Louis Dreyfus Said to Seek Partners for Non-Core Businesses
- Commodity trader to pare down expansion after decade of growth
- Seeking partners for metals, orange juice, dairy, fertilizer
Louis Dreyfus Commodities BV, one of the world’s largest agricultural trading houses, is seeking joint-venture partners for units deemed outside its core business as the 164-year-old firm pares down investment after a decade of rapid growth.
Led by billionaire Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, who controls the company through a family trust, the closely held firm is looking for strategic investors in business lines including metals, orange juice, dairy and fertilizer, according to three people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been made public. Credit Suisse Group AG has been appointed to seek options for the fertilizer unit and Dreyfus isn’t considering an outright sale for any of the four businesses, two of the people said.