GREELEY, Colo., Jan. 9, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- JBS USA, a leading animal protein processor in the U.S. and Australia and a wholly owned subsidiary of Brazil-based JBS S.A., today announced the intent of its Canadian subsidiary, JBS Food Canada, Inc., to complete the transaction to purchase certain Canadian operation of XL Foods, effective January 14, 2013.
Upon closing, JBS Food Canada will assume ownership of the XL Lakeside beef processing plant in Brooks, Alberta, Canada, which JBS has managed since the plant resumed operations on October 29, 2012, and additional assets in Canada. The Brooks plant, one of Canada's largest beef processing facilities, has the capacity to process 4,000 head of cattle per day and is one of the largest employers in southern Alberta.
The agreement between JBS and XL Foods, originally announced on October 17, 2012, also provides JBS USA an exclusive option to purchase the U.S. operations of XL Foods. JBS awaits regulatory review from U.S. authorities prior to exercising this option.
"Today, JBS officially enters the Canadian beef market through our acquisition of the XL Lakeside beef packing plant," stated Bill Rupp, president and COO of JBS USA Beef. "After several months of careful consideration of the option and nearly three months of successfully managing the Lakeside facility, we have determined that the Canadian operations will serve as an important asset to our strategic global beef production model. We look forward to partnering with Canadian producers to deliver quality Canadian beef to customers around the world."
Under the terms of the agreement, JBS Food Canada will acquire the following XL properties in Canada: the Lakeside beef packing plant; a beef packing plant in Calgary, Alta.; a feedlot in Brooks, Alta., and the adjacent farmland acreage supporting the feedlot operation. Under no scenario will JBS Food Canada assume any of XL Foods' debt or liabilities.
About JBS USA
JBS USA, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of JBS S.A., is a leading processor of beef, pork and lamb in the U.S. and a leading processor of beef and lamb in Australia. JBS USA processes, prepares, packages and delivers fresh, further-processed and value-added beef and pork products for sale to customers in more than 60 countries on five continents. JBS USA is also a majority shareholder of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, the second largest poultry company in the U.S.
In the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico, JBS USA and Pilgrim's Pride conduct operations through eight beef processing plants, three pork processing plants, 31 poultry processing plants, 31 poultry hatcheries, one lamb processing plant, one hide tannery, and 11 feedlot operations run by JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding. In Australia the company operates 15 beef and small-animal processing plants, seven feedlots, one hide tannery and seven distribution centers.
For more information, visit www.jbssa.com.
About JBS S.A.
JBS S.A. is the global leader in meat production with 301 facilities worldwide and more than 135,000 employees. JBS S.A. processes beef, pork, lamb and poultry in addition to leather and other animal by-products. JBS S.A. processes, prepares, packages and delivers fresh, further-processed and value-added beef, pork, lamb and poultry products in more than 150 countries on five continents.
In South America, JBS S.A. conducts its operations through 108 beef processing, canning, distribution and other facilities, including 37 processing plants in Brazil, five processing plants in Argentina, two processing plants in Paraguay, one processing plant in Uruguay, and 11 distribution centers and five feedlots in Brazil.
For more information, visit www.jbs.com.br.
The JBS USA logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=16536