Brazil Oi sees $7.4 bln price tag for Brasil Tel.

RIO DE JANEIRO, April 25 (Reuters) - Brazil's Oi Participacoes (TNLP4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) expects the total cost to take over rival Brasil Telecom (BRTP4.SA: Quote, Profile, Research) may reach 12.3 billion reais ($7.4 billion) as the company buys out minority shareholders, Chief Executive Luiz Eduardo Falco said on Friday.

Oi, Brazil's largest phone company, has enough cash at hand to pay for the purchase, but it may also tap the capital markets to raise part of the funds, Falco said.

Rio de Janeiro-based Oi agreed to buy control of Brasil Telecom for 5.86 billion reais. Under local securities rules the company must also offer to buy out Brasil Telecom minority shareholders after the deal is completed. ($1 = 1.667 Brazilian reais)

(Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Writing by Elzio Barreto; editing by Carol Bishopric)