
World Trade Organization (WTO),
of which said agreement is an
integral part. The TRIPS Agreement
regulates, inter alia, the protection
of intellectual property rights in
terms of patents, copyrights,
trademarks, geographic indications
and industrial designs. The TRIPS
also establishes that WTO members
must ensure the protection of
intellectual property pursuant to the
provisions of the Paris Convention
and other international agreements
on the matter. In Brazil, the TRIPS
Agreement (Annex 1C of the Treaty
of Marrakech) was ratified through
Decree 1355 of December 30,
1994, which incorporated the final
Minutes of the GATT Agreements
Uruguay Rounds for Multilateral
Trade negotiations. Brazil also ratified
other important international treaties
on the protection of intellectual
property such as: (a) the Strasbourg
Agreement on International Patent
Classification; and (b) the Patent
Cooperation Treaty.
Law 9279 (the new Industrial
Property Code) in effect since May
14, 1997, encompasses inventions,
utility models, industrial designs,

manufacturers brands, trademarks,
and service marks that are distinctive
and indicate the origin and source
of the relevant products. The new
law also contains provisions on
crimes against industrial property.
Law 10196, of February 14, 2001,
introduced changes and extended the
scope of Law 9279/96.
22.3. International Contracts on
Intellectual Property
22.3.1. International Contract for
Granting Copyright to Literary Works
In Brazil, copyrights are governed by
Law 9610/98 of February 19, 1998,
which regulates copyrights in the
country and guarantees foreigners
domiciled abroad the protection
of their copyrights ensured by the
agreements, conventions and treaties
in effect in Brazil. Several aspects
are addressed in said law, such
as rules related to reproduction,
protection of the authors rights,
as well as their extinction. In this
regard, it is worth pointing out that
in accordance with the rules adopted
by most countries, a literary work,
for example, becomes of public
domain seventy years after the year

of the authors death. In consonance
with this international tendency,
Brazil currently adopts the same
criteria, that is, the heirs of the author
of a literary work lose their acquired
copyrights seventy years after said
authors death, as provided for in
article 41, Law 9610 of February 19,
1998.
The International Treaty on the
Protection of Copyright of Literary
Works is a private instrument
through which the author (owner
of the copyright, assignor) grants
a third party, generally a publisher
(assignee) the right to: promote
the publication of literary works
in any form and authorizes it to
publish, distribute and sell said
works throughout the country or
even in third countries as specified
in the contract. Usually, this type
of contract will also contain a
statement by the assignor attesting
to the originality of the works and
to the non-existence of disputes of
any nature related to any violation
of third party rights, or any onus
or rights that could prevent the
assignment. Obligations agreed upon
by the contracting parties within
the scope of this type of agreement

are also binding on their heirs and/
or successors. Furthermore, the
contract must also establish that no
subsequent change should be made
to the literary work without the prior
and expressed consent of the author
or his or her successors, as the case
may be.
The author will reserve in contract
the right to review, prior to
publication of the work abroad,
any translations made in order to
guarantee the integrity and originality
of the content of his creation.
Another important provision to
be included in the contract is the
authors fee, which in most cases is
calculated over a sum corresponding
to a percentage of each books cover
price. This fee is paid based on
actual sales of the work, numbered
by the publisher in periodic account
rendering reports that may be audited
by the assignor. It is also necessary
to define whether the assignee will
be granted exclusive rights over the
work or not, actionable against third
parties and against the author, who,
depending on the extension of said
exclusivity, may not reproduce it in
any way.
22.3.2. International Agreement on

Trademark Licensing
Under Brazilian legislation, a
trademark is any distinctive sign
that identifies and distinguishes
companies, products and services
from those sold or provided
by others. Registration of the
trademark with the competent
body is fundamental since only
the registration (the registered
trademark) guarantees the owner
the exclusive right of use throughout
the country in its respective line
of economic activity. Likewise, its
identification by consumers can
add more value to the products and
services it identifies. In Brazil, the
competent authority for registering a
trademark is the National Institute of
Industrial Property (INPI), a quasigovernmental entity linked to the
Ministry of Development, Industry
and Foreign Trade, in accordance
with the Industrial Property Law
(Law 9279/96), the Software Law
(Law 9609/98) and Law 11484/07.
INPE is charged with: (i) registering
trademarks; (ii) granting patents; (iii)
endorsing contracts for the transfer
of technology and for franchises; (iv)
registering computer programs; (v)
registering industrial designs; (vi)

registering geographic indications;
and (vii) registering integrated circuit
topography.
Regulations for registering
trademarks are provided for mainly
in the Industrial Property Law (Law
9279/96), which stipulates trademark
related rights and obligations, as
well as all aspects of the trademark
law, including everything that
can and cannot be registered as
trademark under article 124. Since
trademarks are intangible assets
susceptible to registration and the
object of ownership, they can also be
assigned or transferred. According
to article 134 of Law 9279/96, the
assignment of a trademark can
cover the registration application
as well as the registration itself, as
long as the assignee also meets
the legal requirements for requiring
said registry. This assignment takes
effect from entry into the records,
which is made upon formal request
to INPI, which has the authority to do
so under article 136, paragraph I of
said Law. Likewise, the assignment
will only enter into effect before
third parties after publication of
the entry as approved by INPI.
Pursuant to Law 9279/96, the

Brazilian legislator has chosen the
criterion of universality of trademark
assignment, according to which,
in case of transfer all registrations
and applications for equal or similar
trademarks referring to the same
activity should be transferred en
bloc.
Trademark licensing is a procedure
through which the rights to use a
specific trademark are assigned to
third parties in order to add value to
the product or service of the licensed
company, through immediate
recognition by consumers of a brand
in evidence, and is an essential
element for attracting consumers
and ensuring their loyalty. According
to article 140 of Law 9279/96,
trademark licensing should be the
object of a specific contract that
will be registered with INPI in
order to become effective before
third parties. Therefore, licensing
contracts must be registered with
INPI in order to become effective
before third parties. If the licensing
contract is not registered with INPI,
the licensee could face various
problems such as obsolescence
of the trademark as a result of the
impossibility of the licensee to

demonstrate its use since only the
owner of the trademark could do so
as a result of the failure to register
said mark with INPI.
Besides the usual provisions of
all international agreements, such
as applicable laws and courts, or
the possibility of settling possible
disputes through alternative
methods such as mediation and
international commercial arbitration,
the international trademark licensing
contract should also contain:
information that clearly and
unequivocally defines the trademark
to be licensed and the criteria for use
thereof; a declaration by the licensee
that it has the technical and industrial
conditions to produce the licensed
products in accordance with the
licensors models and specifications;
the quantities of licensed products
to be produced; confidentiality
criteria; the deadline for licensing
the use of the trademark; the
financial consideration, expressed
in percentages of the sales amounts
related to the use of the licensed
trademark, as the case may be, when
the product design is developed
by the licensee or the licensor, the
payment method and currency,

rendering of accounts and possible
audits, as well as contractual fines
in case of violation of the criteria for
using the licensed trademark.
Finally, in Brazil trademark applicants
may request registration of a foreign
or a Brazilian trademark. Foreign
trademarks are registered under the
terms of the Paris Convention, which
establishes an exclusive priority term
of six months, from the date of the
application in the country of origin,
for its holder to apply for registration
of this same trademark in other
countries which are signatories to the
Convention. Therefore, in order to file
this application in Brazil, a certified
copy of the trademark application in
the country of origin or a certificate
of registration must be submitted to
INPI.
22.3.3. International Patent Licensing
Agreement
Patents are granted for the protection
of inventions, utility models, and
industrial designs, granted by the
State to inventors or other individuals
or legal entities who are the
legitimate holders of the rights to the
invention, ensuring owners exclusive

rights to commercially explore
their creation. In return for patent
protection, the inventor undertakes
to provide a detailed description
of all the technical contents of the
invention protected by the patent.
The exclusive rights guaranteed by
the patent refer to the right to prevent
others from manufacturing, using,
selling or importing the protected
invention during the patent validity
period.
Patent holders can economically
explore and market the patent per
se. However, since the patent is
property, it can be the object of sale
or transfer through licensing to third
parties to explore the object of the
patent in question. This license can
be granted by patent holders, or
by their heirs or successors. The
license in question can be exclusive
- when its holder loses the right to
commercially exploit the patent, or
non-exclusive - when the license
holder can grant several licenses to
different individuals or legal entities,
or even exploit the invention himself.
Granting of the license is the object
of a specific licensing contract
which, as per article 62 of Law
9279/96, is subject to registration

with INPI.
Under Law 9279/96 there are
different types of licenses, namely:
(a) voluntary license, which
guarantees the patent holder the right
to authorize others to manufacture
and sell the product which is
the object of protection; and (b)
compulsory license, established
to avoid any abuses of the right to
exclusive commercial exploitation
of the patent, such as the lack of
actual use of the invention. The
aforementioned law specifically
provides for cases of compulsory
licenses, namely: (i) insufficient
exploitation; (ii) overuse; (iii)
situations involving the abuse of
economic power; (iv) dependence
on patents; or (v) public interest
or national emergency. This last
provision became particularly
important after the creation of the
World Trade Organization and the
discussion, in 2001, that led to the
Doha Declaration, which in cases of
extreme urgency such as epidemics
representing risk for human lives,
allows a country to permit use of
the patent without prior authorization
from the patent holder. However,
according to the same law, the

compulsory license may be denied
if, upon request thereof the patent
holder presents a justification for
non-use of the patent for legitimate
reasons; or clearly demonstrates that
serious preparations are underway
to begin exploiting the object of
the patent; or justifies the failure to
market the patent due to an obstacle
of legal nature.
The international patent licensing
agreement to be registered with
INPI and aimed at authorizing third
parties, with or without exclusivity, to
exploit a granted or requested patent
should include provisions related to:
the number and name of the patent
granted or the registration number
when the patent has been requested
but not yet granted; the transfer of
know-how; the term of the contract;
remuneration conditions and royalty
payment regime, including currency;
technical assistance and training of
licensees technicians; the country
where the license will be exploited;
confidentiality rules; patent use
rules, through the actual use of the
licensed patent, manufacturing and
selling the products uninterruptedly
in certain quantities; possibility of
conducting audits on the part of

the licensor; possibility of technical
improvements of the product;
fine in case of breach of contract
provisions, as well as the applicable
law and competent jurisdiction,
or even an arbitration clause
establishing the commitment of the
parties to submit possible disputes
to the alternative dispute settling
mechanism of the international
commercial arbitration body.
The holder of a foreign patent
may file an application for a
corresponding patent in Brazil
within the timelines and under the
provisions of the Paris Convention:
12 months for patents of invention
and utility models, and 6 months for
industrial designs, starting from the
date of application in the country of
origin. As there is no international
patent, each patent will be valid in
the respective country of registration
and protected according to the
principle of patent independence.
Thus, an international patent
licensing agreement should, as
appropriate, refer to each of these
national patents registered in different
countries.
22.3.4. International Technology

Transfer Agreements
Technology transfer operations
aim at ensuring that scientific
and technological developments
are accessible to individuals,
companies or governments so that
they can exploit the technology
of new products, applications,
materials and services. Technology
transfers involving Brazilian
parties or industrial property rights
registered in Brazil are governed by
the provisions of INPI Normative
Act 135, of May 15, 1997, which
aims to regulate annotation and
registration of contracts containing
provisions relating to: (i) trademark
licensing; (ii) patent licensing; (iii)
exploitation of industrial design; (iv)
supply of technology; (v) technical
and scientific assistance; and (vi)
franchise agreements.
Such contracts must be registered
with INPI, including licensing
contracts for exploitation rights (use
of patents, industrial design and
trademark), contracts for acquiring
technological knowledge (supply
of technology and provision of
technical and scientific assistance
services) and franchise contracts,

so as to generate effects between
contracting parties or be binding
upon third parties. Registration with
INPI is important for fiscal purposes,
in addition to enabling the future
transfer of royalties abroad.
International technology transfer
agreements include certain clauses
depending on the type of technology
transfer operation they involve. In
practice, each of the different types
of technology transfer agreements
has its own structure and specific
objectives, although there are some
similarities among them, such as the
definition of strict confidentiality rules
and the possibility of establishing
the remuneration of the rights holder
abroad through the payment of
royalties, in percentages that may
be fixed or variable, depending on
the case. On the other hand, the
characteristics of each of these
agreements differ according to their
specific legal nature. For example, in
terms of validity period, duration can
vary considerably from one type to
another; for example, the duration of
a patent licensing agreement cannot
exceed the duration of the patent
registration period. Thus, technology
transfer agreement models should

respect these different specificities
according to each type of technology
transfer involved. The previously
mentioned licensing agreements
for trademarks and patents stand
out among the most used types
of technology transfer in Brazil.
However, mention should also be
made of another type of technology
transfer which has gained more and
more ground in Brazil: the business
franchise agreement.
In Brazil, the franchise system is
governed by Law 8955 of December
15, 1994. Aside from defining the
franchise system, this also sets
rules for the relationship between
franchisers and franchisees, ranging
from preliminary negotiations
to formalization of a franchise
agreement, and sets penalties
for non-compliance with certain
conditions. This contract is
characterized by the franchisees
legal and financial independence in
relation to the franchiser, the absence
of labor relations, except, of course,
where there is clear dissimulation
of an employment contract. On
the other hand, franchisers can
establish a true distribution network
of products or services through

contract terms and provisions, with
little burden on them.
In general, the international franchise
agreement will introduce specific
clauses from this business segment,
such as: definition of the intended
franchise (product, service, industrial
franchise...); its object; license for
using the franchise trademark and/
or patents inherent in the franchise;
the franchisee manual containing
all the rules for using the franchise,
commercial practices, human
resource policies and criteria for
accounting procedures, customer
service and the promotion and use
of the franchise trademark; rules
for training the franchisee and
its employees; rules concerning
the advertising and marketing
of products and/or services;
confidentiality clause; franchise and
advertising fees; definition of royalty
payments calculated as a percentage
of the franchisees revenues, as
well as its currency and payment
terms; preparation of periodic reports
on sales, consumer behavior and
market and competition evolution;
restrictions regarding the use of the
trademark; insurance; non-fulfillment
of contract obligations, as well as

fines and forms of compensation
for violation of intellectual property
rights; besides, of course, clauses
involving applicable laws, courts and
arbitration as an alternative dispute
settling mechanism.
23 - INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
23.1. Overview

Treaties are international agreements
concluded between States in written
form and governed by international
law, whether embodied in a single
instrument or in two or more related
instruments Treaties may be entered
into by States, between States
and international organizations, or
between international organizations
themselves, provided the parties are
represented by qualified agents, and
seek to regulate legal relations that
are freely entered into, for legal and
feasible purposes, to assure that
contracting parties fulfill and respect
the provisions contained therein.
Under the rule of International
Law, treaties are negotiated and
concluded, so that the contracting
parties are bound to fulfill and
enforce their provisions.
Chamber of Deputies and then by

the Federal Senate, the President of
which issues a formal Legislative
Decree, thus imbuing the treaties
with efficacy and ranking them in the
domestic legal system, followed by
promulgation and publication. These
stages are requisites for treaties to
be enforceable within the domestic
legal system.
Negotiated and signed by the Head of

the Executive Branch, the President
of the Republic, prior to being ratified
at the international level, international
treaties and conventions should
first be submitted to the approval
of the National Congress, pursuant
to Art. 49, I, of the Brazilian Federal
Constitution of 1988: first by the
With regard to the multilateral trade

system, Brazil is a member of the
World Trade Organization (WTO),
which replaced the 1947 General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT), according to the organization
established by the Marrakesh Treaty
of 1994.
In parallel to Congress decision

to approve the treaty, the Head
of Executive Branch or Ministry
of External Relations informs
the depositary authority of the
ratification. Treaties are then
registered with the UN Secretary
General, whereupon they are
acknowledged by other countries, i.e.
by International Law.
23.2. International Trade
Apart from its membership

in institutions of the modern
international trade system, Brazil is
one of the original signatories of the
1944 Bretton Woods agreement,
which established the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World
Bank (IBRD). Brazil is also a founding
member of and shareholder in
the Inter-American Development
Bank (IDB), and has the status of
Observer State in the European
Economic Community, maintaining a
permanent diplomatic representation
in Brussels.
In connection with its trade agenda
in the last decades, Brazil signed
bilateral trade treaties with Austria,
on March 13, 1993; with the
European Union, on January 31,
1994; with Turkey on April 10, 1995;
with Uruguay, on June 6, 1997, as
well as supplementary arrangements
with Peru, on July 21, 1999 and with
Costa Rica, on April 4, 2000, and a
protocol with Argentina, on October
29, 1999. Other bilateral agreements
that deserve to be mentioned in
this context include: the Economic
Cooperation Agreement with Hungary
(May 05, 2006); the Trade and
Economic Cooperation Agreement
with Kazakhstan (September 27,

2007); the Economic and Industrial
Cooperation Agreement with the
Czech Republic (April 12, 2008);
the Cooperation on Economic,
Scientific and Technological Matters
and Innovation with Greece (April
03, 2009); and the Trade and
Economic Cooperation Agreement
with Jordan (October 23, 2008); and
Memorandums of Understandings
for Cooperation in Trade and
Investments Promotion signed with
Bolivia (November 11, 2003); Chile
(August 23, 2004); and Colombia
(June 27, 2005).
23.3. Intellectual Property
With regard to the international
rights (patent, trademarks, industrial
designs, copyright and related
rights and further IPRs), Brazil is
a founding member of the Paris
Union for the Protection of Industrial
Property established in 1883, having
joined the 1886 Berne Union for the
Protection of Literary and Artistic
Works on February 09, 1922.
Brazil has been a member of
the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO) since 1975
and is also a signatory of the Paris

Union Convention for the Protection
of Industrial Property, including the
Hague Revisions of 1935 and the
Stockholm revisions of 1967, and
the 1886 Berne Convention for the
Protection of Literary and Artistic
Works, including the Paris Revision
(1971).
In 1970, in Washington, Brazil signed
the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT),
which was subsequently ratified
by Congress and incorporated
into Brazilian domestic legislation.
Other international intellectual
property treaties adopted under the
auspices of WIPO or administered
by the Organization were signed
by Brazil, such as the 1896 Madrid
Agreement on Indications of Source;
the 1961 Rome Convention for the
Protection of Performers, Producers
of Phonograms and Broadcasting
Organizations; the Strasbourg
Agreement of 1971 on International
Patent Classification; the 1971
Convention for the Protection of
Producers of Phonograms Against
Unauthorized Duplication of Their
Phonograms; and the 1981 Nairobi
Treaty on the Protection of the
Olympic Symbol.
Since 1994, when the World Trade

Organization was established,
Brazil has been a member of the
TRIPS Agreement (Annex IC of the
1994 WTO Agreement), which was
incorporated into Brazilian domestic
legislation by Decree 1355/94. Under
the provisions of the TRIPS and
WTO Agreements, any international
IP related disputes involving Brazil
and WTO Members can be brought
to the WTO Dispute Settlement
Body (DSB), which has jurisdiction
over disputes on matters related
to international trade, including the
trade in goods, subsidies, dumping,
non-tariff barriers, trade in services
and intellectual property.
Within the field of bilateral relations
involving intellectual property, Brazil
has signed several international
treaties and agreements with different
countries, including: Sweden
(1955), to protect both industrial and
commercial brands; France (1983),
concerning industrial property; the
former USSR (1982), for scientific
and technological cooperation;
the United States (1957) and Italy
(1963), concerning copyrights.
23.4. Taxes
In the field of tax-related international
trade issues, Brazil has signed,
ratified and incorporated into its
domestic legislation a variety
of international double-taxation
agreements with such countries
as: Argentina (1982); Austria
(1976); Belgium (1973); Canada
(1986); Chile (2003); China (1993);
Germany (2006); Israel (2005);
Mexico (2006); South Korea (1991);
Denmark (1974); Ecuador (1988);
Spain (1976); Finland (1998); Peru
(2009); the Philippines (1991);
France (1972); Hungary (1991);
India (1992); Italy (1981); Japan
(1967 and 1978); Luxembourg
(1980); Norway (1981); Portugal
(2001); the Netherlands (1991);
South Africa (2006); Sweden (1976
and 1996); Slovakia; the Czech
Republic (1991); and Ukraine
(2006).
Brazil has also signed international
income-tax exemption treaties for
maritime and air transport companies
with the following countries: South
Africa, Chile, France, Italy, England,
Ireland, Switzerland, and Venezuela.
Under these double-taxation
agreements, Brazil overrides the
withholding tax rates established

in Brazilian domestic legislation
for anticipated earnings, including
interest on acquisition of goods
purchased though long-term
financing. Such tax rebates are also
allowed when responsibility for the
tax has been assumed by the payee
under contracts signed in Brazil or
abroad, with resident or non-resident
parties.
Furthermore, with the aim of
promoting technical cooperation
projects and actions in the fields
of tax and customs administration,
on May 27,1998 Brazil signed
a supplementary accord with
Cuba, which placed priority on tax
collection, procedures and systems
to enhance ties between the tax
administration and banking networks;
the adaptation or development of
a revenue classification system;
and the adaptation of IT systems
to manage tax collection through
network technology and systems
development.
23.5. Latin America
After World War II Brazil played a
major role in efforts to establish a
free trade zone in Latin America,
and was one of the founders of

the Latin American Free Trade
Association (LAFTA), created under
the Montevideo Treaty of February
16, 1960 signed by Brazil, Argentina,
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,
Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and
Venezuela. The main goals of LAFTA
were the gradual establishment of a
Latin American common market and
the promotion of integration efforts at
regional level.
With the signing of the Montevideo
Treaty in August 12, 1980, those
same states founded the Latin
American Integration Association
(LAIA), in order to advance the
integration process and promote
economic and social development,
harmony, and balance throughout
the region. The 1980 Montevideo
Treaty sets forth important principles
regarding the integration process:
i) pluralism: ii) convergence; iii)
flexibility; iv) differentiated treatment;
and v) multiplicity. Those principles
significantly differ from the main
contours of the trade liberalization
scheme set forth by the 1960
Montevideo Treaty which established
LAFTA.
Within the scope of limited trade
agreements (enabled under the LAIA

Treaty of 1980) Brazil and Argentina
have signed important bilateral
treaties, laying the groundwork for
a fast growing bilateral common
market area. These included:
the Integration Development and
Cooperation Treaty, signed in Buenos
Aires on November 29, 1988;
twenty-four Protocols, followed
by other bilateral agreements on
specific topics, including a Treaty
for the Establishment of a Statute
for Brazilian-Argentine Bi-national
Companies, signed on June 6,
1990. As described in Section 24.6,
further efforts on regional integration
process led to the establishment of
MERCOSUR in 1991, according to
the provisions of the Asuncin Treaty,
which was concluded between
Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and
Paraguay on March 26, 1991.
The main legal framework of LAIA
specifies three mechanisms for the
establishment of preferential trade
areas in Latin America, namely:
i) regional tariff preferences for
products originating in a LAIA
Contracting Party, regarding
tariffs applicable to exports to
third countries; ii) regional scope
agreements to be negotiated and
concluded among Contracting

Parties; and iii) partial scope
agreements between two or more
LAIA Contracting Parties (see
for instance Resolution No. 2 of
the Foreign Ministers Council of
August 12 1980, on partial scope
agreements concluded under
the LAIA umbrella). Regional or
partial scope agreements are
designed to cover tariff relief and
trade promotion, as well as other
policy aspects concerning regional
integration, such as economic
complementation; agricultural
trade; cooperation in financial,
tax, customs and health matters;
scientific and technological
cooperation; environmental
protection; pharmaceutical goods in
transit; tourism promotion; technical
standards and other areas. Under
the framework of LAIA, Brazil has
also signed multilateral economic
agreements with Argentina, Chile,
Mexico, Uruguay and Venezuela in
1995, and, bilaterally, Economic
Assistance Agreements with Chile
(1996, 2006), Bolivia (1997, 2005)
and Mexico (2002) and a Limited
Economic Assistance Agreement
with Suriname (2005).
Particularly with regard to limited

agreements, Contracting Parties may
negotiate several matters related
to the regional integration process,
such as (ii) rules on trade conduct:
subsidies and countervailing duties;
unfair trade practices; licenses
and import procedures; and (ii)
other rules on non-tariff matters:
payments; financial cooperation;
tax cooperation; cooperation in
animal and plant health; customs
cooperation; transport facilitation;
and government procurement.
In addition, within the context of
LAIA Contracting Parties have
implemented several preferential
systems comprised of market
liberalization lists and cooperation
programs, such as in the fields of
business, investment strategies,
financing and technological
support. LAIA Contracting Parties
have also accorded preferential
treatment to certain landlocked
countries in the region (such as
Bolivia, and Paraguay), by means
of countervailing measures aimed
at favoring their full participation in
regional integration.
Since the Montevideo Treaty of
1980 is a framework treaty,

the institutional and normative
development of the integration
process between Latin American
countries is further complemented
and shaped by other multilateral
regional agreements, treaties and
organizations, such as the Andean
Community, MERCOSUR, the G-3
Free Trade Agreement and UNASUL.
In this sense, LAIA has established
a consensus as to the flexibility and
convergence of principles guiding
the regional integration processes
in Latin America, for the purpose of
deepening and expanding a common
economic area. This initiative
was based on a market- oriented
approach, but also on a gradual and
open development of the integration
process.
23.6. MERCOSUR
The Asuncin Treaty signed in
Paraguay on March 26, 1991
announced the creation of the
Common Market of the South
MERCOSUR, with the aim of
establishing a common market
between Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay,
and Paraguay (the primary
MERCOSUR State Parties), wherein
the following objectives were

established:
(a) Freecirculation of goods,
services, and production factors
among member countries, by means
of elimination of tariff and nontariff barriers to trade among such
countries;
(b) Establishment of a common
external tariff and adoption of a
common trade policy at the regional
and international levels;
(c) Coordination of macroeconomic
sectoral policies among member
countries, in such areas as foreign
trade, agriculture, industry, tax
issues, foreign exchange, capital,
services, customs policy, transport
and communications, and any other
items that might subsequently be
agreed upon;
(d) Commitment on the part of
member states to harmonize their
laws, with a view to achieving full
integration.
Associate members of MERCOSUR
include Chile and Bolivia (both since
1996), Peru (since 2003), Colombia,
and Ecuador (since 2004). By

signing Economic Complementation
Agreements, a free trade zone in
which special tariff conditions are to
prevail will be established between
MERCOSUR and each of these
countries, upon which special tariff
conditions will be applied. Some
of these countries, like Chile and
Venezuela, are currently negotiating
their adhesion to MERCOSUR and
may become full members in the
near future.
Five Annexes have been added to
the Asuncin Treaty under the terms
of article 3 thereof, namely: I) Trade
Liberalization Program; II) General
Rules of Origin; III) Settlement of
Disputes; IV) Safeguard Clauses; and
V) Working Groups of the Common
Market Group. Annexes provisions
are enforced in connection with
Article 3 of the Asuncin Treaty. In
this sense, it is important to note
that the 1991 Treaty was further
bolstered by the adoption of specific
Protocols on the aforementioned
matters.
The institutional framework of
MERCOSUR is based on rules
established under the Asuncin
Treaty and the Ouro Preto Protocol

(Additional Protocol to the Asuncin
Treaty on the Institutional Framework
of MERCOSUR of 1994), which
stresses the objectives and principles
of the organization, particularly the
implementation of a Custom Union
as one of the stages for consolidating
a Common Market.
According to Art. 1 of the 1994
Ouro Preto Protocol, the institutional
bodies of MERCOSUR are structured
as follows:
(a) Common Market Council (CMC)
made up of Ministers of Foreign
Relations and Ministers of Economy
(or the equivalent thereof) of the
Member States. As the highest
institutional body with decisionmaking power within MERCOSUR,
the CMC is responsible for ensuring
compliance with rules established
under the Asuncin Treaty. Moreover,
the CMC is the body that represents
MERCOSUR in negotiations, and that
is authorized to sign agreements with
non-member states, international
institutions, and other nations in
general;
(b) Common Market Group (GMC)

- made up of four permanent
members and four alternate
members appointed by each of
the Member States, representing
the following bodies: I) Ministry
of External Relations; II) Ministry
of the Economy (or the equivalent
thereof); and the Central Bank. It is
the executive body of MERCOSUR,
responsible for implementing
decisions made by the CMC. Other
GMC duties include: (i) supervising
activities of the MERCOSUR
Trade Commission (CCM) and
administrative bodies; (ii) proposing
measures for implementing a
trade liberalization program; (iii)
coordinating a macroeconomic
policy; (iv) participating in
negotiations with international
agencies and non-member States
with regard to the signing of
agreements and, if necessary, the
settlement of disputes within the
scope of MERCOSUR; and (v)
organizing and coordinating Working
Groups.
(c) MERCOSUR Trade Commission
(CCM) - made up of four permanent
members and four alternate
members appointed by each of the
Member States and coordinated by

the Minister of External Relations
of each of these countries. The
CCM is responsible for ensuring
deployment of instruments relating to
implementation of the common trade
policy. It is also the body authorized
to speak on behalf of Member States
on any issue relating to the Common
External Tariff or objections raised by
the private sector;
(d) Joint Parliamentary Commission
(CPC) made up of 64 permanent
members and 64 alternate members.
Each member States appoints 16
members, who should be members
of their own respective National
Congresses. In this sense, the CPC
represents the legislative bodies of
the State Parties of MERCOSUR.
Within the scope of MERCOSURs
institutional framework, the CPC
plays the role of advisory and
decision-making body;
(e) Administrative Secretariat of
MERCOSUR (SAM) and Consultative
Economic and Social Forum (FCES).
The SM is responsible for publishing
the MERCOSUR Official Newslettter
and safekeeping relevant documents.
It is also responsible for disclosing
activities of the GMC. For its part,

the FCES is an advisory body
representing the economic and social
areas of Member States; and
(f) Working Groups(SGTs), linked
to the GMC. Their tasks include
commissioning studies on specific
issues of interest to MERCOSUR and
drafting decisions and resolutions to
be submitted to the CMC. There are
currently fifteen (15) working groups
on the following issues:
SGT No. 1 - Communications;
SGT No. 2 Institutional Aspects;
SGT No. 3 Technical Rules and
Conformity Assessment;
SGT No. 4 - Financial Matters;
SGT No. 5 - Transportation;
SGT No. 6 - Environment
SGT No. 7 - Industry;
SGT No. 8 - Agriculture;
SGT No. 9 - Energy;
SGT No. 10 Labor Relations,
Employment, and Social Security;
SGT No. 11 Health;
SGT No. 12 Investments;
SGT No. 13 Electronic Commerce;
SGT No. 14 Follow-up of the
Economic and Trade Contexts; and
SGT No. 15 Mining.
Through CMC Decision 23/05, the

Common Market Council adopted
the Protocol establishing the
MERCOSUR Parliament (Protocolo
Constitutivo del Parlamento del
MERCOSUR). Headquartered in
Montevideo, the Parliament will act
as a new body of the organization,
representing the citizens of the
region in an independent and
autonomous manner. Thus, the
Parliament represents MERCOSUR
citizens rather than the Member
States themselves. The first stage of
implementation started on December
31, 2006; in its second and last
stage, starting from January 2014,
the MERCOSUR Parliament will be
fully integrated by representatives
elected by direct universal suffrage
and secret ballot, on the same day,
by citizens of all the Member States.
Proposed Evolving Reforms in
MERCOSUR. CMC Decision 56/07
of the Common Market Council
established the main guidelines
for an institutional reform of the
organization: i) restructuring
the decision-making bodies of
MERCOSUR and their affiliate bodies,
including their competences; ii)
enhancing MERCOSURs dispute
settlement system, as well as

strengthening its institutional bodies;
iii) improving mechanisms related
to transposition, entry into force and
enforcement of MERCOSUR rules
and regulations; iv) establishing a
budgetary framework to encompass
budget requests submitted by the
MERCOSUR Secretariat and the
Permanent Review Court Secretariat.
In addition, through GMC Resolution
06/10, the Common Market
Group approved the creation of
the High Level Meeting for the
Institutional Analysis of MERCOSUR
(RANAIM -Reunin de Alto Nivel
para el Anlisis Institucional del
MERCOSUR). The objectives of the
High Level Meeting are focused on
the analysis of the main institutional
aspects related to MERCOSUR
and policy-making oriented
proposals which are conducive to
the enhancement of the integration
process and the strengthening of
MERCOSUR institutions.
Tariffs and Trade within MERCOSUR.
Since January 1st, 1995, there
have been no tariff barriers between
member countries. The vast majority
of products traded between the
four countries (though there are still

some exceptions) pay no customs
duties. Moreover, a Customs Union
has been in effect since January
1st, 1995. A Common External Tariff
(CET) has been introduced with a
view to fostering the competitiveness
of member countries products in
external markets.
Any request for amendment to
current CET rates are analyzed, at
the technical level, by Technical
Committee No. 1 of the MERCOSUR
Trade Commission (CCM); following
an internal public consultation phase,
the CCM conducts a comprehensive
analysis of CET related rates and
submits them to the Common
Market Group for approval. Within
the Brazilian regulatory framework,
the analysis of said requests is
carried out by the Foreign Trade
Division (Cmara de Comrcio
Exterio - CAMEX) of the Ministry of
Industry, Development and Foreign
Trade. CAMEX is the national entity
in charge of embedding CET related
amendments approved by the
Common Market Group into the
Brazilian legal system, by means of
specific Regulations.
As in the European Union, the CET

is one of the cornerstones of the
MERCOSUR integration process. The
tariff covers a majority of products
imported into MERCOSUR from nonmember countries, with the exception
of products regarded as sensitive
in each country which, in the case
of Brazil, include capital goods, and
information and telecommunications
technology.
With a view to avoiding diversions
of trade flows, the common
external tariff has been set at a level
ranging from 0% to 20%, based
on 11 different rates. Under CMC
Decision 22/94, a CET level of
fourteen percent (14%) for capital
goods was set forth for Brazil and
Argentina, starting from January 1,
2011. In 2010, through Decision
60 of the Common Market Group
(CMG), members of the Productive
Integration Group had their status
before MERCOSUR updated and
became part of the Common Market
Group. This decision affected the
status of implementation of CET
related provisions by Paraguay
and Uruguay. After that, according
to Decisions 28/09 and 61/10,
Uruguay and Paraguay, respectively,
have agreed to implement the CET

definitely by December 31, 2011.
CMC Decision 34/2003 introduced
the Common Import Requirements
for Capital Goods not Produced
in MERCOSUR. The aim of
importing such goods is to foster
modernization of productive sectors
in Member States and stimulate
investment within the region. With
this in mind, two types of product
lists have been drawn up: the
Common List, on which the duty
is zero percent (0%); and National
Lists, on which the temporary duty is
two percent (2%) for products not on
the Common List.
Goods on these lists will remain
under import protection for a period
varying from a minimum of twentyone (21) months to a maximum of
twenty-seven (27) months, counted
as of their inclusion on the List,
extendable for an equal period upon
request to the CMC. CMC Decision
40/2005 extended the initial period
for the entering into force of these
rules from January 1st, 2006,
to January 1st, 2009. Until then,
Member States are free to maintain
their national rules on imports of new
capital goods.
Similar regulations altering CET rates

for capital goods produced in the
region are awaited, and were due to
be presented by the Member States
to the Trade Commission before June
30, 2001. After several delays, CMC
Decision 37/06set the last GMC
meeting of 2007 as the deadline for
the High Level Group to review the
consistency and dispersion of the
current common external tariff and
submit a proposal for changes in the
CET on capital goods.
to prepare, by June 30, 2006, a

proposal for a comprehensive review
of CET rates applicable to information
technology and telecommunication
goods. These planned changes are
supposed to follow a schedule for
convergence due to go into effect
on January 1st, 2007. Until then,
Member States are free to apply
duties different than the prevailing
CET or even a zero percent (0%) rate,
provided they have carried out fourparty consultations.
With respect to Telecommunication

and Information Technology, CMC
Decision 07/1994 established
that, as of January 1st, 2006, the
maximum tariff would be sixteen
percent (16%). However, CMC
Decision 33/03 provided that the
Trade Commission should negotiate
Common IT and Telecommunications
Regulations, to be approved by the
Common Market Group by December
31, 2005. Subsequently, CMC
Decision 39/2005 not only extended
this deadline through December 31,
2006, but also agreed to establish
another High Level Group to examine
the consistency and dispersion of
the common external tariff. This High
Level Group was equally mandated
However, with the creation of the

Ad Hoc Group for the sectors of
Capital Goods and Information
Technology and Telecommunications
Goods (GAH BK/BIT), through
CMC Decision 58/08, those
obligations were admitted into
this new group. As a result, the
Parties should propose a Common
System for Information Technology
and Telecommunications Goods
Not Produced in MERCOSUR by
December 31, 2015. New deadlines
have therefore been established for
the application of domestic rates on
imports of Information Technology
goods. As defined by Decision CMC
57/10, Brazil and Argentina may
apply a distinct rate, including 0%,
until December 31, 2015. Uruguay

and Paraguay may apply 0%, as
well, for IT goods originated in third
countries, i.e., outside MERCOSUR,
and 2% for the other cases, by
December 31, 2018 and December
31, 2019, respectively.
Member States, in line with CMC
Decisions 69/2000 and 33/2005
have agreed to eliminate completely,
by December 31, 2007, the special
customs regulations for imports
adopted unilaterally by each. This
commitment does not encompass
Special Customs Areas, but only
systems and benefits that imply
total or partial exemption of
customs duties on temporary or
permanent imports of goods that
are not intended for processing or
subsequent export to other countries.
Products made using such imports
will benefit from free trade within
MERCOSUR until December 31,
2007, provided they comply with
the MERCOSUR Rules of Origin.
The CMC has also established that
goods intended for the performance,
coordination, or fostering of scientific
or technological research shall be
recognized as such by the competent
authorities in each country since,
under the terms of CMC Decision

36/2003, they are not subject to the
CET.
Under CMC Decision 68/00,
MERCOSUR Member States may
establish and maintain a list of
one hundred (100) items of the
MERCOSUR Common Nomenclature
(NCM) as exceptions to the CET, up
until December 31, 2002. Member
States may change up to twenty
percent (20%) of the products
on their lists of exceptions every
six months, provided they have
secured prior authorization from the
GMC. According to the most recent
decision on the matter, CMC Decision
58/2010, until December 31, 2011
Brazil and Argentina may maintain
the list of 100 (one hundred) items
as exceptions to the CET; Uruguay, a
list of 225 (two hundred and twenty
five) items; and Paraguay, a list of
149 (one hundred and forty nine)
items.
MERCOSUL has recently approved
Decision 56/2010, by which Member
States approved the Customs Union
Program. This is the most important
macroeconomic coordination project
within the Organization to date, which
includes, for example, a Common

Automotive Policy, Trade Economic
Incentives, a Common Trade Defense
Strategy; Productive Integration and
Simplification and Harmonization of
Customs Procedures intra-zone.
will be periodically updated by the

Common Market Council. Elimination
of multiple CET charges will provide
a solution to most of the problems
associated with the MERCOSUR
customs regime.
The Common Market Council

recently approved rules for the
elimination of double taxation and
distribution of customs revenues
(CMC Decisions 54/2004 and
37/2005). Thus, goods imported
from a third-party state into the
territory of a MERCOSUR Member
State since January 1, 2006 shall
receive the same treatment as local
products when crossing borders
between MERCOSUR countries,
provided they are subject to: ((i) a
CET of zero percent (0%); or (ii) a
one hundred percent (100%) tariff
preference in the four countries
and the same rules of origin within
the scope of agreements signed
by MERCOSUR, withoutquotasor
temporary requirements of origin, if
such goods originate in a country
or group of countries to which the
preference has been extended.
A list of such products can be
found in Annexes I and II of the
aforementioned CMC Decision, and
The most recent decision on the

matter is CMC Decision 10/10,
according to which double taxation
and distribution of customs revenues
will end on December 31, 2016,
following three periods of changes.
This process, as previously
mentioned, is characterized by the
gradual elimination of the domestic
tariff and regulatory constraints.
Advances in the consolidation
mechanisms of MERCOSUR are
proof that the integration process
in Latin America, or at any rate in
the Southern Cone are no longer
merely theoretical, but an important
step towards regional integration
and cooperation. After 20 years of
existence, MERCOSUR has proven
that its Member States and Associate
Members have actually achieved
positive and concrete results.

24 - COMMERCIAL AND CIVIL LITIGATION

24.1. Jurisdiction in civil and
commercial cases
The new Civil Code, enacted on
January 10, 2002 (which revoked the
previous Civil Code of 1916 and the
first part of the Commercial Code of
1859) provides the basis for judicial
decisions on commercial and civil
matters. The Commercial Code is
now relevant only to matters relating
to maritime trade.
Civil and commercial litigation must
be filed with State Courts, which
have general jurisdiction, presided
by a single judge, and are always
subject to appeal, if the aggrieved
party so wishes, by a State Court
of Appeals. Brazilian Constitution
does not provide for jury trial in
commercial and civil cases.
Procedural rules are provided for in
the Code of Civil Procedure, a federal
statute. Under Brazils federative
system, the courts system and
specific venue rules are governed
by State legislation. In general, State
Courts are not specialized, and have
jurisdiction over civil, commercial,
criminal, and family cases.
As a general rule applicable to both

to individuals and corporations, the
venue for lawsuit depends upon the
domicile of the defendant. Consent of
the parties for a different jurisdiction,
when stated in a contract, is also
accepted when establishing venue,
provided this is not barred by a
specific ruling or the choice of venue
is not harmful to the weakest party in
the contract.
All court proceedings in civil and
commercial cases are deemed nonconfidential and open to the public,
except when they involve family
matters.
24.2. Litigation costs
Litigants must pay court fees, which
vary from State to State. As a general
rule, an initial payment, usually
calculated as a percentage of the
amount in dispute, must be made by
the plaintiff. In the event of appeals,
subsequent payments must be made
by the party filing the appeal.
Lawyers fees for services provided
to clients are usually established
on the basis of a percentage of
the amount in dispute or to be

recovered. This percentage is set in
an agreement between the lawyer
and his client, and is calculated
taking into consideration a number
of factors, such as the amount of the
expected recovery, the complexity of
the work to be executed, the length
of the lawsuit, the capacity of the
client to pay, and the competence
and reputation of the lawyer. In most
cases a retainer is negotiated and, in
case of success, it is offsetagainst
the final fees.
The Code of Civil Procedure provides
that all court costs and attorneys
fees incurred by a winning party
be paid by the loser. This includes
reimbursement of fees charged for
the court costs experts witness
fees, and lawyers fees. Such costs
are set by the court, according to
the statutory rules, and transferred
to the lawyer, independently of the
compensation agreed between the
lawyer and his client.
24.3. Initial Proceedings
Though a variety of proceedings
exist, only the most common
(processo ordinrio) used in contract
or tort cases will be described

here. This is the appropriate type
of proceedings for cases valued at
not less than 60 minimum wages,
when no other specific proceeding is
indicated by law.
Civil or commercial action starts
when the plaintiffs lawyer files a
petition with a court with jurisdiction
over such cases, under the terms
of the State legislation. Next, the
defendant receives a summons,
which may be served by mail or by
a court official. In either case a copy
of the complaint is delivered to the
defendant, who must respond to the
summons within a short period of
time (generally 15 days). In the event
the defendant cannot be located,
the summons may by served by
publication on a local a newspaper.
The defendant is advised to seek
the services of an attorney, who will
then submit to the court a petition
contesting the allegations of the
plaintiff. This petition may confirm,
deny or offer a different interpretation
for the allegations, or argue against
the legal premises of the plaintiffs
claims. The plaintiff then files
another petition, known as a Reply,
responding to the defendants factual
and legal points. The judge will then

ask the parties to list evidence they
wish to produce before the court.
The next step is a reconciliation
hearing, at which the judge asks if
the parties are willing to settle their
differences.
documentary evidence together with

his response. As a general rule, other
documents which may prove relevant
can be presented by the parties at
any time, provided the other party is
given the opportunity to comment
upon them.
Should the reconciliation prove

unsuccessful, the judge will proceed
to make an interlocutory ruling
on all procedural formalities and
issues raised by the parties, except
the merits of the caseper se.The
judge may, at this point, dismiss the
case should he find that the plaintiff
lacks grounds, or in the absence of
statutory prerequisites (legitimacy,
interest, and cause). Otherwise,
the judge determines the kind of
evidence to be produced by the
parties.
All non-documentary evidence

should be accompanied by expert
witness reports, signed by an
accountant, engineer, MD, appraiser
or other specialized professional. The
judge appoints the courts experts,
and questions to and replies from
the parties must be in writing. The
parties may also appoint assistant
experts of their own choice, to
answer questions and comment on
the court experts report.
The next step is the examining trial,
at a place and date to be determined
by the presiding judge, after the
parties have had the opportunity to
discuss the documentary evidence
and review the expert reports.
24.4. Evidence
The entire proceeding, and
specifically the production of
evidence, is conducted by the
presiding judge. In principle,
documentary evidence should be
presented to the court together
with the complaint. Likewise,
the defendant should present
The parties previously submit to the

judge a list of the witnesses they
want examined. During the trial, the
judge first examines the witnesses
and then the lawyers of the parties
have the right to pose questions.
Such questions are not addressed

directly to the witness, but rather to
the judge, who may repeat, restate
or reject such questions. Either
party may give testimony but, in this
case, the party is not considered a
witness. Only witnesses are under
oath. A written record is transcribed
of the entire trial.
counterclaims, a brief description

of the facts, and the judges opinion
on each of the issues. The decision
may award a party compensation,
may order a party to take
certainmeasures, or may provide a
precise interpretation of a contractual
clause.
24.6. Provisional Remedies
The courts decision may be

issued immediately, unless the
parties submit a brief comment on
the testimonies and the evidence
produced, in which case the
presiding judge re-examines the
record prior to delivering his ruling.
Under the Brazilian system
ofprocesso ordinrio, there is
no one trial at which all evidence
is produced. Indeed, evidence
is produced step by step and is
progressively incorporated with
the aim of instructing the judges
decision.
24.5. Court Rulings
The judges decision is delivered
in writing and contains a brief
description of the parties and issues
involved, a summary of claims and
When a plaintiffs lawyer files a

petition, he may, in specific cases,
ask for a summary judgment
(tutela antecipada) to bring the final
decision into immediate effect. For
this the plaintiff must demonstrate in
his claim that irreparable damages
may result from a delay.
Furthermore, the plaintiff may also
request such summary judgment
in the course of the proceedings,
when one or more of his claims are
uncontested.
The Brazilian legal system also
foresees a writ of prevention
(medida cautelar), which can be
filed before or after the main lawsuit.
In either case, the plaintiff seeks
to protect a right that would be
jeopardy if a provisional measure
were not granted. The judge may
grant a preliminary injunction if

he deems that bothfumus boni
iurisandpericulum in moraare
present.
even number of judges. They may

review the decision in the light of
their interpretation of the law and the
facts.
24.7. Appeals
The parties may appeal further

to the federal high courts, i.e. the
Superior Court of Justice (STJ) and
the Federal Supreme Court (STF). A
party claiming violation of a treaty,
a federal law, or an interpretation
in conflict with federal law by the
State Courts may appeal to the STJ.
Should the claim involve a violation
of the Federal Constitution, an appeal
may be referred to the Supreme
Court. Both types of appeals may
be filed, but admission is highly
restricted.
The Brazilian system allows an

assortment of appeals, both to final
and interlocutory decisions (i.e.,
those that do not dismiss the case).
Recently, an alteration to the Code of
Civil Procedure was enacted limiting
the scope of interlocutory appeals.
Now, a party can appeal to an
interlocutory decision only if serious
jeopardy or threat of irreparable
damage exists (i.e., inadmissibility
of appeal to a final decision).
Nevertheless, in such instances the
appeal is not forwarded immediately
to the court, but is placed on the
record to be examined in the event
that the final decision is appealed.
When the decision is not final the
appeal, in general, does not suspend
the process. The same lawyer may
proceed with the case in all superior
courts.
Appeals are submitted to a panel
in the State Court, composed of an
Such appeals do not entail any

discussion of the facts, and only
the legal principles are subject to
review in the federal high courts
whose hearings are before a panel.
Appeal to a high federal court does
not suspend the proceedings, and
the winning party can initiate the
enforcement proceedings.
24.8. Enforcement of Court Rulings
Once the winning party has secured
a final decision, it has the right to

start the executory action to enforce
the ruling in its favor. Executory
action is launched when a petition
is filed before the same court that
issued the ruling.
A recent change in the Code of
Civil Procedure has sped up the
enforcement of rulings.
The plaintiff should state the amount
of his claim; however, in many cases
the ruling merely states that damages
must to be paid and provides a
basis for calculation thereof. Thus,
prior to actual recovery, there may
be need of a discussion between
the parties as to calculation of the
values. The debtor then receives
notification through his attorney. At
this time, the defendant may file any
objections he deems necessary, but
must nonetheless deposit the full
amount in escrow, or give assets to e
attached as guaranty for execution of
the ruling.
In the event of an award with
adjudication that a certain or
uncertain asset must be delivered by
the defendant, the judge determines
measures that assure a practical
result equivalent to payment. In the
event that it refers to positive or

negative covenant, the judge sets
a deadline for the defeated party
to comply with the sentence. In
either instance, no impugnation
is admissible and the debtor may
defend himself only incidentally.
In the event of an executory action
when a debtor fails to pay the debt
and does not appeal within 15 days
of notification to his attorney, the
compensation award is increased by
10% (ten per cent). In this case, the
creditor is allowed the opportunity to
appoint assets owned by the debtor
that he wishes to be attached in
guaranty.
Once the record and evaluation of
the attachment has been carried
out, the debtor is once again notified
through his attorney, and may, if he
so desires, submit an impugnation.
Such impugnation does not affect
the enforcement proceedings, unless
the judge determines otherwise.
Even in cases where suspensive
effect is granted, enforcement may
temporarily proceed if the creditor
presents a guaranty in the amount of
the debt.
Finally, if the defendant is unable

or unwilling to pay the award or
to perform the action required by
court, the attached property shall
be appraised and sold in a public
auction, and the proceeds used to
pay the winning party.
The Brazilian legal system does not
provide for criminal sanction against
debtors, in view of the provisions
on personal liberty enshrined in the
Federal Constitution. Only alimony
debtors or a negligent bailee may be
imprisoned if they fail to pay their
debts.
discussion of collection of the debt.

When a creditor has a credit
represented by a document which
does not fulfill all legal formalities,
he may file a monitory action (ao
monitria) requesting a declaration
that this document is an executable
security (ttulo executivo judicial).
24.9. Collection Proceedings

Collection of bills of exchange,
promissory notes, debentures,
checks, and other documents
defined in law as extra-judicial
executable securities (ttulo executivo
extrajudicial) may be executed under
action against a solvent debtor.
Such proceedings seek expropriation
of the debtor assets to pay the
creditor. To this end the debtor is
summoned to deposit the sum
in escrow, or present assets to
be attached in guaranty, prior to
25 - DUMPING IN BRAZIL
25.1. Introduction
Burgeoning globalization has
increasingly resulted in recourse
to antidumping measures in recent
years, as national companies
demand protection for their domestic
markets. Leaving aside the economic
implications of dumping and
antidumping, this text addresses
the issue from the perspective of
current Brazilian laws and regulations
(notably Law 9019 and Decree
1602 of August 23, 1995), and the
provisions of Article VI of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
(GATT).
With respect to the legal concept
of dumping and its core elements,
it is important to underscore that
antidumping rules may be used by
companies to mitigate or counteract
the effects of dumping; however,
duties imposed must never exceed
the calculated dumping margin.
Since some confusion exists with
regard to dumping vis--vis other
forms of protection of the economy
such as subsidies and countervailing
measures, it is necessary to
distinguish between them.
A description will be provided of

antidumping procedures and of their
termination or suspension, including
termination requested by third-party
petitioners, at the governments
behest in the national interest, and
of price agreements with a company
accused of dumping.
25.2. Concept and Core Elements of
Dumping
Legally speaking, dumping is the
export and sale of products at
prices lower than usually practiced
by the exporting company for
similar products in its domestic
market. However, although the price
difference alone may be regarded
as an unfair business practice, in
order for the price difference to be
deemed unacceptable it must be
demonstrably harmful or a threat to
the domestic industry.
Thus, the core elements of dumping
are:
a) Export price lower than that
practiced in the exporters domestic
market. Export prices that are
lower than those practiced in the
exporters domestic market are an

intrinsic element of dumping, and in
themselves sufficiently characterize
dumping without, however,
providing grounds for declaring
itunacceptable. When assessing
prices for calculation of the dumping
margin, theex worksprice (i.e.,
free of taxes) and cash price are
considered.
The dumping margin is determined
by comparing the export price and
the price practiced on the domestic
market of the exporting company.
The difference in the marketing
conditions of the same product
must be eliminated by means of the
corresponding price adjustments.
b) Like products. The definition of
like products found in applicable
laws and regulations is somewhat
subjective and unclear, which makes
an accurate discussion rather
difficult. A like product, as defined
in Brazilian laws and regulations
is an identical product, a product
equal in all respects to the product
of reference or, in the absence of
such product, another product that
might not be exactly the same in
all respects but which has similar
characteristics to those of the

product of reference. This rather
subjective and unclear definition
affords authorities investigating
dumping practices broad
discretionary powers in determining
which products can be considered
like within the scope of antidumping
proceedings.
c) Damage to the national industry.
Under Brazilian law, grounds for
damages may include both material
damage and any threat of material
damage to the domestic industry,
including delaying implementation.
Under Brazilian law certain tangible
parameters can be used to determine
damage, including: (i) volume of
dumped imports; (ii) effects of said
imports on the price of like products
in Brazil; and (iii) resulting impact
on the domestic industry. The
law also provides for an objective
analysis of the following: volume of
dumped imports; (ii) market share
of dumped product imports as a
proportion of overall import volumes
and consumption; (iii) price. To
be deemed a threat, the following
aspects are taken into account: (i)
significant growth of imports; (ii)
sufficient idle capacity or imminent
substantial increase in the foreign

producers productive capacity; (iii)
imports at prices that cause a drop
in domestic prices or prevent price
increases; (iv) stocks.
d) Causal connection between
damage and dumping. In a dumping
investigation, authorities seek to
determine whether and to what extent
dumped imports are responsible
for damages to the domestic
industry, while taking into account
other factors that may have caused
damages within the same timeframe.
To this end, a distinction needs to be
established between dumping and
other trade protection mechanisms,
especially safeguard measures and
subsidies.
Safeguard measures, as foreseen in
Article 19 of GATT, are emergency
tools used to protect the domestic
industry and avoid damages resulting
from increases in import volumes.
Unlike antidumping, safeguard
measures aim to protect national
industries, irrespective of any unfair
business practices, and are usually
taken when a domestic industry
lacks competitiveness in face of
foreign products. It should be pointed

out that antidumping and safeguard
measures are two different things,
including as far as imports of a
certain product by the complaining
State are concerned.
Subsidies consist of advantages
granted by a State to specific
companies or industries, which
end up artificially reducing their
production costs.
Another common misperception is to
confuse dumping with underselling
and predatory pricing. Underselling
consists of sale for less than the cost
price, which does not necessarily
mean dumping. Dumping implies
export for sale at a lower price
than practiced in country of origin,
whether or not such prices are higher
or lower than the cost prices. For its
part, predatory pricing consists of
sale of products at low prices with
the aim of eliminating competition;
an intention that does not need to
be proven to characterize dumping.
Another basic difference between
dumping and the other two practices
is that whereas defense against
underselling and predatory pricing
is generally foreseen in domestic
antitrust laws, dumping is a foreign

trade issue.
25.3. Investigating Dumping in
Brazil
In Brazil, a dumping investigation is
initiated when a Brazilian producer
or their business associations file
a written petition with allegations
of dumping on the part of a certain
company or companies in their
exports into Brazil.
This petition must contain sufficient
evidence of dumping, damage, and
causal connection between them.
Should the accusation not be clearly
substantiated, the petition will not be
accepted.
For a petition to qualify for review,
it must also contain the following
information:
(i) identification of the petitioner,
indication of volume and production
value of the corresponding domestic
industry; (ii) estimated volume and
value of domestic production of
the like product; (iii) a list of known
domestic producers of like products,
who are not represented in the
petition and, if available, estimates
of the volume and value of their

overall production and a statement
of support for the petition; (iv) a full
description of the product allegedly
imported at dumping prices, name
of country of origin or exporting
country or countries, identification
of each known exporter or foreign
producer and a list of product
importers; (v) full description of the
product manufactured in Brazil; (vi)
information on the sales price in the
exporting country (regular price);
(vii) information on the representative
export price or, if unavailable, the
representative price at which the
product is first sold to independent
buyers located within the Brazilian
territory; (viii)information on the
development of volume of allegedly
dumped imports, and the effect of
such imports on like product prices
on the domestic market, and negative
impact of imports on the Brazilian
industry.
Once the petition has been accepted,
questions of merit are reviewed and
an investigation is initiated.
The petition may be rejected and the
investigation cancelled in the event
that:
(i)dumping or damage caused

thereby is insufficiently substantiated
or no reasonable justification for
investigation is presented; (ii) the
petition is not prepared by or on
behalf of domestic industries;67 or (iii)
domestic producers, that expressly
support the petition, represent
less than 25% of national overall
production of the similar product.
interested parties68 shall be given the

opportunity to submit, in writing, any
evidence that might be relevant to
the investigation. For that purpose,
additional or complementary
information may be requested or
accepted, in writing, and hearings
may be scheduled. However,
attendance at such hearings is not
compulsory.
Investigations must be completed

within one year from the starting
date, an additional 6-month
extension being permitted under
exceptional circumstances. The
dumping period shall be the nearest
12-month period prior to the starting
date of investigation and may, under
special circumstances, extend more
than 12 months, but never less than
6 months. On the other hand, the
period for determining damages
shall be sufficiently long as to allow
adequate assessment, but never less
than 3 years, and must encompass
the dumping investigation period.
During the initial hearings, when
the facts are being determined, the
Should the required information

fail to be presented to the Brazilian
authorities by any of the parties
concerned, a preliminary or final
opinion may be issued on the basis
of the best available information.
Furthermore, the parties may request
special treatment for information
classified as confidential, provided
that the request is substantiated,
and such information shall be kept
separately.
67
Any petition supported by producers whose aggregate
production volume represents over 50% of the domestic
production of a similar product will be deemed to have
been filed by the national industry or on its behalf.
These elements are critical to the commencement of an
investigation.
68
Interested parties are: (i)
any association representing
countrys Government.
As an important part of a dumping

investigation, a questionnaire is
forwarded to all interested parties,
who have 40 days (subject to an
domestic producers and
them; (ii) importers and
them; (iii) exporters and
them; (iv) the exporting
additional 30-day extension) to return

them duly completed. Questionnaires
should be accompanied by a defense
petition contesting the initial petition
and the Opinion issued by the
Department of Commercial Defense
(Departamento de Defesa Comercial
- DECOM) informing the starting date
of an investigation.
and the Chamber of Foreign Trade

(Cmara de Comrcio Exterior CAMEX) approve this undertaking,
the dumping proceeding may be
terminated or suspended with no
penalties imposed. The investigation
may, however, continue if the
exporter or any authority deems it
desirable.
Prior to completion of the initial

hearings, but no less than 60 days
after the start of the investigation,
Brazilian authorities may impose
temporary measures on imports
under investigation, provided
that all parties have been heard,
that dumping and damage to the
domestic industry have been
characterized on a preliminary basis,
and that the authorities decide that
such measures are necessary to
prevent damage during the course of
the investigation.
Brazilian authorities may accept or

reject any price agreement at their
discretion, but the generally justify
a rejection. Moreover, although the
domestic industry is not required to
express formal views on the issue,
SECEX generally requests that it do so.
Following publication by the Brazilian

authorities of preliminary findings of
damage and dumping, the exporter
may undertake voluntarily to adjust
prices or cease to import at dumping
prices. Should the Secretariat
for Foreign Trade (Secretaria de
Comrcio Exterior - SECEX) accept
Prior to issuing a final opinion,

SECEX holds a hearing to inform
the parties of the essential facts
in support of its opinion, and the
parties then have 15 days to register
their views. Upon expiry of the 15day period, the initial facts finding
phase of the investigation ends
and no further information may be
received.
Upon closing of the investigation,
antidumping duties may or may not
be imposed. Such duties are defined
as a charge imposed on imports
at dumping prices, with a view

to counteracting their deleterious
impact on the Brazilian industry.69
Accordingly, an investigation may
be closed without imposition of
antidumping measures in the event
that: (i) no sufficient evidence exists
of dumping or damage resulting
therefrom; (ii) the dumping margin
is minimal; (iii) the volume of
imports that characterize actual or
potential dumping is insignificant.
Alternatively, investigation shall be
closed and antidumping measures
imposed in the event SECEX finds
evidence of dumping, damage, and
the causal connection between them.
National authorities may impose
antidumping duties and stipulate
the amount, which will never
exceed the dumping margin. Under
Brazilian law, antidumping duties
may be levied on goods shipped
for consumption no earlier than
90 days prior to application of
provisional antidumping measures,
provided there is: (i) a history of
damage caused by dumping, or if the
importer was or should have been
aware that the producer or exporter
was engaged in potentially-damaging
69
Trade Protection Manual prepared by SECEX, page 24.
dumping behavior; or (ii) damage

has been caused by large volumes
of imports of a given product at
dumping prices within a relatively
short period of time.
Antidumping duties and price
agreements proposed by exporters
remain in full force only so long
as they are necessary to mitigate
damages resulting from dumping.
However, such duties shall elapse
within 5 years of imposition,
and their extension shall only be
authorized if evidence shows that
their extinction could result in
renewed dumping and consequent
damages to national industry.
An antidumping investigation may
be suspended either by the petitioner
or by the Brazilian authorities.
Indeed, the petitioner may, at any
time, request suspension of the
investigation. However, SECEX
may determine the continuation of
an investigation or, under special
circumstances, in the national
interest, call for suspension of duties.
25.4. Conclusion
Based on the foregoing, it is clear
that antidumping is a relatively new
process that has been increasingly

used in Brazil.
Brazilian antidumping regulations,
based on GATT and WTO
agreements, go into considerable
detail to allow all parties in
antidumping proceedings to contest
allegations and submit evidence.
However, the novelty of the theme
brings about many surprises to
authorities and professionals dealing
with the matter.
26 - CONSUMER RIGHTS IN BRAZIL - LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND

ENFORCEMENT
26.1. Development of the Law
Under the Brazilian Constitution of
1988, consumer protection is a
fundamental right of every citizen
(art. 5, XXXII). A fundamental right
is that essential to the human being,
without which one cannot achieve
anything, live or fully develop. Other
fundamental rights are life, freedom,
equality, etc.
Because it is a fundamental right,
consumer protection is unalienable
(cannot be sold or transferred), and
is not subject to waiver (one cannot
previously waive such right).
The Brazilian Federal Constitution of
1988 also establishes that consumer
protection is a principle of the
economic system (art. 170, V).
In compliance with a constitutional
provision according to which
a Consumer Code should be
developed, the Consumer Protection
and Defense Code (Cdigo de
Proteo e Defesa do Consumidor)
was finally released on September
11, 1990.
The Brazilian Consumer Code

is a federal law (Law 8078 of
09/11/1990) of mandatory
enforcement and compliance all over
the country.
26.2. General Definition
The definition of a consumer and
his protection in Brazil is much
broader that it might seem in a first
analysis. The idea of consumer
protection involves many elements,
to which often there is no legal
definition. Finding such a definition
is something that Courts and Judges
are charged with.
Therefore, some basic concepts are
important:
Consumer: every individual or
corporation that purchases or uses
some commodity, product or service
as a final recipient (art. 2, Consumer
Code). Therefore, a consumer is
not only the individual who buys a
refrigerator at a department store,
but also the company that buys
groceries for its employees.
However, the definition of consumer

also implies the idea of final
recipient. The understanding of
what a final recipient is resulted
from many cases brought to Courts.
It has been decided that a final
recipient is the consumer who is
not a professional, who purchases
or uses some commodity, product
or service for his own use or his
familys, i.e., one who purchases
something in order to use it, and
not one who uses such service or
product as a raw material in order to
turn it into a new product and sell it
in the market.
It is important to recall that the
Brazilian Consumer Protection and
Defense Code also provides for three
cases of consumer equivalent, i.e.,
people who are not included in the
legal definition of a consumer but are
considered as such by law: a) the
community of people, even where
undetermined, when they are a party
in a consumer relationship; b) all
the victims of an accident within
a consumer relationship, in case
of liability for a defective product
or service; and c) all the people,
whether determined or not, who are
subject to commercial practices in a
consumer relationship.
Supplier/ Manufacturer: every
individual or corporation, public or
private entity, national or foreign,
as well as other entities that
develop activities of production,
assembly, creation, construction,
transformation, import, export,
distribution or trade of products,
commodities, or service provision.
As explained, the idea is the broadest
possible so as to encompass all
possibilities of service or product
supply.
It is important to add that Supplier
is a genus of which producers,
assemblers, creators, manufacturers,
builders, transforms, importers,
exporters, distributors, traders or
service providers are species. When
the Consumer Code uses the word
Supplier, it refers to all the species.
On the other hand, when it refers
to a specific species, all others are
excluded.
Product/ Commodity: any asset,
whether fixed or not, material or
immaterial.
Service: any activity supplied in the
consumer market in exchange for

payment, including banking activities,
financing, credit and insurance,
except activities derived from a labor
relationship. To be considered a
product, no payment is required.
Services, on the other hand, require
some form of payment, even if
indirectly.
26.3. Scope
Considering that we currently live
in a consumer community, the
consumer legislation is becoming
increasingly important and now
covers a wide range of everyday
relations. Due to easy access to
credit, increased marketing efficiency
and difficult access to the Court,
consumer relations have become
more litigious. As a result, the
Consumer Code should be deeply
studied and widely disseminated.
The Brazilian Consumer Rights
Code is very broad and governs the
offer and advertisement of products
and services; contractual steps
and phases; collection of debts;
consumer defense in Court; crimes
against consumer relations; as
well as the quality of services and
products and the prevention and

recovery of damages.
Offer and advertisement bind the
supplier in that everything that is
promised and advertised must be
delivered. The Consumer Rights
Code does not forbid advertisement,
but it does establish cases in which
advertisement is considered harmful
to consumers and also provides for
cases in which advertisement is
considered abusive and therefore
subject to punishment, since it is
considered a crime.
Contractual protection towards
consumers is a great concern of the
Code. In order to avoid any harm to
consumers, the Statute establishes
that contracts and agreements
regarding consumer relations cannot
be drafted and written in a way that
hinders comprehension thereof.
There is also a provision determining
that contractual clauses must be
interpreted in the most favorable way
to consumers.
Suppliers may offer a contractual
warranty to consumers, besides the
legal warranty. In order to do so,
the warranty term must be in written
and make it clear what the warranty

consists of, the term and where
it can be claimed. It is important
to have in mind that contractual
warranty enters into effect upon
expiration of the legal warranty.
The contractual phase is strictly ruled
by the Code, which forbids abusive
clauses and practices.
Debts must be collected in a
respectful way, avoiding situations
that could be embarrassing to
consumers.
The judicial protocol in favor of
consumers offers the possibility of
reversing the burden of proof. This
means that the manufacturer has to
produce evidence that the consumer
is not right.
The Consumer Code also provides
for and defines some crimes, with
penalties ranging from detention
to fines. Such crimes may be
committed by an individual or
a corporation. In the case of a
corporation, the liable party will
be its Director, Manager or legal
representative who promotes,
allows or otherwise approves the
supply, offer, sale, or maintenance
of goods or services in any way

that is prohibited by the Consumer
Code. The constitutional principle of
due process of law applies in all
cases.
Consumer protection should not
be seen as a restraint to business,
but as a need of the modern world.
Also, someone can be a supplier in a
certain relationship and a consumer
in another, thus attesting to the
universal nature of the Consumer
Defense Code.
26.4. Enforcement
Interpreting and enforcing the
Brazilian Consumer Law can be
a most demanding task and is
subject to many academic and legal
discussions. However, the code is
in effect and must be complied with
and violators may be subject to civil,
administrative and even criminal
sanctions.
As a result, manufacturers and
service providers must be very
careful with their product/ work
output, in order to avoid conflicts
and constraints to their commercial
activities.
As seen, legal protection is present

from the pre-plant phase to shelf
exhibition, and there is no step in the
industrial process that is not subject
to this code.
26.5. Trends
The Brazilian consumer protection
code is in tune with the worlds most
modern legislations. Still, the local
legislator was careful enough to
issue a law that takes into account
the Brazilian reality, which has
problems and specificities if its own.
Many amendments have been made
to the original code, showing great
concern with the most current
issues.
Understanding consumer rights
in different jurisdictions will help
business people to integrate
themselves better, faster and in a
more profitable way.
27 - ARBITRATION AND UPHOLDING OF FOREIGN COURT RULINGS AND ARBITRATION AWARDS IN BRAZIL
27.1. Purpose and Applicable Rules
27.2. Arbitration Proceedings
Law 9307/96 (the Brazilian

Arbitration Law) entitles individuals
and entities legally qualified to
enter into agreements to resort
to arbitration for the settlement of
disputes concerning property rights.
In other words, disputes involving
private property rights may be
submitted to arbitration if the parties
agree to do so.
The parties may, by mutual

agreement, define a procedure for
selecting arbitrators. Alternatively,
the specific rules of an institutional
arbitrator or specialized entity may be
adopted. The arbitrator is competent
to rule on matters of fact and of law.
Arbitration awards are not subject to
appeal or validation by the Judiciary.
Legal rules applying to arbitration

may be freely established by the
parties, and may include general
principles of law, custom and usage,
or international trade rules.
An arbitration clause included in
an agreement, i.e., a provision
stating that any and all disputes
arising under said agreement shall
be resolved by arbitration, is legally
binding upon the parties. The
Brazilian Arbitration Law establishes
that a party may judicially demand
arbitration, in case the other party
fails to comply with the arbitration
clause.
Arbitration is deemed to have been

established when an arbitrator (or
arbitrators) accepts his appointment.
The parties may put forward their
claims through their attorneys, but
are at liberty to designate other
persons to represent or assist them
in arbitration proceedings.
An arbitration award produces the
same binding effect upon the parties
and their successors as a court
decision, and such an award has the
same effect as an executable deed.
An arbitration award must include:
I. A report containing the names of
the parties and a brief summary of
the dispute;
II. The grounds for the decision,

describing the questions of fact
and of law involved, and expressly
indicate whether the arbitrators ruled
on equity (if applicable);
III. The ruling, when arbitrators
decide on the issues submitted to
them, and a deadline for compliance
(if applicable); and
IV. The date and place of the award.
27.3. Upholding and Enforcement of
Foreign Arbitration Awards
Brazil ratified the Geneva Protocol
on Arbitration Clauses of 1923, and
the United Nations Convention on
the Recognition and Enforcement
of Foreign Arbitral Awards United of
June 10, 1958.
The Brazilian Arbitration Law
establishes that for a foreign
arbitration award to be upheld and
enforced in Brazil it needs only to
be ratified by the Superior Court of
Justice (STJ).
A request for ratification should
be filed by the interested party,
accompanied by (i) the original
arbitration award or a certified
copy thereof, duly notarized by the

Brazilian Consulate and translated
into Portuguese by a sworn
translator in Brazil; and (ii) the
original agreement to arbitrate or a
certified copy thereof duly translated
into Portuguese by a sworn
translator.
Under the Brazilian Arbitration Law,
ratification of a foreign arbitration
award follows the rules of the Code
of Civil Procedure and the House
Rules of the STJ on ratification of
foreign judicial awards.
According to STJ Resolution 9,
ratification of a foreign arbitration
award shall not be subject to retrial
or re-examination of the merits of the
original arbitration proceedings.
In order to be ratified by the STJ, a
foreign arbitration award must meet
the following requirements:
I. The parties to the arbitration
agreement must have legal capacity;
II. The arbitration agreement must
be valid under the laws of the
jurisdiction chosen by the parties
or, if tacit, under the laws of the
jurisdiction where the award was

issued;
order, national sovereignty or good

morals.
III. The defendant must have

been given proper notice of the
appointment of arbitrators or of
the arbitration procedure, or full
opportunity to defend its case;
When confirmed by the STJ, the

arbitration award is eligible for
enforcement by court order.
IV. The arbitration award must not

have exceeded the terms of the
arbitration agreement, and separation
the portion within the scope of
the arbitration Agreement must be
ensured;
Foreign sentences may be upheld

and enforced in Brazil, irrespective of
reciprocity on the part of the country
where it originated or of any specific
international treaty or convention
between said country and Brazil. To
be enforceable in Brazil, however,
a court sentence issued in another
country must be ratified by the
Brazilian Judiciary.
V. Commencement of arbitration
proceedings must have been in
accordance with the arbitration
agreement;
VI. The arbitration award must be
binding upon the parties, or its
effects must not have been annulled
or suspended by a court in the
jurisdiction in which it was issued;
VII. Under Brazilian law, the matters
submitted to arbitration must be
eligible for arbitration;
VIII. The arbitration award must not
run contrary to the Brazilian public
27.4. Foreign Sentences
Under article 105 (i) of the 1988

Federal Constitution, the STJ is
responsible for analyzing and
deciding on the ratification of
foreign sentences. This question
is addressed by provisions of
the Introductory Law to the Civil
Code which contains rules for the
interpretation of international private
law, by the Code of Civil Procedure,
and by STJ Resolution 9.
When ruling on the ratification of
a foreign court sentence, the STJ

verifies whether all formal procedural
requirements have been fully met, in
all instances up until final ruling.
Under Brazilian Law, a sentence (be
it on a civil, commercial, or criminal
matter) issued by a judge or a court,
in compliance with the due process
of law, is not subject to any further
appeal.
within the exclusive jurisdiction

of Brazilian courts. By way of
example, ratification of a ruling
regarding a realestate property
located in the Brazilian territory
would not be admissible,since
Article 12, 1 of the Introductory
Law to the Civil Code providesthat
only courts of Brazil have
jurisdiction over such matters.
Provided that these basic conditions

have been fulfilled, the STJ verifies
whether the foreign sentence is
in compliance with the following
requirements, according to Section
5 of STJ Resolution 9, based on
the provisions of Article 15 of the
Introductory Law to the Civil Code:
The parties must have been

served proper notice of process, or
a default sentence has been legally
issued:
The foreign sentence must have

been issued by a competent judge:
STJ does not check whether the
foreign judge had jurisdiction
over the matter, as this could be
construed as undue interference
in a sovereignmatter of a foreign
country.
What is examined by STJ is
whether the case,from the
standpoint of Brazilian law, falls
Service of process is the act

whereby a party is summoned
to respond toalegal suit filed
against it. It ensures the right of full
defense and the summonsmust
be delivered in accordance with
guidelines set forth in laws of
the placein which the ruling was
issued. Should the defendant be
domiciled in Brazil,the summons
should be delivered by means of
letters rogatory.
The sentence must be final and in
proper form for its execution at the
placewhere it was issued:
For the purposes of expediting

enforcement proceedings, insofar
as possibleit is advisable that
evidence be produced to show that
the decision is final,by certification
by the competent judge, stating that
no further appeal isadmissible in
any jurisdiction.
The foreign sentence must
be authenticated by the nearest
BrazilianConsulate and must be
submitted to STJ with a sworn
translation.
The STJ shall only acknowledge

challenges by the defendant if they
relate to: (i) the authenticity of the
documents produced by the plaintiff;
(ii) interpretation of the foreign
sentence; or (iii) compliance with the
statutory requirements regarding the
ratification or filing of the request, in
accordance with Section 9 of STJ
Resolution 9.
Once the foreign sentence has
been ratified, it becomes eligible for
enforcement through the competent
Brazilian federal court.
The foreign ruling will not be

ratified in the event that it is deemed
contraryto national sovereignty
or public order, in accordance
withSection 6 of STJ Resolution 9.
This is the only aspect concerning
the essence/merits of the
foreign ruling which is subject to
assessment by the STJ.
Ratification is obtained by means
of action started by the foreign
plaintiff before the STJ, which
shall then issue a summons upon
the defendant, who is entitled to
challenge the request for ratification.
28 - INTERNATIONAL ASPECTS OF BRAZILIAN JURISDICTION

28.1. General Jurisdiction of
Brazilian Courts
According to Article 2 of the Brazilian
Federal Constitution the Legislative,
the Executive, and the Judicial
Branches are independent and
harmonious among themselves, and
are powers of the Union. Moreover,
article 5 of the Federal Constitution
states that the law shall not exclude
any injury or threat to a right
from appreciation by the Judicial
Branch. Jurisdiction to adjudicate
is, therefore, deemed a matter of
sovereignty.
In view of the federative structure of
the Brazilian State, the jurisdictional
powers of the Federative States also
emanate from their respective State
Constitutions. For its part, article 1
of the Code of Civil Procedure states
that that civil jurisdiction is exercised
by judges throughout the national
territory. Furthermore, article 86 of
the Code of Civil Procedure states
that civil cases shall be adjudicated
by judicial courts, according to their
respective competence, without
prejudice to the right of parties to
submit disputes to arbitration.
The limits of Brazilian jurisdiction

in relation to other jurisdictions
are established by Brazilian laws,
whenever cases are brought in a
Brazilian venue. In other words,
Brazilian courts abide bylex fori,
embodied in the Code of Civil
Procedure. In that respect, the Code
of Civil Procedure draws a clear
distinction between concurrent
jurisdiction (article 88) and exclusive
jurisdiction (article 89). In the
case of concurrent jurisdiction, the
Brazilian Judiciary may exercise its
jurisdictional power whenever (i)
the defendant is domiciled in Brazil,
regardless of his/her nationality; or
(ii) the obligation was contracted
in Brazil; or (iii) the law suit results
from an event or act in Brazil. In
the cases of exclusive jurisdiction,
only Brazilian courts may exercise
jurisdiction (i) over law suits relating
to real estate property; or (ii) related
to probate and succession of assets
located in Brazil, whether or not the
deceased was a foreigner and had
lived outside Brazil.
28.2. Choice of Forum
Brazilian case law is generally
hesitant on the autonomy of the

parties to select a foreign venue.
Rulings of the Superior Court of
Justice (STJ) have swung both
ways. Some justices sustain that the
parties declaration of intent may not
remove Brazilian jurisdiction, given
that the rules of court jurisdiction
are based upon national sovereignty,
and therefore are not subject to
the parties autonomy. Thus, the
parties are free to modify the
internal territorial competence, but
theymay not modify the extension of
national jurisdiction.70 Other justices,
however, understand that there is no
prohibition to select the forum in an
international contract.71
or under which an act or a fact may

be performed in Brazil should be
carefully negotiated and written.
In view of the yet undefined position

of Brazils highest court for infraconstitutional cases on this matter,
a clause establishing choice of a
foreign forum in an international
contract entered into parties
domiciled in Brazil, or having an
obligation to be performed in Brazil,
Under article 105, I, i of the

Brazilian Federal Constitution,
anexequaturof the letter rogatory
is required in order to determine
the serving of a summons on a
defendant resident in Brazil as
well as for obtaining evidence,
by a Brazilian first-level court.
Constitutional Amendment 45, of
2004, has shifted competence
for granting of anexequaturfrom
the Federal Supreme Court (STF)
to the Superior Court of Justice
(STJ), and new procedural rules
for such proceedings were recently
70
Resp 804306/SP, 3 T., Rapporteur Justice Nancy
Andrighi, DJ 3/9/08; Resp 498835/SP, 3 T., Rapporteur
Justice Nancy Andrighi, DJ 29/5/05; Resp 251438/RJ,
4 T., Rapporteur Justice Barros Monteiro, DJ 8/8/00.
71
REsp 1177915/RJ, 3 T., Rapporteur Justice Vasco
Della Giustina, DJ 13/4/10; Resp 242383/SP, 3 T.,
Rapporteur Justice Humberto Gomes de Barros, DJ
21/3/05; Resp 505208/AM, 3 T., Rapporteur Justice
Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito, DJ 13/10/03.
28.3. Judicial Cooperation

Brazilian laws are generally favorable
towards cooperation with the
courts of other countries. Article
12, 2 of the Introductory Law
to the Civil Code (ILCC) provides
that Brazilian courts shall proceed
with the judicial acts requested
through a letter rogatory issued by
a competent foreign court, provided
that anexequaturhas been granted
to same (article 12, paragraph 2 of
the ILCC).
established.72 The President of the

STJ shall notify the defendant of
the request contained in the letter
rogatory, and the defendant may
seek to impugn the request if an
offense to Brazilian public policy is
found, or if formalities have not been
properly fulfilled.
Besides statutory rules on judicial
cooperation, which apply to any
foreign State, there are also bilateral
treaties signed between Brazil and
such States as France (1985), Spain
(1991), Italy (1995), Argentina
(1995) and Uruguay (1995). Such
treaties are not identical, but most
contain provisions that expedite,
to a certain extent, measures for
obtaining and exequaturfrom STJ73.
Multilateral treaties signed by
Brazil on judicial cooperation with
countries that have special political
or economic ties with Brazil.
This is the case of countries in
the American continent - South,
Central and North America, joined
under the Organization of American
72
Resolution 9 of May 4, 2005, of the Presidency of
the Superior Court of Justice at http://bdjur.stj.gov.br/
dspace/handle/2011/368.
73
See http://portal.mj.gov.br/data/Pages/MJ4824E353ITEMID2D7208F92A0D4C76BE42D6CF48034A17PTBRNN.htm
States (OAS), and the countries of

the Common Market of the South
(MERCOSUR).
OAS member-States have signed
a series of agreements on private
international law (known as CIDIPs),
some of which deal with judicial
cooperation. This is the case of the
Inter-American Convention on Letters
Rogatory (CIDIP-I Panama, 1975)74
and the Additional Protocol thereof
(CIDIP-II, Montevideo, 1979)75, both
ratified by Brazil in 1996.
Under these treaties, notifications
and service of summonses may be
processed by initiative of the parties
through the court system, consular
or diplomatic agents, and central
authorities of the requesting and
requested States.
The main innovation introduced by
the Convention on Letters Rogatory
was the use of central authorities as
See http://portal.mj.gov.br/services/DocumentManagement/FileDownload.EZTSvc.
asp?DocumentID={B3528D72-25A3-40D8-A60D-AF
FA08757DA8}&ServiceInstUID={D4906592-A4934930-B247-738AF43D4931}.
75
See http://portal.mj.gov.br/services/DocumentManagement/FileDownload.EZTSvc.
asp?DocumentID={A31FDE64-540B-4850-B3BE-DE
29A5C87BDA}&ServiceInstUID={D4906592-A4934930-B247-738AF43D4931}
74
intermediaries between the courts

of the countries involved, making
it possible to convey requests for
cooperation through a less formal
procedure than is normally used
by national courts and diplomatic
channels. A certain degree of
uniformity of procedural rules
has also been achieved under the
Convention, so that requirements
for processing letters rogatory may
be approximately the same in the
countries where it is in force.
However, some of its provisions
have been deemed unenforceable,
such as the one providing for direct
communication between the courts
of neighboring countries, which
cannot be applied in Brazil due to
the constitutional rules that require
granting of anexequaturby the STJ
as a condition for letters rogatory.
The issuing of anexequaturto
a letter rogatory does not imply
automatic recognition of the
jurisdiction of the requesting court
neither does it imply an obligation
to recognize or to enforce a foreign
sentence that may be issued by the
foreign court.
The procedures for fulfillment
of a request contained in letters
rogatory must follow the rules of

the requested State, but may follow
any special request made by the
requesting State, provided that it
is not incompatible with the public
policy of the requested State. In
any event, the requested State may
refuse to execute the letter rogatory
where it deems that the request is in
clear violation to its own notions of
public policy.
Within the framework of MERCOSUR,
a multilateral treaty on judicial
cooperation the Las Leas Protocol
of 199276 contains rules to facilitate
the serving of letters rogatory among
MERCOSUR Member States. The Las
Leas Protocol deals with the serving
of summons, notifications, and
similar acts, as well as evidence. It
provides that the letter rogatory must
be servedex officioby the requested
authority, except when a public policy
issue is at stake. It also states that
serving does not imply automatic
recognition of the jurisdiction of the
requesting court. The procedures
arte those of the requested State,
76
For the full text of the of the Las Leas Protocol, see
http://portal.mj.gov.br/services/DocumentManagement/
FileDownload.EZTSvc.asp?DocumentID={5634D9E8ADA4-4E2E-8496-2F9D9A5EDB64}&ServiceInstUID=
{D4906592-A493-4930-B247-738AF43D4931}
and central authorities are the

preferred intermediaries within the
Judiciaries involved.
The Las Leas Protocol waives the
obligation to post a bond in guaranty
for court costs and attorneys fees,
normally required from a foreign
party litigating in Brazil.
28.4. Recognition and Enforcement
of Foreign Judgments in Brazil
Recognition and enforcement of
foreign judgments has long been a
feature of Brazilian law. In the present
legal framework, it is contemplated
by the 1988 Federal Constitution
as amended (article 105, I i); by
article 15 of the Introductory Law to
the Civil Code; by articles 483 and
484 of the Code of Civil Procedure,
and by STJ Resolution 9.77
The applicable rules stipulate that,
in order for a foreign judgment to be
enforced in Brazil, it must: (i) have
been issued by a competent court;
(ii) the defendant must have been
served notice of process; (iii) beres
judicataand ready for execution in
the State of origin; (iv) have been
77
See note 3 above.
translated by a Brazilian sworn

public translator; and (v) have been
recognized by the Superior Court of
Justice.
The procedure for recognition by the
STJ of a foreign judgment requires
that the interested party file a petition
requesting such recognition, together
with a copy of the foreign judgment
and other documents necessary for
understanding of the request, all duly
translated and authenticated.
When a foreign judgment is
incompatible with Brazilian public
policy, it shall not be recognized;
however, if incompatibility is only
partial it may be partially recognized.
Anticipatory or interim measures
may also be granted in proceedings
for recognition of a foreign judgment,
so that the defendant may not
frustrate the purpose of recognition
during the period in which the
process is underway.
If a defendant wishes to challenge
a request for recognition of
a foreign judgment, the only
admissible arguments are based
upon: authenticity of documents,
interpretation of the judgment,
and compliance with requisites of
STJ Resolution 9. No discussion
of merits is allowed, excepting on

public policy matters.
Once it is recognized by the STJ, the
foreign judgment may be executed
by a first-level federal court.
Various bilateral and multilateral
treaties have attempted to harmonize
legal standards with the aim of
reducing uncertainties generated
by the various national laws that
may apply to recognition and
enforcement of foreign judgments.
Within the scope of both the
OAS and MERCOSUR, Brazil has
signed a number of international
treaties relating to recognition and
enforcement of foreign judgments
and arbitral awards.
The Inter-American Convention
on the Extraterritorial Validity of
Foreign Judgments and Arbitral
Awards, signed in Montevideo in
1979 and ratified by Brazil in 199778
provides extraterritorial validity to
any foreign judgment or award in
civil, commercial and labor cases,
issued by judicial authority in the
signatory States, provided that (i)
78
For the full text of the Convention, see http://www2.
mre.gov.br/dai/arbitral.htm.
the judgment/award is considered

authentic in the State of origin; (ii)
the judgment and accompanying
documents have been duly translated
to the language of the State of
recognition; (iii) it has been duly
certified as required by the laws of
the State of recognition; (iv) it was
issued by a competent court in the
international sphere, according to the
laws of the State of recognition; (v)
the defendant has been served notice
of process in a form substantially
equivalent to that accepted under the
laws of the State of recognition; (vi)
the parties have had the opportunity
to submit a defense; (vii) the
judgment is final or has the effect
ofres judicatain the State of origin;
and (viii)the judgment is not clearly
against public policy principles and
rules of the State of recognition.
Though the Convention on
Extraterritorial Validity goes into
considerable detail on bureaucratic
requirements, it fails to define how
international jurisdiction of the State
of origin is to be ascertained. To
fill this gap, another convention
the Inter-American Convention
on Jurisdiction in the International
Sphere for the Validity of Foreign
Judgments79 was signed in 1984,

but has not yet been ratified by Brazil.
This convention has been criticized
for its extremely narrow focus, and
to date only two States in the region
(Mexico and Uruguay) have ratified it.
To address disparities in interAmerican conventions on recognition
of foreign judgments, the Member
States of MERCOSUR signed the
Las Leas Protocol of 1992. With
regard to the recognition of foreign
judgments, the Protocol allows
a request to be served by letter
rogatory, rather than by a petition
filed in Brazil by the party requesting
the recognition. This, in turn, makes
it possible for proceedings filed
in one country to be transferred
to another through the respective
central authorities. Ratification by the
Superior Court of Justice (STJ) is
nonetheless required.
Although Brazilian law (article 90
of the Code of Civil Procedure)
does not considerlis pendensin
a foreign jurisdiction preclusive of
jurisdiction to adjudicate of Brazilian
courts,lis pendensis deemed an
79
For the full text of the Convention, see http://www.
oas.org/juridico/portuguese/treaties/B-50.htm
impediment for the recognition

of a foreign judgment under the
Ls Leas Protocol, if the pending
action law suit brought in the State
of recognition prior to the law suit
in which the foreign judgment was
proffered (article 22).
As a complement to the Las Leas
Protocol, MERCOSUR Member
States have defined conditions
for international jurisdiction in
contractual matters, through
the Buenos Aires Protocol on
International Jurisdiction in
Contractual Matters signed in 1994
and ratified by Brazil in 1996.8079
28.5. Jurisdiction of International
Arbitration Tribunals
The Brazilian Arbitration Law (Law
9307 of 1996)8180accepts and
endorses international arbitration
as an effective means of resolving
disputes involving patrimonial rights
and parties capable to freely dispose
of such rights. It places no restriction
on the use of arbitration rules of
foreign or international arbitral
80
For the full text of the Protocol, see http://www2.mre.
gov.br/dai/matcontratual.htm
81
For full text, see http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/
leis/l9307.htm
institutions, which is left to the

discretion of the parties entering into
an arbitration agreement.
Though parties are free to sign
international agreements establishing
the dispute resolution mechanism
of their choice, a foreign arbitral
award or judgment issued by a
foreign court is only valid in Brazil
once it has been recognized by the
Superior Court of Justice (STJ).
The procedures for recognition of
a foreign arbitral award or a foreign
court judgment are practically
identical, and are governed by STJ
Resolution 9 of 2005.82
recognition) has generally been

favorable to recognition of foreign
arbitral awards, especially after the
enactment of the Arbitration Law of
1996, which waived the requirement
of double homologation.84 Since
STJ became competent to issue
recognition of foreign arbitral awards
in 2004, it has been ruling in favor
of international arbitration involving
parties domiciled in Brazil,85 pursuant
to the New York Convention.
In addition to the provisions of the

Brazilian Arbitration Law, the United
Nations New York Convention on
the Recognition and Enforcement
of Foreign Arbitral Awards of 1958,
ratified by Brazil in 200283, also
applies to recognition of foreign
arbitral awards in Brazil.
Recent case law of the Federal
Supreme Court (formerly the
competent court for such
See Note 3 above.
For the full text, see http://www.planalto.gov.br/
ccivil_03/decreto/2002/D4311.htm
82
83
See SE 5206 AgR/EP SPAIN, Rapporteur Justice

Seplveda Pertence, Full Court, 12/12/2001; SEC5828/NO, Rapporteur Justice Ilmar Galvo, Full Court,
12/06/2000; SEC-5847/IN, Rapporteur Justice Maurcio
Corra, Full Court, 12/01/1999
85
See SEC 802 / EX, 2005/0032132-9, Rapporteur
Justice Jos Delgado, CE Special Court, 08/17/2005;
SEC 856 / EX, 2005/0031430-2 Rapporteur Justice
Carlos Alberto Menezes Direito, CE Special Court,
05/18/2005
84
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

FIFA PUBLIC GUIDELINES
for use of FIFAs Official Marks
These Public Guidelines will be updated periodically.
Please check FIFAs website www.FIFA.com for the latest version.
General
2010 FIFA
Issue #9
March 2014
CONTENT
CHAPTER
PAGE
Section 1
Purpose of these FIFA Public Guidelines
Section 2
Official Marks
Section 3
Examples of Use (Dos and Donts)
Section 4
General Benefits (How to get involved)
20
Section 5
Contact Information
22
Annex 1
General Background of the 2014 FIFA World Cup
23
Annex 2
Media Information
26
These FIFA Public Guidelines will be updated periodically. Please check FIFAs website www.FIFA.com for the latest version.
FIFA Public Guidelines

General Edition Issue #9
2010 FIFA
SECTION 1
PURPOSE OF THESE PUBLIC GUIDELINES
THE 2014 FIFA WORLD CUP
The FIFA World Cup is an event staged on a scale of spectacular

proportions. As the largest single sports event and most-watched
competition on earth it enjoys phenomenal interest from sports
fans and the business world alike. Many entities, organisations,
businesses and non-commercial organisations will want to be a part
of this event.
SUPPORT BY FIFA
RIGHTS HOLDERS
It is important to note that due to the enormous cost of staging such

a large event, FIFA would not be able to organise the tournament
without the significant support of its commercial affiliates, the
host country and host cities. These stakeholders all make vital
nancial contributions to ensure that this privately funded event
can be staged. In return for this critical support, FIFAs Rights
Holders (see Annex 1 for more information) are guaranteed an
exclusive association with the competition, especially the right to
use the Official Marks (as dened in Section 2) for promotional and
advertising purposes.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
PROTECT THE EXCLUSIVITY
OF THE FIFA RIGHTS
HOLDERS?
Any unauthorised use of the Official Marks not only undermines the
integrity of the FIFA World Cup and its marketing programme, but
also puts the interests of the worldwide football community at stake.
The FIFA Rights Holders will only invest in the 2014 FIFA World Cup
if they are provided with this exclusivity for the use of the Official
Marks. If anyone could use the Official Marks for free and create
an association with the 2014 FIFA World Cup, there would be no
reason to become a Rights Holder. This would mean that FIFA and
the LOC could not appoint any Rights Holders and could not secure
the funding for the 2014 FIFA World Cup from such revenues.
Therefore, the protection of the exclusive rights is crucial for the
funding for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and FIFA asks that nonaffiliated entities respect FIFAs intellectual property and conduct
their activities without commercially associating with the 2014 FIFA
World Cup.

2010 FIFA
GENERAL INFORMATION
AND GUIDANCE
These Public Guidelines are designed to offer guidance and

information to the general public.
Please note that these Public Guidelines are NOT a licence or legal
document and do not conrm whether or not an activity infringes
any rights in relation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. We regret that
FIFA cannot provide individual feedback on each potential use of
its Official Marks. It is the responsibility of third parties to seek their
own legal advice.
THIRD PARTIES
HOW TO BENEFIT WITHOUT
ASSOCIATION?
The experience from previous FIFA World Cup tournaments has

shown that there are many ways an entity can benet from the FIFA
World Cup without using the Marks or commercially associating
itself with it (please see Section 4 below).
In particular, it is expected that the country and the economy of
Brazil will, in general, greatly benet from the 2014 FIFA World
Cup, which will be to the advantage of many Brazilian entities,
organisations and institutions as well as the Brazilian citizens.
MEDIA
The news media are welcome to use the Official Marks for legitimate
editorial and information purposes, provided that such use does
not create any undue association between the tournament and any
entities other than FIFAs commercial affiliates. This is addressed in
Annex 2.
PUBLIC VIEWING EVENTS
An event is considered a Public Viewing Event if at such event

broadcast coverage (signal) of the 2014 FIFA World Cup is made
available for public exhibition. No use of the Official Marks is
permitted and no sponsorship that creates any direct or indirect
association with FIFA and the 2014 FIFA World Cup can be granted
to third parties which are not FIFA Rights Holders. FIFA regulations
for Public Viewing Events will be issued separately by FIFA at a later
stage and will be available on www.FIFA.com.
A Public Viewing Event licence has to be obtained from FIFA. Any
party interested in obtaining a licence to exhibit broadcast coverage
(signal) of the 2014 FIFA World Cup should make a request to FIFA
via www.FIFA.com and upon grant of a licence shall comply with
the FIFA regulations for Public Viewing Events (issued by FIFA from
time to time).
TERRITORY
These Public Guidelines apply to activities by any third parties on a

worldwide basis, including in the host country Brazil.

2010 FIFA
SECTION 2
OFFICIAL MARKS
OFFICIAL MARKS
FIFA has developed and protected an assortment of logos, words,

titles, symbols and other trade marks which it will use, or allow
others to use, in relation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup (the Official
Marks). The most important Official Marks are described in more
detail below.
OFFICIAL EMBLEM
FIFA owns rights in the individual graphic and word elements, which
combine to make up the Official Emblem as a whole, and these are
protected by copyright, trade marks and/or other laws of intellectual
property. The Official Emblem is the main logo used as reference to
the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
OFFICIAL MASCOT
The Official Mascot is a very popular brand asset which contributes

hugely to the visual identity of the event. The Mascot is used
extensively by not only FIFA and the LOC for promotional purposes,
but also FIFAs Rights Holders in their activation campaigns and
across their communication channels. As for all other Official Marks
all rights in relation to the Offi cial Mascot are reserved in name
of FIFA and the image of the Official Mascot enjoys extensive
protection under the different laws of Intellectual Property.
OFFICIAL SLOGAN
All in one rhythm (Juntos num s ritmo)

2010 FIFA
OFFICIAL LOOK ELEMENT
FIFA WORLD CUP TROPHY
OFFICIAL POSTER
OFFICIAL FAN FEST LOGO

2010 FIFA
PROTECTED TERMS
2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil

2014 FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
FIFA
World Cup
2014 World Cup
World Cup 2014
Brazil 2014
2014 Brazil
Football World Cup
Soccer World Cup
Copa 2014
Copa do Mundo
Mundial 2014
Mundial de Futebol Brasil 2014
Copa do Mundo 2014
HOST CITY names + 2014 for each of the host cities (e.g. Rio 2014,
etc.)
Please note that this is not a full list of FIFAs trade marks in relation
to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. For a full list of FIFAs trade marks
in any specic country, and the specic goods and services for
which they are protected, one should seek advice from a local trade
mark attorney or contact the national patent or intellectual property
office.
FIFA.COM LOGO
The FIFA.com logo may only be used on a website as a hyperlink

to the homepage of the official website www.FIFA.com, subject to
specic prior approval by FIFA.
PROTECTION
The Official Marks are protected in Brazil and territories around the
world by trade mark registration and/or copyright laws and/or other
laws of intellectual property such as unfair competition or passing
off. Such laws collectively protect FIFA against the unauthorised
use of both identical reproductions of the Official Marks and also
confusingly similar variations and modications.

2010 FIFA
SECTION 3
EXAMPLES OF USE (DOS AND DONTS)
GENERAL PRINCIPLE
In order to provide some guidance to the general public, the below section sets out FIFAs position
concerning some common examples of unauthorised commercial association with the 2014 FIFA
World Cup (Unauthorised Association) and some examples of activities which can be considered
legitimate.
This section intends to assist third parties who wish to avoid any unauthorised association with the
tournament. Clearly it is not possible to set out all different situations, or comment on the different legal
sanctions that may apply in each country. In these examples, references to the Official Marks include
similar variations of such Official Marks (see Section 2 above).
FOOTBALL
IN
BRAZIL
ADVERTISEMENTS/PROMOTIONS
General advertisement: an advertisement using
general football terms/imagery may NOT create
an Unauthorised Association.
SAMPLE
LTD
General advertisement: an advertisement using an

Official Mark (such as emblems, words, slogans,
event titles, etc.) or any other reference to the
event creates an Unauthorised Association.
LE
SAMP
LTD

2010 FIFA
ADVERTISEMENTS/PROMOTIONS
WIN TICKETS
Ticket promotion: any type of ticket promotion

(including on-line auctions and promotional
competitions), unless organised by a FIFA Partner,
creates an Unauthorised Association.
FIF
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SAMPLE
LTD
FIFA WORLD CUP
TICKETS
SAMPLE
LTD
Contest/Game/Lottery: any type of contest,

game or lottery using an Official Mark creates an
Unauthorised Association.
201
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2010 FIFA
INFORMATIONAL/EDITORIAL USE
Editorial use: any legitimate editorial, noncommercial use does NOT create an Unauthorised
Association.
NEWSPAPER
Infomercial/Advertorial: there is no legitimate

justication for the commercial use or presentation
of editorial content by third parties using an Official
Mark as this creates an Unauthorised Association.
PE
SPA
NEW
SEN
PRE
E LT
MPL
Y SA
ED B

2010 FIFA
10
MATCH SCHEDULE
Please note: The match schedule of the 2014 FIFA World Cup is protected by copyright and other IP
rights in many countries around the world. News media companies are allowed to publish the match
schedule to inform the public about the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but it must be ensured that the match
schedule is not published with any unauthorised commercial branding upon, next to, or in relation to
the match schedule.
Non - commercial use: The editorial, noncommercial use of the match schedule by the
news media does NOT create an Unauthorised
Association.
MATCH
SCHEDULE
2014 FIFA
WORLD CUP
BRAZIL
Commercial use: The commercial use of the match

schedule, specically for advertising, creates an
PRESENTE
D BY
SAMPLE
LTD
MATCH SCHEDULE
PRESENTED BY
SAMPLE
LTD

2010 FIFA
11
COMPANY/BUSINESS NAMES
General terms: A general football-related OR
Brazil-related business name may NOT create an
Unauthorised Association (provided it is not used
together with FIFA World Cup indicia, imagery
or reference, or the name )
FOOTBALL
WORLD SOCCER
LTD
Official Marks/event titles: the use of an Official

Mark as part of a business name does create an
N
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LG
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2010 FIFA
12
MERCHANDISE
General football terms: Merchandising items with
general football terms OR Brazil-related terms OR
national ags do NOT create an infringement of
FIFAs rights (provided it is not used together with
FIFA World Cup indicia, imagery or reference,
or the name).
BRAZIL
Official Marks/event titles: The use of an

Official Mark on a merchandising item creates an
2014
BRAZIL

2010 FIFA
13
IN-STORE DECORATION (RESTAURANTS,

BARS, RETAIL OUTLETS)
General terms: general football-related or Brazilrelated in-store decoration does NOT create an
Official Marks/event titles: The use of an Official

Mark as part of an in-store decoration creates an
2014
WORLD
2014
IL
CUP
BRAZ

2010 FIFA
14
INTERNET/MOBILE
Legitimate domain names/URLs: The use of
an Official Mark in an URL can be considered
legitimate and descriptive use if it comes after
the domain name.
SAMPLE
LTD
www.travel-company.com/
worldcuptravelinfo.htm
Domain names/URLs: In general, Official Marks

cannot be incorporated in domain names (or
into a URL identification which comes before
the domain name) for websites with commercial
content.
SAMPLE
LTD
www.worldcup.travel.company.com

2010 FIFA
15
INTERNET/MOBILE
Commercial use: Official Marks may not be used
together with, or in proximity to, a company logo
or commercial reference (such as Brought to you
by or Sponsored by , etc. or used on a standalone basis, in a xed position or in a recurring way
on a website including mobile optimised websites
or applications, particularly repetitive use of the
Marks in the corner of a special edition or on each
successive web page of a special subsection of a
website).
Hyperlinks: Offi cial Marks may not be used as

hyperlinks or shortcuts on the Internet (for the
use of the www.FIFA.com hyperlink, please see
Section 2 above).
SAMPLE
LTD
FIFA WORLD CUP NEWS
2014 FIFA WORLD CUP
SAMPLE
LTD

2010 FIFA
16
INTERNET/MOBILE
MMS/SMS/other mobile services: FIFAs official
logos, symbols and other graphic trade marks
may not be used in SMS, MMS or similar mobile
services. FIFAs Protected Terms (e.g. the event
titles) may not be used in such mobile services to
create the impression that a service is officially
associated with the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
LD
CU
OR
A
FIF
Mobile and other applications: Official Marks

may not be used for specific applications on
the 2014 FIFA World Cup and no association
may be created with FIFA and/or the 2014 FIFA
World Cup. The Protected Terms may not be
incorporated in the name of any such application.
Get up (the look and feel of the website):

Official Marks may not be used as part of the
get up, overall structure or design of a website
(including background or wallpaper designs), or as
a major constituent of a transitional introductory
web page of a website.
DOWNLOAD
WALLPAPER
SAMPLE
LTD

2010 FIFA
17
SOCIAL MEDIA
FIFAs official logos, symbols and other graphic
trade marks may not be used on any social media
platform. FIFAs Protected Terms (e.g. the event
titles) may not be used to create the impression
that a page is officially related to the 2014 FIFA
World Cup.
SOCIAL
NETWORK
FIFA WORLD CUP NEWSMY PROFILE
PUBLIC VIEWING EVENTS

Commercial Branding: The use of the Official
Marks is not permitted and no sponsorship that
creates a direct or indirect association with FIFA
and the 2014 FIFA World Cup can be granted
to any third parties which are not FIFA Rights
Holders.
PUBLIC VIEWING
CITY
Y ABCD
ABCD
SAMPLE
LTD
Any Public Viewing Exhibitor that has obtained

a Public Viewing Event licence from FIFA shall
comply with the FIFA regulations for Public
Viewing Events (issued by FIFA from time to time).

2010 FIFA
18
PLEASE NOTE
The examples in this section are given for illustrative purposes only.
If FIFA writes to you to explain that a certain activity which you
thought was in compliance with these Public Guidelines does in fact
create an unauthorised association, we ask you to please respect
FIFAs rights in the Official Marks.
These guidelines are not to be used by companies who deliberately
intend to ambush FIFAs marketing rights as a tool to carefully avoid
legal liability. The above scenarios are articially simplistic in order
to provide practical assistance to companies who have an honest
intention to avoid unfairly associating with the 2014 FIFA World
Cup. Past experience has shown that companies who try to use
these guidelines as a defence to an act of unfair association or
infringement are unsuccessful.
We hope you appreciate that it is not possible to illustrate every
possible scenario of acceptable use compared with unauthorised
association and we trust that you will cooperate with FIFAs requests.
For this reason, all of FIFAs rights are explicitly reserved.
These Public Guidelines only address rights owned by FIFA and do
not contain or indicate any statement with respect to any rights, or
relates in any manner in relation to, any rights held by any third party,
such as players, clubs, member associations, confederations or other
entities and organisations.

2010 FIFA
19
SECTION 4
GENERAL BENEFITS (HOW TO GET INVOLVED)
GENERAL PRINCIPLE
In general, there are many ways an organisation, institution or

entity can benet from the 2014 FIFA World Cup without using
the Official Marks or commercially associating itself with it.
The below section intends to set forth some examples of such
benets and opportunities in relation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
SERVICE PROVIDER
Be a service provider or supplier in relation to the preparation and

organisation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup:
Be a service provider or supplier for the stadia construction and
other general infrastructure requirements. For any details on the LOC
service procurement process, please contact the LOC directly.
Be a service provider or supplier for events, functions and activities
staged by FIFA and/or the LOC in relation to the FIFA World Cup.
Be a service provider or supplier for events staged by the Host
Cities.
Be a service provider or supplier for events and other promotional
activities by the FIFA Partners, FIFA World Cup Sponsors and
National Supporters.
HOSPITALITY PACKAGE
Buy a hospitality package and invite corporate guests and customers.

Hospitality packages will go on sale at a later stage. This will be
communicated via the media. Further information will be available
on FIFAs website www.FIFA.com.
PRODUCT LICENCE
Buy a product license from FIFA for the production of Official

Licensed Merchandise products. If you are interested please apply
via the form on FIFA.com:
www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/marketing/licensing.html..

2010 FIFA
20
GENERAL FOOTBALL
PROMOTIONS
Conduct general football promotions without any reference or

association to the 2014 FIFA World Cup (i.e. beneting from the
increased general attention to football in the host country).
SUPPORT GRASS
ROOTS FOOTBALL
Support local football in Brazil or your home country grass roots

football needs support, companies can conduct football promotions
associating with their local property without associations to the 2014
FIFA World Cup.

2010 FIFA
21
SECTION 5
CONTACT INFORMATION
FIFA
You can order the Official Marks by completing the appropriate

request form at the website:
www.FIFAdigitalarchive.com
LOCAL ORGANISING
COMMITTEE
For any enquiries in relation to the LOC procurement process for

the provision of services in relation to the preparation for the 2014
FIFA World Cup, please contact the Local Organising Committee:
Comit Organizador da Copa do Mundo da FIFA Brasil 2014
Av. Salvador Allende, 6.555 RioCentro acesso porto H
Barra da Tijuca - Rio de Janeiro - Brasil - 22783-127
Tel. +55 21 2014-2014
Fax +55 21 2432-2025
FIFA SALES DEPARTMENT
If you are interested in becoming a National Supporter of the 2014

FIFA World Cup please contact the Sales Department
sales@fa.org

2010 FIFA
22
ANNEX 1
GENERAL INFORMATION
2014 FIFA WORLD CUP

BRAZIL
The next FIFA World Cup is due to be held in Brazil in June and
July 2014 (the 2014 FIFA World Cup).
Fdration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the
world governing body of association football. FIFA has appointed
the Brazilian Football Association, one of its member associations,
with the organisation and staging of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and
for this purpose the Brazilian Football Association has created the
Local Organising Committee (LOC).
FIFA RIGHTS HOLDERS
FIFA is the owner of all rights in relation to the 2014 FIFA World
Cup, which includes all media, marketing, hospitality, licensing and
ticketing rights.
The FIFA World Cup is the worlds largest single sporting event
but it is still a privately funded event. It would not be possible to
cover the huge costs needed to organise such an event without the
signicant nancial contributions provided by the entities to which
FIFA grants certain 2014 FIFA World Cup-related rights (Rights
Holders).

2010 FIFA
23
FIFA RIGHTS HOLDERS
FIFA has appointed the following Rights Holders:

FIFA Partners
FIFA Partners are altogether 6 entities to which FIFA has granted or
will grant the most comprehensive package of global advertising,
promotional and marketing rights in relation to FIFA, all FIFA
activities and all FIFA competitions, including the 2014 FIFA World
Cup.
FIFA World Cup Sponsors
FIFA World Cup Sponsors are a maximum of 8 companies to which
FIFA has granted or will grant the second-most comprehensive
package of global advertising, promotional and marketing rights in
relation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup (and the FIFA Confederations
Cup Brazil 2013).
National Supporters
National Supporters are a maximum of 6 companies to which FIFA
has granted or will grant a package of advertising, promotional and
marketing rights in relation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup (and the
FIFA Confederations Cup Brazil 2013) for the territory of Brazil.

2010 FIFA
24
LICENSEES
MEDIA RIGHTS LICENSEES
FIFA Licensees are such entities to which FIFA has granted or will grant
the right to use the Official Marks on items of merchandise. If you are
interested in becoming a Licensee, please apply via the form on FIFA.com:
www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/marketing/licensing.html.
Media Rights Licensees are such entities to which FIFA has granted
or will grant the right to broadcast and/or transmit a feed of any
match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Further details on the FIFA Rights Holders are available on
www.FIFA.com.
HOSPITALITY
MATCH Hospitality AG is the company that has been appointed

by FIFA as the worldwide exclusive rights holder for the FIFA
Hospitality Programme of the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 and
the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil. It is the only company that is
allowed to offer exclusive hospitality packages worldwide through
its appointed sales agents.

2010 FIFA
25
ANNEX 2
FIFA MEDIA INFORMATION
USE OF THE OFFICIAL MARKS OF THE 2014 FIFA WORLD
CUP BRAZIL
INTRODUCTION
FIFA welcomes the news media providing editorial coverage of the

2014 FIFA World Cup and understands that the news media wishes
to use the Official Marks in connection with their editorial coverage.
Therefore FIFA provides high quality digital images of the Official
Marks to the news media without charge to use in their editorial
coverage.
This Media Information seeks to set forth some general guidelines for
the news media on how the use the Official Marks in a manner that
is consistent with legal freedoms, but yet respects FIFAs marketing
programme and the rights of FIFAs Rights Holders. Nothing in this
document is intended to control or restrict in any way the content
of news stories and editorials on the 2014 FIFA World Cup by the
news media.
TERMS OF USE OF THE

MARKS
The news media may use the Official Marks in editorial coverage
of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in compliance with the following
principles:
EDITORIAL USE
For the purpose of identifying or illustrating articles about or news

coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However the Official Marks
cannot be used as an integral part of the layout of a publication or
as elements of the brand of a publication.
NO PROMOTIONAL/
ADVERTISING USE
The Official Marks cannot be used for any advertising or promotional

purposes by the print media, including on any products for
commercial purposes, e.g. in any competition, lottery or other type
of contest. Regarding broadcasters, specic guidelines will follow.
USE OF MATCH SCHEDULES
The news media are welcome to use FIFAs match schedule as part
of its news reporting of the tournament but care should be taken
to avoid creating any Unauthorised Association with third parties
that are not Rights Holders for the tournament (e.g. by advertising
of commercial sponsorship of or near the feature).

2010 FIFA
26
USE ON FRONT COVERS
The Official Marks can be used on the front covers of newspapers to

illustrate editorial articles as mentioned above. But care should be
taken when the Official Marks are used on the front covers of print
magazines or special edition print publications. The appearance of
the Official Marks in the title of such products is most likely to be
mistakenly perceived by consumers as an indication that the print
publication is licensed by FIFA.
USE OF MATCH TICKETS
The use of match tickets for any type of competition, sweepstake

or promotion is expressly forbidden unless it is organised by a FIFA
Partner or FIFA World Cup Sponsor and subject to the speci c
written permission of FIFA.
GRAPHIC GUIDELINES/
BRAND MANUALS
The Official Marks should be used in compliance with FIFAs graphic

guidelines/brand manuals which you will receive from FIFA along
with high quality digital les of the requested reproduction artwork.
NO ASSOCIATION
The Official Marks must not appear in such a way as to suggest an

association between FIFA or the 2014 FIFA World Cup on the one
part and the user, its trade name, logo or other marks, or the users
goods and services, on the other part.
NO THIRD PARTY
ASSOCIATION
The news media should not authorise any third party to use or
associate themselves with the Official Marks and should not use
the Official Marks in such manner that allows any third party to
gain an Unauthorised Association with the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
The Official Marks should be clearly separated from third party
advertisements in order to avoid any confusion. Extreme care should
be taken for publications, or sections of publications, sponsored by
third parties as the risk of mistaken third party association is high.
FIFA DIGITAL ARCHIVE
The news media may order the Official Marks by

completing the Media Mark Request Form at the website
www.FIFAdigitalarchive.com.

2010 FIFA
27

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Doing Business 2015

Economy Profile 2015

Doing Business 2015

2014 The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development /

Doing Business 2015

Doing Business 2015

1, 2014 (except for the paying taxes indicators, which

Doing Business 2015

CHANGES IN DOING BUSINESS 2015

Finally, the name of the employing workers indicator set

Doing Business 2015

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Region: Latin America & Caribbean

Doing Business 2015

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Source: Doing Business database.

Doing Business 2015

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

regional average (figure 1.2). The economys rankings

Doing Business 2015

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Figure 1.4 Distance to frontier scores on Doing Business topics - Brazil

Doing Business 2015

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Doing Business introduced the distance to frontier score. This

Doing Business 2015

THE BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

regulationsuch as a regulatory process that can be

Rio de Janeiro DB2015

New Zealand (1)

Starting a Business (DTF

New Zealand (99.96)

New Zealand (1.0)*

New Zealand (0.5)

Cost (% of income per

Paid-in min. capital (%

112 Economies (0.0)*

Hong Kong SAR,

Hong Kong SAR,

Best performer globally

Table 1.1 Summary of Doing Business indicators for Brazil

Rio de Janeiro DB2015

Best performer globally

Doing Business 2015

Hong Kong SAR,

Korea, Rep. (1)

Korea, Rep. (99.83)

Korea, Rep. (18.0)*

Cost (% of income per

Getting Credit (rank)

New Zealand (1)

New Zealand (100)

Getting Electricity (DTF

Getting Credit (DTF

Rio de Janeiro DB2015

Best performer globally

Doing Business 2015

Credit registry coverage

Credit bureau coverage

New Zealand (1)

New Zealand (81.67)

New Zealand (8.2)

Paying Taxes (rank)