Vale could be 'natural' owner for Samarco, in talks with BHP

Brazil's Vale is in talks with BHP Billiton on options for their joint venture Samarco, and it may be easier for Vale to resolve that miner's problems as sole owner, a director of the Brazilian mining company said on Wednesday. "Maybe Vale would be a natural owner of Samarco, maybe it could make Samarco operate again," André Figueiredo, Vale's investor relations director, said during a meeting with investors and analysts in Sao Paulo.