Cargill, an American privately held global food corporation, and Continental Grain Company, a privately owned global investor, owner and operator of companies, completed the acquisition of Sanderson Farms, the third largest poultry producer in the United States, for $4.5bn. "I am honored to lead the new Wayne-Sanderson Farms, which brings together a talented team with complementary operations and cultures and a strong commitment to employees, farmers and the communities where we operate. The new company is ideally positioned to continue to serve customers and consumers with high-quality and affordable products," Clint Rivers, Wayne Farms CEO.