» It seems that finally News Corp has found a buyer for MySpace and it is not mobile social network MocoSpace who a few months ago was rumored to buy MySpace. The Wall Street Journal reports, that Ad-targeting firm Specific Media has emerged as the front-runner to buy News Corp.'s Myspace, according to people familiar with the matter, as News Corp. As part of a deal, which could be announced as early as today, Myspace will shed more than half of its staff of about 500 people, one of the people familiar with the matter said. As recently as two years ago the social-media website had a headcount of about 1,400. MySpace has a sizable user community both in Latin America.
» Latam Rush: More Interest in Latam advertising and media companies. Socialmetrix just announced that A&N Media (A&N),, a consumer media firm owned by British Company DMGT plc., has acquired a minority stake in the business. This is another example of European and North American companies investing in Latin American advertising, media and research firms. A&N took the decision to invest because of Socialmetrix’s rapid growth across South America over the past two years. In addition,ad agency conglomerate Publicis is opening offices in Ecuador.
» Taking about investments. BTG Pactual, Brazil’s largest independent securities firm, has closed on $1.6 billion for private equity investments, Reuters reported, citing news from Valor Economico. The BTG Pactual Brazil I fund inked about $500 million from the firm’s capital and $200 million from employees and partners, the newspaper said. The fund is the third largest ever raised in Latin America. Fonseca told Valor that two companies have already been added to the fund’s portfolio: Brazil Pharma , the BTG Pactual-controlled drugstore chain that last week raised about $293 million in an initial public offering, and oil services company Brasbunker.
