UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date of
Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 5, 2008
BUNGE
LIMITED
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Bermuda
(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
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001-16625
Commission
File Number
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98-0231912
(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
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50
Main Street
White Plains, New
York
(Address
of principal executive offices)
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10606
(Zip
code)
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(914)
684-2800
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
|
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N.A.
(Former
name or former address, if changes since last
report)
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Check the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
x Written communications
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material
pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
On November 5, 2008, Bunge Limited
(“Bunge”) issued a press release commenting on the notification received from
Corn Products International, Inc. (“Corn Products”) that Corn Products’
Board of Directors intends to withdraw its recommendation in favor of the
previously announced Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as
of June 21, 2008, as amended (the “Merger Agreement”), among Bunge, Bleecker
Acquisition Corp. and Corn Products, and to recommend against adoption of the
Merger Agreement.
A copy of the press release is filed as
Exhibit 99.1 hereto.
Item
9.01
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Financial Statements
and Exhibits
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99.1
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Press
Release, dated November 5,
2008
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: November
5, 2008
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BUNGE
LIMITED |
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By:
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/s/ CARLA
L. HEISS |
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Name:
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Carla L.
Heiss |
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Title:
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Assistant
General Counsel |
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EXHIBITS
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99.1
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Press
Release, dated November 5,
2008
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Exhibit
99.1
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Investor
Contact:
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Mark
Haden
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Bunge
Limited
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914-684-3398
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Mark.Haden@Bunge.com
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Media
Contact:
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Stewart
Lindsay
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Bunge
Limited
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914-684-3369
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Stewart.Lindsay@Bunge.com
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BUNGE
COMMENTS ON CORN PRODUCTS’ ANNOUNCEMENT
REGARDING
MERGER AGREEMENT
November
5, 2008, White Plains, NY — Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) today issued the
following statement in response to a notification from Corn Products
International, Inc. (NYSE: CPO) that the Corn Products Board of Directors
intends to withdraw its recommendation of support for the company’s merger
agreement with Bunge:
“We
are disappointed by the
Corn Products Board's decision,” said
Alberto Weisser, Bunge Limited's Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. "Despite the effect of unprecedented turmoil in the equity
markets on our companies' stocks, Bunge's Board of Directors and management
continue
to believe a merger with Corn Products as currently structured would deliver
significant value over the long-term to shareholders, employees and customers of
both organizations. Consequently, we have no intention of revising
the terms of the transaction. We
intend to evaluate carefully, with the best interests of Bunge's shareholders in
mind, our options of either terminating the agreement or proceeding to
shareholder votes under the existing agreement.”
Bunge
expects to announce its intended course of action
promptly.
About
Bunge
Bunge Limited (www.Bunge.com,
NYSE: BG) is a leading global agribusiness and food company founded in 1818 and
headquartered in White Plains, New York. Bunge’s over 22,000
employees in over 30 countries enhance lives by improving the global
agribusiness and food production chain. The company supplies
fertilizer to farmers in South America, originates, transports and processes
oilseeds, grains and other agricultural commodities worldwide, produces food
products for commercial customers and consumers, and supplies raw materials and
services to the biofuels industry.
Cautionary
Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release
contains “forward-looking statements”, including, among other statements,
statements regarding the proposed merger between Bunge Limited and Corn Products
International, Inc. and the anticipated consequences and benefits of such
transaction. Statements made in the future tense, and words such as
“anticipate”, “expect”, “project”, “continue”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”,
“intend”, “will”, “may” and
similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements
are based on current expectations, but are subject to certain risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and are beyond the control
of Bunge and Corn Products. Relevant risks and uncertainties include
those referenced in Bunge’s and Corn Products’ filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) which can be obtained as described in
“Additional Information” below. Risks and uncertainties relating to
the proposed merger include: required regulatory approvals may not be obtained
in a timely manner, if at all; the proposed merger may not be consummated; the
anticipated benefits of the proposed merger, including synergies, may not be
realized; and the integration of Corn Products’ operations with those of Bunge
may be materially delayed or may be more costly or difficult than
expected. These risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to
differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking
statements, and therefore should be carefully considered. Bunge
assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of
new information or future events or developments.
Additional
Information
This press release
is not a substitute for the preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus or any
other documents that Bunge Limited and Corn Products International, Inc. have
filed or will file with the SEC in connection with the proposed merger.
Investors and securityholders are urged to carefully read the preliminary joint
proxy statement/prospectus and any other relevant documents filed or to be filed
by Bunge or Corn Products, including the definitive joint proxy
statement/prospectus when it becomes available, because they will contain
important information. The preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus is, and other documents filed or to be filed by Bunge and
Corn Products with the SEC are or will be, available free of charge at the SEC’s
web site (www.sec.gov), by accessing Bunge’s website at www.bunge.com under the
tab “Investor Information” and from Bunge by directing a request to Bunge
Limited, 50 Main Street, White Plains, NY 10606, Attention: Investor Relations,
and from Corn Products by directing a request to Corn Products International,
Inc., 5 Westbrook Corporate Center Westchester, IL 60154, Attention: Investor
Relations.
Bunge,
Corn Products and their respective directors, executive officers and other
employees may be deemed to be participants in a solicitation of proxies from the
securityholders of Bunge or Corn Products in connection with the proposed
merger. Information about Bunge’s directors and executive officers is
available in Bunge’s proxy statement, dated April 16, 2008, for its 2008
annual meeting of shareholders and in Bunge’s most recent filing on
Form 10-K. Information about Corn Products’ directors and executive
officers is available in Corn Products’ proxy statement, dated April 4,
2008, for its 2008 annual meeting of stockholders and in Corn Products’ most
recent filing on Form 10-K. Additional information about the
interests of potential participants is included in the preliminary joint proxy
statement/prospectus referred to above.
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