Telemar secures 4.3 bln reais loan for takeover

SAO PAULO, July 16 (Reuters) - Brazil's largest telecoms group Oi (TNLP4.SA)(TNE.N) said on Wednesday it secured a 4.3 billion-real ($2.7 billion) loan to fund its takeover of rival Brasil Telecom (BRTP4.SA)(BRP.N).

The company said its Telemar Norte Leste (TMAR5.SA) unit agreed to pay a spread of 1.3 percentage points a year on top of Brazil's CDI interbank loan rate for the loan.

Oi said the loan with Banco do Brasil (BBAS3.SA) will mature in eight years, with payments beginning in 2010. ($1 = 1.598 Brazilian reais) (Reporting by Elzio Barreto, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)