Recent Acquisitions of U.S. Meat Companies
Renée Johnson
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
March 10, 2009
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS22980
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
Recent Acquisitions of U.S. Meat Companies
Summary
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, and JBS subsequently acquired this
business. The proposed JBS acquisition of Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding, which was part of
the Smithfield deal, also took place, making JBS the largest cattle feeder in the United States.
Some in Congress publicly applauded DOJ’s lawsuit to block the JBS buyout of National Beef
Packing Company. Opinion within the U.S. meat industry was mixed. Some were concerned that
if JBS were to acquire National Beef in addition to Smithfield, this would make JBS the largest
U.S. beef producer, with a combined share of about 30% of the U.S. commercial cattle slaughter
market (assuming it did not divest some facilities).
In February 2009, discussions between JBS and DOJ broke down and JBS decided not to
purchase National Beef Packing Company.
This report will not be updated.
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Recent Acquisitions of U.S. Meat Companies
Contents
Background ................................................................................................................................ 1
Recent JBS Acquisition Activity.................................................................................................. 1
Congressional and Industry Response.......................................................................................... 3
Tables
Table 1. Top Beef Packers and Cattle Feeders, 2006-2007 ........................................................... 2
Appendixes
Appendix. Information on National Beef Packing Company and Smithfield Beef Group ............. 4
Contacts
Author Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 4
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Recent Acquisitions of U.S. Meat Companies
Background
JBS (JBS S.A., for “South America”) is a publicly traded Brazilian meat processing company,
with headquarters in Sao Paulo. The company is active in the food sector (mainly meats and meat
by-products), among other sectors. Its principal meat activities include preparation, packing, and
delivery of fresh, chilled, and processed beef; it also produces ready-to-eat meals and canned and
cooked beef, hides, and other cattle parts. JBS is the world’s largest meat packer and processor,
accounting for up to 10% of the world beef market, with many company name brands and
product lines. As of 2008, JBS’s annual beef sales in the United States exceeded $6 billion.
JBS was established in 1953 by the Batista family. In 1993, it began to expand its operations with
a series of acquisitions throughout Brazil. Starting in 2005, it began to expand its operations
outside of Brazil, starting in Argentina. It now has operations worldwide (mainly in South
America, the United States, and Australia) and is a major world exporter of beef products. Its
ongoing acquisitions and expansion are part of its stated globalization strategy.
In July 2007, JBS purchased the U.S. beef processor Swift & Co. (now known as JBS-Swift &
Co.), then the third-largest U.S. beef processor. Swift accounted for 12.6% of the 2006
commercial slaughter (about 4.8 million head) and had U.S. beef sales of $5.6 billion in 2006
(four U.S. plants).
As of 2008, available reports indicated that JBS had nearly 40 meat processing plants in Brazil,
Argentina, the United States, and Australia. Some reports indicated that it may have as many as
90 plants worldwide, including facilities in countries such as India and Italy. Under ongoing
expansion plans, it is anticipated that JBS could reach 120 plants worldwide, and generate global
annual revenues of US$21.6 billion (nearly double its reported current levels). At that point JBS
could be slaughtering up to 18 million cattle per year, also double its reported current levels.1
Recent JBS Acquisition Activity
In February and March 2008, JBS signed agreements to acquire the fourth- and fifth-largest U.S.
beef packing companies, National Beef Packing Company and the Smithfield Beef Group,
respectively. The
Appendix provides available information on the terms of the sales agreements
between JBS and National Beef Packing Company and the Smithfield Beef Group. Combined,
these two acquisitions would have totaled nearly $1.6 billion. (As part of its recent acquisition
strategy, JBS also acquired an Australian beef processing company, Tasman Group.)2
Finalization of the sale of National Beef Packing Company and Smithfield Beef Group was
subjected to the customary regulatory review by the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s)
Antitrust Division, which had to approve the acquisition as required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (P.L. 94-435).3 In September 2008, JBS indicated that it was
1 “JBS’s spending spree totals $1.66 billion,”
Cattle Buyers Weekly, March 10, 2008.
2 A reported $150 million sale involving 15,000 employees and 15 production units in Australia. “JBS completes
Tasman Group purchase,”
Leather International, May 6, 2008, at http://www.leathermag.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/
13049/JBS_complete_Tasman_Group_purchase.html.
3 DOJ’s and the Federal Trade Commission’s
Antitrust Enforcement Guidelines For International Operations, April
1995, at http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/public/guidelines/internat.htm.
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Recent Acquisitions of U.S. Meat Companies
not considering further acquisitions of beef and pork facilities in North America.4 Media reports
indicated that JBS was considering expanding its beef operations in Australia.5
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 the deal could contribute to
higher consumer prices and also lower producer prices. That same day DOJ announced that it
would not challenge the JBS acquisition of Smithfield Beef Group, and the sale subsequently
took place.6
The acquisition by JBS of the Smithfield Beef Group—the fifth-largest U.S. beef processor—will
result in further consolidation of the U.S. beef packing industry. In combination with the 2007
acquisition by JBS of Swift & Co., this raises JBS’s share of the U.S. cattle slaughter market from
under 13% to about 19% (based on 2006 data). The proposed JBS acquisition of Five Rivers
Ranch Cattle Feeding, which was part of the Smithfield deal, also took place, making JBS the
largest cattle feeder in the United States.
Table 1 shows the market shares and related information for the top U.S. packers and feeding
companies based on available data. For more information on the ongoing consolidation and
concentration trends in the U.S. livestock industry, as well as information on the structure of
livestock and meat production and marketing, see CRS Report RL33325,
Livestock Marketing
and Competition Issues.
Table 1. Top Beef Packers and Cattle Feeders, 2006-2007
Cattle Slaughter (2007)
Cattle Feeding (2006)
Company Market
Sharea Company
Marketingsb
Tyson Foods
23.6%
JBS Five Rivers Ranch
1.6 (~14%)
Cargill Meat Solutions
22.0%
Cactus Feeders, Inc.
unavailable
JBS-USA
14.6%
Cargill Cattle Feeders, LLC
0.725 (~6%)
National Beef Packing Co.
11.4%
Friona Industries, LP
0.476 (~4%)
Smithfield Beef Group
6.5%
Top Four Firms
71.6%
Top Five Firms
78.1%
U.S. (million head)
11.970
Source: Cattle Buyers Weekly, posted as of January 2009.
a. Market share data are for 2007, based on percentage of total number of U.S. commercial cattle slaughter, In
October 2008, JBS acquired Smithfield Beef Group.
b. Marketings are approximate for 2006; firms are ranked by one-time capacity (head per day) in 2008.
4 Steve Kay, “International Appeal: One year after acquiring Swift & Co., JBS USA’s Wesley Batista weighs in on its
global strategy,”
Meat&Poultry, September 2008, at http://www.meatpoultry.com/archives/archives.asp.
5 Steve Kay, “JBS looks to expand in Australia,”
Meat&Poultry, August 27, 2008.
6 U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division, complaint filed by the U.S. and 13 states vs. JBS
S.A., October 20, 2008; DOJ press release, “Justice Department Files Lawsuit to Stop JBS S.A. from Acquiring
National Beef Packing Co.,” October 20, 2008, at http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/October/08-at-936.html. See also
John Wilke and Lauren Etter, “Brazilian Beef Purchase Is Challenged by the U.S.,”
Wall Street Journal, Oct. 20, 2008.
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In February 2009, discussions between JBS and DOJ broke down and JBS decided not to
purchase National Beef Packing Company. Had JBS acquired National Beef in addition to
Smithfield, this could have made JBS the largest U.S. beef producer, with a combined share of
about 30% of the U.S. commercial cattle slaughter market (assuming it did not divest some
facilities). DOJ indicated that it would terminate the pending litigation it filed to block the
merger.
Congressional and Industry Response
Congressional action on this issue has been relatively limited. Although Congress has considered
legislation and held hearings on livestock market competition issues in general, it has not done so
with regard to the JBS acquisitions in particular.
However, both Chairman Harkin of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Senator Grassley
publicly applauded DOJ’s October 20 lawsuit that would have blocked JBS from acquiring
National Beef Packing Company. Senator Kohl wrote a letter to DOJ’s Assistant Attorney General
in June 2008 expressing concern about the acquisition and its potential effect on consumer prices
and market competition, as well as options for independent ranchers to sell their cattle. In the
letter, Senator Kohl urged DOJ to “bring an antitrust enforcement action to block these
acquisitions.”7
Opinion within the U.S. livestock industry was somewhat mixed, reflecting both support of and
opposition to the acquisition. Opposition was voiced by groups concerned about the potential for
increased market concentration and vertical integration in the livestock sector, which they feared
might lead to lower producer prices. Leading this group was the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action
Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America (R-CALF USA).8 This group initiated a multi-
signatory letter to DOJ—including more than 70 national, state, and local industry
organizations—urging the Department to block the acquisition.9 The National Farmers Union
expressed support for DOJ’s lawsuit, claiming it was the “right move to make.”10 Other national
farmer organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and the National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), also expressed support for DOJ’s investigation.11
However, other groups such as the Kansas Livestock Association (KLA) supported the JBS
acquisitions, citing the potential for enhanced financial stability of the processing sector
following the sale.12
7 Letter to Thomas Barnett, Assistant Attorney General, DOJ, from Senator Kohl, regarding JBS-Swift acquisition of
National Beef and Smithfield Beef (June 24, 2008).
8 R-CALF USA represents cow-calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and feedlot owners in 47 states, along with other
local and state association affiliates.
9 Letter to Thomas Barnett, Assistant Attorney General, DOJ, from 72 signatory organizations, regarding JBS Swift
acquisition of National Beef and Smithfield Beef (March 25, 2008).
10 NFU press release, “Dept. of Justice Moves to Block JBS-Swift’s National Beef Purchase,” October 21, 2008, at
http://nfu.org/news/2008/10/21/nfu-dept-of-justice-moves-to-block-jbs-swift%e2%80%99s-national-beef-
purchase.html. NFU represents farmers and ranchers in all states.
11 “Groups weigh in on DOJ decision to file antitrust lawsuit,”
Agri-Pulse, October 22, 2008. AFBF is a national
farmer/rancher association; NCBA is the largest national group of cattle producers.
12 Letter to Thomas Barnett, Assistant Attorney General, DOJ, from the Kansas Livestock Association, regarding JBS
Swift acquisition of National Beef and Smithfield Beef (September 25, 2008). KLA represents Kansas’s beef business.
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Appendix. Information on National Beef Packing
Company and Smithfield Beef Group
National Beef Company
Smithfield Beef Group
Company On February 29, 2008, JBS signed agreements to
On March 4, 2008, JBS signed agreements to
Overview acquire the fourth-largest U.S. beef packing
acquire the fifth-largest U.S. beef packing
company, National Beef Packing Company (parent company, Smithfield Beef Group (parent
company, U.S. Premium Beef). National Beef is
company, VA-based Smithfield Foods) and its
headquartered in Kansas City, MO.
subsidiary cattle feedlot operation, Five Rivers.
Smithfield Beef is headquartered in Green Bay,
WI.
Market
National Beef accounted for 10.4% of the 2006
Smithfield Beef accounted for 6% of the 2006 U.S.
Share and U.S. commercial slaughter (about 3.5 million
commercial slaughter (about 2 million head) and
Capacity
head) and had U.S. beef sales of $4.6 billion in
had U.S. beef sales of $2.6 billion in 2006. Its
2006. Its current capacity is about 13,800 cattle
current capacity is about 8,050 cattle head/day.
head/day.
Active
National Beef has three beef processing plants
Smithfield Beef has four beef processing plants
Facilities
(Dodge City, KS, Liberal, KS, Brawley, CA); two
(Green Bay, WI, Plainwell, MI, Souderton, PA, and
case-ready beef processing plants (Hummels
Tolleson, AZ); one grease producing plant (Elroy,
Wharf, PA, Moultrie, GA); one plant specializing
PA); one cattle feedlot unit (South Charleston,
in portioned products for commercial
OH); and one transportation division. Acquisition
establishments and end consumers (Kansas City,
would include Five Rivers, comprising ten cattle
KS); and one refrigerated transportation company feedlot units with a one-time feeding capacity of
(Liberal, KS).
811,000 cattle units (operations in CO, ID, KS,
OK, TX).
Reported
It is reported that National Beef will be acquired
It is reported that Smithfield Beef will be acquired
Sales
for a total enterprise value of approximately
for a total enterprise value of approximately
Terms
US$985 million, whereby JBS will pay members of US$565 million, which includes about $465
National Beef total proceeds of about $465
million for Smithfield’s beef processing properties,
million in cash and $95 million in JBS stock, with
and $100 million for a 100% share of Smithfield’s
another $425 million in National Beef’s current
feedlot subsidiary Five Rivers. It is reported that
debt and liabilities.
JBS plans to increase the working capital in Five
Rivers by approximately $200 million.
Source: Compiled by CRS using available data and information from
Cattle Buyers Weekly and official press
releases (e.g., from U.S. Premium Beef on its agreement to sell National Beef Company to JBS S.A., dated March
4, 2008).
Author Contact Information
Renée Johnson
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
rjohnson@crs.loc.gov, 7-9588
Congressional Research Service
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