Carey assists Minerva Foods in acquisition of Frigorífico Patagonia

Carey has assisted Minerva Foods, a South American beef exporter, on the acquisition of 100% of the shares of Frigorífico Patagonia, a sheep farming company in southern Chile.

The acquisition, completed on 29 October, was part of the purchase of 13 industrial plants and a distribution centre owned by the Marfrig Group in Brazil, Argentina and Chile, for US $1 billion.

Other firms involved were Linklaters, as well as Stocche Forbes as advisor to Minerva Foods in Brazil, Lefosse as advisor to Marfrig and Mauricio Tapia Asesores Legales as advisor to Frigorífico Patagonia. JP Morgan acted as financial advisor, with advice from: (i) Pinheiro Neto (partner Leonardo Baptista Rodrigues Cruz and counsel Renato Holsback); and (ii) Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (partner James Vickers).

The transaction involved the coordination of multiple jurisdictions and its success depended on various government antitrust approvals. In addition, the acquisition makes Minerva Foods the second largest beef producer in South America.

Flavia Regina Ribeiro Silva Villa, Lais Martucheli Murta, Alexandre Cezimbra and Paula Lito F Renno Pereira Frazão acted as in-house counsel to Minerva Foods.

Stocche Forbes’ team comprised partners Guilherme Forbes, Fabiano Milani and Rafael Andrade, and associates André Penna Bandeira de Mello, Pedro Rocha Ferreira and Thaila Castro Maluf Oliveira.

Lefosse’s team included partners Carlos Mello, Leonardo Batista and Zeca Berardo, and associates Aline Pardi, Larissa Lunardi, Juliana Sá and Henrique Miguel.

Mauricio Tapia’s team was represented by partner Mauricio Tapia and lawyer Ignacio González Castillo.

Carey’s team was led by partners Guillermo Acuña (pictured left) and Manuel José Garcés (pictured right), with support from associates Daniela Pfeffer, Pablo Pavez and Rebeca Silva.