SAO PAULO (Standard&Poor's) Sept. 23, 2009--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that the transactions announced by Brazil-based meat processor Marfrig Alimentos S.A. (B+/Negative/--) on Sept. 22, 2009, will not affect the ratings assigned to the company. Marfrig announced the acquisition of 51% of Uruguayan leather company Grupo Zenda, the leasing agreement of 12 industrial plants that should increase its slaughtering capacity by 8,800 cattle per day, and the partnership agreement with Brazilian retailer Grupo Martins. The announcements are consistent with the company's strategy to integrate its production chain into leather, to gain scale to better negotiate cattle sourcing and prices and improve logistics and distribution capabilities. The only immediate cash implication of these transactions is a $49.5-million
