SAO PAULO, June 6 (Reuters) - Brazilian restaurant chain

operator Zamp has agreed to buy the rights to operate

the Starbucks brand in the South American country, as

well as some stores, for 120 million reais ($22.7 million), it

said on Thursday.

In a securities filing, Zamp said that the deal was signed

with SouthRock, the company that currently owns these rights and

assets in Brazil and has been in bankruptcy protection since

last year.

Zamp, which is controlled by Abu Dhabi state investor

Mubadala, operates Burger King and Popeyes

restaurants in Brazil, and had disclosed in February it was in

talks to buy

the Starbucks brand in the country.

It is not yet known exactly how many of the more than 100

Starbucks ( SBUX ) stores in the country Zamp would buy, the company

added.

As required by SouthRock's bankruptcy proceedings, the

deal would be implemented through a competitive process, in

which Zamp would have the right to match potentially higher

bids, according to the filing.

Zamp said the deal requires approval from Brazil's

antitrust watchdog CADE and the court overseeing SouthRock's

bankruptcy.

It also needs a final agreement with Starbucks ( SBUX ), which

has so far reached an initial deal authorizing Zamp to explore

the brand and develop operations of the coffee shop chain in

Latin America's largest economy.

($1 = 5.2991 reais)