According to the report, the claim was related to Ford's cancellation, in 1999, of a project to build a manufacturing facility in Brazil's southernmost state. Instead, Ford decided to build the factory in the state of Bahia.

Cash-strapped Rio Grande do Sul will use the money to help pay state employees, Folha reported.

($1 = 3.4009 reais)

(Reporting by Ana Mano; Editing by Mark Potter)