** Shares in Carrefour Brasil CRFB3.SA soar after France's Carrefour SA CARR.PA hiked its offer to take the Brazilian unit private

** Carrefour said it would pay 8.50 reais per share of the Brazilian unit, formally known as Atacadao SA, up from a previous offer of 7.70 reais

** Carrefour, which owns about 67% of the Brazilian unit, first proposed to buy the remaining shares in February, saying it would allow it to manage operations with more agility

** Santander analysts say the latest move is yet another positive development for minority shareholders in Carrefour Brasil

** "It not only shows Carrefour SA's willingness to close the deal, but it also indicates some bargaining power for minority shareholders which seemed to be limited at first," the analysts say

** Carrefour Brasil's shares rise more than 11% to 8.25 reais each in early Sao Paulo trading

** The retailer is the biggest gainer on benchmark stock index Bovespa .BVSP, which has fallen more than 2.5%

(Reporting by Gabriel Araujo;
Editing by Alison Williams)

((Gabriel.Araujo2@thomsonreuters.com; +55 11 5047-3352;))