Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes _______ No___X____
(Rio de Janeiro, January 31, 2003) PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. PETROBRAS, [BOVESPA: PETR3/PETR4, NYSE: PBR/PBRA, LATIBEX: XPBR/XPBRA], Brazils biggest oil & gas, petrochemicals and energy company announces to its shareholders and the market in general that pursuant to article 8 of the Company Bylaws, the Board of Directors of Petróleo Brasileiro S.A.- PETROBRAS, meeting today, decided as to the provisioning for payment of complementary remuneration to the shareholders with respect to the distribution of profits for the fiscal year 2002 in the form of interest on own capital pursuant to article 9 of Law 9.249/95 and Decrees 2.673/98 and 3.381/00.
Interest on own capital is being provisioned as at December 31, 2002 for the amount of R$ 1,086 million, corresponding to a gross value of R$ 1.00 per common and preferred share subject to income tax of 15% (fifteen per cent) withheld at source except in the case of shareholders who are exempt.
Pursuant to the Bylaws of PETROBRAS and Law 9.249/95, the provisioned interest on own capital will be incorporated in the dividend value for the 2002 fiscal year. Date of payment is to be established by the Annual General Shareholders Meeting, which is to decide on the distribution of the results for the above-mentioned fiscal year on the basis of the shareholding position as of March 27, 2003.
Rio de Janeiro, January
31, 2003.
PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO S.A. PETROBRAS
João Pinheiro
Nogueira Batista
CFO and Investor Relations Director
This document may contain forecasts that merely reflect the expectations of the Company's management. Such terms as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "plan", "project", "seek", "should", along with similar or analogous expressions, are used to identify such forecasts. These predictions evidently involve risks and uncertainties, whether foreseen or not by the Company. Therefore, the future results of operations may differ from current expectations, and readers must not base their expectations exclusively on the information presented herein.
PETRÓLEO BRASILEIRO
S.A--PETROBRAS | ||
By: |
/S/ José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo
| |
José Sergio Gabrielli de Azevedo
Chief Financial
Officer and Investor Relations Director
|
This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts, and are based on management's current view and estimates offuture economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "expects", "plans" and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.