The deal had been questioned by Minerva, another Brazilian meat-industry giant, but the competition regulator deemed there was no risk of unfair competition or monopoly.

Marfrig produces food—mainly beef products, such as hamburgers—while BRF operates primarily in poultry and pork production, including animal raising and slaughtering, in addition to industrialization, commercialization, and distribution of fresh meat, processed food products, pasta, margarine, pet food, and other products, according to the Brazilian portal UOL.

Minerva had observed that “given that Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (Salic) is a shareholder in Marfrig and also has a stake in Minerva, this relationship could pose risks of coordinated effects,” the news website reported.

When justifying his vote, CADE president Gustavo Augusto, who acted as rapporteur in this case, argued that that relationship “is not part of the subject matter analyzed in this transaction,” while council member Victor Fernandes said that “the market” has no reason to be concerned over the merger.

“There are mechanisms in place that prevent the exchange of sensitive information,” Fernandes noted, and the other council members agreed.

The transaction, which consists of Marfrig‘s purchase of BRF for 2.6 billion US dollars, had already been approved a month earlier by the shareholders of both companies.