Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance advises COFCO on acquisition of 51% stake in Nidera

Beijing: Leading international law firm Clifford Chance has advised COFCO Corporation on the acquisition of a 51% stake in Nidera, a global commodity trader and agribusiness company headquartered in the Netherlands.

COFCO, a Fortune 500 company, is the largest grain, oil and foodstuff company in China with a business portfolio covering agriculture commodity trading and processing, branded consumer foods, packaging materials and products, hotels & real estate, finance and others.

The proposed partnership will provide Nidera access into the Chinese market and also strengthen COFCO’s position as a key player in the global agricultural industry through Nidera’s global origination and trading network and its fast growing seed business.

The transaction was led by Beijing corporate partner Terence Foo and Amsterdam corporate partner David Griston. They were assisted by senior associate Yan Yuan and associate Menghan Wang in Beijing, and senior associate Joel Erwteman and associate Pieter Leefers in Amsterdam, with Richard Blewett, Angie Ng and Yong Bai in Beijing advising on antitrust matters.

"I am delighted to have worked with COFCO on this milestone transaction," said Corporate Partner Terence Foo. "As China's population becomes wealthier and consumes more meat, this will in turn drive China's demand for grain. This transaction is a win-win strategic partnership for both parties."

Nidera is a major international agribusiness and trading company headquartered in the Netherlands with an annual turnover in excess of USD 17 billion. It has domestic and international operations in 18 major export and import countries and distributes its products to more than 60 countries in the world.