Signage on Viterra’s office building in Regina. (Dave Bedard photo)

Bunge seeks antitrust approvals for Viterra merger in major jurisdictions

Commodities market competition healthy in Canada, U.S., CEO says

Minneapolis | Reuters — Bunge has filed for regulatory approvals for its merger with crop handler Viterra in “major jurisdictions” in North and South America, Europe and China, and has gotten the green light from some of its smaller markets including Colombia, CEO Greg Heckman said on Thursday. The merger, which would create a company […] Read more


(Bunge video screengrab via Vimeo)

Bunge shareholders bless Viterra wedding

Company still expects to close deal mid-2024

Shareholders in U.S. grain and agrifood giant Bunge have voted their advance approval of the company’s plans to take up one of Canada’s biggest grain industry players. Bunge on Thursday announced the results of an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, in which they approved the acquisition of Viterra and a related issue of about 65.6 […] Read more

(Bhofack2/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. food companies go deal hunting as pandemic growth fades

Twinkies maker Hostess exploring a sale

Reuters — U.S. packaged food companies are set for a flurry of deals in a push to revamp their brand portfolios as their pandemic-era fortunes fade and benefits of price hikes start to taper off. Last month, Campbell Soup struck a $2.7 billion deal for Rao’s sauce maker Sovos Brands (all figures US$). Unilever bought […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

Deal for Subway chain worth up to US$9.55 billion

Arby's, Jimmy John's parent wins with 'earn-out' deal

New York | Reuters — Private equity firm Roark Capital agreed on Thursday to buy Subway, in a deal that people familiar with the matter said values the U.S. sandwich chain at up to US$9.55 billion, including debt, subject to targets in its financial performance. The deal marks the conclusion of a drawn-out auction that […] Read more

J.P. Morgan’s estimate puts the market cap of a combined Bunge and Viterra at around US$25 billion.

Bunge, Viterra merger would create global ag trading giant

Companies have some overlap in Canadian crushing

Reuters — A merger of U.S. grains merchant Bunge Ltd. with rival Viterra would grow the combined entity’s businesses in the U.S., Brazil and Australia and may raise competition concerns in parts of Canada and Argentina, where key oilseed processing assets overlap, analysts said. Sources last week said Bunge and Viterra were in talks for […] Read more


(File photo by Dave Bedard)

U.S. regulator approves CP’s purchase of Kansas City Southern

Two U.S. grain grower groups warn of reduced rail competition

Washington | Reuters — The Surface Transportation Board of the United States said on Wednesday it had approved Canadian Pacific Railway’s US$31 billion acquisition of railroad company Kansas City Southern, with a series of environmental and competition conditions. The board, which oversees U.S. freight railroads, is imposing some requirements on the deal, which was agreed […] Read more



A CNH manufacturing plant at Sorocaba, west of Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil. (Photo courtesy CNH Industrial)

CNH sees revenues rising to 2024 on precision agriculture plans

Margin at agricultural unit seen at 14.5 to 15.5 per cent

Milan | Reuters — Italian-American vehicle maker CNH Industrial on Tuesday gave guidance for a total revenue growth of up to 24 per cent through 2024 as it presented a new business plan after spinning off its truck, bus and engine units. In a bid to focus on its higher-margin agriculture and construction machine businesses, […] Read more