POULTRY COMPANY NEWS |
nnnnThe Navarrese integrator UVESA, 92% controlled by Ukrainian giant MHP since 2025, completes the acquisition of the Granada-based firm and approaches 200,000 tonnes of annual chicken processing capacity, consolidating its second-place position in the Spanish ranking
nnnnMaracena (Granada) and Tudela (Navarre), 12 March 2026 – The Uvesa group, headquartered in Tudela (Navarre), has signed an agreement to acquire broiler integrator Payán Hermanos, a family-owned poultry company based in Maracena (Granada) and until now owned by the Payán Moreno family. The transaction, still pending the required regulatory approvals, is part of the accelerated growth strategy that Uvesa has been pursuing since its integration into the international MHP group — Ukraine’s largest poultry producer — which formalised the acquisition of more than 92% of the Navarrese company the previous spring at a price of €225 per share.
nnnnnnnnn“The acquisition of Payán Hermanos by Uvesa is not just another corporate transaction: it is confirmation that international capital is eyeing Spanish chicken, with Spain now the EU’s second-largest producer.”
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Antonio Sánchez, Chairman of Uvesa, described the acquisition as a natural step within the group’s new corporate framework, stressing that the Granada-based firm has a long track record and strong recognition in the poultry sector, and that its integration will reinforce Uvesa’s operations and create new sustainable development opportunities.
What Payán brings: 12,500 more tonnes and access to Andalusia
nnnnAccording to estimates by Alimarket Alimentación, Payán Hermanos processes approximately 12,500 tonnes of carcass-weight chicken annually. Adding this figure to Uvesa’s current production capacity, the Navarrese group would approach 200,000 tonnes per year, firmly consolidating its second-place position in the Spanish broiler meat ranking, behind VALL COMPANYS, and countering the advances made in recent years by competitors such as Aviserrano and the Dutch group Plukon.
nnnnBut the transaction is not merely a matter of volume. The acquisition of Payán allows Uvesa to strengthen its presence in Andalusia, a region where it had until now operated only through a processing centre at Mercamálaga, as reported by UVESA itself in its latest Non-Financial Information Statement corporate report published in May 2025.
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The Granada-based company, ranked among the top twenty in the national sector, has a strong foothold in the traditional retail channel — including its own shop — and in foodservice within the province, opening doors for Uvesa beyond organised distribution.
“With this acquisition, Uvesa gains not only tonnage: it gains territory, sales channels and traceability. The future of Spain’s broiler industry will be decided through operations such as this one.”
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Furthermore, Payán Hermanos, like Uvesa itself, holds a stake in Incusur Avícola, one of Spain’s leading companies dedicated to the rearing and laying of heavy breeders, incubation and day-old chick sales. Through this acquisition, Uvesa will become the reference shareholder of Incusur, securing even greater control over traceability across the entire production chain.
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MHP: Spain as a key pillar of international expansion
nnnnThe transaction comes just days after MHP, Uvesa’s Ukrainian parent company, announced the issuance of bonds with an aggregate nominal amount of USD 550 million, carrying a coupon of 10.50% and maturing in 2029. The proceeds will be used to refinance the full USD 550 million outstanding under the 6.95% bonds due in 2026, a move that replaces the use of USD 100 million in internal cash that had originally been earmarked for partial repayment of that debt.
nnnnJohn Rich, Chairman of MHP, has stated that Spain is a fundamental component of the group’s international growth strategy, and that its objective is to strengthen export capabilities, maintain the highest standards of food safety and animal welfare, and expand its reach in European markets.
nnnnnnnnn“MHP makes no secret of its ambitions: with Uvesa already integrated and Payán added to its perimeter, the Ukrainian group is positioning itself as one of the most influential players in the Spanish and European poultry market.”
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The map of poultry consolidation in Spain is being redrawn
nnnnThe acquisition of Payán by Uvesa is part of a broader consolidation trend that is transforming the Spanish poultry sector. In recent months, Vall Companys has taken control of Inasur in Andalusia, while Plukon and Aviserrano have continued to grow in volume and territorial presence. Spain’s broiler sector, historically fragmented with strong family and regional roots, is entering a phase of accelerated consolidation driven by cost pressures, the need for scale and, increasingly, by the entry of international capital.
nnnnWith this transaction, the landscape is taking shape with Vall Companys as market leader, Uvesa firmly established in second position, and a series of regional players that will need to decide whether to seek alliances, pursue growth, or risk being progressively marginalised in an increasingly competitive and demanding market.
nnnnnnnnn“The acquisition price has not been disclosed, but the underlying message is clear: those backed by an international group with access to capital markets will have a significant advantage in the race for consolidation.”
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Uvesa’s management has highlighted that the integration of Payán will strengthen its contribution to local communities and bolster the country’s food security. Although the transaction value has not been disclosed, the financial backing of MHP — a group that has just raised USD 550 million in the debt markets — makes clear that its investment capacity is far from exhausted.
nnnnThe transaction remains subject to the relevant regulatory approvals. Uvesa has indicated that further details will be communicated once those approvals have been granted by the competition authorities.
nnnnnnnnTRANSACTION SUMMARY SHEET
nnnn| Acquirer | UVESA (MHP Group) |
| Acquired company | Payán Hermanos, S.A. (Maracena, Granada) |
| Previous ownership | Payán Moreno family |
| Transaction value | Not disclosed |
| Payán capacity | ~12,500 t carcass-weight chicken per year (est. Alimarket) |
| Combined capacity | ~200,000 t per year (2nd position in Spain) |
| Territorial impact | Strengthened presence in Andalusia (traditional retail channel + foodservice) |
| Added value | Reference shareholding in Incusur Avícola (heavy breeders and incubation) |
| Parent company | MHP (Ukraine) — acquired >92% of Uvesa in spring 2025 (€225/share) |
| Status | Pending regulatory approvals |
Find out more:
-. News about UVESA
-. News about MHP
-. News about acquisitions and mergers in the COMPANIES section at NeXusAvicultura.com
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