On Thursday, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) allowed Slovenian poultry producer Perutnina Ptuj, part of MHP agricultural holding, and Balfin – Balkan Finance Investment Group sh.p.k. (Tirana, Albania) to establish a joint venture in Albania, Perutnina Ptuj Albania sh.p.k., the agency’s website reports.
In addition, it is reported that the AMCU has approved the indirect acquisition of more than 50% in four other companies through Perutnina Ptuj Albania sh.p.k: Driza sh.p.k., Fresh Chicken Albania 2019 sh.p.k., Industria Foragjere (VEAF) sh.a., EURO ALB 2009 SHPK (Fier, Albania).
The newly established joint venture Perutnina Ptuj Albania sh.p.k. also intends to acquire the assets of Kompleksi Patos and Qendra Prinderore, owned by businessman Gikmet Driza.
The Albanian Antimonopoly Authority has already approved the deal at a meeting on March 19.
“The proposed transaction will not increase the market power of any of the parties involved in the transaction and is not expected to create problems for competition in terms of horizontal and vertical effects,” the Albanian regulator said in a statement.
According to it, the partnership agreement on the future transaction was signed between Perutnina Ptuj d.o.o. and Balfin on December 8, 2023. According to the document, Perutnina Ptuj will own 81% and Balfin 19% in the Perutnina Ptuj Albania JV, which will be jointly controlled by both companies.
Then, on December 29, Perutnina Ptuj and Balfin signed an agreement with Hikmet and Sula Driza to purchase 100% of the shares of Driza Sh.p.k., Fresh Chicken Albania 2019 sh.p.k. and Industria Foragjere (VEAF) sh.a.
The transfer of assets will take place on the day of fulfillment of all preliminary conditions of the agreement, including all necessary approvals and permits.
It is indicated that Perutnina Ptuj Albania sh.p.k. specializes in investing in poultry farming. It will be engaged in poultry breeding, production of feed, meat and poultry products, trade and services.
Currently, Perutnina operates in Albania only through Kosmonte Foods Tirana distributor.
Balfin SHPK is one of the leading enterprises in Albania. The company specializes in investing in financial instruments, real estate, tangible and intangible assets, providing consulting services and is owned by Samir Mane. The company operates in the retail, real estate, asset management, banking, and energy sectors and was not previously present in the Albanian poultry market.
Driza Sh.p.k. specializes in the cultivation, breeding and production of poultry meat, poultry products and by-products, as well as the purchase, processing, packaging and storage of agricultural and livestock products. Owned by Albanian citizens Hikmet, Sulo and Besnik Driza.
Fresh Chicken Albania 2019 sh.p.k. specializes in poultry slaughter, procurement, processing, packaging and cold storage of agricultural and livestock products, all types of semi-finished and finished products of plant or animal origin. The company is owned by Sulo Driz.
Industria Foragjere, d.d. (VEAF) is engaged in the construction of feed mills, production and trade (wholesale and retail) of feeds, concentrates, vitamins and raw materials (fish meal, meat meal, cereals, bran and other similar products). It is owned by Hikmet Driza and Driza.
EURO ALB 2009 sh.p.k. is engaged in growing crops, purchasing, processing and cold storage of agricultural and livestock products. In addition, it specializes in the production of poultry meat, products and products of their processing, wholesale and retail in the country and abroad, etc. The company is owned by Besnik Driza.
MHP is the largest chicken producer in Ukraine. It also produces grain, sunflower oil, and processed meat products. Its shares are traded on the main floor of the London Stock Exchange. MHP supplies chilled chicken half-carcasses to the European market, which are processed, in particular, at its facilities in the Netherlands and Slovakia. In February 2019, the holding completed the acquisition of Slovenian company Perutnina Ptuj.
In the first nine months of 2023, MHP posted a net profit of $122 million compared to a loss of $269 million in the same period of 2022, while its revenue increased by 22% to $2 billion 294 million and EBITDA by 20% to $329 million.
In particular, the European segment (Perutnina Ptuj) increased its revenue by 19% to $411 million and its EBITDA by 17% to $68 million.
