Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 4/7/14


The Chinese company that acquired Smithfield Foods Inc. last year in a $4.7-billion deal is expanding it global reach again.

WH Group has agreed to acquire Tabro Meat PTY Ltd. of Australia for a price that Tabro officials say was well above $25 million. Tabro confirmed the deal to the website BeefCentral.com following speculation in recent months that a purchase could be coming.

The deal includes two export-licensed abattoirs in Lance Creek and Moe, Australia, that can process about 1,000 head of cattle per day. The beef processing operation is Halal certified, with exports making up about 90 percent of the company’s sales.

Tabro officials noted several Chinese suitors had considered buying Tabro and its operations. A Chinese investment group led by New Hope Investment Fund acquired Kilcoy Pastoral Co. of Queensland in December, making the WH Group deal the second involving a Chinese company buying an Australian meat processor in less than six months.

For more stories, go to www.meatingplace.com.