Cargill, the American agricultural giant, said Monday that it planned to buy a Dutch animal nutrition company, Provimi, for $2.1 billion from the private equity firm Permira. One of the largest privately held companies in the world, Cargill said it made a binding offer for Provimi, which specializes in nutrition and supplements for farm animals, for 1.5 billion euros to add vitamin mixtures and additives to its existing animal nutrition business. It would also help Cargill expand in Latin America, Russia and Asia, where Provimi operates. The deal comes as food prices increase and demand for meat from developing economies rises. Provimi, based in Rotterdam, employs about 7,000 people and operates in 26 countries. It had sales of 1.6 billion euros in 2010 and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization of 86 million euros in the first half of this year.

UAIndex