Saudi Arabia to Take 20% Stake in Brazil Beef Producer Minerva
Saudi Arabia agreed to take a 20 percent stake in Minerva SA in a transaction that will raise as much as 1.56 billion reais ($390 million) for one of Brazil’s largest beef producers and help it gain better access to markets in the Middle East.
State-owned Saudi Agricultural & Livestock Investment Co. , or Salic, will acquire 47.8 million new shares of Minerva at 15.60 reais each, the meat company said late Tuesday in a filing. The stock sale may eventually comprise as many as 99.7 million shares. Minerva said the proceeds will allow it to reduce debt and help finance capital spending plans.
Salic was formed three years ago to improve Saudi food security by investing in agriculture and livestock around the world. In July, the company and U.S. grain trader Bunge Ltd. acquired a majority stake in the former Canadian Wheat Board for C$250 million ($180 million) to gain access to grain exports from Canada.
Minerva said earlier this month it sees Brazilian beef consumption falling 10 percent this year as consumers, hit by the shrinking domestic economy, switching to cheaper chicken and pork. Still, Brazilian meat companies have seen their exports boosted by this year’s weakness of the real.
“The Middle East market is one of the regions,. after Southeast Asia, that is growing at a consistent rate” in terms of meat consumption, Minerva Chief Executive Officer Fernando Queiroz said Wednesday on a conference call with analysts and investors.
Shares of Minerva rose 3.2 percent to 12.59 reais at 11:19 a.m. in Sao Paulo.
