(Adds details on stake increase and capital raising) March 8...

(Adds details on stake increase and capital raising)

March 8 (Reuters) - Australian online auto classifieds firm Carsales.com Ltd (CAR) said on Wednesday it would launch an A$500 million ($329.40 million) equity raising to fund a deal to acquire an additional 40% stake in Brazil-based automotive digital marketplace Webmotors SA.

The acquisition price for the stake increase will be about A$353 million and will make Carsales a 70% owner of Webmotors, it said.

"The acquisition is in line with carsales' strategy of acquiring minority stakes in attractive international markets and moving to control positions over time," the company said.

Carsales.com said it will raise capital via a fully underwritten 1 for 14.01 entitlement offer at A$19.95 per share, representing an 11.9% discount to stock's last closing price.

Carsales will buy the additional stake from Brazilian lender Santander Brasil SA SANB3.SA , which will continue to own the remaining 30% in Webmotors.

The deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, is anticipated to be earnings per share neutral in the first full year after completion and add thereafter, the company said. ($1 = 1.5179 Australian dollars)