Cargill SJC Bioenergia acquisition expands renewable energy reach
Cargill has announced its intention to take full ownership of SJC Bionergia, a key player in Brazil’s sugar-energy sector. The global agribusiness giant, which already holds a 50% stake in the company, has signed a sales purchase agreement to acquire the remaining shareholding.
Cargill, headquartered in Minnesota, United States, is one of the world’s largest privately held companies, with operations spanning food production, agricultural commodities, trading, bio-industrials, animal nutrition, and financial services.
“As Cargill celebrates 60 years of operations in Brazil, it continues to believe and invest in the country and in Brazilian agriculture. In recent years, we have invested more than BRL6.8 billion (USD1.17 billion) in our operations and, if completed after due approval from regulatory bodies, have SJC as a company 100% controlled by Cargill is an important reinforcement of our growth strategy in renewable energy,” says Paulo Sousa, president of Cargill in Brazil.
Founded in 2006, SJC Bionergia has been partially owned by Cargill since 2011. The company employs 4,500 people and operates two agro-industrial units in Goiás, located in Quirinópolis and Cachoeira Dourada. It processes sugarcane and maize, producing raw sugar, ethanol (hydrated and anhydrous), maize oil, and dried distillers’ grains (DDGs) with high protein content. The company also generates electricity as part of its operations.
The deal is subject to approval by Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE) and must meet the conditions outlined in the contract before completion.
