Darling International buys Dutch meat byproducts recycler for $2.2 billion
Darling International Inc., a leading provider of rendering, recycling and recovery solutions to the nation's food industry, announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the shares (other than certain minority interests) of Vion Ingredients, a division of Vion Holding N.V. (a member of the Vion Food Group), for approximately €1.6 billion ($2.2 U.S. billion) in cash. Closing is anticipated in January 2014 subject to customary regulatory approvals and finalization of the required employee consultations in the Netherlands.
Vion Ingredients is a worldwide leader in the development and production of specialty ingredients from animal origin for applications in pharmaceuticals, food, feed, pet food, fertilizer and bio-energy. Vion Ingredients' global network of 58 facilities on five continents covers all aspects of animal by-product processing through six brands including Rendac (rendering), Sonac (proteins, fats, edible fats and blood products), Ecoson (green power), Rousselot (gelatin), CTH (natural casings), and Best Hides (hides).