Thursday, May 3, 2012

Japanese Trading Giants Emerge As Leading Candidates to Buy Soros-backed Gavilion

Gavilon is the third largest grain handler in the U.S. (behind Cargill and ADM).
From Reuters:
Japan trading firms likely buyers for Gavilon-sources
Japanese trading companies led by Marubeni Corp have emerged as the leading candidates to buy Gavilon, as the U.S. grain and energy trader seeks final bids this week, according to several people familiar with the matter.
Marubeni, Mitsui & Co and Mitsubishi Corp -- three of Japan's top trading companies -- have all been evaluating bids for all or part of Gavilon, even as they consider some $5 billion valuation sought by the company's owners expensive, the sources said....MORE

The first time I asked one of my mentors who Marubeni was he got a scared look on his face and asked, very seriously, "Why?".
Their revenues last year were  ¥5.2T. which makes them the smallest of the three.
(Mitsui, ¥9.9T and Mitsubishi, ¥9.0T)
Divide by 80 or so ¥ to the $ and the numbers are still in the 11/12-figure range.


Previously:

Mar. 7, 2012
Glencore, Bunge Eye Sale of Soros-backed Gavilon
June 2011 
Farmland/Storage/Shipping: "Big money moves into the Midwest grain trade" (ADM; BG)

April 2011 
Soros-backed Gavilon Buying Up U.S. Grain Elevators
Nov. 2010 
George Soros et al Bet on Commodities Trader