Report: Bunge Ltd. and Viterra close to finalizing merger

The Reuters News Agency is reporting that a potential merger between Bunge Limited and Viterra is imminent.

Sources told Reuters that Viterra’s shareholders, which include Glencore, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and British Columbia Investment Management Corp., may sign off on the deal as soon as this weekend, and an announcement might be made next week.

However, they did caution that the deal could fall apart just as quickly.

Sources also told Reuters Bunge will pay for most of the deal with stock but will also use cash and has lined up debt financing from banks. Furthermore, Bunge’s management team would oversee the combined company.

Should the deal be approved and all other hurdles clear, it has the potential to create an agricultural trading giant worth more than $30-billion.

Bloomberg News had reported on May 25th that Bunge and Viterra were in talks to merge.

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