Louis Dreyfus Company announced the completion of its transaction with Bunge for the purchase of Viterra’s former business interests in Hungary and parts of Poland, marking a significant expansion of LDC’s European operations.
“The transaction reflects the Group’s strategic plans to further reinforce its core merchandizing capabilities - in this case, for European grains and oilseeds origination, processing and distribution,” said Michael Gelchie, LDC’s Chief Executive Officer.
In Hungary, LDC acquired a state-of-the-art multi-seed crushing and refining plant in Foktő, one of Europe’s largest sunflower seed crushing facilities. The company also gained three storage and logistics sites in Debrecen, Gyomaendrőd and Berettyóújfalu with combined capacity of approximately 150,000 metric tons, plus a trading team in Budapest.
The Poland acquisition includes a multi-seed crushing plant in Bodaczów that handles around 15% of Poland’s total rapeseed crush volume, producing refined rapeseed oil for food and biodiesel industries. LDC also acquired four storage sites with 170,000 metric tons of combined capacity and a trading team in Gdansk.
“This development presents a strategic opportunity for LDC’s Grains & Oilseeds Platform to expand its business in a growing global sunflower market,” said André Roth, LDC’s Head of Grains & Oilseeds.
