Major seafood supplier and provider Thai Union Group has its sights set on acquiring Ecuadorian shrimp processor Negocios Industriales Real (Nirsa), according to a report from Deal Street Asia.
A move into Ecuador would mark a first for Thai Union, which has yet establish any operations in South America, the magazine said.
“Thai Union has expanded into Europe and the U.S., but it has not stepped into Latin America yet. If it is able to wrap up this deal, it will be a significant expansion as Nirsa is one of the largest tuna and shrimp processors in Ecuador and South America,” an anonymous source remarked to Deal Street Asia.
Deal Street reported that the acquisition could go through by the end of this year or early in 2017. Nirsa sells a variety of products under the Real brand, and operates 11 tuna fishing boats and five sardine boats as well as a port facility nearby to an expanse of processing plants.
