Mitsubishi Corporation

Press Room

January 27, 2012

Mitsubishi Corporation Strengthens Grain Procurement System and Secures Grain Supply in Brazil

 Mitsubishi Corporation(MC) announces that it has reached an agreement with Los Grobo Ceagro do Brasil S.A.(Ceagro) on MC's acquisition of 20% of Ceagro for about \3.5 billion yen through a third-party allocation of new shares. The two companies have also agreed on MC's prerogative to purchase grain preferentially from Ceagro. 
 
Ceagro started its agricultural business in State of Maranhao in 1994 and has developed this business mainly in northern Brazil. In 2008, Los Grobo became a partner of Ceagro with the primary goal of strengthening its presence in the region. Later in 2010, it merged with Los Grobo Central, a medium sized grain trading enterprise, to expand business in central Brazil. Now Ceagro is developing its business in central Brazil (a major grain producing area) and in northern Brazil (an area expected to increase its grain production in the near future).
 
Ceagro currently operates across the country with a total grain storage capacity of approximately 600,000 tons. It has been establishing its own business model and maintains close networks with local farmers by providing "agricultural one-stop services" (services that combine farm consulting, sales of seeds, agricultural chemicals and fertilizers, as well as purchase and storage of grain commodities). Since 2008 it has been participating in grain production business, giving it an edge against its competitors. It now handles and exports grain commodities, especially soybeans, that amounts to approximately 1,000,000 tons per year.
 
The largest shareholder of Ceagro is Los Grobo Agro do Brasil, a JV between Los Grobo Group and Vinci Partners.In addition to Brazil, Los Grobo Group is developing its grain business in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It handles approximately 3,000,000 tons of grain in these four South American countries. 
 
MC has been growing a stable supply system of grain for over 30 years by building its own supply chain (from procurement of grain mainly from the U.S. and Australia, to retail of final products in wide areas of Asia), and has concluded a contract with COFCO Limited, a Chinese national food business conglomerate, in June 2011, which would allow MC to supply up to 5,000,000 tons of soybeans to COFCO per year.
 
Furthermore in 2015, MC is planning to handle approximately 20 million tons of grain for customers mainly in Japan and China. MC's investment in Ceagro allows it to expand its bases for procuring grain beyond North America to Brazil to serve growing demand in Asia. MC will send several representatives, including a board member, to Ceagro and is planning to strengthen Ceagro's presence in Brazil.  
 
In the Midterm Corporate Strategy, released in July 2010, MC has designated Brazil, China, and India as strategic regions. Especially for the grain business, MC has been focusing on Brazil and China as strategic regions. By capturing the growth in Brazil and China, MC will further strengthen its supply system and demand bases.
 
 
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Los Grobo Ceagro do Brasil S.A.

・Corporate Profile
 
Founded by its CEO, Paulo Fachin in 1994 in Balsas, Maranhão, Brazil. A middle sized grain trading company doing business in Maranhao, Piauí, Tocantins, Bahia, Goiás, Mato Grosso and Minas Gerais. Its business includes storage, logistics, commercialization, production of grain commodities and sales of agricultural materials (seeds, fertilizers and agricultural chemicals). It handles approximately 1,000,000 tons of grain commodities.
 
 
1. Representative : Paulo Fachin
2. Head Office    :Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
3. Year Established: 1994
4. Business  : Storage, logistics, commercialization, production of grain commodities and sales of agricultural materials (seeds, fertilizers and agricultural chemicals)


Capital Ties After MC's Acquisition.

 
 

Inquiry Recipient

Mitsubishi Corporation
Telephone:+81-3-3210-2171 / Facsimile:+81-3-5252-7705
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