ADM to acquire Meiweiyuan

Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), the US food company, will acquire a 100% stake in Hubei Meiweiyuan Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (Meiweiyuan), according to an announcement released on May 17.

The acquisition is expected to be completed within the next few weeks provided the companies obtain regulatory approval.

ADM has also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Hanchuan City government in Hubei Province, in which the government promises to support ADM’s plans for local investment and expansion.

Founded in 1905, ADM is one of the four largest grain companies in the world and one of world’s biggest processors of oilseed, corn and wheat. Its business activities include flour, feed, flax, edible oil, food processing, biofuel and nutriment.

Meiweiyuan is a private starch sugar processing enterprise set up in 2011. It has a production capacity of 100,000 t/a for F55 high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), and 50,000 t/a for beer syrup. It has established partnerships with many leading companies in China and abroad, including Coca Cola, Pepsico, Inc., Danone and Mengniu.

ADM plans to use the acquisition of Meiweiyuan as a tool to expand its presence in the mid-west of China, using Meiweiyuan’s prominent role in starch sugar production in Central China as a starting point.