OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings views a recently announced takeover bid by Swift Pork Company, which is indirectly controlled by JBS S.A (JBS), as neutral to JBS' credit profile. The takeover bid would transfer to the Swift Pork Company certain assets, properties, rights and liabilities, operations and the right of Cargill Meats ownership into Cargill Pork LLC relative to creation, purchase and slaughtering of hogs, and processing and sale of pork products.

These pork processing facilities, feed mills and genetics units have been valued at USD1.45 billion and will be paid with cash. This transaction values Cargill's USA Pork business at a 6.8x EBITDA multiple. The acquired assets generated net revenues of USD2.6 billion and EBITDA of USD212 million (8.2% EBITDA margin). About 80% of the revenues generated by Cargill's pork business units are generated in the U.S.

Pro forma acquisition, JBS USA's pork business EBITDA will increase from USD416 million (11.3% ebitda margin) to USD565 million. JBS intends to extract synergies of USD75 million. This transaction will lead to an increase in JBS' market share in the U.S. pork industry.

At the proposed acquisition price, JBS' consolidated leverage would increase by about 0.2x-0.3x to about 2.8x. This level of leverage remains within Fitch's guidance for its 'BB' rating of JBS. This transaction shows management opportunistic view regarding bolt-on acquisitions, which is also factored in the current rating.

The transaction is subject to U.S. regulatory approvals and most likely will be concluded by the end of the year or the first quarter of 2016.