FDBusiness.com

Bunge, a leading global agribusiness and food company, is to acquire 70% of IOI Loders Croklaan for $946 million. The transaction expands Bunge’s value-added capabilities, reach and scale across core geographies to establish Bunge as a global leader in B2B oil solutions. Following the completion of the transaction, Bunge’s enhanced product offering will further support the growth of its customers around the world.

Loders is an established leader in the growing $33 billion semi-specialty and specialty B2B oils market. Its portfolio includes the full range of palm and tropical oil-derived products with strength in confectionery, bakery and infant nutrition applications. Loders serves global food industry customers in more than 100 countries around the world and reported fiscal year 2016 revenues of $1.6 billion.

Soren Schroder, Bunge’s Chief Executive Officer, says: “This is a compelling transaction for Bunge. It delivers on our stated objective to expand our value-added business by accelerating our growth in B2B semi-specialty and specialty oils. Together with Loders, we will have a comprehensive product offering derived from seed and tropical oils, with leading innovation, application capabilities and sustainability programs. This complete seed and tropical oil portfolio will position Bunge to be a full service partner and uniquely able to help our customers innovate and grow for the future. We are excited about the benefits that this combination will create for Bunge’s shareholders, as well as for the employees, customers and business partners of our companies. The key capabilities that the talented employees of Loders bring in customer intimacy, market knowledge and application development will be a competitive advantage for the combined business. We look forward to welcoming the Loders team to Bunge.

The transaction combines Bunge’s vertically integrated upstream capabilities and existing oils portfolio, predominately based on seed oils, with Loders’ high-end specialty and semi-specialty products from tropical oils, including palm, coconut and shea. It enables Bunge to provide a comprehensive customer offering, from core products to specialties, for B2B customers in the food processing, industrial and artisanal bakery, confectionery, human nutrition and food service segments.

Loders is a recognized solutions provider with a substantial intellectual property portfolio of over 300 patents, with technical centers in Malaysia, the Netherlands and the United States. The combination will build upon these capabilities and continue developing a wide range of applications to meet customer and consumer needs.

In addition to strengthening Bunge’s Food & Ingredients business with a broader portfolio of value-added products, the transaction diversifies Bunge’s manufacturing and R&D network across core geographies. This includes establishing a stronger presence in fast-growing Southeast Asia. Bunge’s Food & Ingredients revenues in that region will be four times as large as they are today. Bunge will also have an enhanced footprint in Europe and North America. After closing, Loders will have exposure to new markets where Bunge has a strong presence, including Latin Americaand India.