Tyson Foods expands meat recycling business with US$850m buy

[BENGALURU] Tyson Foods Inc said on Tuesday it would buy the poultry rendering and blending assets of American Proteins Inc for about US$850 million, as the company looks to recycle more animal products to use in feed and pet food.

Tyson is facing higher feed costs in its meat processing business as prices of commodities like soybean and corn increase.

The No 1 US meat processor earlier this month said it expected chicken feed costs to rise by about US$100 million in fiscal 2018.

"This acquisition ... gives us the ability to render raw materials in a region we don't currently serve," Doug Ramsey, group president of poultry for Tyson Foods, said in a statement on Tuesday.

Tyson will take over American Proteins' four rendering plants located in Georgia and Alabama and 13 blending facilities located throughout Southeastern and Midwestern US states.

Rendering is a process of using animal byproducts for the production of tallow, grease and feed for animals and aquaculture.

Tyson said it expects its new business to generate adjusted net sales of more than US$550 million over the next year.

Tyson said most of American Proteins' 700 employees are expected to become Tyson's workers.

REUTERS