Vale S.A. (BOVESPA:VALE3) intends to acquire BHP Billiton plc (LSE:BLT)'s stake in Samarco Mineração S.A. Sources have told both Reuters and Bloomberg that the pair were in talks over options for the Samarco's future. Vale believed Samarco could restart sooner if it had a sole owner, a source told Reuters, but the acquisition would depend on BHP's willingness to exit its only iron ore operation outside Australia.