The US private equity fund General Atlantic has acquired a 40% stake in the health and benefits insurance group Qualicorp in a deal estimate by market analysts at US$100mil and believed to muscle up is operations. President Mauricio Ceschin comments General Atlantic proposal was keen to Qualicorp's business strategy, while the fund has paid last year R$1bil to get a 5% equity in the securities & exchanges BM&F Bovespa. General Atlantic usually stays for 5 - 7 years as a partner to which it lends expertise and strategic support. Qualicorp would keep control of its brand. The formal aspects of the operation were coordinated by the law firms Machado Meyer and Mattos Filho.
 
(SABI - Business News, 17.11.2008)