LUXEMBOURG – Mitsui & Co. Ltd. is now a 10-percent shareholder in Sodrugestvo Group SA and both companies will become strategic partners in some of their businesses. Although details of the transaction were not disclosed, Mitsui's 10 percent stake in Sodrugestvo is based on an enterprise value of approximately $2.2 billion.

Both global companies have signed a strategic agreement that forms an alliance in the origination, export and marketing of grain from Russia and other former Soviet Union countries; support for Mitsui's participation in the feed and livestock business in Russia and other former Soviet Union countries where demand for and production of meat has been increasing; and a collaboration in the soybean origination, processing and distribution business in Brazil between Sodrugestvo's Alianca (previously known as Carol-Sodru) joint venture and Mitsui's Multigrain grain-farming and logistics subsidiary.

Founded in 1994, Sodrugestvo Group is an agro-industrial company serving global markets. The vertically integrated company operates three business units including processing facilities for the production of proteins and oils from vegetal and animal commodities.

Based in Luxembourg, the company operate facilities in 12 countries including Russia, Ukraine, Denmark, Brazil, United States, Switzerland and several Eastern European nations. Privately held Sodrugestvo employs 1,750 people worldwide.