Moy Park in Brazilian hands

Marfrig will acquire OSI‘s Moy Park Group, consisting of the vertically integrated Moy Park Limited poultry business in Northern Ireland, England and France, as well as the value added vegetable and specialty bakery businesses of Kitchen Range Foods Limited in England and Albert van Zoonen B.V. in the Netherlands.

The Brazilian and European businesses being purchased are closely integrated in providing a poultry supply chain solutions for European customers. The combined company will become one of the top ten poultry processors in the world.

The OSI Group’s Brazilian businesses that will be purchased by Marfrig consist of Braslo Produtos de Carnes Ltda., a value added beef and poultry processor, and Penasul Alimentos Ltda. and Agrofrango Industria e Comercio de Alimentos Ltda., vertically integrated poultry companies.

OSI shareholder in Marfrig
The total sales represented by the OSI Group’s companies acquired are nearly US$ 2 billion. The deal is valued initially at US$680 million in a combination of cash (US$ 400 mm) and Marfrig common shares (US$ 280 million at market value following completion of the transaction) which are listed on the Sao Paulo Stock Exchange and with a potential additional payment in the future of up to US$220 million linked to future performance in the European businesses.

As a result of the transaction, OSI Group will be a significant shareholder in Marfrig. The transactions are expected to be completed in the second half of 2008 after normal regulatory compliance.

In addition, David McDonald, President and Chief Operating Officer of OSI, will join the Board of Directors of Marfrig.

New business group
The Brazilian OSI operations will join the current Marfrig businesses in Brazil, while the European operations will constitute a new business group for Marfrig. In the new European business, Marfrig will offer a complimentary range of its food products.

OSI by virtue of its retained ownership in Marfrig will expand its sourcing platform in South America.

Marfrig is the largest Beef processor in Uruguay and Argentina, the second largest in Brasil and the fourth worldwide. With the addition of the OSI Brazilian poultry operation the new company will now rank in the top five in Brazil.

Marfrig also has a substantial pork operation in Brazil. This platform will enhance the OSI global procurement organization’s ability to source a variety of proteins in providing the OSI group’s customers in global QSR restaurant, retail grocery, and branded consumer foods with a global competitive advantage.

Marfrig is based in Santo Andre, Sao Paulo, Brazil. It also has major operations in pork, lamb and poultry, supplying customers primarily in Latin American European and US markets.

OSI Group, LLC is a global food processor headquartered in Aurora, Illinois USA.