Number: RS22980
Title: Recent Acquisitions of U.S. Meat Companies
Authors: Renee Johnson, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: In July 2007, JBS - a Brazilian company regarded as the world's largest meat processor - purchased the U.S. beef processor Swift & Co., then the third-largest U.S. beef processing company. In February and March 2008, JBS signed agreements to acquire the fourth- and fifth-largest U.S. beef packers, National Beef Packing Company and the Smithfield Beef Group, respectively. These planned acquisitions have undergone customary regulatory review by the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ's) Antitrust Division. On October 20, 2008, DOJ and 13 states filed a complaint in U.S. District Court to block the JBS buyout of National Beef Packing Company, citing concerns that it could contribute to higher consumer prices and also lower producer prices. That same day DOJ announced it would not challenge the JBS acquisition of Smithfield Beef Group. Some in Congress publicly applauded DOJ's lawsuit; opinion within the U.S. meat industry is mixed. If the DOJ lawsuit is not successful and JBS acquires National Beef in addition to Smithfield, this could raise the JBS combined share of the U.S. commercial cattle slaughter market to about 30%, assuming it does not divest some facilities. The proposed JBS acquisition of Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding, which is part of the Smithfield deal, could make JBS the largest cattle feeder in the United States.
Pages: 5
Date: October 30, 2008