The transaction has been cleared by the Hungarian and Slovakian competition authorities, according to the announcement. Spirko did not reveal the stake acquired by Penta or the price.

Debreceni Hús will be part of a Central European meat holding currently being established and will participate in the development of the holding, Debreceni Hús chairman and owner Gyula Román was cited as saying in the statement. An extraordinary shareholders meeting of Debreceni Hús elected Gyula Román to the supervisory board on Wednesday. Spirko was elected as chairman of the Debreceni Hús supervisory board. István Kovács will continue to serve as the CEO of Debreceni Hús.

The Debreceni Hús group had sales revenue of €130 million last year, commanding 20% of Hungary’s meat market and 10% of the country’s meat-product market, the statement said. Group members include Csaba Hús, Debreceni Hús, Kapuvári Hús and Szole-Meat.

Penta became the leader on the Slovakian meat market this month with the acquisition of 100% of the Slovakia’s Mecom group. Penta acquired 100% of PM Zbrojniky, one of the four largest meat companies in Slovakia, in February 2007. (MTI-Econews)