Allens has advised food processing company JBS Australia Pty Limited on its $1.45 billion purchase of leading Australian smallgoods manufacturer Primo Foods.

The acquisition is an important strategic move for JBS Australia and its parent company JBS, which is currently the world's largest processor of fresh meats. The acquisition includes the purchase of Primo Foods' five processing plants across Australia and New Zealand.

Primo Foods includes well-known brands such as Hans, Primo Smallgoods and Beehive. The company employs approximately 3000 people.

The acquisition, from Asia-Pacific private equity firm Affinity Equity Partners, is yet to be approved by the Foreign Investment Review Board and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

The Allens team on the matter was led by partners Richard Kriedemann and John Beckinsale.

The deal is the latest in a long line of agribusiness matters in which the firm has been involved.

'This was a very large private equity exit and was quickly executed,' Mr Kriedemann said.

We are proud to have been involved in such a significant strategic deal for our client, JBS.

CONTACTS

John Beckinsale (Brisbane – Partner), Richard Kriedemann (Sydney – Partner), Geoff Rankin (Brisbane – Partner), Michael Scarf (Senior Associate – Sydney), Amit Jois (Associate – Sydney).