MEXICO CITY, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Steelmaker Ternium

expects a Brazilian court to rule in its favor in an appeal

against competitor CSN regarding its 2011 purchase of a stake in

local firm Usiminas, the firm's CEO said on Monday.

The dispute stems from Ternium's ( TX ) purchase of what was

equivalent to a 27.7% stake in Usiminas shares. CSN, which held

12.9% of the company's shares at the time, filed a lawsuit

claiming that Ternium ( TX ) should have launched a tender offer to

acquire shares owned by minority shareholders, as they had

tag-along rights.

In June, a top court ruled that Ternium ( TX ) hand over 5 billion

reais ($920 million) to CSN, with Ternium ( TX ) saying it would

appeal.

"I trust that Brazil's justice system will recognize that in

this case there is jurisprudence which goes back many, many

years," CEO Maximo Vedoya told Reuters on the sidelines of an

event hosted by Brazilian export and investment promotion body

Apex.

"I'm really hopeful that this will be resolved," Vedoya

said.

The executive told Brazilian daily Valor in August that if

Ternium ( TX ) were to lose the appeal, the company could rethink its

investments in Brazil.

But he seemed more upbeat on the country on Monday,

highlighting opportunities for growth with Mexico.

Ternium ( TX ) is "huge for trade between Mexico and Brazil,"

Vedoya said. "We're a vehicle for Brazil to integrate with North

America."

The executive later told journalists that Mexico and Brazil

could update their trade agreements to boost industry,

especially as Brazil's had slipped in recent years.

Ternium ( TX ), which is currently expanding its sprawling plant in

northern Mexico, also sees the industry as standing to benefit

with a review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement pending

in 2026.

And with Claudia Sheinbaum set to be inaugurated as Mexico's

president on Tuesday, Ternium ( TX ) is "really optimistic" about her

plans for industrialization, Vedoya said.

($1 = 5.4497 reais)