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BRF

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FY2019 Annual Report · BRF
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UNITED STATES 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  
Washington, D.C. 20549 

FORM 20-F 

REGISTRATION  STATEMENT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  12(b)  OR  (g)  OF  THE  SECURITIES 

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
OR 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT 

OF 1934  
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 
OR 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE 

ACT OF 1934 
OR 

SHELL  COMPANY  REPORT  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION  13  OR  15(d)  OF  THE  SECURITIES 

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 
Commission file number 001-15148 

BRF S.A. 

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its charter) 

N/A 
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English) 

Federative Republic of Brazil 
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) 

Av. Das Nações Unidas, 8501 – 1st Floor 
Pinheiros – 05425-070 
São Paulo – SP, Brazil 
(Address of principal executive offices) 

Carlos Alberto Bezerra de Moura 
Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer 
Tel. (5511) 2322-5005, Fax (5511) 2322-5740 
Av. Das Nações Unidas, 8501 – 1st Floor 
Pinheiros – 05425-070 
São Paulo – SP, Brazil 
(Name, Telephone, E-mail and/or Facsimile number and Address of Company Contact Person) 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 

Title of each class 

Common Shares, no par value* 
American Depositary Shares (as evidenced by American Depositary 
Receipts), each representing one share of common stock 

Name of each exchange on 
which registered 
The New York Stock Exchange 
The New York Stock Exchange 

____________________ 
*  Not for trading purposes, but only in connection with the registration of American Depositary Shares representing 
those common shares. 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: 

None 

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: 

None 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of 
the period covered by the annual report: 

At  December 31,  2019,  there  were  812,473,246  common  shares  (including  treasury  shares),  with  no  par  value, 
outstanding. 

Indicate  by  check  mark  if  the  registrant  is  a  well-known  seasoned  issuer,  as  defined  in  Rule  405  of  the 

Securities Act.  Yes 

   No 

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file 

reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  Yes 

   No 

Note- Checking the box above will not relieve any registrant required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 

or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 from their obligations under those Sections. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 
15(d) of the Securities Exchange  Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  
Yes 

  No 

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  has  submitted  electronically  every  Interactive  Data  File 
required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 
months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes 

  No 

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  is  a  large  accelerated  filer,  an  accelerated  filer,  a  non-
accelerated filer or an emerging growth company.  See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and 
“emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 

Large accelerated filer   

Non-accelerated filer   

Accelerated filer   

Emerging growth company    

If  an  emerging  growth  company  that  prepares  its  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  U.S.  GAAP, 
indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any 
new or revised financial accounting standards† provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

†  The  term  “new  or  revised  financial  accounting  standard”  refers  to  any  update  issued  by  the  Financial 

Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012. 

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements 

included in this filing: 

  U.S. GAAP 

  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  as  issued 

  Other  

by the International Accounting Standards Board 

If “Other” has been checked in response to the previous question, indicate by check mark which financial 

statement item the registrant has elected to follow. 

Item 17 

   Item 18 

.  

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in 

Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 

Yes 

   No 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................................ 1 

IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS ................................ 2 

  OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE .................................................................. 2 

  KEY INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................... 2 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

Selected Financial Data ........................................................................................................ 2 

Capitalization and Indebtedness ........................................................................................... 3 

Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds .......................................................................... 3 

Risk Factors .......................................................................................................................... 4 

INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY .......................................................................................... 32 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

History and Development of the Company ........................................................................ 32 

Business Overview ............................................................................................................. 35 

Organizational Structure .................................................................................................... 54 

Property, Plant and Equipment ........................................................................................... 55 

ITEM 4A.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS ........................................................................................... 59 

  OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS .................................................. 59 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

E. 

F. 

G. 

Operating Results ............................................................................................................... 59 

Liquidity and Capital Resources ........................................................................................ 77 

Research and Development, Patents and Licenses ............................................................. 88 

Trend Information .............................................................................................................. 90 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements ....................................................................................... 93 

Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations .................................................................. 93 

Safe Harbor ........................................................................................................................ 94 

  DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES .................................................... 94 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

E. 

Directors and Senior Management ..................................................................................... 94 

Compensation ..................................................................................................................... 99 

Board Practices................................................................................................................. 100 

Employees ........................................................................................................................ 103 

Share Ownership .............................................................................................................. 104 

  MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS ................................ 106 

A. 

B. 

C. 

Major Shareholders .......................................................................................................... 106 

Related Party Transactions ............................................................................................... 109 

Interests of Experts and Counsel ...................................................................................... 110 

FINANCIAL INFORMATION ...................................................................................................... 110 

A. 

Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information .............................................. 110 

i 

 
 
 
 
B. 

Significant Changes ......................................................................................................... 123 

THE OFFER AND LISTING ......................................................................................................... 123 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

E. 

F. 

Offer and Listing Details .................................................................................................. 123 

Plan of Distribution .......................................................................................................... 123 

Markets............................................................................................................................. 123 

Selling Shareholders ......................................................................................................... 126 

Dilution ............................................................................................................................ 126 

Expenses of the Issue ....................................................................................................... 126 

  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................. 126 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

E. 

F. 

G. 

H. 

I. 

Share Capital .................................................................................................................... 126 

Memorandum and Articles of Association ....................................................................... 126 

Material Contracts ............................................................................................................ 146 

Exchange Controls ........................................................................................................... 147 

Taxation ........................................................................................................................... 147 

Dividends and Paying Agents .......................................................................................... 158 

Statement by Experts ........................................................................................................ 158 

Documents on Display ..................................................................................................... 158 

Subsidiary Information ..................................................................................................... 158 

  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK ............... 158 

  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES ............................... 164 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

Debt Securities ................................................................................................................. 164 

Warrants and Rights ......................................................................................................... 164 

Other Securities ................................................................................................................ 164 

American Depositary Shares ............................................................................................ 164 

 ..................................................................................................................................................................... 165 

  DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES ......................................... 165 

  MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND 

USE OF PROCEEDS ..................................................................................................................... 165 

  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES .............................................................................................. 165 

A. 

B. 

C. 

D. 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures................................................................................. 165 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting................. 165 
Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm ......................................... 166 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting .................................................... 166 

[RESERVED] ................................................................................................................................. 166 

ITEM 16A.  AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT............................................................................. 166 

ITEM 16B.  CODE OF ETHICS ........................................................................................................................ 166 

ITEM 16C.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES ............................................................... 167 

ii 

 
 
 
ITEM 16D.  EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES ................ 167 

ITEM 16E.  PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED 

PURCHASERS .............................................................................................................................. 168 

ITEM 16F.  CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT ................................................ 168 
ITEM 16G.  CORPORATE GOVERNANCE .................................................................................................... 168 

ITEM 16H.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE .................................................................................................... 170 

 .................................................................................................................................................................... 170 

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ........................................................................................................ 170 

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ........................................................................................................ 170 

  EXHIBITS ...................................................................................................................................... 170 

INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ............................................................................................................... F-1 

iii 

 
INTRODUCTION 

Unless otherwise  indicated, all references  herein to (1) “BRF” are references to BRF S.A., a corporation 
organized under the laws of the Federative Republic of  Brazil (“Brazil”), and its consolidated subsidiaries, (2) the 
“Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or “our company” are references to BRF, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, 
and (3) “common shares” are references to the Company’s authorized and outstanding common stock, designated 
ordinary shares (ações ordinárias), each without par value. All references herein to the “real,” “reais” or “R$” are to 
the Brazilian real, the official currency of Brazil.  All references to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars” or “U.S.$” are to the 
United States dollar.  All references to “euro” or “EUR” are to euros, the official currency of the Eurozone in the 
European Union. All references to “TRY” are to the Turkish lira, the official currency of Turkey. All references to 
“SGD” are to the Singapore Dollar, the official currency of Singapore.  

U.S.$  amounts  are  disclosed  for  each  transaction  at  the  amount  negotiated  to  be  settled  in  U.S.$  at  the 

initiation date of the transaction. 

Market data and certain industry forecasts used herein were obtained from internal surveys, market research, 
publicly available information and industry publications. While we believe that market research, publicly available 
information and industry publications we use are reliable, we have not independently verified market and industry 
data from third-party sources. Moreover, while we believe our internal surveys are reliable, they have not been verified 
by any independent source. 

We prepared our annual consolidated financial statements included in this annual report in accordance with 
International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (“IFRS”)  as  issued  by  the  International  Accounting  Standards  Board 
(“IASB”).  We have made rounding adjustments to reach some of the figures included herein.  As a result, numerical 
figures shown as totals in some tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that preceded them. 

Forward-Looking Statements 

This Annual Report on Form 20-F contains information that constitute forward-looking statements within 
the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Many of the forward-looking statements 
contained in this annual report can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as “believe,” “may,” “aim,” 
“estimate,”  “continue,”  “anticipate,”  “will,”  “intend,”  “plan,”  “expect”  and  “potential,”  among  others.    Forward-
looking  statements  include  information  concerning  our  possible  or  assumed  future  results  of  operations,  business 
strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, the effects of 
future regulation and the effects of competition. They appear in a number of places in this annual report, principally 
under the captions “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors,” “Item 4. Information on the Company” and “Item 5. 
Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” and include statements regarding the intent,  belief, projections or 
current expectations of the Company, its directors or its executive officers  about future events and financial trends 
affecting our business.  Many important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this annual report, could 
cause our actual results to differ substantially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements.   

These  factors  include:  (i)  health  risks  related  to  the  food  industry,  including  in  connection  with  ongoing 
investigations and legal proceedings, (ii) more stringent trade barriers in key export markets and increased regulation 
of food safety and security, (iii) the risk of outbreak of animal diseases, (iv) risks related to climate change, (v) risks 
related to pandemics or human disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 virus), (vi) the risk of 
any shortage or lack of water or other raw materials necessary for our business, (vii) compliance with various laws 
and  regulations,  (viii)  risks  related  to  new  product  innovation,  (ix)  the  implementation  of  the  principal  operating 
strategies  of  the  Company,  including  through  divestitures,  acquisitions  or  joint  ventures,  (x)  general  economic, 
political and business conditions in our markets, both in Brazil and abroad, (xi) the cyclicality and volatility of raw 
materials  and  selling  prices,  including  as  a  result  of  ongoing  global  trade  disputes,  (xii)  strong  international  and 
domestic competition, (xiii) risks related to labor relations, (xiv) the protection of our intellectual property, (xv) the 
potential unavailability of transportation and logistics services, (xvi) the risk that our insurance policies may not cover 
certain of our costs, (xvii) our ability to recruit and retain  qualified professionals, (xviii) the risk of cybersecurity 
breaches, (xix) risks related to our indebtedness, (xx) risks related to the Brazilian economy and to Brazilian politics, 

1 

 
 
(xxi) interest rate fluctuations, inflation and exchange rate movements of the  real in relation to the U.S. dollar and 
other currencies, (xxii) the direction and future operation of the Company, (xxiii) the Company’s financial condition 
or  results  of  operations  and  (xxiv)  other  factors  identified  or discussed  under  “Item  3.  Key  Information—D.  Risk 
Factors.” 

Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future 
performance  and  involve  risks  and  uncertainties,  and  that  actual  results  may  differ  materially  from  those  in  the 
forward-looking statements.  The accompanying information contained in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, including 
without  limitation  the  information  set  forth  under  the  heading  “Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and 
Prospects,”  identifies  important  factors  that  could  cause  such  differences.  In  light  of  the  risks,  uncertainties  and 
assumptions associated with forward-looking statements, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking 
statements. Additional risks that we may currently deem immaterial or that are not presently known to us could also 
cause the forward-looking events discussed in this Annual Report on Form 20-F not to occur. 

Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 20-F or as of the 
date  they  are  made,  and  except  as  otherwise  required  by  applicable  securities  laws,  the  Company  undertakes  no 
obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether because of new information, future events or 
otherwise. 

IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS 

Not applicable. 

  OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE 

Not applicable. 

  KEY INFORMATION 

A. 

Selected Financial Data  

We present below certain selected financial data derived from our consolidated financial statements as of and 
for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, included herein, prepared in accordance with 
IFRS.  IFRS  differs  in  certain  significant  respects  from  the  accounting  principles  generally  accepted  in  the  United 
States, or “U.S. GAAP.” 

In July 2015, we sold the assets of our then dairy segment, including plants and trademarks, to  Lactalis do 

Brasil – Comércio, Importação e Exportação de Laticínios Ltda. (“Lactalis”).  

Following the financial and operational restructuring plan initiated in June 2018, we concluded the sale of 
our operations in Argentina, Europe and Thailand in 2019.  The operations in Argentina, Europe and Thailand are 
reported in our financial statements as discontinued operations for all periods presented.  

The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the 
notes thereto contained in this Annual Report on Form 20-F, as well as the information set forth under the heading 
“Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.” 

STATEMENT OF INCOME (LOSS) DATA  

Year Ended December 31, 
2019 
2015 
2017 
(in thousands of reais, except share, per share and per ADS amounts and as otherwise indicated) 

2016 

2018 

Statement of Income (Loss) Data 
Continuing Operations 
Net sales .......................................................  
Gross profit .................................................  

33,446,980 
8,076,938 

30,188,421 
4,867,668 

28,314,160 
5,712,945 

27,883,943 
6,949,865 

27,513,997 
9,052,829 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year Ended December 31, 
2015 
2017 
2019 
(in thousands of reais, except share, per share and per ADS amounts and as otherwise indicated) 

2016 

2018 

Operating income (loss)..............................  
Income (Loss) from Continuing 

Operations ...............................................  

Income (Loss) from Discontinued 

Operations ...............................................  
Net Income (Loss) .......................................  
Attributable to: 
Controlling shareholders...............................  
Non-controlling shareholders .......................  

Earnings (loss) per share - basic from 

continuing operations ...............................  

Earnings (loss) per ADS - basic from 

continuing operations ...............................  
Earnings (loss) per share – basic...................  
Earnings (loss) per ADS – basic ...................  
Weighted average shares outstanding at the 

end of the year – basic (millions) ..............  
Earnings (loss) per share – diluted ................  
Earnings (loss) per ADS – diluted ................  
Weighted average shares outstanding at the 

end of the year – diluted (millions) ...........  
Dividends per share ......................................  
Dividends per ADS ......................................  

2,748,337 

(206,334) 

663,184 

1,962,881 

3,841,789 

1,078,333 

(2,114,506) 

(966,765) 

(110,991) 

2,630,422 

(915,809) 
162,524 

162,684 
(160) 

1.32 

1.32 
0.37 
0.37 

811,539,167 
1.3 
1.3 

813,867,119 
— 
— 

(2,351,740) 
(4,466,246) 

(4,448,061) 
(18,185) 

(2.61) 

(2.61) 
(5.48) 
(5.48) 

811,294,251 
(2.61) 
(2.61) 

811,294,251 
— 
— 

(132,089) 
(1,098,854) 

(1,125,572) 
26,718 

(1.23) 

(1.23) 
(1.40) 
(1.40) 

803,559,763 
(1.23) 
(1.23) 

803,559,763 
— 
— 

(256,348) 
(367,339) 

(372,383) 
5,044 

(0.13) 

(0.13) 
(0.46) 
(0.46) 

801,903,266 
(0.13) 
(0.13) 

801,903,266 
0.76 
0.76 

317,348 
2,497,770 

2,928,082 
19,688 

3.50 

3.50 
3.72 
3.72 

842,000,012 
3.69 
3.69 

842,401,821 
1.20 
1.20 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION DATA  

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016 

2015 

(in thousands of reais, except as otherwise indicated) 

At December 31, 

Statement of Financial Position Data 

Cash and cash equivalents .................  
Trade accounts receivable, net ...........  
Inventories .........................................  
Assets held for sale ................................  
Total current assets .............................  
Property, plant and equipment, net ....  
Intangible assets.................................  
Total non-current assets ......................  
Total assets ...........................................  
Loans and borrowings........................  
Trade accounts payable ......................  
Total current liabilities ........................  
Loans and borrowings........................  
Total non-current liabilities ................  
Equity 

Capital ...............................................  
Total equity ..........................................  
Total liabilities and equity ...................  

4,237,785 
3,031,046 
3,887,916 
99,245 
15,045,427 
12,276,889 
4,908,079 
26,724,712 
41,770,139 
3,132,029 
5,784,419 
13,528,441 
15,488,250 
20,228,277 

12,460,471 
8,013,421 
41,770,139 

4,869,562 
2,604,928 
3,877,294 
3,326,305 
19,030,900 
10,696,998 
5,019,398 
23,351,477 
42,382,377 
4,547,389 
5,487,205 
14,488,640 
17,618,055 
20,361,960 

12,460,471 
7,531,777 
42,382,377 

6,010,829 
3,919,022 
4,948,168 
41,571 
19,185,523 
12,190,583 
7,197,636 
26,042,958 
45,228,481 
5,031,351 
6,445,486 
14,874,377 
15,413,027 
18,641,322 

12,460,471 
11,712,782 
45,228,481 

6,356,919 
3,085,147 
4,791,640 
26,126 
18,893,738 
11,746,238 
6,672,554 
24,051,198 
42,944,936 
3,245,004 
5,839,838 
12,640,423 
15,717,376 
18,085,160 

12,460,471 
12,219,353 
42,944,936 

5,362,890 
3,876,308 
4,032911 
32,448 
19,180,049 
10,915,752 
5,010,911 
21,207,965 
40,388,014 
2,628,179 
4,744,993 
11,621,113 
12,551,104 
14,931,048 

12,460,471 
13,835,853 
40,388,014 

B. 

Capitalization and Indebtedness  

Not applicable. 

C. 

Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds  

Not applicable. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
D. 

Risk Factors  

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry 

Health risks related to our business and the food industry could adversely affect our ability to sell our products.  

We are subject to risks affecting the food industry generally, including risks posed by contamination or food 
spoilage, evolving nutritional and health-related concerns, consumer product liability claims, product tampering and 
sabotage, the possible unavailability and expense of liability insurance, public perception of product safety for both 
the industry as a whole and also our products specifically, but not exclusively, as a result of disease outbreaks or the 
fear of such outbreaks, the potential cost and disruption of a product recall and possible impacts on our image and 
brands. Among such risks are those related to raising animals, including disease and adverse weather conditions. 

Meat can be subject to contamination during processing and distribution. In particular, processed meat may 
become exposed to various disease-producing pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella enteritidis, 
Salmonella  tiphimurium  and  E.  coli  O157:H7.  These  pathogens  can  also  be  introduced  to  our  products  during 
production or as a result of improper handling by third-party food processors, franchisees, distributors, foodservice 
providers  or  consumers.  Spoilage,  especially  spoilage  due  to  failure  of  temperature-controlled  storage  and 
transportation systems, is also a risk. The systems we maintain to monitor food safety risks throughout all stages of 
production and distribution could fail to function properly and product contamination could still occur. Failures in our 
systems to ensure food safety could result in harmful publicity that could cause damage to our brands, reputation and 
image and negatively impact sales, which could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, 
financial condition and prospects. 

On February 13, 2019, we announced a voluntary recall of approximately 164.7 metric tons of fresh chicken 
meat for the Brazilian domestic market and approximately 299.6 metric tons of fresh chicken meat for the international 
market due to a potential presence of Salmonella enteritidis. This recall and possible future recalls have resulted and 
may result, respectively, in increased costs and could negatively affect our brands’ reputation. In the future, a product 
that has been actually or allegedly contaminated could result in product withdrawals or recalls, disposal of product 
inventory, negative publicity, temporary plant closings, substantial cost of compliance or remediation and potentially 
significant product liability judgments against us. Any of these events could result in a loss of demand for our products, 
which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. 

Even if our own products are not affected by contamination, our industry may face adverse publicity in certain 
of its markets if the products of other producers become contaminated, which could result in negative public perception 
about the safety of our products and reduced consumer demand for our products in the affected category. Significant 
lawsuits,  widespread  product  recalls  and  other  negative  events  faced  by  us  or  our  competitors  could  result  in  a 
widespread loss of consumer confidence in the safety and quality of our products. Our sales are ultimately dependent 
on consumer preferences, and any actual or perceived health risks associated with our products could cause customers 
to lose confidence in the safety and quality of our products and have a material adverse impact on our business, results 
of operations, financial condition and prospects. 

We have been subject to significant investigations relating to, among other things, food safety and quality control, 
and an adverse outcome of any of these investigations could result in penalties, fines or other forms of liability and 
could  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  reputation,  brand,  results  of  operations  and  financial 
condition. 

Brazilian authorities are investigating Brazil’s meat processing industry in the so-called “Carne Fraca 

Operation.” The investigation involves a number of companies in the Brazilian industry and, among other things, 
includes allegations relating to food safety and quality control. On January 22, 2018, the Attorney General’s Office 
of the Third District of the State of Goiás filed a complaint against the industrial manager of our Mineiros plant at 
the time of the events subject to investigation in the Carne Fraca Operation, and against the former head of quality 
control at our Mineiros plant, who are both no longer working for BRF. Both of them were charged for allegedly 
committing crimes against consumers, as provided in article 7, item II of Law 8,137/90. According to the complaint, 
laboratory tests (dripping tests) detected excessive levels of water absorbed by the chicken products collected by 
authorities at our Mineiros plant. The Attorney General’s Office of the Third District of the State of Goiás alleges 

4 

 
we produced chicken products with higher quantities of water than the limits permitted by the Brazilian Ministry of 
Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, or “MAPA”), with 
potential damages to customers, considering they would potentially be acquiring chicken meat products with a 
weight lower than that indicated on the packaging, since part of the weight of the frozen chicken would consist 
merely of water contained therein.  

On March 5, 2018, BRF learned of a decision issued by a federal judge of the First Federal Court of Ponta 
Grossa in the State of Paraná, which authorized the search and seizure of information and documents from us and 
certain current and former employees and the temporary detention of certain individuals.  In what media reports have 
identified as the “Trapaça Operation,” eleven current and former employees of BRF were temporarily detained for 
questioning, including former Chief Executive Officer Pedro Faria and former Vice President for Global Operations 
Helio  Rubens.   All  such  current  and  former  employees  were  released  from  custody  and  those  who  are  still  our 
employees  are  on  leaves  of  absence  from  BRF.  A  number  of  other  BRF  employees  and  former  employees  were 
identified for questioning. The primary allegations in the Trapaça Operation involve alleged misconduct relating to 
quality violations, improper use of feed components and falsification of tests at certain BRF manufacturing plants and 
accredited labs.   

On October 15, 2018, the Brazilian Federal Police issued the final report on the investigation of the Trapaça 
Operation  with  accusations  against  43  people,  among  which  23  are  current  or  former  BRF  employees,  including 
former Chief Executive Officer Pedro Faria, former chairman of the board of directors Abilio Diniz, and three former 
vice presidents. Those who are still our employees are on leaves of absence from BRF. Allegations against these senior 
employees  generally  focused  on  communications  relating  to  alleged  dioxin  contamination.  Since  then,  the  police 
investigation has been under review by the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor responsible for the case to determine whether 
to  bring  criminal  charges.  See  “Item  8.  Financial  Information—A.  Consolidated  Statements  and  Other  Financial 
Information—Legal Proceedings” for additional information.  

As a result of the Trapaça Operation, on March 5, 2018, we  were notified by MAPA that it immediately 
suspended  exports  from  our  Rio  Verde/Goiás,  Carambeí/Paraná  and  Mineiros/Goiás  plants  to  13  countries  with 
specific sanitary requirements related to Salmonella spp. As a precautionary measure, MAPA also suspended exports 
from  10  other  BRF  plants  to  the  European  Union  on  March  15,  2018.  On  May  14,  2018,  the  European  Union 
announced the decision to suspend 12 of our production facilities in Brazil by revoking the export approval of meat 
products from such facilities to the European Union’s countries due to increasing pressure from domestic producers’ 
organizations,  supposedly demanding the  measure for local  market protection. The European Union  generally  has 
stricter  requirements  related  to  salmonella  levels  and  other  food  safety  standards  compared  to  Brazil  and  the 
international markets in which we operate. Given the import ban applied to our production facilities, we are unable to 
export meat from such facilities to the European Union. Our results of operations may be further adversely affected 
due to the need to redirect the production capacity of such facilities, originally destined for the European Union, to 
other markets at similar prices or margins. 

On December 4, 2019, with respect to the Trapaça Operation, criminal charges were brought against former 
or inactive BRF  employees  for  allegedly  committing, in the  manufacture  of animal feed and PREMIX compound 
(supplement added to animal feed), aggravated larceny by fraud, false representation, wrapper or container with false 
labelling, forgery of substance or food product, forgery of product intended for therapeutic or medicinal purposes and 
criminal association, at least during the period between 2012 and 2018. The defendants were notified of the criminal 
charges on January 21, 2020, and the proceeding is currently pending responses by the defendants to the charges.  

Any of these existing investigations or any other future investigation could result in penalties, fines or other 
forms of liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, brand, results of operations and 
financial condition.  

More stringent trade barriers in key export markets may negatively affect our results of operations.  

Because of the growing market share of Brazilian poultry, pork and beef products in the international markets, 
Brazilian  exporters  are  increasingly  being  affected  by  measures  taken  by  importing  countries  to  protect  local 
producers. The competitiveness of Brazilian companies has led certain countries to establish trade barriers to limit the 

5 

 
access of Brazilian companies to their markets. Trade barriers can consist of both tariffs and non-tariff barriers. In our 
industry, non-tariff barriers are of particular concern, especially sanitary and technical restrictions. 

As a result of the regulators’ inquiries and the public announcement of allegations of wrongdoing involving 
BRF and other companies in the Brazilian meat industry in the context of the Carne Fraca Operation and Trapaça 
Operation, some export markets have been temporarily closed, and our average selling prices for some products and 
in some markets have decreased. For additional information, see “—Health risks related to our business and the food 
industry  could  adversely  affect  our  ability  to  sell  our  products”  and  “—We  have  been  subject  to  significant 
investigations relating to, among other things, food safety and quality control, and an adverse outcome of any of these 
investigations could result in penalties, fines or other forms of liability and could have a material adverse effect on 
our business, reputation, brand, results of operations and financial condition.” 

Some countries, such as Russia and South Africa, have a history of erecting trade barriers to imports of food 
products. Also, the European Union has adopted a quota system for certain poultry products and prohibitive tariffs for 
certain products that do not have quotas in order to mitigate the effects of Brazil’s lower production costs on European 
producers. Other countries have also imposed trade barriers against our products. For example, in August 2017, the 
Chinese government initiated an antidumping investigation in connection with Brazilian exports of whole chicken and 
chicken parts, including BRF’s exports. The investigation ended in February 2019, and Brazilian exporters agreed to 
certain minimum export prices for sales to China. Additionally, in August 2018, Iraq increased the tariff on poultry 
products from 10% to 60%. 

Many developed countries use direct and indirect subsidies to enhance the competitiveness of their producers 
in other markets. In addition, local producers in some markets may exert political pressure on their governments to 
prevent foreign producers from exporting to their market, particularly during unfavorable economic conditions. Any 
of the above restrictions could substantially affect our export volumes and, consequently, our export sales and financial 
performance. If new trade barriers arise in our key export markets, we may face difficulties in reallocating our products 
to other markets on favorable terms, and our business, financial condition and results of operations might be adversely 
affected. 

Trade disputes between other countries also creates uncertainties that may adversely affect Brazilian exports 
and our operations. For instance, the United States and China engaged in a trade dispute for almost 18 months, which 
has affected the global economy. On January 1, 2020, the United States and China signed the first phase of a trade 
agreement expected to alleviate the tensions between the two countries. A second phase of the agreement is expected 
to be even more difficult to achieve. There can be no assurances that the trade dispute will be fully resolved and that 
the global economy will not be further affected by it. The United Sates is expected to maintain the 25% tariffs on a 
wide range of U.S.$250 billion of Chinese industrial goods and components used by the U.S. manufacturing sector. 
Both  improvements  in  the  countries’  commercial  relations  and  new  mutually  beneficial  trade  agreements  at  the 
expense of other countries may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. 

In addition, in  April 2018, Saudi  Arabia instituted a no-stunning requirement  for the animal slaughtering 
process. Saudi Arabia claimed that Brazilian companies’ chicken slaughtering practices violated Halal principles due 
to the use of an electric shock to stun the birds. BRF and other Brazilian companies were therefore required to migrate 
their production processes to non-stunning slaughters in order to supply the Saudi Arabian market. We have incurred, 
and expect to incur, additional costs in connection with these requirements for exporting to Saudi Arabia. In January 
2019, the Saudi Arabian Food and Drug Authority published a report authorizing 25 Brazilian facilities to produce 
chicken meat for the Saudi Arabian market, which included eight of BRF’s plants. One of BRF’s plants (Lajeado, Rio 
Grande  do  Sul)  that  had  previously  produced  chicken  meat  for  the  Saudi  Arabian  market  was  not  included  as  an 
authorized plant. The continuous shifting of our production of chicken meat for Saudi Arabia to the authorized plants 
may result in decreased revenues and additional expenses.  

In August 2019, Saudi Arabia imposed an embargo on seasoned chicken meat produced in our Kizad facility, 
in Abu Dhabi, which was restricted from exporting to Saudi Arabia. The embargo was a result of Saudi Arabia’s Saudi 
Vision 2030 plan, announced in April 2016 as a national campaign to reduce the country’s dependence on oil, diversify 
its  economy  and  substitute  imports  with  local  production.  Saudi  Arabia  then  expanded  the  embargo  to  the  other 
products from our Kizad facility. In October 2019, we announced that we had executed a non-binding Memorandum 
of  Understanding  with  the  Saudi  Arabian  General  Investment  Authority  –  SAGIA  regarding  the  construction  and 

6 

 
operation  by  BRF  of  a  poultry  processing  plant  in  Saudi  Arabia.  We  estimate  that  the  investment  amount  will  be 
around R$634 million (US$120 million, translated to reais at the exchange rate of R$5.2837 as of April 20, 2020). 
The location, capacity, investment schedule, capital structure and other conditions related to this plant are still being 
discussed. There can be no assurance that the Saudi Arabian government will not further restrict our ability to export 
our products to Saudi Arabia, which may result in a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and 
results of operations. In February 2020, we received notification from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (“SFDA”), 
the Saudi Arabian sanitary authority, regarding a report temporarily suspending two of our facilities, specifically the 
Dois Vizinhos, State of Paraná and Francisco Beltrão, State of Paraná plants, from exporting chicken meat to Saudi 
Arabia. The SFDA informed us that the measure is temporary and, among other measures, requested that the Brazilian 
authorities  provide  more  details  about  the  investigations  carried  out  between  2014  and  2018  regarding  alleged 
violations  by  BRF  in  the  production  of  animal  feed  and  PREMIX  compound.  For  more  information  about  these 
investigations, see “—We have been subject to significant investigations relating to, among other things, food safety 
and quality control, and an adverse  outcome of any of these investigations could result in penalties, fines or other 
forms of liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, brand, results of operations and 
financial  condition.”  Additionally,  the  Saudi  government  has  been  implementing,  since  January  2020,  a  previous 
import licenses system, which is still not fully in effect at the moment. In the future, this system may adversely affect 
our exports to the country, since it might be used by local authorities as a means to control the entry of products and 
thus,  artificially  affect  demand  and  offer  and,  consequently,  prices,  which  run  counter  to  basic  principles  of 
international trade rules and regulations. 

Outbreaks, or fears of outbreaks, of any animal diseases may lead to cancellation of orders by our customers and 
create adverse publicity that may have a material adverse effect on consumer demand for our products. Moreover, 
outbreaks of animal diseases in Brazil may result in foreign governmental action to close export markets for some 
or all of our products, which may result in the loss of some or all of these animals. 

Our operations involve raising poultry and hogs and processing their meat,  which requires us to maintain 
certain standards of animal health and control disease. We could be required to dispose of animals or suspend the sale 
or export of some of our products to customers in Brazil and abroad in the event of an outbreak of disease affecting 
animals, such as the following: (1) in the case of hogs and certain other animals, foot-and-mouth disease, influenza 
(H5N1) and African swine fever; and (2) in the case of poultry, avian influenza and Newcastle disease. In addition, if 
the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), which has broken out in Europe and the United States 
in 1990 and 1985, respectively, the Porcine  Epidemic Diarrhea (PEDV),  which has broken out in Europe and the 
United States in 2014 and 2013, respectively, or the African swine fever which broke out in China in 2018, were to 
break out in Brazil, we could be required to dispose of hogs.  While there have been outbreaks of Classical Swine 
Fever in Brazil, and although none have occurred in the free zones where we source our hogs for production, any such 
occurrence could require us to dispose of affected hogs. Disposal of poultry, hogs or other animals would preclude 
recovery of costs incurred in raising or purchasing these animals and result in additional expense for the disposal of 
such animals and loss of inventory. An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease or other similar diseases could have an 
effect  on  livestock  we  own  and  the  availability  of  livestock  for  purchase.  In  addition,  the  global  effects  of  avian 
influenza or other similar diseases would impact consumer perception of certain protein products and our ability to 
access certain markets, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.  

Chicken and other birds in some countries, particularly in Asia but also in Europe, the Americas and Africa, 
have on occasion become infected by highly pathogenic avian influenza in recent years. In a small number of highly-
publicized cases, avian influenza has been transmitted from birds to humans, resulting in illness and, at times, death. 
Accordingly, health authorities in many countries have taken steps to prevent outbreaks of this viral disease, including 
disposal of afflicted poultry flocks. 

In  recent  years,  some  human  cases  of  avian  influenza  and  related  deaths  were  reported, according  to  the 
World Health Organization (“WHO”). The cases reported were caused by the H5N1 virus. In 2013, direct human-to-
human transmission of the H7N9 virus was proven. Various countries in Asia, the Middle East and Africa reported 
human cases in the last five years and various European countries reported avian influenza cases in poultry. In 2014, 
there were reports of human cases of avian influenza in Egypt, Indonesia, Cambodia, China and Vietnam, among other 
countries. In the Americas, there were reports of human cases of avian influenza in both Canada and the United States. 
In early 2015, new cases of H5N1 and H5N2 reported in the United States resulted in restrictions on U.S. exports. In 
2016,  new  outbreaks  occurred  in  bird  populations  across  Northern  Europe,  including  France,  the  Netherlands, 

7 

 
Switzerland, Finland and Germany. Middle Eastern and African countries also had outbreaks during 2016. In early 
2017, Chile, a neighboring country to Brazil, confirmed the occurrence of avian influenza. In 2019, several countries 
within Europe, Asia and Africa and Mexico reported cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry.  

Even though Brazil has not yet had a documented case of avian influenza, there are concerns that an outbreak 
of avian influenza may occur in the country in the future. Any outbreak of avian influenza in Brazil could lead to the 
required disposal of our poultry flocks, which would result in decreased sales in the poultry industry, prevent recovery 
of  costs  incurred  in  raising  or  purchasing  poultry  and  result  in  additional  expense  for  the  disposal  of  poultry.  In 
addition, any outbreak of avian influenza in Brazil would likely lead to immediate restrictions on the export of some 
of our products to key export markets. Preventive actions adopted by Brazilian authorities, if any, may not be effective 
in precluding the spread of avian influenza within Brazil.  

Whether or not an outbreak of avian influenza occurs in Brazil, further outbreaks of avian influenza anywhere 
in the world could have a negative impact on the consumption of poultry in our key export markets or in Brazil, and 
a significant outbreak would negatively affect our results of operations and financial condition. Any outbreak could 
lead to the imposition of costly preventive controls on poultry imports in our export markets. Accordingly, any spread 
of avian influenza, or increasing concerns about this disease, may have a material and adverse effect on our company. 

Climate change may negatively affect our business and results of operations.  

We consider the potential effects of climate change when evaluating and managing our operations and supply 
chain, recognizing the vulnerability of natural resources and agricultural inputs that are essential for our activities. The 
main risks we have identified with respect to climate change relate to the changes in temperature, changes in rainfall, 
including drought, flooding, storms and lack of water, which may affect agricultural productivity, animal welfare and 
the availability of energy. These changes may adversely affect our costs and results of operations, including by raising 
the price of agricultural commodities as a result of long periods of drought or excessive rainfall, increasing operating 
costs to ensure animal  welfare, increasing the risk of rationing and raising the price  of electricity. We may  fail to 
effectively implement programs to reduce our exposure to climate change, which may adversely affect our business 
and results of operations in the future.  

We  are  also  subject  to  regulatory  changes,  such  as  carbon  pricing  or  taxation,  and  changes  to  licensing 
legislation for greenhouse gas emissions at the domestic and international levels. Any such changes may increase our 
costs and adversely affect our results of operations 

Our operations are largely dependent on electricity, and energy-related expenses are one of our highest fixed 
costs. Energy costs have historically fluctuated significantly over time and increases in energy costs could result in 
reduced profits. A significant interruption in energy supply or outright loss of energy at any of our facilities could 
result in a temporary disruption in production and delivery of products to customers and additional costs, materially 
adversely affecting our results of operations. 

A  significant portion of Brazil’s electricity  generation capacity is currently dependent upon hydroelectric 
facilities. Hydroelectric production is vulnerable to a variety of factors, including the variability of precipitation. There 
can be no assurance that our efforts to increase our energy efficiency and reduce electricity demand will be successful. 
If the amount of water available to energy producers becomes increasingly scarce due to drought or diversion for other 
uses, as has occurred in recent years, our energy expenses may increase and our results of operations may be materially 
adversely affected.   

Any shortage or lack of water, and any failure to comply with applicable rules and regulations related to water 
usage and management, could materially adversely affect our business and results of operations. 

In the last century, water use has grown globally at more than twice the rate of the population increase, and 
an  increasing  number  of  regions  in  the  world  are  reaching  the  limit  at  which  water  services  can  be  sustainably 
delivered. According to a study by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (“FAO”), by 2025, 
an estimated  1,800 million people are expected to be living in countries or regions  with  “absolute”  water scarcity 
(under 500 m3 per year per capita), and two-thirds of the world population may be under “stress” conditions (between 

8 

 
500 and 1,000 m3 per year per capita). Water is an essential input for our businesses and is used in the production of 
grains  and  other  agricultural  inputs  required  for  our  production  processes.  The  industrial  use  of  water  may  also 
adversely affect its availability. As a result, the shortage or lack of water represents a critical risk for our business and 
may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.  

The procedures that we have developed to reduce our water consumption, comply with applicable rules and 
regulations, and minimize our impact on the environment and the community may fail or be insufficient. Additionally, 
our assessments of the micro and macro watersheds in the regions in which we operate and the industrial activities 
and characteristics of the use of water resources may be inaccurate in understanding the local water demand growth. 
We may fail to accurately assess the water supply or anticipate water-related risks, and the increased industrial use of 
water by water intensive businesses may also adversely affect the continuing availability and quality of water in Brazil. 
This may result in us or our key suppliers encountering water shortages. Any of these factors may materially adversely 
affect our business and results of operations. 

We  may  fail  to  ensure  compliance  with  relevant  anti-fraud,  anti-corruption,  anti-money  laundering  and  other 
international laws and regulations.  

We  are  subject  to  anti-fraud,  anti-corruption,  anti-money  laundering  and  other  international  laws  and 
regulations. We are required to comply with the laws and regulations of Brazil and various jurisdictions where we 
conduct operations. In particular, we are subject to the Brazilian Anti-Corruption Law nº 12,846, the U.S. Foreign 
Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“FCPA”) and the United Kingdom Bribery Act of 2010. The FCPA prohibits providing 
anything of value to foreign officials for the purposes of obtaining or retaining business or securing any improper 
business advantage. As part of our business, we may deal with entities and employees that are considered foreign 
officials for purposes of the FCPA. In addition, we participate in certain public tenders and competitive bidding rounds 
for contracts involving public authorities in Brazil and potentially in other markets where we operate, which activities 
are typically subjected to heightened regulatory scrutiny and often require compliance with specific anti-fraud, anti-
corruption, anti-money laundering and other international laws and regulations. 

Although we have internal policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable anti-fraud, 
anti-corruption, anti-money laundering and other international laws and regulations, potential violations of law have 
been identified on occasion as part of our compliance and internal control processes. In addition, we were notified of 
allegations involving potential misconduct by some of our employees in the context of the Carne Fraca Operation, 
Trapaça Operation and other investigations. For more details, see “Item 3.—D. Risk Factors— Risks Relating to Our 
Business and Industry—We have been subject to significant investigations relating to, among other things, food safety 
and quality control, and an adverse outcome of any of these investigations could result in penalties, fines or other 
forms of liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, brand, results of operations and 
financial  condition”  and  “Item  8.  Financial  Information—A.  Consolidated  Statements  and  Other  Financial 
Information—Legal  Proceedings.”  As  a  result  of  the  Carne  Fraca  Operation  and  Trapaça  Operation  and  related 
matters, we incurred expenses and recorded provisions for losses in inventories in the total amount of R$79.9 million 
in 2019 and R$ 492.8 million in 2018, which negatively impacted our results of operations. Additionally, these or 
other  proceedings  may  result  in  penalties,  fines,  sanctions  or  other  forms  of  liability.  Furthermore,  any  negative 
reflection on our image or our brand from these or other activities could  have a negative impact on our results of 
operations, as well as our ability to achieve our growth strategy. 

Given the size of our operations and the complexity of our production chain, there can be no assurance that 
our  internal  policies  and  procedures  will  be  sufficient  to  prevent  or  detect  all  inappropriate  or  unlawful  practices, 
including fraud or violations of law or violations of our internal policies and procedures by our employees, directors, 
officers,  partners  or  any  third-party  agents  or  service  providers.  Furthermore,  there  can  be  no  assurance  that  such 
persons will not take actions in violation of our policies and procedures (or otherwise in violation of applicable laws 
and regulations) for which we or they may ultimately be held responsible. Violations of anti-fraud, anti-corruption, 
anti-money laundering or other international laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, 
reputation, brand, selling prices, results of operations and financial condition, including as a result of the closure of 
international  markets.  We  may  be  subject  to  one  or  more  enforcement  actions,  investigations  or  proceedings  by 
authorities for alleged infringement of these laws. These proceedings may result in penalties, fines, sanctions or other 
forms  of  liability.  Potential  negative  developments  in  the  Carne  Fraca  Operation,  Trapaça  Operation  and  other 

9 

 
investigations may also negatively affect the market price of our common shares and American Depositary Receipts 
(“ADRs”). 

We are subject to antitrust and competition laws and regulations and we may fail to ensure compliance with such 
laws and regulations.  

We are subject to antitrust and competition laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate. 
Consequently, we may be subject to regulatory scrutiny in certain of these jurisdictions. For instance, on March 14, 
2019, the Turkish Competition Authority (“TCA”) announced a decision regarding its investigation into our Turkish 
subsidiary  Banvit  and  other  producers  for  alleged  anticompetitive  practices  in  connection  with  chicken  meat 
production  in  Turkey.  The  TCA  imposed  an  administrative  fine  equivalent  to  R$22,507  thousand  (TRY  30,518 
thousand),  against  Banvit.  For  additional  information,  see  “Item  8.  Financial  Information—A.  Consolidated 
Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Civil, Commercial and Other Proceedings.”  

There  can  be  no  assurance  that  our  internal  policies  and  procedures  designed  to  ensure  compliance  with 
applicable antitrust and competition laws and regulations will be sufficient to prevent or detect all inappropriate or 
unlawful practices. As a result, we may be subject to one or more enforcement actions, investigations or proceedings 
by authorities for alleged infringement of these laws. These proceedings may result in penalties, fines, sanctions or 
other forms of liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, brand, selling prices, 
results of operations and financial condition, including as a result of the closure of international markets. Furthermore, 
there can be no assurance that the introduction of new competition laws in the jurisdictions in which we operate, the 
interpretation of existing antitrust or competition laws, the enforcement of existing antitrust or competition laws by 
authorities or civil antitrust litigation by private parties, or any agreements with antitrust or competition authorities, 
against us or our subsidiaries will not have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations or financial 
condition.  

A failure to comply with export control or economic sanctions laws and regulations could have a material adverse 
impact on our results of operations, financial condition and reputation.  

We operate on a global basis and face risks related to compliance with export control and economic sanctions 
laws and regulations, including those administered by the United Nations, the European Union and the United States, 
including the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Economic sanctions programs restrict our 
dealings  with certain  sanctioned countries,  individuals and  entities. However,  we have conducted, and  may in the 
future seek to conduct, business in certain countries that are subject to sanctions under the laws of the United States 
or other countries. Although we have pursued these transactions, and intend to pursue any future transactions, in full 
compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we may not be successful in ensuring compliance with limitations 
or  restrictions  on  business  with  companies  in  any  such  countries.  If  we  are  found  to  be  in  violation  of  applicable 
sanctions laws or regulations, we may face criminal or civil fines or other penalties, we may suffer reputational harm 
and our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected. Additionally, there can be no assurance 
that our employees, directors, officers, partners or any third-parties that we do business with, including, among others, 
any distributors or suppliers, will not violate sanctions laws and regulations. We may ultimately be held responsible 
for any such violation of sanctions laws and regulations by these persons, which could result in criminal or civil fines 
or other penalties, have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition and damage our 
reputation.  

Failure to maintain adequate internal controls could adversely affect our reputation and business. 

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial 
reporting  that  provide  reasonable  assurance  of  the  reliability  of  the  preparation  and  reporting  of  our  financial 
statements for external use. Inadequate internal controls may result in our failure to meet public reporting requirements 
accurately  and  on  a  timely  basis  and  harm  our  reputation.  The  internal  controls  over  financial  reporting  may  not 
prevent or detect all misstatements or fraud, regardless of the adequacy of those controls, and,  therefore, we cannot 
assure that material weaknesses will not be identified in the future.  

10 

 
Our failure to continuously innovate and successfully launch new products that address our clients’ needs and 
requirements, as well as maintain our brand image, could adversely impact our operating results. 

Our financial success depends on our ability to anticipate changes in consumer preferences and dietary habits 
and our ability to successfully develop and launch new products and product variations that are desirable to consumers. 
The resources that we devote to new product development and product extensions may be insufficient and we may 
not be successful in developing innovative new products or our new products may not be commercially successful. 
For  example,  trends  towards  prioritizing  health  and  wellness  present  a  challenge  for  developing  and  marketing 
successful new lines of products to address these consumer preferences. Furthermore, a reduction in our investment 
in product development may negatively affect not only our ability to generate innovative solutions, but also the in-
market  success  of  any  such  products.  Additionally,  BRF  employees  working  on  innovation  and  research  and 
development may move to one of our competitors, which would compromise our ability to deliver new and innovative 
products and may also result in our competitors gaining information we view as proprietary. To the extent that we are 
not able to effectively gauge the direction of our key markets and successfully identify, develop, manufacture and 
market new or improved products in these changing markets in a timely or cost-effective manner, our products, brands, 
financial results and competitive position may suffer, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results 
of operations, financial condition and prospects.  

We also seek to maintain and extend the image of our brands through marketing, including advertising and 
consumer  promotions.  Due  to  inherent  risks  in  the  marketplace  associated  with  advertising,  promotions  and  new 
product introductions, including uncertainties about trade and consumer acceptance, our marketing investments may 
not prove successful in maintaining or increasing our market share. A continued global focus on health and wellness, 
including weight management, increasing media attention on the role of food marketing and negative press coverage 
about  our  quality  controls  and  products,  including  in  connection  with  the  Carne  Fraca  Operation  and  Trapaça 
Operation, may adversely affect our brand image or lead to stricter regulations and greater scrutiny of food marketing 
practices. 

Our success in maintaining, extending and expanding our brand image also depends on our ability to adapt 
to a rapidly changing media environment, including increasing reliance on social media and online dissemination of 
advertising campaigns. The growing use of social and digital media increases the speed and extent that information or 
misinformation and opinions can be shared. Negative posts or comments about us, our brands or our products on social 
or digital media could seriously damage our reputation and brand image. If we do not maintain or improve our brand 
image, then our sales, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. 

We may divest or acquire businesses or enter into joint ventures, which may divert management resources or prove 
to be disruptive to our company.  

We regularly review and pursue opportunities to rationalize our business through divestitures or expand by 
means of acquisitions, joint ventures and other initiatives. We have completed several divestitures and acquisitions in 
recent years.  For additional details on certain of these transactions, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—A. 
History and Development of the Company.” Divestments, acquisitions, new businesses and joint ventures, particularly 
those  involving  sizeable  businesses,  may  present  financial,  managerial,  operational  and  compliance  risks  and 
uncertainties, including:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

challenges in realizing the anticipated benefits of the transaction;  

difficulties with managing various macroeconomic variables and their impact on the business; 

difficulties with managing commercial relationships in various countries; 

diversion of management attention from existing businesses;  

difficulties with integrating/carving-out personnel, especially to different managerial practices; 

disruptions when integrating or carving out financial, technological and other systems;  

11 

 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

difficulties identifying suitable candidate businesses or consummating a transaction on terms that are 
favorable to us;  

challenges in retaining an acquired company’s customers and key employees;  

challenges related to the loss of key employees in connection with a divestment;  

increased compensation expenses for newly-hired employees; 

exposure to unforeseen liabilities or problems of the acquired companies or joint ventures; 

•  warranty claims and claims for damages which may be limited in content, timeframe and amount; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

legal challenges, including claims for indemnification; 

challenges  arising  from  a  lack  of  familiarity  with  new  markets  with  differing  commercial  and  social 
norms and customs, which may adversely impact our strategic goals or require us to adapt our marketing 
and sales model for specific countries; 

compliance with foreign legal and regulatory systems;  

difficulties in transferring capital to new jurisdictions; and 

challenges receiving the necessary approvals from governments and international antitrust authorities.  

We may be unable to realize the strategic benefits from our divestitures or acquisitions in the timeframe we 
anticipate, or at all. In addition, we may be unable to identify, negotiate or finance future divestitures, acquisitions or 
other strategic initiatives successfully or on favorable terms. Any future joint ventures or acquisitions of businesses, 
technologies, services or products might require us to obtain additional equity or debt financing, which may not be 
available on favorable terms, or at all. Future divestitures, acquisitions and joint ventures may also result in unforeseen 
operating difficulties and expenditures, as well as strain our organizational culture. 

Political and economic risks in regions and countries where we have exposure could limit the profitability of our 
operations and our ability to execute our strategy in these regions. 

Since we have business operations around the world, we are subject to a variety of risks that may adversely 
affect our financial results. In the regions where we have production and distribution activities, we are subject, among 
others, to the following risks:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

governmental instability; 

geopolitical risk and conflicts (including war, terrorism and civil unrest); 

imposition of exchange or price controls; 

imposition  of  restrictions  on  exports  of  our  products  or  imports  of  raw  materials  necessary  for  our 
production processes (including embargoes from countries where we have production and/or distribution 
activities); 

fluctuation of local currencies against the real; 

nationalization of our property; 

12 

 
• 

• 

• 

political influence by local governments in communities where we operate requiring investments or other 
expenditures; 

increases in export tax and income tax rates for our products; and 

unilateral (governmental) institutional and contractual changes, including controls on investments and 
limitations on new projects. 

As a result of these factors, our results of operations and financial condition in the regions where we have 
production and distribution activities may be adversely affected, and we may experience significant variability in our 
revenue from those operations. For instance, it is unclear to us if the  ongoing diplomatic crisis between Qatar and 
other  Arab  countries  may  lead  to  measures,  such  as  trade  embargoes,  that  could  ultimately  impact  our  current 
operations in Qatar and in the Middle East. In addition, the Brazilian government opened a business representation 
office in Jerusalem in December 2019, which announcement earlier in 2019 had led to protests and unrest throughout 
the Middle East, and apprehension among Brazilian exporters who fear possible retaliation or embargoes from Arab 
countries  on  Brazilian  exports.  The  impact  of  these  changes  on  our  ability  to  deliver  on  our  planned  projects  and 
execute our strategy cannot be ascertained with any degree of certainty, and these changes may, therefore, have an 
adverse effect on our operations and financial results. 

Deterioration of general economic and political conditions could negatively impact our business.  

Our business may be adversely affected by changes in Brazilian and global economic and political conditions, 

which may result in increased volatility in our markets and contribute to net losses. 

Global economic downturns and related instability in the international financial system have had, and may 
continue to have, a negative effect on economic growth in Brazil. Global economic downturns reduce the availability 
of liquidity and credit to fund the continuation and expansion of  our business operations worldwide. While Brazil 
exports a diversified bundle  of products to a variety of countries, a significant decline  in the economic growth or 
demand for imports of any of Brazil’s major trading partners, such as the European Union, China or the United States, 
could have a material adverse impact on Brazil’s exports and balance of trade and adversely affect Brazil’s economic 
growth.  

Furthermore,  because  international  investors’  reactions  to  the  events  occurring  in  one  emerging  market 
country sometimes produce a “contagion” effect, in which an entire region or class of investment is disfavored by 
international investors, Brazil could be adversely affected by negative economic or financial developments in other 
countries.  Such  developments  may  affect  the  Brazilian  economy  in  the  future  and,  consequently,  our  results  of 
operations.  

Uncertainty as to whether the Brazilian government will implement significant changes in public policy in 
the future may contribute to economic uncertainty in Brazil and to heightened volatility in the Brazilian securities 
markets and the securities issued by Brazilian companies. As a result, there may be high volatility in the domestic 
financial  markets  in  the  short  term,  and  economic  recovery  in  the  long  term  may  be  hindered.  Accordingly, 
improvements in the labor market and income growth  may be limited,  which could have an adverse effect on our 
operations and financial results. 

Furthermore, on June 23, 2016, the United Kingdom held an in-or-out referendum on the United Kingdom’s 
membership within the European Union, the result of which favored the exit of the United Kingdom from the European 
Union, or “Brexit.” The United Kingdom was initially expected to depart the European Union on March 29, 2019, but 
on  March  21,  2019,  the  European  Union  and  the  United  Kingdom  agreed  to  extend  the  deadline  for  Brexit.  The 
European Union and the United Kingdom agreed to a further extension on April 10, 2019. On January 2020, the United 
Kingdom announced it had officially exited the European Union and entered a transition period. Brexit has caused 
and may continue to cause political and economic uncertainty, including significant volatility in global stock markets 
and currency exchange rate fluctuations. The effects of Brexit will depend on many factors, including any trade deals 
that the United Kingdom makes to retain access to European Union markets. Brexit could lead to legal uncertainty 
and potentially divergent national laws and regulations as the United Kingdom determines which  European Union 

13 

 
laws to replace or replicate. If no trade deal is reached, there could be increased costs from re-imposition of tariffs on 
trade  between  the  United  Kingdom  and  the  European  Union,  shipping  delays  because  of  the  need  for  customs 
inspections and procedures, and temporary shortages of certain goods.  In addition, trade and investment between the 
United Kingdom, the European Union, Brazil and other countries will be impacted by the fact that the United Kingdom 
currently operates under the European Union’s tax treaties. The United Kingdom will need to negotiate its own tax 
and trade treaties with countries all over the world, which could take years to complete. The potential impact of Brexit 
on  our  market  share,  sales,  profitability  and  results  of  operations  is  unclear.  Depending  on  the  terms  of  Brexit, 
economic conditions in the United Kingdom, the European Union and global markets may be adversely affected by 
reduced growth and volatility. The uncertainty before, during and after the period of negotiation could also have a 
negative economic impact and increase volatility in the markets, particularly in the Eurozone. 

Pandemics or human disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 virus), may disrupt 
consumption and trade patterns, supply chains and production processes, which could materially affect our 
operations and results of operations. 

Pandemics or human disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 virus) originating in China 
in late 2019 and declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, may adversely 
affect our business and operations. 

While the extent and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic currently remains uncertain, it has already disrupted 
consumption and trade patterns, supply chains and production processes at a global scale and specifically relating to 
our business, including to the extent that anticipated product shipments may be substantially delayed either as a result 
of further spread of the virus or as a result of precautionary measures implemented by governments or commercial 
enterprises to limit the spread of the virus.  

We continue to operate our plants, distribution centers, logistics, supply chain and administrative offices, 
although  currently  we  have  implemented  a  partial  remote  work  program  in  some  of  our  corporate  offices.  Our 
management has developed and implemented contingency plans to maintain the operations and monitors the effects 
of the pandemic through a permanent multidisciplinary monitoring  committee, formed by executives, specialists in 
the public health area and consultants. 

Customers from certain regions and channels in which we operate are being affected by COVID-19, mainly 
by  the  measures  of  social  distancing  imposed  by  authorities.  We  believe  that  there  will  be  an  increase  in  general 
customer default rates during the second quarter of 2020 and a consequent increase in expected credit losses. The 
further deterioration in the credit cycle of our customers may adversely affect our results and cash flows in the future, 
which we discuss in Note 36.2 to our consolidated financial statements. 

Our operations include global production and distribution facilities, and if there is an outbreak of COVID-19 
in  our  facilities  or  the  communities  where  we  operate  and  distribute  our  products,  our  production,  operations, 
employees, suppliers, customers and distribution channels could be severely impacted. Ports and other channels of 
entry may be closed or operate at only a portion of capacity, as workers may be prohibited or otherwise unable to 
report to work, and means of transporting products within regions or countries may be limited for the same reason, 
along with the potential for transport restrictions related to quarantines or travel bans.  

Such  a  pandemic  could  also  have  an  adverse  impact  on  consumer  demand,  as  quarantines  may  inhibit 
consumption, and restrictions on public gatherings or interactions may limit the opportunity for our customers and 
consumers to purchase our products. The consequences of such a pandemic could also result in a widespread health 
crisis that destabilizes commodity prices and the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an 
economic downturn that could affect demand for our products and have a material adverse effect on our results of 
operations. 

14 

 
 
Our results of operations are subject to cyclicality and volatility affecting  the prices of commodities, poultry and 
pork, which could adversely affect our entire business.  

Our business is largely dependent on the cost and supply of corn, soy meal, soybeans, hogs and other raw 
materials, as well as the selling prices of our poultry and pork. These prices are determined by supply and demand, 
which  may  fluctuate  significantly,  and  other  factors  over  which  we  have  little  or  no  control.  These  other  factors 
include,  among  others,  fluctuations  in  local  and  global  poultry  and  hog  production  levels,  environmental  and 
conservation regulations, economic conditions, weather, animal and crop diseases, cost of international freight and 
exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations. In addition, prices for our raw materials, including corn, soy meal and 
soybeans, have been affected, and may continue to be affected, by the ongoing trade dispute between the U.S. and 
China. It is unclear whether this trade dispute will be resolved and what effects it may have on global political and 
economic conditions in the long term. Any changes in the price of raw materials required to produce our products as 
a result of the foregoing or other factors could have a material impact on our business. 

Our industry, both in Brazil and abroad, is generally characterized by cyclical periods of higher prices and 
higher profitability, followed by overproduction, leading to periods of lower prices and lower profitability or losses. 
There can be no assurance that we will be able to adequately adapt to any such cyclicality or volatility, which may 
have an adverse effect on our operations and financial results.  

Natural disasters or extreme weather, including floods, excessive cold or heat, hurricanes or other storms, as 
well as any interruption at our plants that may require the temporary re-allocation of plant functions to other facilities 
could, among other things, impair the  health or growth of  livestock or interfere  with our operations due to power 
outages, damage to our production and processing facilities or disruption in transportation channels or information 
systems.  

Our external market sales are subject to a broad range of risks associated with cross-border operations. 

External market sales account for a significant portion of our global net sales, and represented 44.5% of our 
net sales in 2019, 43.3% of our net sales in 2018 and 43.3% of our net sales in 2017. Our external market is reported 
within our International business segment, which comprises Islamic markets (including Turkey, North of Africa, Gulf 
Cooperation  Council  (GCC)  and  Malaysia),  Asia,  Europe,  Eurasia,  Africa  and  Americas,  where  we  are  subject  to 
many of the same risks described below in relation to Brazil. Furthermore, we may seek to expand sales of our products 
to additional international markets. Our future financial performance depends, to a significant extent, on the economic, 
political and social conditions in those regions as well as on our supply conditions. 

Our future ability to conduct business operations in external markets could be adversely affected by factors 

beyond our control, such as: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

exchange rate and interest rate fluctuations and the impact of hyperinflation; 

commodities price volatility; 

deterioration in global economic conditions; 

political  risks,  such  as  turmoil  and  instability,  foreign  exchange  controls  and  uncertainty  regarding 
government policies;  

decreases in demand, particularly from large markets such as China and Saudi Arabia;  

imposition of increased tariffs, anti-dumping duties or other non-tariff trade barriers; 

restrictions on international trade and financial flows imposed due to balance of payments deficits; 

strikes or other events affecting ports and other transport facilities; 

15 

 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

unpredictable international border closings that restrict products, materials and people; 

compliance with differing foreign legal and regulatory regimes;  

strikes, not only of our employees, but also of port employees, truck drivers, customs agents, sanitary 
inspection agents and other government agents at the Brazilian ports from which we export several of 
our products; 

access to adequate infrastructure, which could be affected by flooding or similar events;  

sabotage affecting our products; and 

negative media exposure related to the Brazilian agriculture and/or meat processing industry, including 
in connection with the Carne Fraca Operation, Trapaça Operation and/or other investigations. 

We face significant competition from Brazilian and foreign producers, which could adversely affect our financial 
performance. 

We face strong competition from other Brazilian producers in both the domestic and external markets. In 
addition, we compete with foreign producers in our external markets. The Brazilian market for whole poultry, poultry 
and pork cuts is highly fragmented.  Small producers, some of which operate in the informal economy, are able to 
offer lower prices by meeting lower quality standards. With respect to exports, we compete with other large, vertically 
integrated producers that have the ability to produce quality products at similarly low costs. 

In addition, the size and growth potential of the Brazilian market for processed food, poultry, pork and beef 
combined with Brazil’s low production costs are attractive to international competitors. Although the main barrier to 
these  companies  entering  the  Brazilian  market  has  been  the  need  to  build  a  comprehensive  distribution  network, 
including  a  network  of  outgrowers  (outsourced  farmers),  foreign  competitors  with  significant  resources  could 
undertake to build and/or acquire such capabilities. 

The  Brazilian  poultry  and  pork  cuts  markets,  in  particular,  are  highly  price-competitive  and  sensitive  to 
product substitution. Even if we remain a low-cost producer, with strong brands, consumers may choose to purchase 
other products or brands. We expect to continue to face strong competition in all of our markets and anticipate that 
existing or new competitors may broaden their product lines and extend their geographic scope. Any delay or failure 
by  us  in  responding  to  product,  pricing  and  other  strategies  by  competitors  may  negatively  affect  our  financial 
performance. 

Increased regulation of food safety and animal welfare could increase our costs and adversely affect our results of 
operations. 

Our manufacturing facilities and products are subject to governmental inspections and extensive regulation 
in the food safety area, including governmental food processing controls in all countries in which we operate. We 
incur  significant  costs  in  connection  with  our  efforts  to  comply  with  applicable  food  safety  and  processing  rules. 
Changes  in  government  regulations  relating  to  food  safety  or  animal  welfare  could  require  us  to  make  additional 
investments or incur additional costs to meet the necessary specifications for our products. Our products are often 
inspected outside of Brazil by foreign food safety officials, and any failure to pass those inspections could result in us 
being required to return all or part of a shipment to Brazil, recall certain products, dispose of all or part of a shipment 
or  incur  costs  because  of  delays  in  delivering  products  to  our  customers.  Although  Brazil  currently  has  limited 
regulations regarding animal welfare, we have adopted various international animal welfare standards to address our 
customers’ expectations. Any tightening of food safety or animal welfare regulations could result in increased costs 
and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.  

16 

 
Our performance depends on favorable labor relations with our employees, our compliance with labor laws and 
the safety of our facilities. Any deterioration of those relations, increases in labor costs or injuries at our facilities 
could adversely affect our business.  

As of December 31, 2019, we had approximately 93,000 employees worldwide. Our production employees 
in Brazil and in countries  where  organized  labor  is prevalent are generally represented by labor unions. Upon the 
expiration of existing collective bargaining agreements or other collective labor agreements,  we  may be unable to 
reach new agreements with the labor unions and any such agreements may not be on terms satisfactory to us, which 
could result in higher payments of wages or benefits to union workers. Additionally, if we are unable to negotiate 
acceptable union agreements, we may become subject to work stoppages or strikes.  

Labor costs are among our most significant expenditures. Such costs represented approximately 14.3% of 
our cost of sales in 2019. In the event of a review of our employee contract structure, additional operational expenses 
could  be  incurred.  Additionally,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  we  outsource  some  of  our  labor  force,  which 
subjects us to claims that may arise from these relationships, including claims directly against us as if we were the 
direct  employer  of  the  outsourced  workers.  In  the  event  that  a  significant  amount  of  these  claims  result  in  an 
unfavorable outcome against us, we may be held liable for amounts higher than our provisions, which may have a 
material adverse effect on our business, financial and operational condition and results of operations. In addition, if 
the outsourced activities are deemed by the authorities to be core activities, outsourcing may be considered illegal and 
the outsourced workers may be considered our employees, which would result in a significant increase in our costs 
and could subject us to administrative and judicial procedures by the relevant authorities and fines. We are also subject 
to increases in our labor costs due to Brazilian inflation and increases in health insurance costs. Material increases in 
our labor costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition and 
prospects. 

In addition, we face risks related to the safety of our facilities. If we fail to implement safety procedures or if 
the procedures we implement are ineffective or are not followed by our employees or others, our employees and others 
may be injured, which could result in costs for the injuries and lost productivity. Any of the foregoing could have an 
adverse impact on our business, results of operations and reputation.  

Environmental laws and regulations require increased expenditures for compliance.  

We,  like  other  Brazilian  food  producers,  are  subject  to  extensive  Brazilian  federal,  state  and  local 
environmental laws, regulations, authorizations and licenses concerning, among other things, the interference  with 
protected  areas,  such  as  conservation  units,  archeological  areas  and  permanent  preservation  areas,  handling  and 
disposal of waste, discharges of pollutants into the air, water and soil, atmospheric emissions, noise and clean-up of 
contamination, all of which affect our business. Water management is especially crucial and poses many challenges 
to our operations. In Brazil, water use regulations impact farming operations, industrial production and hydroelectric 
power. Any failure to comply with any of these laws or regulations or any lack of authorizations or licenses could 
result in administrative and criminal penalties, such as fines, cancellation of authorizations or revocation of licenses, 
in addition to negative publicity and civil liability for remediation or compensation for environmental damage without 
any caps. Civil penalties may include summons, fines, temporary or permanent bans, the suspension of subsidies by 
public bodies and the temporary or permanent shutdown of commercial activities. Criminal penalties include fines, 
temporary  loss  of  rights  and  prison  (for  individual  offenders)  and  liquidation,  temporary  loss  of  rights,  fines  and 
community service (for legal entities). Additionally, pursuant to Brazilian environmental laws, the corporate veil will 
be pierced (such that the stockholders of a company will be held liable for its debts) if necessary to guarantee the 
payment of costs related to the recovery of environmental damage whenever the corporate veil is deemed by a court 
to be an obstacle to obtaining compensation for environmental damage. 

We have incurred, and will continue to incur, operating expenses and capital expenditure requirements to 
comply  with  these  laws  and  regulations.  Because  of  the  possibility  of  unanticipated  regulatory  measures  or  other 
developments, particularly as environmental laws become more stringent in Brazil, the amount and timing of future 
expenditures  required  to  maintain  compliance  may  increase  from  current  levels  and  may  adversely  affect  the 
availability of funds for capital expenditures and other priorities. Compliance with existing or new environmental laws 
and regulations, as well as obligations in agreements with public entities, may result in increased costs and expenses. 

17 

 
Our plants are subject to environmental and operational licensing based on their pollution potential and use 
of natural resources. If one of our plants is built or expanded without an environmental license, or if our environmental 
licenses expire, are not timely renewed or have their request for renewal rejected by the competent environmental 
authority, we may incur fines and other administrative penalties, such as suspension of operations or closing of the 
facilities in question. Those same penalties may also be applicable in the case of a failure to fulfill the conditions of 
validity  in  the  environmental  licenses  already  held  by  us.  Furthermore,  we  cannot  operate  a  plant  if  the  required 
environmental permit is not valid or updated. Currently, some of our environmental licenses are in the renewal process, 
and  we  cannot  guarantee  that  environmental  agencies  will  approve  our  renewal  requests.  Brazilian  CONAMA 
(“Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente”) Resolution 237 establishes that renewal of environmental licenses must be 
requested at least 120 days in advance of their expiration, so that the licenses may be automatically extended until a 
final decision from the environmental authority is reached. In addition, the environmental agency may condition the 
renewal on expensive facility upgrades if there have been regulatory changes in the environmental standards that the 
plant is required to meet, which may result in delays, disruptions or in the denial of the license. 

We are also subject to similar environmental laws and restrictions in all jurisdictions where we have plants 

and operations, which may require us to incur significant costs. 

Unfavorable outcomes in administrative and legal proceedings may reduce our liquidity and negatively affect us. 

We are defendants in civil and other proceedings (including administrative, regulatory and environmental), 
labor and tax proceedings and are also subject to consent agreements (Termo de Ajustamento de Conduta, or “TAC”). 
Unfavorable decisions in our legal proceedings may reduce our liquidity and have a material adverse impact on our 
business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. 

With  regard  to  tax  contingencies,  we  are  currently  defendants  in  a  number  of  cases,  which  include,  for 
example, disputes regarding the offset of tax credits and the use of tax incentives in several states that have not yet 
reached a final ruling in the Brazilian courts. In addition, we may face risks arising from potential impairment of input 
state VAT that we accumulate on exports.  

As  of  December  31,  2019,  we  had  R$1,794,369  thousand  in  provisions  for  contingencies,  of  which 
R$307,177 thousand was for civil and other contingencies (including administrative, regulatory and environmental), 
R$583,464  thousand  was  for  tax  contingencies,  R$603,074  thousand  was  for  labor  contingencies  and  R$300,654 
thousand was for contingent liabilities arising from business combinations. 

We are also currently being investigated in the Carne Fraca Operation and Trapaça Operation, which may 
result in penalties, fines and sanctions from governmental authorities or other forms of liability. For more information 
about the “Carne Fraca Operation” and “Trapaça Operation” see “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated 
Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Carne Fraca Operation” and “Item 8. Financial 
Information—A.  Consolidated  Statements  and  Other  Financial  Information—Legal  Proceedings—Trapaça 
Operation.” Any investigation from governmental authorities currently unknown to us with respect to any potentially 
unlawful business practice may also result in penalties, fines and sanctions or other forms of liability. 

On March 12, 2018, a shareholder class action lawsuit was filed against us, some of our former managers 
and a current officer of ours in the U.S. Federal District Court in the Southern District of New York. On July 2, 2018, 
the Court appointed the  City  of Birmingham Retirement and Relief System lead plaintiff in  the action (the  “Lead 
Plaintiff”). On December 5, 2018, the Lead Plaintiff filed an amended complaint that sought to represent all persons 
and  entities  who  purchased  or  otherwise  acquired  BRF  ADRs  during  the  period  from  April  4,  2013,  through  and 
including March 2, 2018. The class action alleges, among other things, that BRF and certain of its officers and/or 
directors engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices related to the regulatory issues in connection 
with the Carne Fraca Operation and Trapaça Operation. On December 13, 2019, we and the other defendants filed a 
motion to dismiss. On January 21, 2020, the Lead Plaintiff filed an opposition motion and, on February 11, 2020, we 
and the other defendants filed our response. While the court’s decision on the motion to dismiss was still pending, the 
parties  reached  an  agreement  on  March  27,  2020  to  settle  this  class  action  for  an  amount  equivalent  to  R$204.44 
million (U.S.$40 million), subject to definitive documentation and court approval. 

18 

 
In addition, in 2019 we received two final and unappealable judicial decisions regarding the exclusion of 
ICMS from the tax basis of the social contributions of PIS and COFINS, which permitted us to recognize a significant 
amount of recoverable taxes, which are described in Note 9.2 to our consolidated financial statements. For a number 
of procedural reasons involved in finalizing the settlements for these judgments, it could take an extended period of 
time for us to receive these amounts, either as compensation or through obtaining a court ordered financial obligation 
(precatório).  

In  March  2020,  three  confidential  arbitration  proceedings  were  brought  against  us  in  the  B3’s  Market 
Arbitration Chamber (Câmara de Arbitragem do Mercado) in Brazil by investors that had purchased our shares traded 
on the B3, seeking recovery from alleged losses incurred by them, due to the price fall of our shares, during the period 
starting from April 4, 2013 and afterwards. Because these three arbitration proceedings are in their initial stages, we 
believe the possible loss or range of losses, if any, arising from these arbitrations cannot be estimated. In the event 
that these litigation or arbitration proceedings are decided against us, or we enter into an agreement to settle, there can 
be no assurance that an unfavorable outcome would not have a material impact on us. 

Our inability or failure to protect our intellectual property and any intellectual property infringement against us 
could have a negative impact on our operating results. 

Our principal intellectual property consists of our domestic and international brands. Our ability to compete 
effectively depends in part on our rights to trademarks, logos and other intellectual property rights we own or license. 
We have not sought to register or protect every one of our trademarks in every country in which they are or may be 
used, which means that third parties may be able to limit or challenge our trademark rights there. Furthermore, because 
of the differences in foreign intellectual property or proprietary rights laws, we may not receive the same level of legal 
protection  in  every  country  in  which  we  operate.  Litigation  may  be  necessary  to  enforce  our  intellectual  property 
rights, and if we do not prevail, we could suffer a material adverse impact on our business, goodwill, financial position, 
results of operations and cash flows. Further, third parties may allege that our intellectual property and/or business 
activities infringe their own intellectual property or proprietary rights, and any litigation in this regard would be costly, 
regardless of the merits. If we are unsuccessful in defending any such third-party claims, or settling such claims, we 
could be required to pay damages and/or enter into license agreements, which might not be available under favorable 
terms. We may also be forced to rebrand or redesign our products to avoid the infringement, which could result in 
significant costs in certain markets. If we are found to infringe on any third party’s intellectual property, we could 
suffer a material adverse impact on our reputation, business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. 

We are vulnerable to third party transportation and logistics risks, and we rely on a limited number of available 
third party suppliers to deliver certain specialized materials that we require for our production activities. 

We  depend  on  fast  and  efficient  transportation  and  logistics  services  to,  among  other  things,  deliver  raw 
materials to our production facilities, deliver animal feed to our poultry and pork growers and distribute our products. 
Any prolonged disruption of these services may have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition 
and results of operations. For example, on May 21, 2018, a national truckers’ strike commenced in Brazil regarding 
increases  in  fuel  prices.  The  strike  materially  disrupted  the  supply  chain  of  various  industries  across  the  country, 
including the supply chain of raw materials to our production facilities and the delivery of animal feed to our poultry 
and pork growers, and, at its peak, led to the suspension of the operation of all of our production facilities located in 
Brazil. Furthermore, this strike also materially affected the regular functioning of the ports from where our products 
are exported. We incurred increased costs in connection with the truckers’ strike and also were required to dispose of 
certain animals as a result of the strike. There can be no assurance that the truckers will not seek to engage in any 
further strikes, that the Brazilian federal government or any other relevant party will be able to meet the demands of 
the truckers in a satisfactory manner or that any such strike will not adversely affect our supply chain or the operation 
of our production facilities. In addition, any other reduction in the dependability or availability of transportation or 
logistics services or a significant increase in transportation service rates, including as a result of, among other things, 
flooding in ports, warehouse fires or labor strikes, could impair our ability to satisfy our supply chain requirements 
and deliver our products economically to our customers. Any such disruption to the transportation or logistics services 
that we depend on could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations and financial condition. 

In addition, some of our production activities require specialized materials that we acquire from a limited 
number of available third party suppliers. For example, we rely on purchases of genetic material used in our livestock 

19 

 
 
breeding programs from a very small number of livestock genetics companies. If any of these suppliers is not able to 
supply the materials in the quantity and at the frequency that we normally acquire them, and we are not able to replace 
the supplier on acceptable terms or at all, we may be unable to maintain our usual level of production and sales in the 
affected  category  of  product,  which  may  have  a  material  adverse  effect  on  our  business  and  operations  and, 
consequently, on our results of operations. 

Damages not covered by our insurance policies might result in losses for us, which could have an adverse effect 
on our business. 

Certain kinds of losses cannot be insured against via third-party insurance, and our insurance policies are 
subject to liability limits and exclusions. For example, political risks, environmental and climate events, fraud, strike, 
product recalls, fines and penalties, terrorism, the livestock itself, ammonia leakage, financial risks such decrease in 
stock prices, cybersecurity risks,  sabotage, industrial  espionage,  natural disasters or other catastrophic events  may 
cause damage or disruption to our operations, international commerce and the global economy, and thus could have a 
material  adverse  effect  on  us.  Additionally,  we  are  exposed  to  certain  product  quality  risks,  such  as  criminal 
contamination, avian influenza, salmonella and other livestock diseases that can impact our operations and which are 
not covered under insurance. If an event that cannot be insured occurs, or the damages are higher than our policy 
limits, we may incur significant costs. In addition, we could be required to indemnify parties affected by such an event. 
Furthermore, even where we incur losses that are ultimately covered by insurance, we may incur additional expenses 
to mitigate the loss, such as shifting production to different facilities. These costs may not be fully covered by our 
insurance. 

From time to time, our facilities may be affected by fires, such as the fires in our facilities in Chapecó, State 
of Santa Catarina and Paranaguá, State of Paraná that occurred in 2016, in Lajeado, State of Rio Grande do Sul in 
2017 and in Arroio do Meio, State of Rio Grande do Sul in 2019, and by flooding such as the flooding in our facility 
in Bandirma/Turkey in 2018, as well as by electrical damages or explosion in substations, or widespread truck driver 
strikes. Our business interruption insurance may not cover all of our direct and indirect costs and intangible costs in 
connection  with  disruptions  to  our  operations.  For  example,  the  negative  impacts  on  our  business  from  the  2018 
Brazilian  truckers’  strike,  including  the  suspension  of  operations  at  our  production  facilities  and  increased 
transportation and logistics costs, were not covered by any of our insurance policies. Any similar events in the future 
could have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. 

Moreover, our insurance policies may not cover legal costs in general incurred to defend the company against 
legal and administrative proceedings. We have incurred, and expect to continue to incur, significant costs in connection 
with the Carne Fraca Operation, the Trapaça Operation and the shareholder class action filed on March 12, 2018. 
The costs associated with these investigations and the costs of defending the class action may not be covered by our 
insurance policies. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain insurance coverage in the 
future, related to the foregoing or any other matters, on terms acceptable to us. As a result, we may incur significant 
additional expenses which may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.    

We depend on members of our senior management and on our ability to recruit and retain qualified professionals 
to implement our strategy. 

We  depend  on  members  of  our  senior  management  and  other  qualified  professionals  to  implement  our 
business  strategies.  Efforts  to  recruit  and  retain  professionals  may  result  in  significant  additional  expenses,  which 
could adversely affect our results. In addition, loss of key professionals may adversely affect our ability to implement 
our strategy, as well as expenses associated to these losses can impact our results. In 2017 and 2018, we experienced 
a significant number of departures of senior management, including two of our previous CEOs, our CFO, our Chief 
Human Resources Officer (“CHRO”), our Brazil General Manager and our Vice President of Operations. In addition, 
on March 5, 2018, we called an Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting (the “Ordinary and Extraordinary 
General Meeting”), which was held on April 26, 2018, at the request of two of our shareholders, Caixa de Previdência 
dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil, or “PREVI,” and Fundação Petrobras de Seguridade Social, or “PETROS,” 
which jointly hold approximately 20% of our capital stock. At the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting, the 
number of  members of our board of directors was set at 10 members,  new  members  were elected to the board of 
directors and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the board of directors were elected. Only  four of the ten board 
members elected during the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting were previously members of our board of 

20 

 
directors.  Furthermore,  pursuant  to  Novo  Mercado  rules,  we  expected  Mr.  Pedro  Pullen  Parente’s  term  as  Chief 
Executive Officer to end on or before June 18, 2019, as he was only permitted to hold the positions of Chairman of 
the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer at the same time for a period of one year. In connection with the 
end  of  Mr.  Parente’s  term  as  Chief  Executive  Officer,  on  March  28,  2019,  the  Company  appointed  Mr.  Lorival 
Nogueira Luz Júnior, the Company’s Chief Operating Officer at the time, as Chief Executive Officer, and he began 
his term on June 18, 2019. On January 31, 2019, we appointed Mr. Ivan de Souza Monteiro as Chief Financial Officer, 
who took office on March 11, 2019 and remained in the position until April 25, 2019. As a result of Mr. Monteiro’s 
departure, Mr. Lorival Nogueira Luz Júnior was temporarily our acting Chief Financial Officer, and on August 13, 
2019, we appointed Mr. Carlos Alberto Bezerra de Moura as the new Chief Financial  Officer, who took office on 
September 16, 2019. These changes, and other potential changes, in the composition of our senior management team 
and our board of directors may result in modifications to our business strategy and have a material adverse effect on 
us.  

Breaches, disruptions, or failures of our information technology systems, including as a result of cybersecurity 
attacks, could disrupt our operations and negatively impact our business and reputation.  

Information  technology  is  an  important  part  of  our  business  operations  and  we  increasingly  rely  on 
information technology systems to manage business data and improve the efficiency of our production and distribution 
facilities and inventory management processes. We also use information technology to process financial information 
and results of operations for internal reporting purposes and to comply with regulatory, legal and tax requirements. In 
addition,  we  depend  on  information  technology  for  digital  marketing  and  electronic  communications  between  our 
facilities, personnel, customers and suppliers.  We also process personal data of  our employees and customers. We 
depend  on  cryptography  technology  and  electronic  authentication  programs  provided  by  third  parties  to  securely 
process the collection, storage and transmission of confidential information, including personal data. 

Our information technology systems may be vulnerable to a variety of interruptions and cybersecurity threats 
and incidents. There are numerous and evolving risks related to cybersecurity and privacy, including criminal hackers, 
hacktivists, state-sponsored intrusions, industrial espionage, employee malfeasance and human or technological error. 
Computer  hackers  and  others  routinely  attempt  to  breach  the  security  of  information  technology  systems  and  to 
fraudulently induce employees, customers and other third parties to disclose information or unwittingly provide access 
to systems or data. Successful cybersecurity attacks, breaches, employee malfeasance, or human or technological error 
may result in, for example, unauthorized access to, disclosure, modification, misuse, loss or destruction of data or 
systems, including those belonging to us, our customers or third parties; theft of sensitive,  regulated or confidential 
data including personal information; the loss of access to critical data or systems through ransomware, destructive 
attacks or other means; transaction errors; business delays; and service or system disruptions. In the event of such 
actions, we, our customers and other third parties may be exposed to potential liability, litigation, and regulatory or 
other government action, the loss of existing or potential customers, loss of sales, damage to brand and reputation and 
other financial loss. In addition, if we are unable to prevent security breaches, we may suffer financial and reputational 
damage  or  penalties  because  of  the  unauthorized  disclosure  of  confidential  information  belonging  to  us  or  to  our 
partners, customers, consumers or suppliers. The cost and operational consequences of responding to cybersecurity 
incidents  and  implementing  remediation  measures  may  be  significant  and  may  not  be  covered  by  insurance.  Our 
cybersecurity risk also depends on factors such as the actions, practices and investments of customers, contractors, 
business partners, vendors and other third parties.  

Our  efforts  to  monitor,  identify,  investigate,  respond  to  and  remediate  security  incidents,  including  those 
associated with cybersecurity attacks, may not be adequate or sufficient. The measures that we have implemented 
regarding technology security and disaster recovery plan may not be adequate or sufficient. There can be no assurance 
that these efforts and measures will be successful in preventing a cybersecurity attack, a general information security 
incident or a disruption of our information technology systems. The occurrence of any such events may materially 
adversely affect our operations, business and reputation. Furthermore, as our business and the cybersecurity landscape 
evolve,  we  may  find  it  necessary  to  make  significant  further  investments  to  protect  our  data  and  information 
technology infrastructure, which may adversely impact our financial condition and results of operations.  

The regulatory environment with regard to cybersecurity, privacy and data protection issues is increasingly 
complex and may have impacts on our business, including increased risk, costs and expanded compliance obligations. 
For example, on May 25, 2018, the Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of April 

21 

 
27, 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement 
of such data (the “General Data Protection Regulation” or “GDPR”) became directly applicable in all member states 
of the European Union. Violations of the GDPR carry financial  risks due to penalties for data breach or improper 
processing of personal data (including a possible fine of up to 4% of total worldwide annual turnover for the preceding 
financial  year  for  the  most  serious  infringements)  and  may  also  adversely  affect  our  reputation  and  our  activities 
relying on personal data processing. The Brazil General Data Privacy Law (Lei Geral de Proteção de Dados Pessoais), 
which was signed into law in August 2018 and will become effective in  August 2020, and an increased number of 
data protection laws around the globe may continue to result in increased compliance costs and risks. See “—We are 
subject to risks associated with failure to comply with the data protection laws, and we may be negatively affected by 
the imposition of fines and other types of sanctions.” The potential costs of compliance with or imposed by new or 
existing regulations and policies that are applicable to us may affect our business and could have a material adverse 
effect on our results of operations. 

We are subject to risks associated with failure to comply with the data protection laws, and we may be negatively 
affected by the imposition of fines and other types of sanctions.  

Law No. 13,709/2018, or the Brazilian General Data Protection Law, will come into force and take effect in 
August 2020 and will change the way the protection of personal data is regulated in Brazil. The Brazilian General 
Data Protection Law establishes a new legal framework to be observed in personal data processing operations and 
provides, among other things, for the rights of the owners of personal data, the legal bases applicable to the protection 
of personal data, the requirements for obtaining consent, obligations, requirements regarding security incidents, leaks 
and data transfers, as well as authorization for the creation of the Brazilian National Data Protection Authority.  

If we do not comply with the Brazilian General Data Protection Law, both we and our subsidiaries may be 
subject  to  sanctions,  either  individually  or  cumulatively,  including  warnings,  obligations  to  disclose  incidents, 
temporary blocking and/or deletion of personal data, and penalties of up to 2% of our revenue or the revenue of our 
group  or  our  conglomerate  in  Brazil  in  the  last  year,  excluding  taxes,  up  to  a  total  amount  of  R$50 million  per 
infraction. In addition, we may be held liable for material, moral, individual or collective damages caused by us, and 
may  be  held  jointly  and  severally  liable  for  material,  moral,  individual  or  collective  damages  caused  by  our 
subsidiaries, on account of failure to comply with the obligations set forth by the Brazilian General Data Protection 
Law.  

Therefore, the failure to protect personal data processed by us and our subsidiaries, as well as the failure to 
adjust  to  the  applicable  legislation,  may  result  in  significant  fines  for  us  and  our  subsidiaries,  disclosure  of  any 
incidents in the  media, the deletion of personal data  from  our database, and even the suspension of our activities, 
which could adversely affect our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition. 

Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness 

We have substantial indebtedness, and our leverage could negatively affect our ability to refinance our indebtedness 
and grow our business. 

At December 31, 2019, our total consolidated loans and borrowings was R$18.6 billion. 

Our substantial indebtedness could have major consequences for us, including:  

• 

• 

requiring that a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations be used for the payment of principal 
and interest on our debt, reducing the funds available for our operations, capital expenditures or other 
capital needs; 

limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which 
we operate because our available cash flow after paying principal and interest on our debt might not be 
sufficient to make the capital and other expenditures necessary to address these changes; 

22 

 
• 

• 

• 

increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions because, during periods 
in which we experience lower earnings and cash flows, we would be required to devote a proportionally 
greater amount of our cash flows to paying principal and interest on debt; 

limiting  our  ability  to  obtain  additional  financing  in  the  future  to  fund  working  capital,  capital 
expenditures, acquisitions and general corporate requirements; 

increasing our expenditures due to depreciations of the Brazilian real, which can lead to an increased 
amount of capital needed to service indebtedness that are denominated in U.S. dollars; 

•  making  it  difficult  for  us  to  refinance  our  indebtedness  or  to  refinance  such  indebtedness  on  terms 

favorable to us, including with respect to existing accounts receivable securitizations; 

• 

placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to competitors that are relatively less leveraged and 
that may be better positioned to withstand economic downturns; and 

• 

exposing our current and future borrowings made at floating interest rates to increases in interest rates. 

In view of our current credit metrics and according to the policies and guidelines set by ratings agencies in 
order  to  evaluate  a  company’s  creditworthiness,  as  well  as  other  factors,  our  credit  rating  has  been  recently 
downgraded, and we are currently rated below “investment grade” by all the rating agencies that rate us. 

We have substantial debt that matures in each of the next several years. 

As of December 31, 2019,  we had R$3.1 billion of debt that  matures in 2020, R$1.9 billion of debt that 
matures in 2021, R$2.1 billion of debt that matures in 2022, R$2.4 billion of debt that matures in 2023 and R$9.0 
billion of debt that matures in 2024 and thereafter. 

A substantial portion of our outstanding debt is denominated in foreign currencies, primarily U.S. dollars. As 
of December 31, 2019, we had R$11.0 billion of foreign currency debt, including R$0.3 billion of short-term foreign 
currency debt. Our U.S. dollar-denominated debt must be serviced by funds generated from sales by our subsidiaries, 
the majority of which are not denominated in U.S. dollars. Consequently, when we do not generate sufficient U.S. 
dollar revenues to cover that debt service, we must use revenues generated in reais or other currencies to service our 
U.S. dollar-denominated debt. Depreciation in the value of the real or any of the other currencies of the countries in 
which we operate, compared to the U.S. dollar, could adversely affect our ability to service our debt. Foreign currency 
hedge agreements may not be effective in covering these currency-related risks. 

Any  future  uncertainty  in  the  stock  and  credit  markets  could  also  negatively  impact  our  ability  to  access 
additional short-term and long-term financing, which could negatively impact our liquidity and financial condition. 
If, in future years: 

• 

• 

the pressures on credit return as a result of disruptions in the global stock and credit markets;  

our operating results worsen significantly;  

•  we are unable to complete any necessary divestitures of non-core assets and our cash flow or capital 

resources prove inadequate; or  

•  we are unable to refinance any of our debt that becomes due, we could face liquidity problems and may 
not be able to pay our outstanding debt when due, which could have a material adverse effect on our 
consolidated business and financial condition. 

23 

 
The terms of our indebtedness impose significant restrictions on us. 

The  instruments  governing  our  consolidated  indebtedness  impose  significant  restrictions  on  us.  These 

restrictions may limit, directly or indirectly, our ability, among other things, to undertake the following actions: 

• 

borrow money; 

•  make investments; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

sell assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries; 

guarantee indebtedness; 

enter into agreements that restrict dividends or other distributions from certain subsidiaries; 

enter into transactions with affiliates; 

create or assume liens; and 

engage in mergers or consolidations. 

The breach of any of the covenants to which we are subject could result in a payment default under the terms 
of other existing debt obligations. Upon the occurrence of such an event of default, all amounts outstanding under the 
applicable  debt  instruments  and  the  debt  issued  under  other  debt  instruments  containing  cross-default  or  cross-
acceleration provisions, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, might become or be declared immediately 
due and payable. If such indebtedness were to be accelerated, we may have insufficient funds to repay in full any such 
indebtedness.  In  addition,  in  connection  with  the  entry  into  new  financings  or  amendments  to  existing  financing 
arrangements, our subsidiaries’ financial and operational flexibility may be further reduced as a result of the imposition 
of covenants that are more restrictive, the requirements for additional security and other terms. 

Risks Relating to Brazil 

Brazilian economic, political and other conditions, and Brazilian government policies or actions in response to 
these conditions, may negatively affect our business, results of operations and the market prices of our common 
shares and the ADRs. 

The Brazilian economy has historically been characterized by interventions by the Brazilian government and 
unstable  economic  cycles.  The  Brazilian  government  has  often  changed  monetary,  price  controls,  taxation,  credit, 
tariff and other policies to influence the course of Brazil’s economy. Our business, results of operations, financial 
condition and prospects as well as the market prices of our common shares and the ADRs may be adversely affected 
by, among others, the following factors: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

exchange rate fluctuations; 

expansion or contraction of the Brazilian economy; 

inflation rate fluctuations;  

changes in fiscal or monetary policies; 

commodities price volatility; 

increases in interest rates; 

24 

 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

exchange controls and restrictions on remittances abroad; 

volatility and liquidity of domestic capital and credit markets; 

natural disasters and changes in climate or weather patterns;  

energy or water shortages or rationing; 

changes in environmental regulation;  

social and political instability, particularly in light of recent protests against the government;  

strikes, not only of our employees, but also of port employees, truck drivers, other transport facilities, 
customs agents, sanitary inspection agents and other government agents; and 

other  economic,  political,  diplomatic  and  social  developments  in  or  affecting  Brazil,  including  with 
respect  to  alleged  unethical  or  illegal  conduct  of  certain  figures  in  the  Brazilian  government  and 
legislators, which are currently under investigation. 

Following a two-year contraction of 3.5% in GDP both in 2015 and 2016,  the Brazilian economy posted 
moderate increases of 1.0% and 1.1% in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and again of 1.1% in 2019. Inflation, measured 
by  the  Extended  National  Consumer  Price  Index  (Índice  Nacional  de  Preços  ao  Consumidor  Amplo,  or  “IPCA”) 
published by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, or 
“IBGE”), increased to 4.31% in 2019, from 2.95% and 3.75% in 2017 and 2018, respectively.  Interest rates decreased 
to 4.5% in 2019, from 6.5% in 2018 and 7.00% in 2017. Unemployment had a slight improvement from 12.7% in 
2017 to 12.3% in 2018 and to 11.9% in 2019, according to the National Household Sample Survey (Pesquisa Nacional 
por Amostra de Domicílio) published by the IBGE.  

In addition, various investigations into allegations of money laundering and corruption being conducted by 
the  Office  of  the  Brazilian  Federal  Prosecutor,  including  the  largest  such  investigation,  known  as  the  “Lava  Jato 
Operation,”  have  indirectly  negatively  impacted  the  Brazilian  economy  and  political  environment  and  are  still 
ongoing. 

A number of senior politicians, including current and former members of Congress and the Executive Branch, 
and  high-ranking  executive  officers  of  major  corporations  and  state-owned  companies  in  Brazil  were  arrested, 
convicted of various charges relating to corruption, entered into plea agreements with federal prosecutors and/or have 
resigned or been removed from their positions as a result  of these  Lava Jato investigations. These individuals are 
alleged  to  have  accepted  bribes  by  means  of  kickbacks  on  contracts  granted  by  the  government  to  several 
infrastructure,  oil  and  gas  and  construction  companies.  The  profits  of  these  kickbacks,  which  were  not  publicly 
disclosed, allegedly financed the political campaigns of political parties forming the previous government’s coalition 
that was led by former President Dilma Rousseff. These funds were also allegedly used for the personal enrichment 
of certain individuals. The effects of Lava Jato as well as other ongoing corruption-related investigations resulted in 
an adverse impact on the image and reputation of those companies that have been implicated as well as on the general 
market perception of the Brazilian economy, political environment and the Brazilian capital  markets. We have no 
control over, and cannot predict, whether such investigations or allegations will lead to further political and economic 
instability or whether new allegations against government officials will arise in the future. 

Amidst this background of political uncertainty, in August 2016, the Brazilian Senate approved the removal 
from office of Brazil’s then-president, Ms. Dilma Rousseff, following a legal and administrative impeachment process 
for infringement of budgetary  laws. Mr. Michel Temer, the former vice president,  who assumed the presidency of 
Brazil following Rousseff’s ouster, was first arrested on March 2019, having been convicted of the crimes of cartel 
involvement, active and passive corruption, money laundering and public auction fraud. He was released and arrested 
again four days later, in May 2019, and then released once again six days later.  He continues to be under several 
investigation on corruption allegations.  In addition, the former president, Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, began serving 
a 12-year prison sentence on corruption and money laundering charges in April 2018, but he was released from prison 

25 

 
in November 2019 following a Federal Supreme Court ruling. Mr. da Silva still faces pending charges and could return 
to prison if found guilty once all appeals are exhausted. A strong opposition figure, Mr. da Silva’s release from prison 
could further deepen political tensions in Brazil. 

The  new  Brazilian  president,  Mr.  Jair  Bolsonaro,  a  former  member  of  the  military  and  three-decade 
congressman, was elected on October 28, 2018 and took office on January 1, 2019. During his presidential campaign, 
the new Brazilian president was reported to favor the privatization of state-owned companies, economic liberalization 
and social security and tax reforms. However, there is no guarantee that Mr. Bolsonaro will be successful in executing 
his  campaign  promises  or  passing  certain  favored  reforms  fully  or  at  all.  In  addition,  the  current  minister  of  the 
economy proposed during the presidential campaign the revocation of the income tax exemption for the payment of 
dividends, which, if enacted, would increase the tax expenses associated with any dividend or distribution by Brazilian 
companies. This could impact our ability to receive, from our subsidiaries, future cash dividends or distributions net 
of taxes and also our ability to make distributions to our shareholders net of taxes, which could have a material adverse 
effect on our results of operations.  

Moreover, Mr. Bolsonaro was generally a polarizing figure during his campaign for presidency, particularly 
in relation to certain of his social views, and we cannot predict the ways in which a divided electorate may continue 
to impact his presidency and ability to implement policies and reforms, all of which could have a negative impact on 
our business and the price of our common shares and ADRs.  

In  November  2019,  the  Brazilian  government  passed  a  pension  reform  after  almost  nine  months  of 
negotiations with Congress. In addition, the Brazilian federal government is expected to propose the general terms of 
a fiscal reform to stimulate the economy and reduce the forecasted budget deficit for 2020, but it is uncertain whether 
the Brazilian government will be able to gather the required support in the Brazilian Congress to pass such reforms. 
As of the date of this annual report, many of the proposed public expenses in Brazil’s budget have been maintained 
and it is not clear whether other expenses will be reduced or entirely eliminated. If some or all of these public expenses 
are maintained, Brazil will continue to run a budget deficit for 2020 and the years going forward. We cannot predict 
the  effects  of  this  budget  deficit  on  the  Brazilian  economy.  The  political  and  economic  instability  in  2019  has 
negatively affected consumer confidence in Brazil. The Fundação Getúlio Vargas (“FGV”) Consumer index presented 
a 1.4 points decrease, from 93 points in 2018 to 91.6 points in 2019. 

We cannot predict which policies the Brazilian federal government may adopt or change or the effect that 
any such policies  might have on our business or on the Brazilian economy.  Any such new policies or changes to 
current policies may have a material adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and 
prospects. Worsening political and economic conditions in Brazil may increase production and supply chain costs and 
adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. Uncertainty as to whether the Brazilian government 
will  implement  changes  in  policies  or  regulations  affecting  these  or  other  factors  in  the  future  may  contribute  to 
economic uncertainty in Brazil and to heightened volatility in our production operations. 

Inflation and government measures to curb inflation may adversely affect the Brazilian economy, the Brazilian 
securities market, our business and operations, financial condition and the market prices of our common shares 
and the ADRs. 

Brazil has experienced high inflation rates in the past, while recent downward inflationary pressures caused 
the Brazilian consumer price inflation rates to reach 2.95% in 2017, 3.75% in 2018 and 4.31% in 2019, according to 
the  IPCA,  published  by  the  IBGE.  See  “Item.  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—A.  Operating 
Results—Principal Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations—Brazilian and Global Economic Conditions” and 
“—Effects of Exchange Rate Variations and Inflation.” 

Although inflation levels have been relatively stable in 2017, 2018 and 2019, there can be no assurance that 
inflation rates will not rise in the near future. Periods of higher inflation slow the growth rate of the Brazilian economy, 
which may lead to lower growth in consumption of food products. High inflation also puts pressure on industry costs 
of  production  and  expenses,  which  may  force  companies  to  search  for  innovative  solutions  in  order  to  remain 
competitive. We may not be able to pass any such increase in costs onto our customers and, as a result, it may adversely 
impact our results of operations and financial condition. In addition, high inflation generally leads to higher domestic 
interest rates, and, as a result, the costs of servicing our debt may increase. Furthermore, inflation and its effect on 

26 

 
domestic interest rates can lead to reduced liquidity in the domestic capital and lending markets, which could affect 
our  ability  to  refinance  our  indebtedness  and  may  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  results  of  operations, 
financial condition and the market prices of our common shares and the ADRs. 

Fluctuations in interest rates may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and the market prices 
of our common shares and the ADRs. 

The Central Bank uses interest rates to attempt to keep inflation under control or to stimulate the economy. 
If interest rates decrease, there is generally greater access to credit and consumption of goods typically increases. This 
increase in demand can in turn result in inflation. On the other hand, if interest rates go up, the cost of borrowing 
increases which may inhibit consumption and additional investments. Another consequence of rising interest rates is 
that a greater return is paid in respect of government securities, which may impact other investments by making them 
less attractive by comparison. As a result, there may be additional investment in public debt, which absorbs money 
that could otherwise fund the private sector. 

On December 31, 2019, 36.6% of our total loans and borrowings of R$18.6 billion was either (1) denominated 
in (or swapped into) reais and bears interest based on Brazilian floating interest rates, such as the Long-Term Interest 
Rate (Taxa de Juros de Longo Prazo, or “TJLP”), the interest rate used in our financing agreements with Brazilian 
National Bank for Economic and Social Development (Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social, or 
“BNDES”), the Interbank Deposit Certificate Rate (Certificado de Depósito Interbancário, or “CDI”), an interbank 
certificate  of  deposit  rate  that  applies  to  our  foreign  currency  swaps  and  some  of  our  other  real-denominated 
indebtedness, or the IPCA or (2) U.S. dollar-denominated and bears floating interest based on the London Interbank 
Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). Any increase in the CDI, TJLP, IPCA or LIBOR rates may have an adverse impact on our 
financial expenses and our results of operations. 

Exchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. 

From  time  to  time,  there  have  been  significant  fluctuations  in  the  exchange  rate  between  the  Brazilian 
currency  and  the  U.S.  dollar  and  other  currencies.  The  real  depreciated  13.4%  and  47.0%  in  2014  and  2015, 
respectively, appreciated 16.5% in 2016, and depreciated 1.5%, 17.1% and 4.1% in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively, 
against the U.S. dollar. 

Appreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar may lead to a dampening of export-driven growth. 
Our production costs are denominated in  reais, but our international sales are mostly denominated in U.S. dollars. 
Revenues generated by exports are reduced when translated to  reais in the periods in which the real appreciates in 
relation to the U.S. dollar. Any appreciation could reduce the competitiveness of our exports and adversely affect our 
net sales and our cash flows from exports. On the other hand, a depreciation of Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar 
may lead to higher exports and revenues, but costs may be higher. 

Costs are also directly impacted by exchange rates. Any depreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar could 
create  additional  inflationary  pressures  in  Brazil  by  increasing  the  price  of  imported  products  and  requiring 
deflationary government policies. In addition, the prices of soy meal and soybeans, which are important ingredients 
for our animal feedstock, are closely linked to the U.S. dollar, and many of the mineral nutrients added to our feedstock 
must be purchased in U.S. dollars. The price of corn, another important ingredient for our feedstock, is also linked to 
the U.S. dollar, but to a lesser degree. In addition to feedstock ingredients, we purchase sausage casings, breeder eggs, 
packaging and other raw materials, as well as equipment for use in our production facilities, from suppliers located 
outside Brazil whom we must pay in U.S. dollars or other foreign currencies. When the real depreciates against the 
U.S. dollar, the cost in  reais of our U.S. dollar-linked raw materials and equipment increases, and these increases 
could materially adversely affect our results of operations. We have established policies and procedures to manage 
our  sensitivity  to  such  risks  included  in  our  Financial  Risk  Management  Policy.  This  policy,  however,  may  not 
adequately cover our revenue and cost exposure to exchange rates. 

We had total foreign currency-denominated debt obligations in an aggregate amount of R$11,006.5 million 
at December 31, 2019, representing 59.1% of our total consolidated indebtedness at that date. Although we manage a 
portion of our exchange rate risk through foreign currency derivative instruments and future cash flows from exports 
in  U.S.  dollars  and  other  foreign  currencies,  our  foreign  currency  debt  obligations  are  not  completely  hedged.  A 

27 

 
significant devaluation of the real in relation to the U.S. dollar or other currencies would increase the amount of reais 
that we would need in order to meet debt service requirements of our foreign currency-denominated obligations. 

Changes in tax laws or changes in their interpretation may increase our tax burden and, as a result, negatively 
affect our results of operations and financial condition. 

The  Brazilian  government  regularly  implements  changes  to  tax  regimes  that  may  increase  our  and  our 
suppliers’ and customers’ tax burdens, which may in turn increase the prices we charge for the products we sell, restrict 
our ability to do business in our existing markets and, therefore, materially adversely affect our results of operations 
and financial condition.  

These changes include modifications in the tax rates and, on occasion, enactment of temporary taxes, the 
proceeds of which are earmarked for designated governmental purposes. In the past, the Brazilian government has 
presented certain tax reform proposals, which have been mainly designed to simplify the Brazilian tax system, to avoid 
internal disputes within and between the Brazilian states and municipalities, and to redistribute tax revenues. The tax 
reform proposals provide for changes in the rules governing the federal Social Integration Program (Programa de 
Integração Social, or “PIS”) and Contribution for Social Security Funding (Contribuição para o Financiamento da 
Seguridade Social, or “COFINS”) taxes, the ICMS and some other taxes, such as increases in payroll taxes and in the 
withholding tax over dividend distributions. It is uncertain whether these proposals will be approved and passed into 
law and, if approved, whether they will reflect these or any other changes to tax regimes. Other tax regimes, such as 
the research and development tax incentive program (“Lei do Bem”) and the deduction of interest on shareholders’ 
equity, may be revoked to increase the government’s revenues in light of a possible reduction in the income tax rate, 
which has been and is being studied by the new Brazilian government’s financial team. The effects of these proposed 
tax reform measures and any other changes that could result from the enactment of additional tax reforms have not 
been, and cannot be, quantified yet due to the uncertainty of whether any changes will be implemented. Some of these 
measures, if enacted, may result in increases in our overall tax burden, which may adversely affect our overall financial 
performance.  For  more  information,  see  “Item  8.  Financial  Information—A.  Consolidated  Statements  and  Other 
Financial  Information—Social  Contributions.”  Moreover,  certain  tax  laws  may  be  subject  to  controversial 
interpretation by tax authorities. In the event that tax authorities interpret tax laws in a manner that is inconsistent with 
our interpretations, we may be adversely affected. 

Risks Relating to Our Common Shares and ADRs 

Holders of ADRs may find it difficult to exercise voting rights at our shareholders’ meetings. 

Holders of ADRs may exercise voting rights with respect to our common shares represented by American 
Depositary Shares (“ADS”) and evidenced by ADRs only in accordance with the deposit agreement governing the 
ADRs. Holders of ADRs face practical limitations in exercising their voting rights because of the additional steps 
involved  in  our  communications  with  ADR  holders.  For  example,  we  are  required  to  publish  a  notice  of  our 
shareholders’ meetings in specified newspapers in Brazil. Holders of our common shares are able to exercise their 
voting rights by attending a shareholders’ meeting in person or voting by proxy. By contrast, holders of ADRs will 
receive  notice  of  a  shareholders’  meeting  by  mail  from  the  ADR  depositary  if  we  give  notice  to  the  depositary 
requesting the depository to do so. To exercise their voting rights, holders of ADRs must instruct the ADR depositary 
on a timely basis. This voting process necessarily takes longer for holders of ADRs than for holders of our common 
shares. If the ADR depositary fails to receive timely voting instructions for all or part of the ADRs, the depositary will 
assume that the holders of those ADRs are instructing it to give a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us to 
vote their ADRs, to the extent permitted by the New York Stock Exchange rules.  

Holders of ADRs also may not receive the voting materials in time to instruct the depositary to vote our 

common shares underlying the ADSs that are evidenced by their ADRs. In addition, the depositary and its agents are 
not responsible for failing to carry out voting instructions of the holders of ADRs or for the manner of carrying out 
those voting instructions. Accordingly, holders of ADRs may not be able to exercise voting rights, and they have 
little, if any, recourse if the common shares underlying the ADSs that are evidenced by their ADRs are not voted as 
requested.  

28 

 
Non-Brazilian holders of ADRs or common shares may face difficulties in protecting their interests because we are 
subject to different corporate rules and regulations as a Brazilian company, and our shareholders may have less 
extensive rights. 

Holders of ADRs are not direct shareholders of our company and  may be unable to enforce the rights of 

shareholders under our bylaws and the Brazilian Corporation Law. 

Our corporate affairs are governed by our bylaws and the Brazilian Corporation Law, which differ from the 
legal principles that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States, such as the State of 
Delaware or New York, or elsewhere outside Brazil. Even if a holder of ADRs surrenders its ADRs and becomes a 
direct shareholder, its rights as a holder of our common shares under the Brazilian Corporation Law to protect its 
interests relative to actions by our board of directors or executive officers may be limited compared to the laws of 
those other jurisdictions. 

Although  insider  trading  and  price  manipulation  are  crimes  under  Brazilian  law,  the  Brazilian  securities 
markets are subject to different levels of regulations and supervision compared to the U.S. securities markets or the 
markets in some other jurisdictions. In addition, rules and policies against self-dealing or for preserving shareholder 
interests may be less well defined and enforced in Brazil than in the United States and certain other countries, which 
may put holders of our common shares or ADRs at a potential disadvantage. Corporate disclosures also may be less 
complete or informative than for a public company in the United States or in certain other countries. 

Non-Brazilian  holders  of  ADRs  or  common  shares  may  face  difficulties  in  serving  process  on  or  enforcing 
judgments against us and other persons. 

We are a corporation (sociedade anônima) organized under the laws of Brazil, and all of our directors and 
executive officers and our independent public accountants reside or are based in Brazil. Most of the assets of our 
company and of these other persons are located in Brazil. As a result, it may not be possible for non-Brazilian holders 
of ADRs or common shares to effect service of process upon us or these other persons within the United States or 
other jurisdictions outside Brazil or to enforce against  us or these other persons judgments obtained in the  United 
States or other jurisdictions outside Brazil. Because judgments of U.S. courts for civil liabilities based upon the U.S. 
federal  securities  laws  may  only  be  enforced  in  Brazil  if  certain  conditions  are  met,  holders  may  face  greater 
difficulties in protecting their interests in the case of actions by us or our directors or executive officers than would 
shareholders of a U.S. corporation. 

Judgments of Brazilian courts with respect to our common shares may be payable only in reais. 

If proceedings are brought in the courts of Brazil seeking to enforce our obligations in respect of the common 
shares, we may not be required to discharge our obligations in a currency other than reais. Under Brazilian exchange 
control limitations, an obligation in Brazil to pay amounts denominated in a currency other than reais may only be 
satisfied  in  Brazilian  currency  at  the  exchange  rate,  as  determined  by  the  Central  Bank,  in  effect  on  the  date  the 
judgment is obtained, and such amounts are then adjusted to reflect exchange rate variations through the effective 
payment date. The then prevailing exchange may not afford non-Brazilian investors with full compensation for any 
claim arising out of or related to our obligations under the common shares or the ADRs. 

Holders of ADRs and non-Brazilian holders of our common shares may be unable to exercise preemptive rights 
and tag-along rights with respect to our common shares underlying the ADSs evidenced by their ADRs. 

Holders of ADRs and non-Brazilian holders of our common shares may be unable to exercise the preemptive 
rights and tag-along rights relating to our common shares (including common shares underlying the ADSs evidenced 
by their ADRs) unless a registration statement under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the “Securities 
Act,” is effective with respect to those rights or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act 
is available. We are not obligated to file a registration statement with respect to the shares relating to these preemptive 
rights,  and  we  cannot  assure  you  that  we  will  file  any  such  registration  statement.  Unless  we  file  a  registration 
statement or an exemption from registration is available, a holder may receive only the net proceeds from the sale of 

29 

 
his or her preemptive rights or tag-along rights, or if these rights cannot be sold, they will lapse and the holder will 
receive no value from them. 

Provisions in our bylaws may prevent efforts by our shareholders to change our control or management. 

Our bylaws contain provisions that may discourage, delay or make more difficult a change in control of our 
company  or  removal  of  our  directors.  Subject  to  limited  exceptions,  these  provisions  require  any  shareholder  that 
acquires shares representing 33.3% or more of our share capital to disclose such information immediately through a 
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários, or “CVM”) and, 
within 30 days from the date of such acquisition or event, commence a public tender offer with respect to all of our 
shares for a price per share that may not be less than the greater of: (i) 140% of the average trading price on the stock 
exchange trading the greatest volume of shares of the capital stock of the Company during the last 120 trading sessions 
prior to the date on which the public offer became obligatory; and (ii) 140% of the average trading price on the stock 
exchange trading the greatest volume of shares of the capital stock of the Company during the last 30 trading days 
prior to the date on which the public offer became obligatory.  

These provisions of our bylaws may delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might 

otherwise be in the best interests of our shareholders.  

Holders of ADRs could be subject to Brazilian income tax on capital gains from sales of ADRs.  

Historically, any capital gain realized on a sale or other disposition of ADRs between non-Brazilian holders 
outside Brazil was not subject to Brazilian income tax. However, a December 2003 Brazilian law (Law No. 10,833, 
of December 29, 2003) provides that the acquirer, individual or legal entity resident or domiciled in Brazil, or the 
acquirer’s attorney-in-fact, when such acquirer is resident or domiciled abroad, shall be responsible for the retention 
and payment of the income tax applicable to capital gains earned by the individual or legal entity resident or domiciled 
abroad who disposes of property located in Brazil. The Brazilian tax authorities have issued a normative instruction 
confirming their intention to assess income tax on capital gains earned by non-Brazilian residents whose assets are 
located in Brazil. It is unclear whether ADSs representing our common shares and evidenced by ADRs, which are 
issued by the ADR depositary outside Brazil, will be deemed to be property located in Brazil for purposes of this law. 
Accordingly, we cannot determine whether Brazilian tax authorities will attempt to tax any capital gains arising from 
the sale or other disposition of the ADRs, even when the  transaction is consummated outside Brazil between non-
Brazilian residents. 

Brazilian taxes may apply to a gain realized by a non-Brazilian holder on the disposition of common shares to 
another non-Brazilian holder.  

The gain realized by a non-Brazilian holder on the disposition of common shares to another non-Brazilian 
holder (other than a disposition of shares held pursuant to Resolution No. 4,373, as amended of the Brazilian National 
Monetary Council (Conselho Monetário Nacional, or “CMN”)) is generally viewed as being subject to taxation in 
Brazil. Pursuant to Article 26 of Law No. 10,833/03, Brazilian tax authorities may assess income tax on capital gains 
earned by non-Brazilian residents in transactions involving assets that are located in Brazil. In case of a non-Brazilian 
holder selling common shares on the Brazilian stock exchange, the withholding tax rate would be 0% (in the case of 
a  non-Brazilian  holder  registered  as  such  before  Brazilian  Central  Bank  (“Bacen”)  under  the  rules  of  the  CMN 
(“Registered Holder”) and not a resident of a tax haven (“Tax Haven Resident”)), 15% (in the case of a non-Brazilian 
holder that is not a Registered Holder and not a Tax Haven Resident), or 25% (in the case of a non-Brazilian holder 
that is a Tax Haven Resident). 

Any other gains realized on the disposition of common shares that are not carried out on the Brazilian stock 

exchange: 

• 

are subject to income tax at the following progressive rate when realized by any non-Brazilian holder that 
is not a Tax Haven Resident, whether or not such holder is a Registered Holder: 

i. 

15% upon the portion of capital gains not exceeding R$5,000,000.00; 

30 

 
ii. 

iii. 

iv. 

17.5% upon the portion of capital gains that exceeds R$5,000,000.00 but not exceeding 
R$10,000,000.00; 
20%  upon  the  portion  of  capital  gains  that  exceeds  R$10,000,000.00  but  not  exceeding 
R$30,000,000.00; and 
22.5% upon the portion of capital gains that exceeds R$30,000,000.00. 

• 

are subject to income tax at a rate of 25% when realized by an individual or legal entity that is a Tax 
Haven Resident, whether or not such holder is a Registered Holder. 

The relative volatility and limited liquidity of the Brazilian securities markets may negatively affect the liquidity 
and market price of our common shares and ADRs. 

The Brazilian securities markets, including the B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (the “B3” or the “São Paulo 
Stock Exchange”) are substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than major securities markets in the United 
States. The Brazilian securities markets are also characterized by considerable share concentration.  

The ten largest companies in terms of market capitalization represented approximately 48% of the aggregate 
market capitalization of the São Paulo Stock Exchange as of  December 31, 2019. In addition, the ten most widely 
traded stocks in terms of trading volume accounted for approximately 30% of all shares traded on the São Paulo Stock 
Exchange  in  2019. These  market  characteristics  may  substantially  limit  the  ability  of  holders  of  the  ADRs  to  sell 
common shares underlying ADSs evidenced by ADRs at a price and at a time when they wish to do so and, as a result, 
could negatively impact the market prices of these securities.  

Developments and the perception of risks in other countries, especially emerging market countries, may adversely 
affect the market price of our common shares and ADRs.  

The market for securities issued by Brazilian companies is influenced, to varying degrees, by economic and 
market conditions in other emerging markets. Although economic conditions are different in each country, the reaction 
of  investors  to  developments  in  one  country  may  cause  the  capital  markets  in  other  countries  to  fluctuate. 
Developments or adverse economic conditions in other emerging markets have at times resulted in significant outflows 
of funds from, and declines in, the amount of foreign currency invested in Brazil. In addition, economic and political 
crises in Latin America or other emerging markets may significantly affect perceptions of the risk inherent in investing 
in the region, including Brazil.  

The Brazilian economy, as well as the market for securities issued by Brazilian companies, is also affected, 
to  varying  degrees,  by  international  economic  and  market  conditions  generally,  especially  economic  and  market 
conditions in the United States.  Share prices on the São Paulo Stock Exchange, for example, have historically been 
sensitive to fluctuations in U.S. interest rates as well as movements of the major U.S. stock indexes.  

Developments  in  other  countries  and  securities  markets  could  adversely  affect  the  market  prices  of  our 
common shares and the ADRs and could also make it more difficult for us to access the capital markets and finance 
our operations in the future on acceptable terms or at all. 

We may become a passive foreign investment company, which could result in adverse U.S. tax consequences to 
U.S. investors.  

Based on our financial statements, relevant market and shareholder data, and the projected composition of 
our  income  and  valuation  of  our  assets,  including  goodwill,  we  do  not  believe  that  we  were  a  passive  foreign 
investment company, or “PFIC,” for U.S. federal income tax purposes for 2019, and we do not expect to be a PFIC 
for 2020, although we can provide no assurances in this regard.  If we become a PFIC, U.S. holders of our common 
shares or ADRs may become subject to increased tax liabilities under U.S. tax laws and regulations and will become 
subject to burdensome reporting requirements. The determination of PFIC status is fact-specific and will depend on 
the composition of our income and assets from time to time, and a separate determination must be made each taxable 
year as to whether we are a PFIC (after the close of each such taxable year). Specifically, for any taxable year we will 
be classified as a PFIC for U.S. tax purposes if either (i) 75% or more of our gross income in that taxable year is 

31 

 
passive income or (ii) the average percentage of our assets (which includes cash) by value in that taxable year which 
produce or are held for the production of passive income is at least 50%.  The calculation of the value of our assets 
(including goodwill and certain intangible assets) will be based, in part, on the quarterly market value of our common 
shares and ADRs, which is subject to change.  Accordingly, it is possible that we may become a PFIC for  2020 or 
future taxable years due to changes in our income or asset composition. See “Item 10.  Additional Information—E.  
Taxation—U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations—Passive Foreign Investment Company.” 

INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY 

A. 

History and Development of the Company  

BRF S.A. is a publicly-held company in Brazil and is therefore subject to the requirements of the Brazilian 

Corporation Law and the rules and regulations of the CVM and the B3. 

We were founded as Perdigão by the Brandalise and Ponzoni families in 1934 as Ponzoni, Brandalise e Cia. 
in the southern State of Santa Catarina and remained under the Brandalise family’s management until September 1994. 
In 1940, we expanded our operations from general trading, with an emphasis on food and food-related products, to 
include  pork  processing.  During  the  1950s,  we  entered  the  poultry  processing  business.  During  the  1970s,  we 
broadened the distribution of our products to include export markets, starting with Saudi Arabia. From 1980 through 
1990, we expanded our export markets to include Japan in 1985 and Europe in 1990. We also undertook a series of 
acquisitions in the poultry and pork processing business and made investments in other businesses. 

From  1990  through  1993,  we  suffered  substantial  losses  because  of  increased  financial  expenses, 
underinvestment in product development, limited capacity and modest marketing of our products. By September 1994, 
we faced a liquidity crisis, as a result of which the Brandalise family sold their interest in our company, consisting of 
80.68% of our common shares and 65.54% of our preferred shares, to eight Brazilian pension funds. Upon acquiring 
control of our company, the  eight original pension  funds  hired a new team of executive officers  who restructured 
management and implemented capital increases and modernization programs.  

For additional information about our major shareholders, see “Item 7.  Major Shareholders and Related Party 

Transactions––A. Major Shareholders.” 

Our principal executive offices are located at Av. das Nações Unidas, 8501  – 1st Floor, Pinheiros, 05425-
070,  São  Paulo,  SP,  Brazil,  and  our  telephone  number  at  this  address  is  +55-11-2322-5000/5355/5048.  The  U.S. 
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, 
proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants, such as BRF, that file electronically 
with the SEC. Our internet address is www.brf-br.com/ir.  From time to time, we may use our website as a channel of 
distribution  of  material  company  information.  Financial  and  other  material  information  regarding  us  is  routinely 
posted on and accessible at www.brf-br.com/ir. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference into 
this Annual Report on Form 20-F. 

Business combination with Sadia 

On May 19, 2009, we signed a merger agreement with Sadia for a business combination of Sadia S.A. and 
Perdigão S.A. The business combination became fully effective on September 22, 2009, and Sadia became our wholly 
owned subsidiary. On December 31, 2012, we merged Sadia S.A., then a wholly-owned subsidiary, into BRF, and 
Sadia ceased to exist as a separate legal entity. In connection with the business combination, we changed our name 
from Perdigão S.A. to BRF – Brasil Foods S.A. On April 9, 2013, we changed our name from BRF – Brasil Foods 
S.A. to the current name BRF S.A. 

Agreement with Lactalis 

On September 3, 2014, we entered into a binding memorandum of understanding with Lactalis, a company 
controlled by Parmalat S.p.A., an Italian publicly held company pertaining to the Groupe Lactalis S.A. (or “Groupe 
Lactalis”)  for  the  sale  of  our  dairy  division,  including:    (i)  manufacturing  facilities  located  in  the  cities  of  Bom 

32 

 
 
Conselho (PE), Carambeí (PR), Ravena (MG), Concórdia (SC), Teutônia (RS), Itumbiara (GO), Terenos (MS), Ijuí 
(RS), Três de Maio I (RS), Três de Maio II (RS) and Santa Rosa (RS), and (ii) related assets and trademarks (Batavo, 
Elegê, Cotochés, Santa Rosa and DoBon) dedicated to such segment. The transaction closed on July 1, 2015 for a total 
sale price of U.S.$697.8 million. 

Corporate Reorganization of One Foods 

On January 11, 2017, we established a new wholly-owned subsidiary, One Foods Holdings Limited, based 
in Dubai International Financial Centre, which is focused on Halal markets. The formation of this subsidiary involved 
a restructuring of certain of our operations in Malaysia and some countries in the Middle East and Africa, including 
(i) the sale and purchase agreement pursuant to which One Foods acquired equity interests in entities that serve the 
Halal market from BRF GmbH, a BRF wholly-owned subsidiary, and (ii) the contribution of the equity interest in 
SHB Indústria e Comércio de Alimentos S.A. (“SHB”) to One Foods. SHB held grain storage facilities, feed mills, 
outgrower agreements, hatcheries and eight slaughtering and processing plants in Brazil. In addition, we entered into 
certain  agreements  with  One  Foods  that  provided  for  the  licensing  of  certain  brands,  operational  and  corporate 
activities, cost sharing and supply of raw materials and finished goods.  

On September 1, 2018, BRF executed a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with two of its  subsidiaries, 
BRF Foods GmbH and One Foods Holding Ltd., to acquire all common shares of SHB. On December 12, 2018 at 
BRF’s extraordinary shareholders meeting, the merger of SHB with and into BRF was approved. The merger took 
effect on December 31, 2018, following its approval at the extraordinary shareholders meeting of SHB.   

Acquisition of Banvit – Turkey  

On  May  25,  2017,  our  subsidiary  TBQ  Foods  GmbH  (“TBQ”),  a  joint  venture  formed  with  the  Qatar 
Investment  Authority in May 2017, completed a transaction for the acquisition of 79.48% of the shares issued by 
Bandirma Vitaminli (“Banvit”), which is the largest poultry producer in Turkey, has fully integrated operations and 
owns one of the most recognized brands in Turkey. Through a subsequent tender offer process completed on August 
17, 2017, TBQ’s ownership of Banvit increased to 91.71%. The total value of the transaction (including the purchase 
price paid in connection with the tender offer) was R$1.277 billion.  

Sale of Quickfood 

On December 7, 2018, we executed a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with Marfrig Global Foods S.A. 
(“Marfrig”) for the sale of our total ownership interest in Quickfood (which constituted 91.89% of the capital stock of 
Quickfood). Quickfood was our subsidiary in Argentina and operated three beef slaughtering plants with a capacity 
of 620 heads per day and a processing capacity of approximately 6,000 metric tons per month of hamburgers, franks, 
cold  products  and  frozen  vegetables.  The  transaction  closed  on  January  2,  2019,  for  an  amount  equivalent  to 
R$191,291 thousand (US$49,937 thousand). 

Sale of Várzea Grande Plant 

On December 7, 2018, we executed an agreement with Marfrig for the sale  of R$100 million of both real 
estate assets and equipment from our plant located in Várzea Grande in the State of Mato Grosso, which produces, 
among other items, hamburgers, meatballs and kibbehs (a type of Middle Eastern beef patty popular in Brazil). This 
transaction closed on January 23, 2019 and, on April 1, 2019, a Supply Agreement with Marfrig became effective, 
under  which  Marfrig  undertook  to  provide  us  with  finished  goods  produced  in  the  Várzea  Grande  plant,  such  as 
hamburgers, meatballs, kibbehs, chicken meat and processed chicken breast products for 60 months.  

Sale of Avex 

On December 19, 2018, we entered into a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement whereby we agreed to sell all 
of the issued and outstanding shares of our Argentinian subsidiary, Avex S.A., to Granja Tres Arroyos S.A. and Fribel 
S.A.. Avex S.A. operates three facilities located in Llavalol, Villa Mercedes and Rio Cuarto, in Argentina, for the 

33 

 
production  of  poultry  and  margarine.  This  transaction  closed  on  February  4,  2019,  for  an  amount  equivalent  to 
R$169,726 thousand (US$44,824 thousand). 

Sale of Assets in Europe and Thailand 

On February 7, 2019, we agreed to sell to Tyson International Holding Co. most of our subsidiaries in Europe, 
including our Wrexham (UK) and Oosterwolde (Netherlands) processing plants, and our food processing and poultry 
slaughtering operation in Thailand.  This transaction closed on June 3, 2019, for an amount equivalent to R$1,488,033 
thousand (US$382,106 thousand). 

Other Transactions in 2018 and 2019  

On December 6, 2018, the Company was notified by VDG Holding S.A. that it was exercising its right to 
terminate Minerva S.A.’s shareholders’ agreement entered into by the parties, as shareholders of Minerva S.A., on 
November 1, 2013, as a result of the Company holding less than 6% of the outstanding shares issued by Minerva S.A.  

On December 18, 2018, the Company created a Brazilian receivables investment fund (“FIDC”) to acquire 
trade receivables of commercial transactions entered into by the Company and its customers in Brazil. The fund has 
three distinct classes of quotas and may reach an aggregate total volume of R$875 million. 

On January 10, 2019, the Company executed an Asset Sale and Purchase Agreement with BOGS S.A. for 
the sale  of its  facility  located in the city of Florencio Varela, Argentina, and all assets and liabilities related to it, 
including  the  brands  “Bocatti”  and  “Calchaquí,”.  The  transaction  closed  on  February  28,  2019,  for  an  amount 
equivalent to R$95,036 thousand (US$26,753 thousand). 

On January 10, 2019, the Company executed a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with La Piamontesa de 
Averaldo Giacosa y Compañía S.A. for the sale of all of the capital stock of the Company’s  Argentine subsidiary, 
Campo Austral S.A., including its facilities in San Andrés de Giles and Pilar and the brand “Campo Austral.” The 
transaction closed on March 11, 2019 for an amount equivalent to R$29,359 thousand (US$7,619 thousand). 

On  August  20,  2019,  the  Company’s  wholly-owned  subsidiary  Badi  Limited  executed  a  Share  Purchase 
Agreement  with  Al  Takamul  International  Company  for  Commercial  Investment  Limited  for  the  purchase  of  the 
remaining  25%  of  the  capital  stock  that  it  did  not  own  in  Al  Wafi  Al  Takamul  International  Company  for  Food 
Products Limited (“Wafi”), a company incorporated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia responsible for distributing BRF 
products in that country. The transaction closed on April 21, 2020 for an amount equivalent to R$100,390 thousand 
(US$19,000, thousand translated to reais at the exchange rate of R$5.2837 as of April 20, 2020), at which point Wafi 
became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Badi Limited. 

On September 5, 2019, the Company executed a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with Sats Food Services 
Pte Ltd, providing for the terms and conditions for the sale of our interest in Singaporean food company Sats BRF 
Food Pte Ltd., equivalent to 49% of its capital stock. The transaction was concluded on September 5, 2019 for the 
amount equivalent to R$51 million (SGD17 million) and also encompassed the execution of a new contract for the 
distribution and licensing of brands owned by BRF. 

Carne Fraca Operation  

We are currently being investigated in connection with the Carne Fraca Operation. For more information, 
see  “Item  8.  Financial  Information—A.  Consolidated  Statements  and  Other  Financial  Information—Legal 
Proceedings—Carne Fraca Operation.” 

Trapaça Operation 

We are currently being investigated in connection with the  Trapaça Operation. For more information, see 
“Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information—Legal Proceedings— 
Trapaça Operation.” 

34 

 
Capital Expenditures  

The table below sets forth our capital expenditures with respect to operations for the periods indicated: 

Property, plant and equipment .............................  
Biological assets ..................................................  
Business Combinations .......................................  
Intangible assets ..................................................  
Total capital expenditures ................................  
*The amounts disclosed above do not include leases. 

2019 

For the year ended December 31, 
2018 
(in millions of reais) 
578.0 
845.3 
- 
20.6 
1,443.9 

417.1 
837.9 
- 
64.3 
1,319.3 

2017 

681.2 
681.7 
1,119.7 
51.1 
2,533.7 

In 2019, as in the previous year, investments were made a priority to meet the regulation and adaptation of 

our asset base to safety and quality principles in line with our organizational culture. 

In 2018, we focused our investments on our quality and security standards rather than acquisitions, reflecting 

the policies of our new board of directors. 

In  2017,  BRF  focused  on  executing  the  nearly  R$115.0  million  of  investments  made  in  2016  for  the 
automation of company processes. The goal of these investments was to improve efficiency by increasing productivity 
and  reducing  production  costs.  We  also  invested  R$136.5  million  in  international  projects,  more  specifically  our 
Toledo, Campos Novos and Rio Verde factories to increase pork production for the Chinese market. Additionally, in 
2017, we invested R$20.1 million in a new production line for animal ingredients. 

In 2020, in addition to existing projects, we expect to focus on pursuing our commitment to maximizing the 
use of our assets by making investments to help eliminate production constraints and increase overall efficiency. In 
addition,  we  will  increase  investments  to  expand  in  the  markets  we  serve  and  take  advantage  of  new  commercial 
opportunities.  

B. 

Business Overview  

BRF S.A. is one of the largest producers of fresh and frozen protein foods in the world. We are committed 
to operating our business and delivering products to our global customer base in line with our core values: quality, 
safety  and  integrity.  We  have  a  portfolio  of  approximately  3,000  stock  keeping  units  (“SKUs”).  Our  processed 
products include marinated and frozen chicken, Chester® rooster and turkey meats, specialty meats, frozen processed 
meats,  frozen  prepared  entrees,  portioned products  and  sliced  products.  We  also  sell  margarine,  sweet  specialties, 
sandwiches and animal feed. We are the holder of brands such as  Sadia, Perdigão, Qualy, Perdix, Confidence and 
Hilal. In 2019, BRF accounted for 11.6% of the world’s poultry trade, according to Trademap.  

Our  portfolio  strategy  is  focused  on  creating  new,  convenient,  practical  and  healthy  products  for  our 
consumers based on their preferences. We  seek to achieve that  goal through  strong innovation to provide  us  with 
increasing value-added items that will differentiate us from our competitors and strengthen our brands.  

With 34 industrial facilities in Brazil, we have among our main assets a distribution network that enables our 
products to reach Brazilian consumers through more than 555,000 monthly deliveries and 45 distribution centers as 
of December 31, 2019, 21 of which are in the domestic market and 24 of which are in our export markets.  

In the international market, BRF has a leading brand, Sadia, in various categories in Middle Eastern countries. 
We maintain 21 offices outside of Brazil serving customers in more than 130 countries on five continents. We have 
one industrial facility in Abu Dhabi, one in Malaysia and three in Turkey. 

35 

 
 
 
We have been a public company since 1980. Our shares have been listed on the  Novo Mercado of the São 
Paulo Stock Exchange as BRFS3 since 2006, and ADRs representing our common shares are traded on the New York 
Stock Exchange, or “NYSE.” 

A breakdown of our products is as follows, which are sold both in Brazil and to our international customers: 

•  Meat Products, consisting of  in natura meat,  which we define as frozen whole and cut chicken, and 

frozen pork;  

•  Processed Food Products including the following:  

o  marinated, frozen, whole and cut chicken, roosters (sold under the Chester® brand) and turkey;  

o 

o 

specialty  meats,  such  as  sausages,  ham  products,  bologna,  frankfurters,  salami,  bacon  and  other 
smoked products; and  

frozen processed meats, such as hamburgers, steaks, breaded meat products, kibbeh and meatballs;  

•  Other Processed Products including the following:  

o  margarine; and 

o 

frozen prepared entrees, such as lasagna and pizzas, as well as other frozen foods; and  

•  Other, consisting of soy meal, refined soy flour and animal feed.  

Prior  to  the  divestitures  made  in  connection  with  our  financial  and  operational  restructuring  plan,  other 

processed products included mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup.  

In Brazil, we operate 34 meat processing plants, three margarine processing plants, three pasta processing 
plants, one dessert processing plant and three soybean crushing plants, all of which are located near our raw material 
suppliers  or  the  main  consumer  centers.  We  have  an  advanced  logistics  system  in  our  domestic  market,  with  21 
distribution centers, six of which are owned by us and 15 of which are leased from third parties, all of which serve 
supermarkets, retail stores, wholesale stores, restaurants and other clients. 

In our International market, we operate five industrial facilities for meat processing. Additionally, after giving 
effect to the divestitures  made in connection  with our  financial  and operational restructuring plan,  we continue to 
operate 24 distribution centers located in Asia, the Southern Cone and the Middle East as well as commercial offices 
on four continents.  

We  are  also  focused  on  addressing  the  impacts  of  climate  change  on  the  environment  and  our  business. 
Among the initiatives that we have taken to reduce our exposure to climate change and to maintain our competitiveness 
in  terms  of  costs  is  the  monitoring  of  grain  stocks  and  purchases  and  the  constant  monitoring  of  the  weather  in 
agricultural  regions  to  guide  our  purchasing  decisions,  as  well  as  anticipating  price  movements  in  the  commodity 
markets. Other initiatives include technological innovations in our animal-raising facilities to improve efficiency and 
safeguard  animal  welfare.  In  addition,  we  recognize  that  consumers,  investors  and  other  stakeholders  are  more 
conscious of social and environmental aspects of the production chain. We have taken steps to address these concerns, 
for example by entering into a partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and joined the Collaboration 
for Forests and Agriculture (CFA) in 2019, with the aim of developing a more sustainable grain supply chain.  

Our Industry  

We manage our business to target both the Brazilian market and international markets. 

36 

 
Brazilian Market  

As a Brazilian company, with a significant portion of our operations in Brazil, we are acutely affected by 
local economic conditions. Because of our significant operations in Brazil, fluctuations in Brazilian demand for our 
products affects our production levels and revenues. 

Real GDP in Brazil increased at an average annual rate of 2.3% from 2004 through 2019.  For two consecutive 
years, in 2015 and in 2016, Brazil’s GDP decreased by 3.5%, after increasing 0.5% in 2014. Reacting to this weak 
economic scenario, the Central Bank lowered the Special System for Settlement and Custody (Sistema Especial de 
Liquidação e de Custódia, or “SELIC”) interest rate, which is the short-term benchmark interest rate. Overall, the 
long-term trend remains downward, from 17.8% as of December 31, 2004 to 4.5% as of December 31, 2019.  For the 
year ended December 31, 2019, the IPCA increased by 4.31%. 

The unemployment rate and consumer confidence levels also have an impact on consumption levels in Brazil. 
The average  unemployment rate  for 2019 was  11.8%, an increase of  0.2  percentage points  when compared to the 
11.6% of 2018. The Consumer Confidence Index for December 2019 was 91.6%, 1.4 percentage points below that in 
December 2018 of 93.0%. 

According  to  the  Brazilian  Association  of  Supermarkets  (Associação  Brasileira  de  Supermercados,  or 
“ABRAS”) in December 2019, supermarket sales in real terms (deflated by the IPCA), increased 2.3% compared to 
December 2018. For the full year, supermarket sales in real terms rose 3.6% in 2019 as compared to 2018. 

Export Markets 

The information set forth in this “Export Markets” subsection relates to Brazilian exports as a whole and not 

only to exports of our company.  

Brazilian chicken exports increased by 2.8% in the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the year 
ended December 31, 2018, in terms of volume. Pork exports registered an increase of 16.2% in volume sold in the 
year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the year ended December 31, 2018. Beef exports recorded an increase 
of 12.9% in volume in the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the year ended December 31, 2018.  

Brazilian chicken exports in the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled 4.2 million tons on sales of R$28.17 
billion. China is the main destination for these exports (13.9%), followed by Saudi Arabia (11.1%), Japan (10.1%) 
and the United Arab Emirates (8.1%). 

Pork export volume in the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled 750.3 thousand tons, totaling around R$6.45 
billion. The leading importers, China, Hong Kong and Chile represented  33.2%, 21.7% and 5.9%, respectively, of 
total exports from Brazil. 

Beef shipments in the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled 1.81 million tons with sales of around R$29.77 
billion. This increase in volume was driven by higher exports sent to China and Hong Kong, which import 27.2% and 
18.2% of Brazilian beef exports, respectively. 

For a discussion on the global economic conditions and further information on the conditions on our export 
markets  and  the  Brazilian  market,  see  “Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—D.  Trend 
Information.” 

Products 

We are a food company that focuses on the production and sale of poultry, pork and processed foods. 

37 

 
Poultry  

We  produce  frozen  whole  and  cut  poultry.  In  2019,  we  slaughtered  approximately  1.56  billion  heads  of 
poultry, a 0.9% increase compared to 1.55 billion in 2018. We sold 2,018 thousand tons of frozen chicken and other 
poultry products in 2019, compared to 2,064 thousand tons in 2018, excluding our discontinued operations. Most of 
our poultry sales are to our export markets.  

As a result of the trade barriers imposed by the European Union, we have significantly reduced our production 
of  turkey  since  2018,  as  the  European  Union  was  our  main  consumer  market  for  this  product.  For  additional 
information, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—More 
stringent trade barriers in key export markets may negatively affect our results of operations.” 

Pork and Beef  

In 2019, we slaughtered approximately 9.62 million hogs and 34,413 cattle, compared to 9.84 million and 
154,571 in 2018, respectively. We raise hogs but do not raise cattle at our facilities. Although most of the hogs that 
we slaughter are used for processed products in the domestic market, we also produce frozen pork and beef cuts, such 
as  loins  and  ribs,  and  whole  carcasses.  In  2019,  we  sold  270  thousand  tons  of  pork  and  beef  cuts,  excluding  our 
discontinued operations, compared to 252 thousand tons of pork and beef cuts in 2018. We are also further developing 
our international customer base for pork and beef cuts.  

Processed Food Products  

We  produce  processed  foods,  such  as  marinated  and  frozen  chicken,  Chester®  rooster  and  turkey  meat, 
specialty meats, frozen processed foods, frozen prepared entrees, portioned products and sliced products. Part of our 
strategy is to develop additional processed food products in these and other categories because these products tend to 
be less price-sensitive than our frozen poultry and pork products. We sold 1,830 thousand tons of processed foods in 
2019, compared to 1,869 thousand tons in 2018, excluding our discontinued operations. Most of our sales of processed 
foods are to our domestic market. We believe that there are opportunities to market value-added products like these 
to targeted regions and other market segments in Brazil as well as to expand our sales in the export market. 

Our processed food products strategy relies on accurate brand management, a varied product portfolio with 
strategic pricing and innovation and service  excellence,  which  we  believe  will allow our products to expand their 
reach both in the Brazilian market and international markets. 

Specialty Meats 

We process pork to produce specialty meats, such as sausages, ham products, bologna, frankfurters, salamis, 
bacon and cold meats. We also process chicken and other poultry to produce specialty meats, such as chicken sausages, 
chicken hot dogs and chicken bologna. 

Frozen Processed Meats 

We  produce  a  range  of  frozen  processed  poultry,  pork  and  beef  products,  including  hamburgers,  steaks, 

breaded meat products, kibbeh and meatballs. 

Marinated Poultry 

We  produce  marinated  and  seasoned  chickens,  roosters  (under  the  Chester®  brand)  and  turkeys.  We 
originally developed the Chester® breed of rooster to maximize the yield of breast and leg cuts. In 2004, we sold our 
rights to the Chester® breed of rooster to Cobb Vantress, a U.S. poultry research and development company engaged 
in the production, improvement and sale of broiler breeding stock, and we entered into a technology agreement under 
which Cobb Vantress manages the Chester® breed of rooster. We continue to oversee the production of  Chester® 
roosters in Brazil from hatching to distribution, and we own the trademarks for the Chester® line of products. 

38 

 
Halal Products 

We offer poultry products for Islamic markets in accordance with the Halal method of animal slaughtering. 

Margarine 

We sell margarine under the Qualy, Deline and Claybom brands. We maintain our leading market position 
with the Qualy brand by bringing innovation to the Brazilian market. For example, in 2014 we introduced the first 
aerated margarine in Brazil and in 2016 we improved the Qualy portfolio by adding a proprietary mix of vitamins and 
minerals to our products, which is called the Q-Mix. Additionally, in  2017 we introduced the first margarine with 
whole grains, Qualy Multigrãos. This technology to add grains inside the margarine is protected under a patent in 
partnership  with  our  equipment  supplier.  In  2018,  we  launched  Qualy  Light  Zero  Lactose,  the  first  zero  lactose 
margarine in the Brazilian market. 

Frozen Prepared Entrees 

We produce a range of frozen prepared entrees, some of which contain poultry, beef and pork meat that we 

produce, including those listed below. 

•  Pastas  and  Pizzas.  We  produce  several  varieties  of  lasagna,  pizza  and  other  ready-to-eat  meals.  We 

produce the meat used in these products and buy other raw materials in the domestic market. 

•  French Fries. We sell frozen French fries, which are imported from Belgium where they are produced 
and packaged for us by third parties. Prior to the divestitures made in connection with our financial and 
operational restructuring plan, we sold other frozen vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, peas and 
French beans. 

•  Pies and Pastries. We produce a variety of pies and pastries, such as chicken and heart-of-palm pies. 
We produce the  meat,  sauces and toppings used in our pies and pastries,  and  we purchase other raw 
materials, such as heart-of-palm, lime and other fillings from third parties. 

Frozen desserts 

We have produced and sold Miss Daisy deserts since 1999. We believe the Miss Daisy brand has a leading 
market position and has been highly resilient to market changes. We offer a wide variety of products under the Miss 
Daisy brand, including: 

•  Mousse pie;  

•  Dutch pie; and 

•  Frozen mousse. 

Other 

We produce animal feed mainly to feed poultry and hogs raised by us, although we also sell a small portion 
to our integrated outgrowers and to unaffiliated customers. In 2019, we produced 9,480.75 thousand tons of feed and 
PREMIX,  compared  to  9,559.56  thousand  tons  in  2018.  We  also  produce  a  limited  range  of  soy-based  products, 
including soy meal and refined soy flour.  

39 

 
Overview of Brazil’s Poultry, Pork and Beef Position in the World  

Poultry  

Brazil was the second largest producer and the leading exporter of poultry in the world in 2019 based on 
estimates  calculated  by  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture,  or  the  “USDA.”  Brazil’s  production, 
consumption and export volumes for poultry have increased significantly over the past several years. This growth has 
been driven by the increase of Brazilian companies’ production dedicated to exports as well as by the competitiveness 
of Brazilian poultry.  

According to the USDA, global poultry trade increased 4.3% in 2019 compared to 2018, mainly due to higher 
exports  from  the  European  Union  (which  increased  8.3%);  Thailand  (which  increased  7.1%)  and  Ukraine  (which 
increased  26.2%).  According  to  the  Brazilian  Association  of  Animal  Protein  (Associação  Brasileira  de  Proteína 
Animal, or “ABPA”), exports of poultry parts increased 3.4% in 2019 compared to 2018, representing 66.5% of the 
total poultry exported volumes. Whole chicken, which represented 26.0% of the total volume, decreased 1.1% in 2019 
compared to 2018. The main destinations in 2019 were China, Saudi Arabia,  Japan and United Arab Emirates. In 
2019, Saudi Arabia decreased total imports from Brazil by 3.6%, China increased total imports from Brazil by 33.6%, 
Japan increased total imports from Brazil by 6.5% and United Arab Emirates increased by 10.2% compared to 2018. 

The following tables identify Brazil’s position within the global poultry industry for the years indicated: 

Primary Broiler Producers 

U.S.  .......................................................................... 
Brazil ....................................................................... 
European Union (28 countries)  ............................... 
China ........................................................................ 
Russia ....................................................................... 
India.......................................................................... 
Mexico...................................................................... 
Thailand .................................................................... 
Turkey ...................................................................... 
Argentina .................................................................. 
Japan ......................................................................... 
Others ....................................................................... 

Primary Broiler Exporters  

Brazil  ...................................................................... 
U.S.  .......................................................................... 
European Union (28 countries)  ............................... 
Thailand  ................................................................... 
China  ....................................................................... 
Others  ...................................................................... 
Total  ........................................................................ 

Primary Broiler Consumers 

U.S.  .......................................................................... 
China  ....................................................................... 
European Union (28 countries)  ............................... 
Brazil  ...................................................................... 
Russia  ...................................................................... 
India ......................................................................... 
Mexico  ..................................................................... 

World Broiler Production 
2018 

2019 

2017 
(in thousands of tons – “ready to cook” equivalent) 

19,906 
13,635 
12,460 
13,100 
4,740 
4,902 
3,625 
3,300 
2,300 
2,171 
1,720 
17,147 

19,361 
13,355 
12,200 
11,700 
4,872 
4,855 
3,485 
3,170 
2,225 
2,110 
1,685 
16,736 

18,938 
13,612 
11,912 
11,600 
4,617 
4,640 
3,400 
2,990 
2,188 
2,150 
1,661 
16,094 

2019 

2018 
(in thousands of tons – “ready to cook” equivalent) 

2017 

3,715 
3,259 
1,545 
885 
430 
1596 
11,701 

3,687 
3,245 
1,427 
826 
447 
1596 
11,289 

3,847 
3,137 
1,323 
757 
436 
1519 
11,043 

2019 

2018 
(in thousands of tons – “ready to cook” equivalent) 

2017 

16,664 
13,235 
11,655 
9,925 
4,785 
4,900 
4,468 

16,184 
11,595 
11,536 
9,671 
4,785 
4,852 
4,301 

15,826 
11,475 
11,281 
9,768 
4,786 
4,638 
4,198 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Primary Broiler Consumers 

2019 

2018 
(in thousands of tons – “ready to cook” equivalent) 

2017 

Japan  ........................................................................ 
Thailand  ................................................................... 
Argentina  ................................................................. 
South Africa  ............................................................ 
Others  ...................................................................... 

2,800 
2,455 
2,025 
1,830 
22,263 

2,761 
2,345 
1,955 
1,877 
21,769 

2,688 
2,226 
1,978 
1,778 
21,282 

Source: USDA, January 2020.   

Pork  

Brazil was the fourth largest producer, exporter and consumer of pork in the world in 2019, according to the 
USDA.  Brazil’s  production  and  consumption  of  pork  has  increased  since  2009. The  USDA  expects  a  decrease  in 
global production of 9.1% and a decrease in pork consumption of 8.9% in 2020. According to the USDA, global pork 
exports reached 9,476 thousand tons in 2019. Brazilian pork breeding and slaughtering companies continue to increase 
their efficiency of production. Research and development has also helped to reduce fat, cholesterol and calories in 
pork produced in Brazil. These enhancements allow for more efficient production of prime cuts, more meat per carcass 
and more nutritious and healthier meat. Improved genetic potential of breeders has also contributed to the production 
increase.  

According to the ABPA, as of December 2019, China was Brazil’s primary destination for pork followed by 
Hong Kong, representing 33.2% and 21.7%, respectively, of total Brazilian pork exports. Chinese and Hong Kong 
imports from Brazil increased 61.1% and 0.9%, respectively, from December 31, 2018 to December 31, 2019.  

The following tables identify Brazil’s position within the global pork industry for the years indicated: 

Main Pork Producers 

China ........................................................................ 
European Union (28 countries) ................................ 
U.S.  .......................................................................... 
Brazil ....................................................................... 
Russia ....................................................................... 
Vietnam .................................................................... 
Others ....................................................................... 
Total ......................................................................... 

Main Pork Exporters 

European Union (28 countries) ................................ 
U.S.  .......................................................................... 
Canada ...................................................................... 
Brazil ....................................................................... 
China ........................................................................ 
Chile ......................................................................... 
Mexico...................................................................... 
Others ....................................................................... 

Main Pork Consumers  

World Pork Production 
2018 
(in thousands of tons – weight in equivalent carcass) 

2019 

2017 

46,500 
23,980 
12,543 
3,975 
3,240 
2,400 
13,363 
106,001 

54,040 
24,082 
11,943 
3,763 
3,155 
2,811 
13,144 
112,938 

54,518 
23,660 
11,611 
3,725 
2,959 
2,741 
12,851 
112,065 

2019 

2018 
(in thousands of tons – weight in equivalent carcass) 

2017 

3,650 
2,856 
1,330 
860 
130 
240 
215 
195 

2,933 
2,665 
1,331 
730 
203 
200 
178 
205 

2,858 
2,555 
1,351 
786 
208 
171 
170 
198 

2019 

2018 
(in thousands of tons – weight in equivalent carcass) 

2017 

China ........................................................................ 
European Union (28 countries) ................................ 
U.S.  .......................................................................... 
Brazil ....................................................................... 

48,970 
20,345 
10,126 
3,310 

55,398 
21,163 
9,748 
3,035 

55,930 
20,817 
9,541 
2,941 

41 

 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
Main Pork Consumers  

2019 

2018 
(in thousands of tons – weight in equivalent carcass) 

2017 

Russia ....................................................................... 
Vietnam .................................................................... 
Others ....................................................................... 
Total ......................................................................... 

3,197 
2,435 
16,968 
105,351 

3,197 
2,796 
17,005 
112,342 

3,296 
2,713 
16,373 
111,611 

Source: USDA, January 2020.   

Beef  

Brazil was the third largest producer and consumer, and the largest exporter of beef in the world in 2019, 
according  to  the  USDA.  From  2019  to  2020,  the  USDA  estimates  an  increase  in  global  beef  production  and 
consumption of approximately 0.01% and 0.4%, respectively, and also an increase in exports of 2.5%. 

The following tables identify Brazil’s position within the global beef industry for the years indicated: 

Main Beef Producers 

U.S.  .......................................................................... 
European Union (28 countries)  ............................... 
Brazil  ...................................................................... 
China  ....................................................................... 
India ......................................................................... 
Argentina  ................................................................. 
Australia  .................................................................. 
Mexico  ..................................................................... 
Pakistan  ................................................................... 
Turkey  ..................................................................... 
Others  ...................................................................... 
Total  ........................................................................ 

Main Beef Consumers 

U.S.  .......................................................................... 
China  ....................................................................... 
Brazil  ...................................................................... 
European Union (28 countries)  ............................... 
India ......................................................................... 
Argentina  ................................................................. 
Others  ...................................................................... 
Total  ........................................................................ 

Main Beef Exporters 

Brazil ....................................................................... 
Australia ................................................................... 
India.......................................................................... 
U.S.  .......................................................................... 
New Zealand ............................................................ 
Others ....................................................................... 
Total ......................................................................... 

Source: USDA, January 2020. 

World Beef Production 
2018 
(in thousands of tons – weight in equivalent carcass) 

2019 

2017 

12,381 
8,030 
7,875 
6,850 
4,287 
3,120 
2,450 
2,020 
1,820 
0 

12,771 
61,604 

12,256 
8,003 
9,900 
6,440 
4,265 
3,050 
2,306 
1,980 
1,800 
1,400 
11,077 
62,477 

11,943 
7,869 
9,550 
6,346 
4,250 
2,840 
2,149 
1,925 
1,780 
1,399 
10,936 
60,987 

2019 

2018 
(in thousands of tons – weight in equivalent carcass) 

2017 

12,408 
9,133 
7,914 
7,862 
2,687 
2,372 
17,108 
59,484 

12,180 
7,910 
7,866 
8,024 
2,709 
2,562 
19,388 
60,639 

12,052 
7,313 
7,750 
7,838 
2,401 
2,547 
19,156 
59,057 

2019 

2018 
(in thousands of tons – weight in equivalent carcass) 

2017 

2,356 
1,825 
1,600 
1,372 
649 
3,512 
11,314 

2,082 
1,662 
1,556 
1,434 
633 
3,200 
10,567 

1,856 
1,485 
1,849 
1,297 
593 
2,888 
9,968 

42 

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
The following graphic is a simplified representation of our meat production chain.  

Production Process 

We are a vertically integrated producer of poultry and pork products. We raise poultry and hogs, produce animal feed, 
slaughter the animals, process poultry and pork to produce processed food products and distribute unprocessed and 
processed products throughout Brazil and in our export markets. 

The following graphic is a simplified representation of our meat production chain.  

Meat Production Chain 

Poultry 

At  the  beginning  of  the  poultry  production  cycle,  we  purchase  breeder  chicks  in  the  form  of  eggs  from 
Aviagen of Brazil. We send these eggs to our grandparent stock farms, where the eggs are hatched, and the chicks are 
raised, constituting our grandparent breeding stock. The eggs produced by our grandparent breeding stock are then 
hatched, and our parent breeding stock is produced. We also buy a small percentage of our parent stock from another 
supplier, Cobb Vantress. The parents produce the hatchable eggs that result in day-old chicks that are ultimately used 
in our poultry products. We produced 1.63 billion day-old chicks and 12.5 million day-old turkeys in 2019. We hatch 
these eggs in our 27 hatcheries. 

We send the day-old chicks, which we continue to own, to outgrowers, whose operations are integrated with 
our production process. The farms operated by these outgrowers vary in size and are near our slaughtering facilities. 
These integrated outgrowers are responsible for managing and growing the poultry in their farms under the supervision 

43 

 
 
of our veterinarians. The payments to outgrowers are based on performance rates determined by bird mortality, the 
feed-to-meat conversion ratio and the quantity of meat produced and are designed to cover their production costs and 
provide net profits. We provide feed, veterinary and technical support to the outgrowers throughout the production 
process.  We  have  business  arrangements  with  approximately  6,900 integrated  poultry  outgrowers.  Many  of  these 
outgrowers also produce and sell corn that we use to produce animal feed.  

As of December 31, 2019, we had a fully automated slaughtering capacity of 33.1 million heads of poultry 

per week.  

Pork  

We produce the majority of the pork we use in our products. We also purchase pork on the spot market. 

Piglet producers either purchase parent breeder hogs produced by our company or from producers such as 
Agroceres and DanBred. We generally purchase piglets from integrated outgrowers  near our production facilities, 
which raise the piglets until they reach a specified weight, or we purchase young piglets from farmers who own breeder 
hogs.  We transfer these piglets to separate integrated outgrowers, who raise the hogs until they reach slaughtering 
weight, and then transport the hogs from these outgrowers to our slaughtering facilities. We have agreements with a 
total of 2,685 integrated outgrowers, including piglet producers and hog raisers. We monitor the production of the 
hogs by these outgrowers and provide support from our veterinarians. 

The local producers from whom we purchase a portion of our pork needs are also located near our production 
facilities but are not parties to partnership agreements with us. These producers generally raise the hogs from birth 
until they reach slaughtering weight, but we provide limited technical support. We purchase the hogs raised by these 
local producers pursuant to contracts with the local producers. 

We slaughter the hogs raised by our outgrowers or purchased from local producers or on the spot market. 
After they are slaughtered, the hogs are immediately cut in half. The half-carcasses are then separated based on their 
intended use. These parts become the raw material for the production of pork cuts and specialty meats. 

As of December 31, 2019, we had a pork slaughtering capacity of 190,950 heads per week.  

Beef  

We had a beef slaughtering capacity of 14,400 heads per week until October 1, 2014 when BRF and Minerva 
signed an Investment Agreement, pursuant to which BRF allocated its beef slaughtering plants in Várzea Grande and 
Mirassol as well as the BRF employees involved in these activities to a closed capital company that was incorporated 
within Minerva. BRF received an equity interest in Minerva in connection with this transaction. The transaction closed 
on October 1, 2014. On December 7, 2018, we executed an agreement with Marfrig for its acquisition in the amount 
of R$100 million of real estate and equipment from our plant located in Várzea Grande in the State of Mato Grosso, 
which produces approximately 69,000 tons of hamburger meat per year. This transaction closed on January 23, 2019 
and, on April 1, 2019, a Supply Agreement with Marfrig became effective, under which Marfrig undertook to provide 
us with finished goods produced in the Várzea Grande plant, such as hamburgers, meatballs, kibbehs, chicken meat 
and processed chicken breast products for 60 months. 

Processed Foods  

We sell a variety of processed foods, some of which contain poultry and pork meat that we  produce. BRF 
has a total production capacity of 197 thousand tons/month across 16 production units in Brazil (Chapecó, Marau, 
Capinzal, Toledo, Videira, Lucas do Rio Verde, Rio Verde, Uberlândia, Concórdia, Tatuí, Vitória de Santo Antão, 
Herval  d’Oeste,  Lajeado,  Ponta  Grossa,  Paranaguá  and  Duque  de  Caxias)  processing  meat  products  (such  as 
mortadella, franks, sausage, hamburger and breaded) and non-meat products (such as lasagna, ready-to-eat meals and 
pizzas) for both the domestic and international markets. In Tatuí, in the State of São Paulo, we produce ready-to-eat 
sandwiches, lasagnas, pizzas, cheese breads and other pasta and bakery items. In Ponta Grossa, in the State of Paraná, 
we produce pizzas, pastas, desserts (Miss Daisy) and other processed products. Our Rio Verde plant is adjacent to our 

44 

 
Rio Verde poultry and pork slaughtering facilities, and we transport pork from other production facilities to be used 
as raw  materials. We purchase most of the remaining ingredients for our lasagnas, pizzas, pies and pastries in the 
domestic market from third parties. Such seasonings and secondary raw materials are applied to each product type or 
line  according  to  established  criteria  and  procedures  to  ensure  consistency  of  color,  texture  and  flavor.  The 
presentation of final products is achieved by shaping, casing, cooking and freezing in special machines. Products are 
then subjected to quality controls and distributed to the consumer market after having been packaged, labeled and 
boxed.  

In  November  2014,  BRF  opened  its  first  plant  in  the  Middle  East,  with  a  total  capacity  of  70  thousand 
tons/year, aiming to supply the local Middle Eastern market, Europe and Asia. This plant produces franks, breaded, 
hamburger, mortadella and marinated chicken breast.  

We also sell frozen French fries, which are imported from Belgium where they are produced and packaged 
for us by third parties. Prior to the divestitures made in connection with our financial and operational restructuring 
plan, we sold other frozen vegetables, including broccoli, cauliflower, peas and French beans.  In addition, we produce 
soy-based products, such as soy  meal and refined soy  flour, at our plants in Videira, located in the State of Santa 
Catarina, Dois Vizinhos, in the State of Paraná, and in Toledo, also in the State of Paraná.  

The raw material for margarine is crude soybean oil, which is subjected to refining and bleaching processes. 
We produce margarines in our plants in Paranaguá, State of Paraná, Uberlândia, State of Minas Gerais and Vitória de 
Santo Antão, under the Qualy, Deline and Claybom brands and in the State of Pernambuco under the brands Qualy 
and Deline. We sell these products as part of our strategy to diversify our product lines and to take advantage of our 
distribution network for refrigerated products.  

We  also  sell  halal  food,  which  is  the  food  allowed  for  Islamic  consumption.  The  halal  poultry  needs  to 
undergo  a  specific  religious/technical  procedure  of  slaughtering  and  processing,  assuring  that  it  was  produced 
according to the Islamic requirements and that it had no contact with prohibited foods or ingredients. In addition, the 
Brazilian  Federal  Inspection  Service  (Serviço  de  Inspeção  Federal,  or  “SIF”)  of  MAPA  may  establish  additional 
requirements  for  halal  food  production  that  we  must  comply  with.  BRF  is  assisted  by  Islamic  entities  that  are 
responsible for slaughtering and certifying all of our halal products. 

Feed  

We produce most of the feed consumed at the farms operated by our integrated poultry and hog outgrowers. 
We provide feed to most of our integrated poultry and hog outgrowers as part of our partnership arrangements with 
them. We also sell animal feed to local hog producers at market rates.  

We own 24 feed and PREMIX production plants and have an additional three feed plants from third parties 
that are 100% dedicated to BRF. The basic raw materials used in animal feed production are corn and soy meal mixed 
with preservatives and micronutrients.  In  2018 and 2019, we also purchased corn from rural producers and small 
merchants, through cooperatives and from trading companies such as Coamo, Bunge, Cargill and others. The corn is 
grown primarily in the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul 
and Minas Gerais. We buy soy meal from major producers such as Bunge, Cargill and Amaggi, primarily pursuant to 
long-term contracts. The prices of corn, soybeans and soy meal fluctuate significantly, influenced by international 
quotes and local currency rates. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—A. Operating Results—
Principal Factors Affecting our Results of Operations—Commodity Prices.”  

Other Raw Materials  

We  purchase  other  materials  required  for  our  products,  such  as  prepared  animal  intestines  (for  sausage 
casings), cardboard boxes and plastic (for packaging), micronutrients (for animal feed), spices and veterinary drugs 
from third parties, both in the domestic and international markets.  

45 

 
Suppliers 

One of our strategies is to build more efficient relationships with our suppliers by using selection criteria to 

assess suppliers based on the quality of the product, the product performance and reliability. 

We have a Chain Monitoring System that is structured to strengthen social and environmental risk control, 
support an ethical and responsible business model and develop sustainable partnerships. We seek to accomplish this 
by  undertaking  quality  audits,  distributing  and  requiring  supplier  adherence  to  our  Suppliers’  Code  of  Conduct, 
following  the  Policy  for  Related-Party  Transactions,  consulting  public  data  and  also  including  certain  related 
obligations in our contracts with suppliers. Our Suppliers’ Code of Conduct, which is posted on our website and agreed 
to in advance by our suppliers, regulates our relationship and focuses on ethical behavior, social and environmental 
responsibility. We are focused on a stronger risk management approach, especially with respect to quality, integrity 
and safety, as well as sustainability and compliance. 

In 2019, we created the internal process for suppliers to comply with our Suppliers’ Code of  Conduct and 
established internal procurement standards setting forth this process (“Procurement Standards”). The process was led 
by an internal working group focused on ensuring effective Suppliers’ Code of Conduct implementation, mitigating 
risks to the Company and strengthening our relationships with our stakeholders. Beginning in September 2019, all 
new suppliers are required to confirm compliance with our Suppliers’ Code of Conduct before being registered on our 
internal systems. 

The  Procurement  Standards  provide  for  certain  exceptions  to  the  rule  requiring  suppliers  to  accept  our 
Suppliers’ Code of Conduct. For example, suppliers are not required to accept our Suppliers’ Code of Conduct if they 
are a public entity connected to the government or if they have their own code of conduct, in which case they may fill 
out a short form indicating the website where their code of conduct is available or attaching it to the form. If a supplier 
refuses to accept our Suppliers’ Code of Conduct and does not fall into the exceptions set forth by the Procurement 
Standards, the situation will be directed to our internal critical committee for analysis. Our critical committee consists 
of members from the legal, compliance and procurement departments. If our critical committee is unable to reach a 
decision, the matter is referred to our executive committee for resolution.  

In  the  case  of  conflicts  of  interest  with  suppliers,  we  have  a  specialized  team  that  analyzes  the  risk  of 
maintaining or replacing the specified supplier. Additionally, through biweekly reviews of publicly available data in 
Brazil, we identify suppliers that do not comply with legal requirements and/or BRF’s standards. When evaluating 
suppliers,  we  regularly  analyze,  among  other  things,  the  following:  environmental  practices,  labor  relations  and 
practices and general compliance with laws and regulations. We are in the process of standardizing our monitoring 
program across all of BRF’s departments, but all of BRF’s new suppliers are required to follow the Suppliers’ Code 
of Conduct and the Policy for Related-Party Transactions, whether in connection with a contract or spot purchase. 

The evaluation and appropriate selection of suppliers and maintaining relationships with those suppliers is 
critical to our market competitiveness. The supplier assessment process often involves the simultaneous consideration 
of various aspects of the supplier’s performance, including price, innovation, delivery time, quality and post-sales 
support, along with its social and environmental policies and performance. Our process follows established guidelines, 
supported by systems and rules to be followed by all members of our procurement team. In 2018, we  implemented 
our purchasing system – Ariba SAP, which is an advanced purchasing tool intended to strengthen our compliance 
function.  In  2019,  we  implemented  a  new  module  within  the  purchasing  system,  called  Ariba  Network,  which  is 
focused  on  the  relationship  between  our  contract  managers  and  suppliers.  This  improvement  reinforces  our 
commitment  to  compliance  and  transparency  in  our  routine  processes  by  ensuring  an  accurate  evaluation  of  our 
contracted services and facilitating robust communication between our suppliers and our systems. 

Tracking  and  auditing  are  continually  monitored  through  internal  and  external  audits  to  ensure  that  our 

processes are constantly improving and aligned with our norms and codes, compliance and sustainability efforts. 

46 

 
Brazilian Market  

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world, both in terms of land mass and population. For 2019, Brazil 
had an estimated population of 209.7 million people, according to figures from the IBGE. Brazil’s GDP amounted to 
R$6.6 trillion in 2017, R$6.8 trillion in 2018 and R$7.2 trillion in 2019. In 2019, GDP increased by 1.1% in nominal 
terms and 0.3% per capita compared to 2018. 

Inflation measured by the National Amplified Consumer Price Index (known as the IPCA - Índice Nacional 
de Preços ao Consumidor Amplo), published by the IBGE, came to 2.95% 2017, 3.75% in 2018 and 4.31% in 2019 
following a trend of relatively high rates. The end-of-period exchange rate, as measured by the Brazilian Central Bank, 
was R$3.31/U.S.$1.00 in 2017, R$3.87/U.S.$1.00 in 2018 and R$4.03/U.S.$1.00 in 2019, with the real depreciating 
by 4.1% in 2019 compared to 2018.  

Brazil  is  one  of  the  largest  meat  consumers  in  the  world,  with  per  capita  consumption  in  2019  of  99.9 
kilograms, including beef, chicken and pork products, according to the USDA, an increase of 1.3% compared to 2018. 
Demand  for  poultry  and  pork  products  in  the  domestic  market  is  directly  affected  by  the  country’s  economic 
conditions. Given the slight economic recovery in 2019, meat consumption increased in 2019 compared to 2018. As 
further economic improvement is expected for 2020—market analysts consulted by the Central Bank expect that GDP 
will increase by 2.3%,  while  inflation is expected to remain low at 3.47%—meat consumption  should increase in 
2020. Brazil’s domestic market is highly competitive, particularly for fresh food and frozen poultry and pork products. 
Besides BRF, there are many large producers, including Seara Alimentos S.A. (“Seara”) (which was acquired from 
Marfrig by JBS in 2013), Cooperativa Central Aurora Alimentos (“Aurora”) and JBS. The main producers in the fresh 
food market face strong competition from a large number of small producers which operate in the informal economy 
and sometimes offer low quality products at lower prices than those of the large producers. BRF seeks to develop 
quality products, focusing on innovative solutions that meet clients’ needs and capture value for the strong brands it 
owns, such as Sadia and Perdigão. 

The  processed  food  sector  is  more  concentrated  than  the  fresh  food  sector  in  terms  of  the  number  of 
competitors. Consumption of processed products is influenced by a number of factors, including the level of consumer 
income and marketing efforts directed at meeting consumer demand for more value-added products. We believe that 
processed foods also represent an opportunity for growth in the coming years.  

We estimate the following market information based on available data from A.C. Nielsen, which is reported 

to them by us and by some of our competitors:  

• 

• 

• 

the  Brazilian  industrialized  food  market  had  revenues  of  approximately  R$21,543  million  in  2019 
compared to R$20,187 million in 2018; 

the Brazilian frozen food market had revenues of approximately R$4,607 million in 2019 compared to 
R$4,174 million in 2018; and 

the Brazilian margarine market had revenues of R$3,837 million in 2019 compared to R$3,901 million 
in 2018. 

These figures do not include BRF data by region or category of products that are not covered by the  A.C. 

Nielsen figures. 

International Markets 

Brazil is a leading producer in global export markets due to its natural advantages (land, water, and climate), 
competitive inputs costs and increasing efficiencies in animal production. Like other large Brazilian producers, we 
have capitalized on these advantages to develop the scope and scale of our business. 

Global  demand  for  Brazilian  poultry,  pork  and  beef  products  is  significantly  affected  by  trade  barriers, 
including both (i) tariff barriers, which ultimately protect certain domestic markets, and (ii) non-tariff barriers, mainly 

47 

 
including  import  quotas,  sanitary  barriers  and  technical/religious  barriers.  See  “Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial 
Review  and  Prospects—A.  Principal  Factors  Affecting  our  Results  of  Operations––Effects  of  Trade  and  Other 
Barriers” for additional information.  

Sales  

We sell our products both in the domestic and export markets around the world. Net sales to the Brazilian 
market, including most of our processed foods, accounted for 52.3%, 54.0% and 53.6% of our net sales in 2019, 2018 
and 2017, respectively. Net sales to international markets, including most of our frozen whole and cut chickens and 
other poultry and frozen pork cuts and beef cuts, accounted for 44.5%, 43.3% and 43.5% of our net sales in 2018, 
2017 and 2016, respectively.  

The table below sets forth the breakdown of our net sales for the periods indicated:   

Brazilian Market 
Poultry ...................................................................................................  
Pork/Beef ..............................................................................................  
Processed food products ........................................................................  
Other Sales ............................................................................................  
Total Brazilian market ..........................................................................  

International Markets 
Poultry ...................................................................................................  
Pork/Beef ..............................................................................................  
Processed food products ........................................................................  
Other Sales ............................................................................................  
Total International markets ...................................................................  

Other Segments 
Poultry ...................................................................................................  
Pork/Beef ..............................................................................................  
Processed food products ........................................................................  
Other Sales ............................................................................................  
Total Other Segments ............................................................................  
Total .....................................................................................................  

Seasonality 

2019 

2018 

2017 

11.0% 
2.8% 
38.4% 
0.0% 
52.3% 

33.7% 
3.8% 
6.3% 
0.5% 
33.7% 

0.1% 
0.0% 
0.0% 
3.0% 
3.2% 
100% 

10.6% 
2.7% 
40.7% 
0.1% 
54.0% 

33.2% 
2.7% 
6% 
1.2% 
33.2% 

0.3% 
1.8% 
0.5% 
2.6% 
2.7% 
100% 

9.5% 
2.8% 
41.3% 
0.1% 
53.6% 

31.6% 
5.1% 
5.5% 
1.5% 
31.6% 

0.1% 
0.0% 
0.0% 
2.8% 
2.9% 
100% 

See  “Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—B.  Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources—

Seasonality” for information regarding seasonality.  

Overall Comparison of the Company’s Net Sales for the Years Ended December 31, 2019 and 2018  

Brazil 

We  cover  substantially  all  of  the  Brazilian  population  through  a  nationwide  distribution  network.  In  the 
domestic  market,  we sell our  products directly to supermarkets,  wholesalers, retail  stores, food services and other 
institutional buyers. The graphs below set forth our Brazilian net sales to supermarkets, retail stores, wholesalers and 
food services buyers as a percentage of total domestic net sales for the periods indicated. 

Distribution Channel 

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2019

2018

2017

Whosale
13%

Food Service
11%

Whosale
12%

Food Service
10%

Whosale
12%

Food Service
9%

Retail
47%

Retail
46%

Supermarket
29%

Retail
45%

Supermarket
32%

Supermarket
34%

Our domestic distribution network comprises 21 distribution centers  in several Brazilian states.  Refrigerated 
trucks transport our products from our processing plants to the distribution centers and from the distribution centers 
to our customers. We have 28 transit points, previously referred as cross-docking points, in several areas of the country 
that enable us to unload products from large refrigerated trucks onto smaller trucks or vans for transportation to our 
customers. We own six of our distribution centers and lease the remaining 15 centers, which are listed below under 
“—Property, Plant and Equipment.” We do not own the vehicles used to transport our products—we contract with 
carriers to provide this service for us on an exclusive basis. 

International  

We  operate  in  three  business  segments  which  primarily  reflect  our  geographical  structure:  Brazil, 
International (including Islamic markets in the Middle East, North Africa, Malaysia and Eastern Europe, as well as 
Africa, Asia, Europe, Eurasia and the Americas) and Other Segments. The graphs below set forth a breakdown of our 
export net sales by segment. 

2019

Others Segments; 
3%

2018

Others Segments; 
3%

2017

Others Segments; 
3%

International; 
45%

Brazil; 52%

International; 
43%

Brazil; 54%

International; 
44%

Brazil; 54%

Competition 

Brazil 

Brazil’s  domestic  market  is  highly  competitive,  particularly  for  fresh  food  and  frozen  poultry  and  pork 
products. BRF endeavors to develop quality products, focusing on innovative solutions that meet clients’ needs and 
capture value for the strong brands it owns, such as Sadia and Perdigão. 

In the processed meat and margarine categories, the most recently available percentage of our market share 
in Brazil in 2019 as reported by A.C. Nielsen shows that BRF has significant representation in the domestic market, 
as demonstrated in the graph below, which is separated by retail categories:  

49 

 
 
 
 
 
Market Share $

Frozen Meals

Filled

Cold Cuts

Margarines

Total BRF*

54.0%

49.5%

43.8%

46.4%

37.2%

Source:  A.C.  Nielsen  Bimonthly  Retail  –  Margarines  and  Ready-Made  Dishes  (October/November  2019  survey);  Filled  and  Chilled 

(November/December 2019 survey) 

Because A.C. Nielsen gathers data from those in the industry who report to it voluntarily in the areas of the 
country and categories covered by it, the overall market sizes on which these percentages were based are smaller than 
our own internal estimates of the market sizes that we describe above under “—Brazilian Market.”   

JBS is our main competitor in the domestic market. In the processed meat segment, we compete against JBS. 
In the specialty meat market, we compete against Aurora and JBS, while the remainder of the market is represented 
by several small producers. In the frozen product market (which includes hamburgers, steaks, breaded meat, meatballs 
and pasta), we are the leader in terms of market share, followed by JBS, Aurora and Pif Paf Alimentos S.A. (“Pif Paf”) 
and other smaller producers. In the margarine market, we also maintained a leading position with respect to market 
share, followed by Bunge Alimentos S.A., JBS (under the brand Doriana) and Vigor Alimentos S.A.  

In the Brazilian market for in natura meat (whole poultry, poultry and pork cuts), we face competition from 
small producers, some of which operate in the informal economy and offer lower quality products at lower prices. 
This competition from small producers is one of the reasons why our production of chicken and pork is more focused 
on the external market than the domestic market compared to other players in Brazil. 

Considering  the  current  improving  macroeconomic  context  in  Brazil  and  its  positive  impact  on  the 
consumption of animal protein, the processed food market is growing and the expectations in the medium and long-
terms indicate continued expansion. In that context,  to  take advantage of growth opportunities,  we are  focused on 
executing  an  innovation  agenda  based  on  consumer  needs  (healthy,  premium  and  practical),  expanding  to  new 
categories  and  consumption  occasions  and  implementing  a  targeted  brand  positioning  strategy  (communication, 
activations, brand architecture and portfolio stretch). In addition, to increase market share, our opportunities are related 
to  enhancing  brand  power  and  value  perception,  increasing  distribution  capacity,  expanding  the  offer  of  superior 
quality products and implementing a revenue management strategy. 

International 

We  face  significant  competition  in  our  international  markets,  both  from  Brazilian  producers  and  from 
producers  in  other  countries.  Cooperatives  are  increasingly  relevant  competitors,  as  they  have  tax  advantages  and 
certain mobility to reassign their production to foreign markets at times when exports become more attractive than the 
domestic market. In addition, JBS is one of our direct competitors in the international market that has many of the 

50 

 
 
 
same  competitive  advantages  that  we  have  over  producers  in  other  countries,  including  natural  resources  and 
competitive input costs.  

Our chicken and pork cuts, in particular, are price-sensitive and sensitive to substitution with other products. 
Customers sometimes seek to diversify their sources of supply in different countries, even though we often have a 
lower cost of production. 

Protectionist measures among Brazil’s trading partners are also an important competitive factor. Brazilian 
exports of poultry and swine are increasingly affected by actions taken by other countries to protect local producers. 

Our net sales in the international market reached R$14.9 billion in 2019, an increase of 14.1% from 2018. 
Despite the still-challenging international  market environment  in  2019,  we believe  we export  more than our  main 
Brazilian competitors, as BRF is one of the largest poultry exporters in the world. In 2019, BRF accounted for 11.6% 
of the world’s poultry trade, according Trademap. 

In our international markets, our competition is based on quality, cost, prices and service to our customers. 

Distribution of Products 

Brazilian Market 

As of December 31, 2019, we operated 21 distribution centers and 28 transit points. In 2019, we improved 

productivity based on new technologies in our Brazilian distribution and a reduction of lead time in deliveries. 

International Markets  

We  export  our  products  mainly  through  the  ports  of  Itajaí,  Navegantes  and  Itapoá  in  the  state  of  Santa 
Catarina. We also export our products through Rio Grande in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Paranaguá in the state 
of Paraná and Santos in the state of São Paulo. We store our products in refrigerated storages that are owned and 
operated mainly by third parties located at ports in the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. In 
2019, we packed more than 64% of our export containers at plants, referred to as loading “fresh frozen products.” We 
contract with exclusive third-party carriers to transport our products from our production facilities to the ports, and 
we ship our products to export markets through independent shipping companies. 

All the ports that we use to load our cargo are private terminals from third parties. We have occasionally 
experienced disruptions at the ports as a result of logistics challenges, including flooding, strong currents, small drafts, 
strong winds/waves and winter fog.   

Our sales and distribution efforts abroad are coordinated through offices in Austria, Russia, Singapore, South 
Korea, China, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, South Africa, Uruguay, 
Chile, Turkey and Malaysia. We coordinate our marketing efforts and provide sales support to customers in our main 
international markets through these offices. Our distribution arrangements in our international markets vary according 
to the market. 

Europe. On May 14, 2018, the European Union released its decision to remove 12 of our production facilities 
in Brazil from the list that permits imports of animal products by the countries in the European Union. Given the ban 
of imports from our production facilities, we are no longer able to sell our products from such embargoed production 
plants in the European Union. This suspension on certain products from Brazilian producers caused challenges for our 
operations in Europe and required us to reorganize our sales and distribution network by strengthening our partnerships 
with  other  food  processors,  food  service  operators  and  local  distributors.  Furthermore,  we  leveraged  our  global 
sourcing network to supply the European market with products produced outside of Brazil. On February 7, 2019, we 
agreed to sell to Tyson International Holding Co. most of our subsidiaries in Europe, including our Wrexham (UK) 
and  Oosterwolde  (Netherlands)  processing  plants,  and  our  food  processing  and  poultry  slaughtering  operation  in 
Thailand. This transaction closed on June 3, 2019 for the amount equivalent to R$1,488,033 thousand (US$382,106 
thousand). BRF has undertaken, in the share purchase agreement entered into with Tyson International Holding Co., 

51 

 
not to trade in poultry products for human consumption in certain jurisdictions in Europe, including the European 
Economic Area (EEA) and the United Kingdom. The non-compete provision is valid until June 3, 2021 and June 3, 
2022, depending on the sales channel. 

In 2019, we continued developing our chicken portfolio in Russia and other countries in Eurasia to maintain 

our presence in these markets. We sell our products to local processors and food service operators.  

Asia. China, together with Hong Kong, is our largest market in Asia, where we supply a significant volume 
and diverse portfolio of products, including chicken wings, chicken feet and pork cuts. Also, with a small distribution 
operation in Shanghai, BRF has been partnering with retailers to sell Sadia frozen chicken cuts to Chinese consumers. 
In 2019, new factories of BRF were authorized to export products to China, and one of our new product initiatives 
focused on strengthening the Sadia brand in this market. In Japan, our local level of service, quality standards and 
product range have made us a preferred supplier of chicken products in the market. In South Korea, BRF was the first 
Brazilian producer to export pork cuts to this market, which has provided new business opportunities in this country. 
In 2019, we concluded the sale of our interest in the joint venture Sats BRF Food Pte Ltd., in Singapore, and signed a 
distribution agreement to continue supplying  it  with our  products. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—A. 
History and Development of the Company—Other Transactions in 2018 and 2019.” In 2019, we also sold our facilities 
in Thailand, along with most of our European assets, to Tyson International Holding Co. See “Item 4. Information on 
the Company—A. History and Development of the Company—Sale of Assets in Europe and Thailand.” 

Middle  East.  In  the  Middle  East,  Turkey  and  Malaysia  we  sell  to  wholesalers,  retailers,  small  stores 
(traditional trade), food service providers, and processors. In these markets, we primarily sell frozen chicken in three 
categories: whole, cuts and processed products. We believe we are one of the preferred suppliers of these products in 
this region due to our quality standards and our long-standing customer relationships. Our biggest brand,  Sadia is 
recognized as the leading food brand in the Middle East and enjoys the highest Top of Mind brand within the frozen 
meat  category,  according  to  a  study  made  by  Ipsos  Research,  a  third-party  consulting  firm.  In  2017,  we  created 
separate Halal business operations, which was focused 100% in the Halal market. We also announced the completion 
of the acquisition of Banvit in Turkey, through TBQ Foods GmbH, a joint venture formed with the Qatar Investment 
Authority in May 2017. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—A. History and Development of the Company—
Corporate Reorganization of One Foods.” In 2019, our Halal operations were reincorporated into BRF S.A. as part of 
our International operating segment, and they are currently operating similarly to how they operated prior to 2017. 

Africa. Our strategy in Africa has focused on unlocking a number of in-market opportunities that fall under 
the attractive and affordable processed category. In 2019, we focused on strengthening our partnerships in the region. 
We pursue sales in Africa through sales to distributors with the widest possible distribution. The  Sadia and Perdix 
brands are the primary brands that we have focused on distributing in the region. Angola remains our main market for 
chicken cuts and processed food, such as franks and mortadella. We also expanded the supply of processed food to 
South Africa through BRF facilities in Turkey. Going forward, we will continue to carefully consider future growth 
markets. Furthermore, our next phase of developments will emphasize more control over the interactions between the 
brands and the consumers by gaining additional insight into consumer preferences to strengthen our value proposition 
and distribution opportunities. 

Americas and Other Countries. We sell our products in the Americas through direct sales to key distributors. 
Additionally, in 2019, we strengthened our commercial relationship with Mexican clients that started in 2017, where 
we primarily sell frozen chicken cuts. We also sell chicken cuts, including breasts and wings, to processing companies 
in Canada. Additionally, Sadia is an established brand and holds important market shares in Chile and Uruguay, where 
we maintain local distribution operations, and in Paraguay, where we operate through consolidated local distributors.  

Intellectual Property 

Our principal intellectual property consists of our domestic and international brands. We sell our products 
mainly under the “Sadia,” “Qualy” and “Perdigão” brands in the Brazilian market and mainly under the “Perdix,” 
“Perdigão,”  “Sadia,”  “Confidence,”  “Fazenda,”  “Qualy,”  “Borella,”  “Sahtein,”  “Hilal,”  “Halal,”  “Sulina”  and 
“Deline” brands in our international markets, as described below under “—Marketing.”  

52 

 
We  also  own  several  brands  for  specific  products  or  product  lines.  In  the  Brazilian  market,  these  brands 
include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  “Sadia  Bio,”  “Sadia  Salamitos,”  “Sadia  Hot  Pocket,”  “Perdigão  Ouro,”  “Chester 
Perdigão,” “Perdigão NaBrasa” and “Claybom.” Among our trademarks are: “Halal & Design” (registered in various 
Middle Eastern countries), “Unef” (registered in various Middle Eastern countries), “Sulina” (registered in various 
Asian and Caucasian countries), “Fazenda” (registered in various European countries) and “Alnoor” (registered in 
several Middle Eastern countries). The “Sadia” trademark is registered in various forms in more than 90 countries. In 
the Middle East, “Sadia” is registered in various forms in countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, 
Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman, as well as in countries in the Caucasus, in Asia and 
in Latin America. The Sadia mascot is protected both as a registered trademark and copyright pursuant to a registration 
with the Brazilian National Library, and such protection extends to countries other than Brazil.  

In addition, we have patents registered in Brazil and more than 10 other countries. BRF has applied to have 
the Sadia, Perdigão and Qualy trademarks recognized as “well known trademarks” by the Brazilian National Institute 
for Industrial Property (Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial – INPI), which granted us that recognition for 
Sadia and Perdigão in June 2011 and for Qualy in August 2019. BRF has also applied for its corporate trademark 
“BRF” (and accompanying design) to be registered in over 125 countries in North and South America, Europe, Asia, 
Africa and the Middle East. 

Lastly,  we  own  several  internet  domain  names,  registered  with  the  competent  authorities,  such  as 
“perdigao.com.br,”  “claybom.com.br,”  “qualy.com.br,”  “sadia.com.br,”  “brf.com,”  “brf-foodservices.com.br”  and 
“brf-global.com.” 

Marketing  

BRF maintains an active marketing program using several channels, including television and video, digital, 
print and brand experiences. Our marketing efforts are based on (i) adding value to existing categories and diversifying 
our product lines; (ii) increasing convenience with respect to our in natura meat and processed products; (iii) ensuring 
that our brands are recognized and associated with high quality products; and (iv) strengthening our reputation for 
quality by emphasizing high quality service to our customers. Furthermore, we intend to consolidate our brands, while 
continuing to tailor our appeal to specific export markets and domestic market segments. 

In the Brazilian market, we sell our products primarily under the Sadia, Perdigão and Qualy brands. Apart 
from these major brands, we also sell our products under various Sadia brands, including: Soltíssimo, Nuggets, Frango 
Fácil and Speciale. Additionally, we sell products under various Perdigão brands, including: Chester, Ouro, Na Brasa 
and Meu Menu. 

Sadia is our premium brand and it holds a leading position in the Brazilian market. Perdigão is also a leading 
brand in the Brazilian food market, including in the processed food segment. Chester is a Perdigão brand well-known 
for its Christmas products.  

We sell margarine under the Qualy, Deline and Claybom brands. We maintain our leading market position 
with the Qualy brand by bringing innovation to the Brazilian market. For example, in 2014 we introduced the first 
aerated margarine in Brazil and in 2016 we improved the Qualy portfolio by adding a proprietary mix of vitamins and 
minerals to our products, which is called the Q-Mix. Additionally, in 2017 we introduced the first margarine with 
whole grains, Qualy Multigrãos. This technology to add grains inside the margarine is protected under a patent in 
partnership  with  our  equipment  supplier.  In  2018,  we  launched  Qualy  Light  Zero  Lactose,  the  first  zero  lactose 
margarine in the Brazilian market. In 2019, we launched Qualy Vita, a margarine enriched with Omega 6 and vitamins 
A, D and E and focused on heart health. Through our technical knowledge combined with a deep understanding of 
consumers’ preferences, we will seek to maintain our leading market positions. 

In  2019,  we  introduced  a  new  positioning  concept  for  our  Sadia  brand  based on  consumer  perception  of 
quality, superiority and transparency. Sadia is also the preferred brand in the animal protein market in Brazil based on 
Kantar Insights – Brand Equity Tracking 2019. Sadia and Perdigão, together, hold 41.8% of the animal protein market 
in Brazil, and Qualy, more than 50% of the margarine market in Brazil, also according to Kantar Insights – Brand 
Equity Tracking 2019. 

53 

 
Miss Daisy is BRF’s frozen dessert product line. We have produced and sold Miss Daisy deserts since 1999. 
We believe the Miss Daisy brand has a leading market position and has been highly resilient to market changes. We 
offer a wide variety of products under the Miss Daisy brand, including mousse pie, Dutch pie and frozen mousse. In 
addition, Miss Daisy develops specific products for Christmas kits which have been popular in the Brazilian market.  

In our Halal markets, our main brands are  Sadia and Banvit, which have been leading brands in terms of 
market share and consumer preference. We also use secondary brands such as  Perdix, Hilal and Korpe, as well as 
other brands such as Confidence, UNEF and Gozde in different countries and distribution channels. The opening of 
the Abu Dhabi plant in the Middle East and its current expansion are important milestones in the expansion of our 
Halal  business.  Local  production  of  processed  food  greatly  increases  our  ability  to  adapt  our  products  to  local 
preferences and has assisted with the expansion of our product portfolio in the Middle East, as we seek to provide the 
best food products to our customers.  

In addition, our acquisition of Banvit in 2017, the largest producer of poultry in Turkey, has provided us with 
growth opportunities in processed products beyond the Turkish markets, where we plan to consolidate our leadership 
in the Halal animal protein market through a larger portfolio of brands. 

Regulation 

The MAPA, which is the principal governmental authority overseeing our business, is responsible for the 
regulation and inspection activities related to animal health, technical (including labeling) and quality criteria related 
to the making of animal food products in all industrial units in Brazil. MAPA also oversees our activities through the 
Department of Agriculture Defense (Secretaria de Defesa Agropecuária) and the Department of Inspection of Animal 
Products (Departamento de Inspeção de Produtos Animais). 

The inspection activity is performed by placing teams from the SIF/MAPA in the facilities. Their scope of 
work includes all stages of the production process (including receipt of raw materials, production, labeling and storage) 
and  they  can  identify  noncompliance  with  applicable  rules,  with  penalties  ranging  from  a  warning  to  permanent 
suspension of business activities.  

We are also subject to the oversight of a number of other international and Brazilian governmental authorities 
(at federal, state and municipal levels), which include, in Brazil, among others, multiple environmental agencies and 
the National Agency for Sanitary Surveillance (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, or “ANVISA”), which is 
responsible for supervising, among other matters, the food safety of products sold across Brazil.  

C. 

Organizational Structure  

We  are  an  operating  company  incorporated  under  Brazilian  law,  and  we  conduct  business  through  our 

operating subsidiaries. The following table sets forth our significant subsidiaries.  

Entities 

Country 

Main Activity 

BRF GmbH 

BRF Global GmbH 

BRF Austria Gmbh  

One Foods Holdings Ltd. 

Badi Ltd. 

  Austria 

Austria 

  Austria 

UAE 

UAE 

Holding 

Holding and Trading 

Holding 

Holding 

Holding 

Al-Wafi Al-Takamol International for Foods Products 

Saudi Arabia 

Import and commercialization of products 

BRF Al Yasra Food K.S.C.C. ("BRF AFC") 

BRF Foods GmbH 

Al Khan Foodstuff LLC ("AKF") 

TBQ Foods GmbH 

Banvit Bandirma Vitaminli 

Kuwait 

Austria 

Oman 

Austria 

Turkey 

54 

Import, commercialization and distribution of products 

Industrialization, import and commercialization of products 

100.00% 

Import, commercialization and distribution of products 

Holding 

Import, industrialization and commercialization of products 

70.00% 

60.00% 

91.71% 

Interest 
in Equity 
as  
of 
December 
31, 2019 

100.00% 

100.00% 

100.00% 

100.00% 

100.00% 

75.00% 

49.00% 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Federal Foods LLC 

Federal Foods Qatar 

UAE 

Qatar 

Import, commercialization and distribution of products 

Import, commercialization and distribution of products 

49.00% 

49.00% 

The chart below shows our simplified corporate structure. 

BRF S.A.

BRF GmbH

BRF Austria

BRF Global 
GmbH

OneFoods

Badi

BRF AFC

BRF FoodsGmbH

Federal Foods 
LLC

Al-Wafi Al-
Takamol

Al Khan Foodstuff 
LLC ("AKF")

TBQ Foods

Federal Foods 
Qatar

BanvitBandirma

For a complete list of all of our direct and indirect subsidiaries, see Note 1.1 to our consolidated financial 

statements. 

D. 

Property, Plant and Equipment  

Production 

Our activities are organized into two regions: Brazil and International (consisting of the Middle East, North 

Africa, Malaysia, Africa, Asia, Europe, Eurasia and the Americas). 

In Brazil, we operate 34 meat processing plants, three margarine processing plants, three pasta processing 
plants, one dessert processing plant and three soybean crushing plants, all of which are located near our raw material 
suppliers  or  the  main  consumer  centers.  We  have  an  advanced  logistics  system  in  our  domestic  market,  with  21 
distribution centers, six of which are owned by us and 15 of which are leased from third parties, all of which serve 
supermarkets, retail stores, wholesale stores, restaurants and other clients. 

In our international market, we operate five industrial facilities for meat processing. Additionally, after giving 
effect to the divestitures  made in connection  with our  financial  and operational restructuring plan,  we continue to 
operate 24 distribution centers located in Asia, the Southern Cone and the Middle East as well as commercial offices 
on four continents. 

The table below sets forth our production facilities in Brazil.  

55 

 
 
 
 
 
Production Plant 
Meat Products: 

State of Location 

Activities 

Buriti Alegre** 
Campos Novos 
Capinzal 

Carambeí**/**** 
Chapecó 

Concórdia 

Dois Vizinhos** 
Dourados 
Duque de Caxias 
Francisco Beltrão** 
Garibaldi** 
Herval D'Oeste 

Jataí** 
Lajeado 
Lucas de Rio Verde 

Goiás 
Santa Catarina 
Santa Catarina 

Paraná 
Santa Catarina 

Santa Catarina 

Paraná 
Mato Grosso do Sul 
Rio de Janeiro 
Paraná 
Rio Grande Sul 
Santa Catarina 

Goiás 
Rio Grande do Sul 
Mato Grosso 

Marau 

Rio Grande Sul 

Mineiros***/**** 

Goiás 

Nova Marilândia* 
Nova Mutum** 
Paranaguá 
Ponta Grossa 
Rio Verde**** 

Serafina Corrêa 
Tatuí 
Toledo 

Mato Grosso 
Mato Grosso 
Paraná 
Paraná 
Goiás 

Rio Grande Sul 
São Paulo 
Paraná 

Uberlândia** 

Minas Gerais 

Videira 

Santa Catarina 

Vitória de Santo Antão 

Pernambuco 

Soybean 
Margarine Products: 

and 

Paranaguá 
Uberlândia 
Vitoria de Santo Antão 
Dois Vizinhos** 
Videira 
Toledo 

Paraná 

Minas Gerais 
Pernambuco 
Paraná 
Santa Catarina 
Paraná 

industrialized  products 

industrialized  products  and 

Poultry slaughtering 
Pork slaughtering and animal feed 
Poultry  slaughtering  and 
processing 
Poultry slaughtering, animal feed and hatchery 
Poultry slaughtering (including turkey), industrialized 
products processing, animal feed and hatcheries 
Pork and poultry slaughtering, industrialized products 
processing, animal feed and hatcheries 
Poultry slaughtering, animal feed and hatcheries 
Poultry slaughtering, animal feed and hatchery 
Industrialized products processing 
Poultry slaughtering, animal feed and hatcheries 
Poultry slaughtering 
Pork  slaughtering, 
hatchery. 
Poultry slaughtering, animal feed and hatchery 
Pork, poultry slaughtering and industrialized products 
Pork and poultry slaughtering, industrialized products 
processing 
slaughtering, 
Pork 
products, animal feed and hatcheries 
Poultry  and  special  poultry  (Chester®)  slaughtering 
and processing 
Poultry slaughtering 
Poultry slaughtering, animal feed and hatchery 
Industrialized products processing 
Industrialized products processing 
Pork and poultry slaughtering, industrialized products 
processing 
Poultry slaughtering 
Industrialized products processing 
Pork and poultry slaughtering, industrialized products 
processing, animal feed and hatcheries 
Poultry and pork slaughtering, industrialized products 
processing and  hatcheries 
Poultry  slaughtering,  industrialized  products,  animal 
feed and hatcheries. 
Industrialized products processing 

and  poultry 

industrialized 

Margarine processing 
Margarine processing 
Margarine processing 
Soybean crushing 
Soybean crushing 
Soybean crushing 

*  

Production facilities owned and operated by third-party producers who produce according to our specifications.  

**  Operates in accordance with the Halal requirements. 

***  The activities of the Mineiros plant were suspended by the MAPA on March 17, 2017 in connection with the Carne Fraca Operation. The 
plant resumed operations on April 11, 2017. For more details, see “Item 8. Financial Information—A. Consolidated Statements and Other 
Financial Information—Legal Proceedings—Carne Fraca Operation.” 

56 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
**** Exports  of  the  Rio  Verde,  Carambeí  and  Mineiros  plants  were  suspended  by  the  MAPA  on  March  5,  2018  in  connection  with  Trapaça 
Operation.  For  more  details,  see  “Item  8.  Financial  Information—A.  Consolidated  Statements  and  Other  Financial  Information—Legal 
Proceedings— Trapaça Operation.” 

Part of our real estate assets are subject to liens incurred in connection with financing agreements, payment 

of taxes and lawsuits, as described in Note 17 to our consolidated financial statements. 

Distribution Centers 

We operate 21 distribution centers throughout Brazil, as set forth in the table below.  

Location 
Aparecida de Goiânia  
Belém  
Cuiabá  
Duque de Caxias  
Embu  
Exportação Ponta Grossa 
Fortaleza 
Itajaí  
Jundiaí  
Londrina 
Manaus  
Marau  
Nova Santa Rita  
Ribeirão das Neves  
Rio Verde  
Salvador  
São José dos Pinhais  
Uberlândia  
Viana  
Videira  
Vitória de Santo Antão 

State 

Owned or Leased 

Goiás 
Pará 
Mato Grosso 
Rio de Janeiro 
São Paulo 
Paraná 
Ceará 
Santa Catarina 
São Paulo 
Paraná 
Amazonas 
Rio Grande do Sul 
Rio Grande do Sul 
Minas Gerais 
Goiás 
Bahia 
Paraná 
Minas Gerais 
Espírito Santo 
Santa Catarina 
Pernambuco 

Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Owned 
Leased 
Leased 
Owned 
Leased 
Leased 
Owned 
Leased 
Leased 
Owned 
Leased 
Leased 
Owned 
Leased 
Owned 
Leased 

We operate 28 transit points in Brazil in the locations set forth in the table below.  

Transit Points 
Apucarana 
Aracajú 
Araçatuba 
Bauru 
Brasília 
Campo Grande 
Campo dos Goytacazes 
Criciúma 
Governador Valadares 
Guarulhos 
Itabuna 
Limeira 
Macapá 
Maceió 
Marau 
Monte Claros 
Parnamirim 
Paraíso do Tocantins 
Pelotas 

State of Location 

Owned or Leased 

Leased 
 Paraná 
Leased 
 Sergipe 
Leased 
 São Paulo 
Owned 
 São Paulo 
 Distrito Federal 
Leased 
 Mato Grosso do Sul   Owned 
Leased 
 Rio de Janeiro 
Leased 
 Santa Catarina 
Leased 
 Minas Gerais 
Owned 
 São Paulo 
Leased 
 Bahia 
Leased 
 São Paulo 
Leased 
 Amapá 
Leased 
 Alagoas 
Owned 
 Rio Grande do Sul 
Leased 
 Minas Gerais 
 Rio Grande do Norte  Leased 
Leased 
 Tocantins 
Leased 
 Rio Grande do Sul 

57 

 
 
 
Transit Points 
Pouso Alegre 
Presidente Prudente 
Ribeirão Preto 
Santa Maria 
São José do Ribamar 
São José dos Campos 
Seabra 
Sorocaba 
Teresina 

State of Location 

Owned or Leased 

Minas Gerais 
 São Paulo 
 São Paulo  
 Rio Grande do Sul 
 Maranhão 
 São Paulo 
 Bahia 
 São Paulo 
 Piauí 

Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 
Owned 
Leased 
Leased 
Leased 

Environment 

Our activities are subject to strict environmental laws and regulations at municipal, state and federal levels, 
which  regulate  the  aspects  related  to  water,  effluents,  solid  wastes,  atmospheric  emissions,  noise  and  smells.  Our 
operations are also subject to environmental licensing procedures at federal, state and/or municipal levels. 

Failure  to  comply  with  the  environmental  laws  and  regulations  can  result  in  civil  and  criminal  penalties 
against the offender, in addition to indemnification payments for environmental damages. Civil penalties may include 
summons, fines, temporary or permanent bans, the suspension of subsidies by public bodies and the temporary or 
permanent shutdown of commercial activities. Criminal penalties include fines and prison (for individual offenders) 
and liquidation (for legal entities). Fines for operating without a license vary from state to state in accordance with the 
environmental  damages  caused.  Furthermore,  under  Brazil’s  environmental  legislation,  the  corporate  entity  of  a 
company will be disregarded if necessary to guarantee the payment of costs related to environmental damages.  

In the Company’s Health, Safety and Environmental Policy (SSMA Policy), we established guidelines for 
environmental management based on the principles of the ISO 14001. This policy seeks to ensure that our activities 
and growth are carried out in accordance with applicable environmental regulations. We have established a set of 
standards  to  be  used  in  the  company’s  environmental  management.  The  monitoring  of  implementation  of  these 
standards is undertaken through technical indicators, with targets that are established on an annual basis. Corrective 
actions are established to resolve deviations that have been found. An assessment is carried out to make sure that the 
environmental management system is being observed. 

In 2019, we maintained three plants with ISO 14001 certification, all of which are located in Brazil. These 

plants were audited by regulatory bodies and undergo regular recertification. 

Environmental  management  is  part  of  our  daily  operations.  Our  internal  controls  are  built  to  improve 
sustainability  in  our  operations.  We  also  develop  projects  and  take  part  in  initiatives  to  monitor  and  control 
environmental matters, and we focus on developing alternative technologies for the generation and use of sustainable 
energy. Additionally, we have structured a program with our integrated producers to collect animal waste. 

We use our partnerships with integrated producers to leverage standards in our activities and those of our 
suppliers.  We  provide  technical  support  and  guidance  to  help  our  integrated  producers  to  properly  address 
environmental issues. 

We have professional environmental technicians and have trained them in the main aspects of environmental 
regulations. Our plants are built in line with the applicable environmental regulations. Our environmental structure is 
composed of experts, engineers and environmental analysts to assist with the implementation and monitoring of legal 
requirements  and  internal  guidelines.  We  also  have  the  support  of  our  environmental  legal  department  for  legal 
assistance. 

Despite our efforts to comply with the legislation and the environmental regulations, we have occasionally 
been required to sign environmental agreements with the Brazilian federal and local government related to the non-
compliance  with  environmental  licensing  requirements.  We  are  required  under  these  agreements  to,  among  other 
things, address the environmental infraction and remediate any environmental damage. If we do not comply with these 

58 

 
 
obligations, we will be subject to the payment of fines accrued on a daily basis. See “Item 8. Financial Information—
A.  Consolidated  Statements  and  Other  Financial  Information—Legal  Proceedings—Civil,  Commercial  and  Other 
Proceedings” for additional information. 

Health and Safety 

We are committed to the safety of our facilities. All BRF employees and contractors in Brazil and as part of 
our international operations must follow our safety protocols. In addition, we have hired a consulting firm to assist 
with further strengthening our health and safety structure, including with respect to ammonia cooling systems, fire 
prevention and other health and safety improvements. Our health and safety policies aim to reduce lost time and non-
lost time accidents, occupational illnesses and material loss incidents. In 2019, we reduced accidents by 45.4%.  

Insurance Coverage  

We purchase insurance to cover our plant assets, equipment and inventory. Our insurance coverage includes 
comprehensive  general  liability  insurance  coverage  for  operations,  executives  and  employer’s  liability,  products 
liability and other claims in connection with the manufacture, production, distribution and sale of our products.  We 
consider the amounts of our insurance coverage to be typical for a company of our size  and adequate  to meet the 
foreseeable risks associated with our operations. 

ITEM 4A.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 

None.  

  OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS 

A. 

Operating Results 

Overview  

BRF S.A. is one of the largest producers of fresh and frozen protein foods in the world. We are committed 
to operating our business and delivering products to our global customer base in line with our core values: quality, 
safety and integrity. We have a portfolio of approximately 3,000 SKUs. Our processed products include marinated 
and  frozen  chicken,  Chester®  rooster  and  turkey  meats,  specialty  meats,  frozen  processed  meats,  frozen  prepared 
entrees, portioned products and sliced  products. We also sell  margarine, sweet specialties, sandwiches and animal 
feed.  We  are  the  holder  of  brands  such  as  Sadia,  Perdigão,  Qualy,  Perdix,  Confidence  and  Hilal.  In  2019,  BRF 
accounted for 11.6% of the world’s poultry trade, according to Trademap.  

Our  portfolio  strategy  is  focused  on  creating  new,  convenient,  practical  and  healthy  products  for  our 
consumers based on their preferences. We  seek to achieve that  goal through  strong innovation to provide  us  with 
increasing value-added items that will differentiate us from our competitors and strengthen our brands.  

With 34 industrial facilities in Brazil, we have among our main assets a distribution network that enables our 
products to reach Brazilian consumers through more than 555,000 monthly deliveries and 45 distribution centers as 
of December 31, 2019, 21 of which are in the domestic market and 24 of which are in our export markets.  

In the international market, BRF has a leading brand, Sadia, in various categories in Middle Eastern countries. 
We maintain 21 offices outside of Brazil serving customers in more than 130 countries on five continents. We have 
one industrial facility in Abu Dhabi, one in Malaysia and three in Turkey. 

We have been a public company since 1980. Our shares have been listed on the  Novo Mercado of the São 
Paulo Stock Exchange as BRFS3 since 2006, and ADRs representing our common shares are traded on the New York 
Stock Exchange, or “NYSE.” 

A breakdown of our products is as follows, which are sold both in Brazil and to our international customers: 

59 

 
•  Meat Products, consisting of  in natura meat,  which we define as frozen whole and cut chicken, and 

frozen pork;  

•  Processed Food Products including the following:  

o  marinated, frozen, whole and cut chicken, roosters (sold under the Chester® brand) and turkey;  

o 

o 

specialty  meats,  such  as  sausages,  ham  products,  bologna,  frankfurters,  salami,  bacon  and  other 
smoked products; and  

frozen processed meats, such as hamburgers, steaks, breaded meat products, kibbeh and meatballs;  

•  Other Processed Products including the following:  

o  margarine; and 

o 

frozen prepared entrees, such as lasagna and pizzas, as well as other frozen foods; and  

•  Other, consisting of soy meal, refined soy flour and animal feed.  

Prior  to  the  divestitures  made  in  connection  with  our  financial  and  operational  restructuring  plan,  other 

processed products included mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup.  

In Brazil, we operate 34 meat processing plants, three margarine processing plants, three pasta processing 
plants, one dessert processing plant and three soybean crushing plants, all of which are located near our raw material 
suppliers  or  the  main  consumer  centers.  We  have  an  advanced  logistics  system  in  our  domestic  market,  with  21 
distribution centers, six of which are owned by us and 15 of which are leased from third parties, all of which serve 
supermarkets, retail stores, wholesale stores, restaurants and other clients. 

In our International market, we operate five industrial facilities for meat processing. Additionally, after giving 
effect to the divestitures  made in connection  with our  financial  and operational restructuring plan,  we continue to 
operate 24 distribution centers located in Asia, the Southern Cone and the Middle East as well as commercial offices 
on four continents.  

We  are  also  focused  on  addressing  the  impacts  of  climate  change  on  the  environment  and  our  business. 
Among the initiatives that we have taken to reduce our exposure to climate change and to maintain our competitiveness 
in  terms  of  costs  is  the  monitoring  of  grain  stocks  and  purchases  and  the  constant  monitoring  of  the  weather  in 
agricultural  regions  to  guide  our  purchasing  decisions,  as  well  as  anticipating  price  movements  in  the  commodity 
markets. Other initiatives include technological innovations in our animal-raising facilities to improve efficiency and 
safeguard  animal  welfare.  In  addition,  we  recognize  that  consumers,  investors  and  other  stakeholders  are  more 
conscious of social and environmental aspects of the production chain. We have taken steps to address these concerns, 
for example by entering into a partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and joined the Collaboration 
for Forests and Agriculture (CFA) in 2019, with the aim of developing a more sustainable grain supply chain. 

Principal Factors Affecting Our Results of Operations  

Our operating results, financial condition and liquidity have been and will continue to be influenced by a 

broad range of factors, including: 

• 

• 

• 

economic conditions in Brazil and globally;  

the effect of trade barriers and other restrictions on imports;  

concerns over African swine fever, avian influenza and other diseases of human and animal origin; 

60 

 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

disruptions in consumption and trade patterns, supply chains and production processes resulting from 
the novel coronavirus (COVID-19 virus) pandemic;  

sensitivity of the domestic market to changes in global demand, including the impact of decisions by our 
main Brazilian competitors and temporary increases in supply from producers in other countries; 

changes in commodity prices;  

fluctuations in exchange rates and inflation;  

interest rates; and 

freight costs and volume.  

We present a more detailed description of each of these factors below.  

Brazilian and Global Economic Conditions   

The CMN set the target inflation in Brazil at 4.25% for 2019, with a potential range of 1.5 percentage points 
higher or lower than this target.  The inflation rate, which had been below the target at 2.95% and 3.75% in 2017 and 
2018,  respectively,  increased  to  4.31%  in  2019.  Price  increases  generally  reduce  consumers’  purchasing  power, 
particularly among the lower income class, and ultimately limit consumption. 

The Brazilian labor  market registered an average  unemployment rate  of 11.8% in 2019, according to the 
IBGE’s  National  Household  Sample  Survey  (Pesquisa  Nacional  por  Amostra  de  Domicílios,  or  “PNAD”),  which 
represents a slight deterioration when compared to the rate of 11.6% in 2018. Additionally, after increasing to 93.0 
points in 2018, Brazilian consumer confidence decreased to 91.6 points in December 2019, according to a Consumer 
Survey of Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV). 

Real GDP in Brazil increased at an average annual rate of 2.3% from 2004 through 2019. For two consecutive 
years, in 2015 and in 2016, Brazil’s GDP decreased by 3.5%, after increasing 0.5% in 2014. In 2019, GDP increased 
by 1.1% compared to 2018. Reacting to this weak economic situation, the Central Bank lowered the SELIC interest 
rate, which is the short-term benchmark interest rate. Overall, the long-term trend in interest rates remains downward, 
from 17.8% as of December 31, 2004 to 4.0% as of December 31, 2019.  

The Brazilian real depreciated 4.1% against the U.S. dollar in 2019, from R$3.87 per U.S.$1.00 in December 

31, 2018 to R$4.03 per U.S.$1.00 in December 31, 2019. 

For a discussion on the global economic conditions and further information on the conditions on our export 
markets  and  the  Brazilian  market,  see  “Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—D.  Trend 
Information.” 

Effects of Trade and Other Barriers   

Global demand for Brazilian poultry and pork products is significantly affected by trade barriers, including 
(i)  tariff  barriers,  which  ultimately  protect  certain  domestic  markets,  and  (ii)  non-tariff  barriers,  mainly  including 
import  quotas,  sanitary  barriers  and  technical/religious  barriers.  In  addition,  some  countries  employ  subsidies  for 
production and exports,  which tend to distort international trade and interfere  with our business. We continuously 
monitor trade barriers and other import restrictions, either directly or through specialized consultancy firms, in the 
global poultry, pork and beef markets, since these restrictions significantly affect the demand for our products and the 
levels of our exports. For more information about risks relating to trade barriers, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. 
Risks Factors Risks—Relating to Our Business and Industry—More stringent trade barriers in key export markets 
may negatively affect our results of operations.” Certain examples of these barriers are described below.  

61 

 
Tariff barriers  

The EU (since 2007), Russia (since 2012) and Mexico (since 2013) have protected their meat industries by 

applying import quotas and high tariffs on volumes imported outside of the quota. 

In September 2013, South Africa raised duties on chicken products originating in all countries except the EU 
(due to a free trade agreement between them that establishes zero tariff on poultry products). Tariffs increased to 82% 
on  whole  chicken,  12%  on  boneless  cuts  and  37%  on  bone-in  cuts.  The  South  African  government  announced  in 
February 2020 that it is considering new tariff increases on Brazilian poultry. 

In December 2016, Saudi Arabia increased its import tariff for poultry meat from 5% to 20%. 

In August 2017, the Chinese government initiated an antidumping investigation in connection with Brazilian 
exports of whole chicken and chicken parts, including BRF’s exports. In the preliminary determination released in 
June  2018,  Chinese  authorities  imposed  provisional  duties  on  the  imports  of  poultry  products  from  Brazil.  The 
investigation ended in February 2019 and Brazilian exporters agreed to certain minimum export prices for sales to 
China. 

In August 2018, Iraq increased the tariff on poultry products from 10% to 60%.  

Non-tariff barriers   

Import quotas   

In  2005,  Brazil  obtained  a  favorable  result  in  a  panel  against  the  EU  at  the  World  Trade  Organization 
(“WTO”) regarding the reclassification (and tariff increase) of salted chicken breast meat exports. In return, the EU 
introduced quotas on imports of certain tariff codes, especially for salted chicken breast, marinated turkey breast and 
processed chicken, and in July 2007, Brazil was awarded the majority of these quotas. 

Russia  utilizes  quotas  to  control  imports  of  poultry  and  beef.  As  part  of  the  negotiations  surrounding  its 
accession to the WTO, Russia made some changes to its quota  system in 2013. It abolished its quotas for pork on 
January 1, 2020. As a result, imports of pork are subject to a 25% flat import tariff. 

With respect to poultry imports, Russia set a quota of 364,000 tons of meat in total. Of the total quota, 100,000 
tons correspond to imports of boneless meat, of which 80,000 tons are allocated to the EU and 20,000 tons are allocated 
to other countries; 250,000 tons correspond to imports of bone-in products,  with no geographical  breakdown; and 
14,000 tons correspond to boneless and bone-in products allocated to imports from Turkey. The intra-quota tariff is 
25% and the extra-quota tariff is 80%. However, not all types of poultry cuts can be imported within the quotas, for 
example  grillers  and  whole  boneless  chicken  (shawarma).  Products  that  cannot  be  imported  within  the  quotas  are 
subject to a 80% import tariff.  

With respect to beef imports, Russia set a quota of 40,000 tons for chilled beef and of 530,000 tons for frozen 
beef imports. Of the total quota for chilled beef, 29,000 tons are allocated to the EU and 11,000 tons are allocated to 
imports from other countries. Of the total quota for frozen beef, 60,000 tons are allocated to the EU, 60,000 tons are 
allocated to the United States, 3,000 tons are allocated to Costa Rica and 407,000 tons are allocated to imports from 
other countries. The intra-quota tariff is 15% and the extra-quota tariff is 50%. 

In December 2017, Mexico renewed its import poultry meat quota of 300,000 tons, which expired in 

October 2019. 

Sanitary barriers   

Despite progress in trade negotiations, several major markets are not yet open to Brazilian meat products due 

to sanitary barriers, including the European Union and Colombia for pork and Taiwan and Panama for chicken. 

62 

 
As a result of the Trapaça Operation, on March 5, 2018, we received notice from MAPA that it immediately 
suspended exports from our Rio Verde, State of Goiás, Carambeí, State of Paraná and Mineiros, State of Goiás plants 
to 13 countries with specific sanitary requirements related to Salmonella spp. As a precautionary measure, MAPA 
also  suspended  exports  from  10  other  BRF  plants  to  the  European  Union  on  March  15,  2018. This  precautionary 
suspension was lifted on April 18, 2018 by MAPA. On May 14, 2018, the European Union released its decision to 
remove 12 of our production facilities in Brazil from the list that permits imports of animal products by the countries 
in the European Union. The European Union generally has stricter requirements related to salmonella levels and other 
food safety standards compared to Brazil and the international markets in which we operate. Given the ban of imports 
from our production facilities, we are no longer able to sell our products from such embargoed production plants in 
the European Union and need to direct excess production capacity resulting from such suspension to other markets, 
which may not occur at similar prices or margins. 

Technical barriers  

In the short term, we must respond quickly to the imposition of any new restrictions, including temporary 
health-related restrictions, by redirecting products to other markets or changing product specifications to comply with 
the new requirements in order to minimize their effect on our net export sales. In the long term, these restrictions may 
affect the growth rate of our business. 

In April 2018, Saudi Arabia instituted a no-stunning requirement for the animal slaughtering process. Saudi 
Arabia claimed that Brazilian companies’ chicken slaughtering practices violated Halal principles due to the use of an 
electric shock to stun the birds. BRF and other Brazilian companies were therefore required to migrate their production 
processes to non-stunning slaughters in order to supply the Saudi Arabian market. We have incurred, and expect to 
incur, additional costs in connection with these requirements for exporting to Saudi Arabia. In January 2019, the Saudi 
Arabian Food and Drug Authority published a report authorizing 25 Brazilian facilities to produce chicken meat for 
the Saudi Arabian market, which included eight of BRF’s plants. One of BRF’s plants (Lajeado, State of Rio Grande 
do Sul) that had previously produced chicken meat for the Saudi Arabian market was not included as an authorized 
plant. However, the eight authorized plants have provided sufficient capacity to meet the demand of this market. We 
also expect to be able to continue to shift production of chicken meat for Saudi Arabia to the authorized plants without 
a significant disruption to our shipments to Saudi Arabia. 

Effect of Animal Diseases   

Avian Influenza 

Avian influenza has captured the attention of the international community over the years with outbreaks in 
poultry  having  serious  consequences  on  both  livelihoods  and  international  trade  in  many  countries.  In  addition, 
although most avian influenza viruses do not infect humans, some, such as avian influenza H5N1 and H7N9, are well 
known to the public because of their implication in serious and sometimes fatal infections in people. 

Demand for our products can be significantly affected by outbreaks of animal diseases like avian influenza. 
If significant numbers of new avian influenza cases were to develop in humans, even if they do not occur in any of 
our markets, the demand for our poultry products both inside and outside Brazil would likely be negatively affected 
and the extent of the effect on our business cannot be predicted. Even isolated cases of avian influenza in humans 
could negatively impact our business due to the public’s sensitivity to the disease. 

Brazil has not yet had a documented case of avian influenza, although there are concerns that an outbreak of 
avian influenza may occur in the country in the future. Any outbreak of avian influenza in Brazil could lead to the 
required disposal of our poultry flocks, which would result in decreased sales in the poultry industry, prevent recovery 
of  costs  incurred  in  raising  or  purchasing  poultry  and  result  in  additional  expense  for  the  disposal  of  poultry.  In 
addition, any outbreak of avian influenza in Brazil would likely lead to immediate restrictions on the export of some 
of our products to key export markets. Preventive actions adopted by Brazilian authorities, if any, may not be effective 
in precluding the spread of avian influenza within Brazil. In addition, any future significant outbreak of avian influenza 
in Brazil could eventually lead to pressure to dispose of our hogs, even if no link between the influenza cases and pork 
consumption is shown. Any such disposal of our hogs would result in decreased sales of pork, prevent recovery of 
costs incurred in raising or purchasing our hogs and result in additional expense for the disposal of hogs.  

63 

 
Other Animal Diseases 

In addition, demand in our export markets may similarly be influenced by other animal diseases. For example, 
pork imports from most Brazilian states were banned in Russia from 2005 to 2007 due to cases of foot-and-mouth 
disease affecting cattle in the States of Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraná. We do not raise hogs in Mato Grosso do Sul 
and Paraná. However, these bans have affected Brazilian exports into Russia generally and, at the time, required us to 
shift pork production for the Russian market to Rio Grande do Sul, the only Brazilian state that was not subject to the 
ban, until Russia lifted restrictions on imports from an additional eight Brazilian states in December 2007. 

A viral disease named pork epidemic diarrhea (“PED”) was diagnosed in North America and Asia in the last 
few years. The principal clinical signs are enteric symptoms, stunting and high mortality. In these places, the disease 
was responsible for significant increase in terminated animals and consequent increasing price due to low supply. A 
vaccine to prevent the disease has not yet been developed but general management and biosecurity reduce the impact. 

Outbreaks of African swine fever have been reported in China since  August 2018 and through 2019. The 
Chinese market shifted its purchasing as a result of these outbreaks. Consequently, our volumes of pork cuts sold to 
China increased, and the Brazilian Minister of Agriculture suspended imports of natural pork casings from China. 
This suspension was precautionary and has since been lifted. 

Although all of our hogs are sourced in Brazil from zones free of Classical Swine Fever, there have been a 
number  of  recent  outbreaks  outside  of  these  zones.  In  October  2018,  an  outbreak  of  Classical  Swine  Fever  was 
confirmed in the Brazilian State of Ceará. Additionally, in 2019, a case of Classical Swine Fever was confirmed in 
the Brazilian States of Alagoas and Piauí. Brazil has two zones regarding the sanitary status of Classical Swine Fever, 
the free zone that is comprised of 16 Brazilian states and includes more than 95% of the Brazilian commercial pork 
production and a non-free zone, located in the north of Brazil. All three states with confirmed cases of Classical Swine 
Fever are located outside the Classical Swine Fever-free zone. The Brazilian government also took action to contain 
the outbreak. No formal commercial embargoes were announced as a result of this outbreak.  

Effect of Export Market Demand on the Domestic Market   

Demand fluctuations for poultry, pork and beef products in our export markets often have an effect on the 
supply and selling prices of those products in the Brazilian market. Brazilian exporters generally redirect the products 
for  international  markets  to  the  domestic  market,  increasing  the  supply  of  those  products  domestically  and  often 
negatively impacting the selling price. This consequently affects our net sales in the domestic market. 

For  example,  in  2017,  Russia  banned  the  imports  of  pork  meat  from  Brazil,  alleging  the  presence  of 
ractopamine in the animals’ feed meal. As a result, nearly 259.4 thousand tons per year had to be redirected to other 
markets, which ultimately generated excess supply in the domestic market and contributed to the decrease in pork 
carcass prices in 2018. 

In August 2017, the Chinese government initiated an antidumping investigation in connection with Brazilian 
exports of whole chicken and chicken parts, including BRF’s exports. In the preliminary determination released in 
June  2018,  Chinese  authorities  imposed  provisional  duties  on  the  imports  of  poultry  products  from  Brazil.  The 
investigation ended in February 2019 and Brazilian exporters agreed to certain minimum export prices for sales to 
China.  

In April 2018, Saudi Arabia instituted a no-stunning requirement for the animal slaughtering process. Saudi 
Arabia claimed that Brazilian companies’ chicken slaughtering practices violated Halal principles due to the use of an 
electric shock to stun the birds. BRF and other Brazilian companies were therefore required to migrate their production 
processes to non-stunning slaughters in order to supply the Saudi Arabian market.  

In  2019,  Chinese  demand  for  imported  protein  increased  significantly  because  of  African  swine  fever,  a 
deadly  virus  that  reduced  drastically  the  local  supply  of  pork  meat  and,  consequently,  increased  local  and  global 
protein prices. In 2019, China enabled nine poultry plants, six pork plants and 22 bovine plants from Brazil to increase 
their import volumes and to address the local protein scarcity.  

64 

 
We monitor the actions of our domestic competitors since they are also impacted by external market changes 
and may react accordingly, redirecting their products to the domestic or external markets. In addition, we monitor 
fluctuations  in  supply  generated  by  producers  in  China,  the  U.S.,  the  European  Union  and  other  regions,  since 
fluctuations in production in those markets can lead to variations in supply in other countries. 

Commodity Prices 

Many of our raw materials are commodities whose prices consistently fluctuate in response to market forces 
of supply and demand. We purchase large quantities of corn, soybean meal, vegetable oils and soybeans (grain), which 
we use to produce substantially all of our own animal feed. For the most part, the commodities we purchase are priced 
in  reais.  While  input  costs  are  denominated  in  real,  the  prices  of  the  commodities  we  purchase  tend  to  follow 
international prices and are influenced by exchange rate fluctuations. Purchases of corn, soybean meal and soybeans 
represented approximately 28.1% of our cost of production in 2019, compared to 24.8% in 2018. Although we produce 
most of the hogs we use for our pork products, we also purchased hogs on the spot market in 2019. We purchased 
2.8% of the total number of hogs slaughtered in 2019 on the spot market. 

In addition, the selling prices for many of our products, including substantially all our export products, are 
highly sensitive to the market price of those commodities and fluctuate with them. In 2019, the average corn price in 
Brazil was 5.8% lower than in 2018. Corn prices in December 2019 were 19.9% higher than in December 2018. In 
2019, the average soybean meal price in Brazil was 8.9% lower than in 2018. In December 2019, soybean meal prices 
in Brazil were 5.9% higher than in December 2018. The effect of decreases or increases in prices of raw materials on 
our gross margin is greater for fresh products relative to value-added products. 

Our ability to pass  on increases in raw  material prices through our  selling prices is limited by prevailing 

prices for the products we sell in our domestic and export markets, especially for fresh products. 

For  further  information  about  trends  in  commodity  prices  in  2019,  see  “Item  5.  Operating  and  Financial 

Review and Prospects—D. Trend Information––Raw Materials.” 

Effects of Exchange Rate Variations and Inflation   

The table below sets forth, for the periods indicated, the fluctuation of the real against the U.S. dollar, the 
period-end and average daily exchange rates and Brazilian inflation as measured by the National Index of Consumer 
Prices (Índice Nacional de Preços ao Consumidor, or “INPC”), IPCA and the General Market Price Index (Índice 
Geral de Preços do Mercado, or “IGP-M”). 

2019 
Depreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar ...............................  
(4.02%) 
Period-end exchange rate (U.S.$1.00) ..............................................   R$4.03 
Average (daily) exchange rate (U.S.$1.00)(1) ...................................   R$3.95 
Period-end Basic interest rate SELIC(2) ............................................   4.50% 
Inflation (INPC)(3) ............................................................................   4.48% 
Inflation (IPCA)(4) ............................................................................   4.31% 
Inflation (IGP-M)(5) ..........................................................................   7.30% 

2018 
(17.14%) 
R$3.87 
R$3.66 
6.50% 
3.43% 
3.75% 
7.55% 

2017 
(1.50%) 
R$3.31 
R$3.19 
7.00% 
2.07% 
2.95% 
(0.53)% 

Sources: IBGE, Fundação Getúlio Vargas and the Central Bank. 

(1) 

The average (daily) exchange rate is the sum of the daily exchange rates based on PTAX 800 Option 5, divided by the number of business days in the period. 

(2) 

The SELIC (Sistema Especial de Liquidação e de Custódia) interest rate is the primary Brazilian reference interest rate.  

(3) 

INPC is published by the IBGE, measuring inflation for families with income between one and eight minimum monthly wages in 11 metropolitan areas of Brazil. 

(4) 

IPCA is published by IBGE, measuring inflation for families with income between one and 40 minimum monthly wages in eleven metropolitan areas of Brazil. 

(5) 

The IGP-M gives different weights to consumer prices, wholesale prices and construction prices. The IGP-M is published by the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (Fundação Getúlio Vargas), a 

private foundation. 

65 

 
 
 
 
Our results of operations and financial condition are significantly affected by movements in the exchange 
rate of reais to the U.S. dollar, the euro and the Turkish lira. We invoice our export products primarily in U.S. dollars 
and, in Europe, in euros and Turkish liras, but we report our results of operations in reais. Appreciation of the real 
against those currencies decreases the amounts we receive in reais and therefore our net sales from exports, and the 
opposite occurs when the real depreciates against those currencies. 

The prices of soy meal and soybeans, which are important ingredients for our animal feedstock, are closely 
linked to the U.S. dollar. The price of corn, another important ingredient for our feedstock, is also linked to the U.S. 
dollar, albeit to a lesser degree than the price of soy meal and soybeans. In addition to soy meal, soybeans and corn, 
we purchase sausage casings, mineral nutrients for feed, packaging and other raw materials, as well as equipment for 
use  in  our  production  facilities,  from  suppliers  located  outside  Brazil  whom  we  must  pay  in  U.S.  dollars  or other 
foreign currencies. When the real depreciates against the U.S. dollar, the cost in reais of our U.S. dollar-linked raw 
materials  and  equipment  increases,  and  such  increases  could  materially  adversely  affect  our  results  of  operations. 
Although the appreciation of the real has a positive effect on our costs because part of our costs is denominated in 
U.S. dollars, this reduction in U.S. dollar costs because of the appreciation of the real does not immediately affect our 
results of operations because of the length of our production cycles for poultry and pork. 

We had total foreign currency-denominated debt obligations in an aggregate amount of R$11,006.5 million 
as of December 31, 2019, representing 59.1% of our total consolidated indebtedness on that date. Although we manage 
a portion of our exchange rate risk through foreign currency derivative instruments and future cash flows from exports 
in  U.S.  dollars  and  other  foreign  currencies,  our  foreign  currency  debt  obligations  are  not  completely  hedged.  A 
significant devaluation of the real in relation to the U.S. dollar or other currencies would increase the amount of reais 
that  we  would  need  in  order  to  meet  debt  service  requirements  of  our  foreign  currency-denominated  obligations. 
Historically, our results of operations and financial condition have been affected by inflation rates in Brazil. Demand 
for our products in the domestic market is sensitive to inflation in consumer prices, as reflected in variations in the 
INPC  and  IPCA  inflation  indexes,  and  most  of  our  costs  and  expenses  are  incurred  in  reais.  Because  long-term 
contracts with suppliers and customers are not customary in our industry and prices are generally negotiated monthly 
or quarterly, increases in inflation have a rapid impact on our net sales and costs. 

The IGP-M index is often used as an inflation reference rate in negotiating prices we pay to suppliers. In 
addition, we buy energy to run our production facilities pursuant to long-term contracts that contain periodic inflation 
adjustments according to the IGP-M index.  

In terms of personnel costs, Brazilian salaries are adjusted only once a year, based on collective agreements 
between employers’ syndicates and unions. Generally, unions follow the INPC as a parameter for their negotiations. 

Effects of Interest Rates  

Our financial expenses are affected by movements in Brazilian and foreign interest rates. As of December 
31, 2019, 36.6% of our total indebtedness of R$18,602 million was either (1) denominated in (or swapped into) reais 
and bears interest based on Brazilian floating interest rates, such as the TJLP, the interest rate used in our financing 
agreements with BNDES, the CDI, an interbank certificate of deposit rate that applies to our foreign currency swaps 
and some of our other real-denominated indebtedness, or  IPCA, or (2) U.S. dollar-denominated and bears floating 
interest based on LIBOR. Any increase in the CDI, TJLP, IPCA or LIBOR rates may have an adverse impact on our 
financial expenses and our results of operations. 

The table below shows the average interest rates to which we were exposed in each of the years as follows:  

TJLP ...............................................................  
CDI .................................................................  
Six-month LIBOR ..........................................  

Average Interest for the Year Ended December 31, 
2018 
(%) 
7.0 
6.4 
2.9 

2019 
(%) 
5.6 
4.4 
1.9 

2017 
(%) 
7.0 
6.9 
1.8 

66 

 
 
 
 
 
Freight Costs and Volume 

The  cost  of  transporting  our  products  throughout  our  domestic  distribution  network  and  to  our  foreign 
customers is significant and is affected by fluctuations in the price of oil. In 2019, 2018 and 2017, freight costs from 
our  continuing  operations  represented  approximately  5.0%,  5.5%  and  5.0% of  our  net  sales,  respectively.  For  our 
export goods, we ship many of our goods CFR (cost and freight) or DDP (delivered duty paid), which requires us to 
pay for freight and insurance costs. In 2019, shipping companies included a bunker oil (the fuel utilized in vessels) 
adjustment factor in their agreements due to the uncertainty in future fuel prices as a result of political instability in 
the Middle East. In 2019, shipping lines also started preparing themselves for the implementation of the International 
Maritime Organization (or “IMO”) Low Sulphur Regulation, which became effective on January 1, 2020. As a result 
of the new regulation, our freight levels increased approximately 10% to 12% due to the higher cost of VLSFO bunker 
oil, which has lower Sulphur emission when compared to the previous IFO bunker oil. The new IMO regulation is 
expected to affect all agents in the shipping industry.  

Global protein demand is also expected to exert pressure on freight volume and restrict container availability 
due to the African swine flu in China, especially in shipping routes with restricted capacity such as the one from South 
America to Asia. Due to the uncertainty of this increase in global demand and the need for bilateral trade agreements 
between producing countries and China, we are currently unable to estimate the possible impact on freight volume. 

Results of Operations  

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements included 
elsewhere  in  this  annual  report.  The  following  table  sets  forth  the  components  of  our  results  of  operations  as  a 
percentage of net sales for 2019, 2018 and 2017.  

Continuing Operations 
Net sales...................................................................  
Cost of sales .........................................................  
Gross profit ............................................................  
Operating income (expenses) 

Selling expenses ...................................................  
General and administrative expenses ....................  
Impairment loss on trade and other receivables ....  
Other operating income (expenses) ......................  
Income (loss) from associates and joint ventures..  
Operating income (loss) from Continuing Operations
 .............................................................................  
Financial expenses ................................................  
Financial income ..................................................  
Income (loss) before taxes ......................................  
Current income and social contribution tax  
Deferred income and social contribution tax   
Income (loss) from Continuing Operations 
Discontinued Operations 
Loss from Discontinued Operations ....... 
Net income (loss) ...................................... 
Attributable to 

Controlling shareholders ........................ 
Non-controlling shareholders ................. 

2019 
(in thousands 
of reais) 

33,446,980  
(25,370,042) 
8,076,938  

(4,911,666) 
(615,683) 
(23,899) 
224,384 
(1,737)  

2,748,337  
(3,613,051) 
1,747,652  
882,938 
(94,699) 
290,094  
1,078,333 

(915,809) 
162,524 

162,684 
(160)  

(%) 

100.0  
(75.9) 
24.1 

(14.7) 
(1.8) 
(0.1) 
0.7 
0.0 

8.2 
(10.8) 
5.2 
2.6 
(0.3) 
0.9 
3.2 

(2.7) 
0.5 

0.5 
0.0 

Year Ended December 31, 
2018 
(in thousands 
of reais) 

(%) 

Restated 2017 

(in thousands 
of reais) 

30,188,421 
(25,320,753) 
4,867,668  

100.0  
(83.9) 
16.1 

28,314,160  
(22,601,215) 
5,712,945 

(4,513,594) 
(551,165) 
(46,269) 
19,311 
17,715  

(206,334)  
(3,891,106) 
1,649,632  
(2,447,808) 
(6,842) 
340,144  
(2,114,506) 

(2,351,740) 
(4,466,246) 

(4,448,061) 
(18,185)  

(15.0) 
(1.8) 
(0.2) 
0.1 
0.1 

(0.7) 
(12.9) 
5.5 
(8.1) 
(0.0) 
1.1 
(7.0) 

(7.8) 
(14.8) 

(14,7) 
(0.1) 

(4,208,683) 
(462,523) 
(67,471) 
(333,467) 
2,383 

663,184 
(3,445,449) 
1,563,691 
(1,218,574) 
41,227 
210,582 
(966,765) 

(132,089) 
(1,098,854) 

(1,125,572) 
26,718 

(%) 

100.0  
(79.8) 
20.2 

(14.9) 
(1.6) 
(0.2) 
(1.2) 
0.1 

2.3 
(12.2) 
5.5 
(4.3) 
0.1 
0.7 
(3.4) 

(0.5) 
(3.9) 

(4.0) 
0.1 

Unless stated otherwise, the results that we present below do not consider the results from our discontinued 

operations. 

Presentation of Operating Segments and Net Sales Information  

In 2019, following the discontinuation of our operations in Argentina, Europe and Thailand and changes in 
our management structure, we changed our operating segments from those in effect on December 31, 2018 to reflect 

67 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
our business regions. Our current operating segments include: (i) Brazil; (ii) International, which concentrates all the 
Company’s operations outside Brazil and has absorbed the former Halal and International segments reported in our 
financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2018; and (iii) Other Segments. As a result, the segment 
presentations  for  2018  and  2017  were  adjusted  and  restated.  These  segments  include  sales  through  all  of  our 
distribution channels and operations, subdivided according to the nature of the following products: (i) poultry (whole 
poultry and in natura cuts), (ii) pork and others (in natura cuts); (iii) processed foods (processed foods, frozen and 
processed products derived from poultry, pork and beef, margarine, vegetable and soybean-based products); and (iv) 
other sales (refined soy flour for food service). Other Segments is divided into commercialization and development 
of animal nutrition ingredients, human nutrition, plant nutrition (fertilizers) and health care (health and wellness), as 
well as commercialization of agricultural products. Because we use the same assets to produce products for all our 
segments, we do not identify assets by segment, except for intangible assets with an indefinite useful life. See Note 5 
to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2019 for a breakdown of net sales by segment 
and product line and for a breakdown of intangible assets by each reportable segment. 

We report net sales after deducting taxes on gross sales and discounts and returns. Our total sales deductions 

can be broken down as follows: 

• 

ICMS Taxes — ICMS is a state value-added tax on our gross sales in the Brazilian market at a rate that 
varies by state and product sold. Our average ICMS tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2019 was 
9.47%. However, exports are not subject to these taxes. 

•  PIS and COFINS Taxes — The PIS and the COFINS taxes are federal social contribution taxes levied 
on gross revenues from the Brazilian market at the rates of 1.65% for PIS and 7.6% for COFINS for the 
year ended December 31, 2019. However, (1) exports are not subject to these taxes, (2) we currently 
benefit from a reduction of the tax rate to zero with respect to our in natura pork, poultry and beef cuts 
and  (3)  our  financial  revenues  had  benefitted  from  a  PIS  and  COFINS  tax  rate  of  zero  since  2004. 
However, the enactment of Decree No. 8,426/15 reestablished PIS and COFINS on financial revenues 
at the rates of 0.65% and 4.0%, respectively. For more information, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. 
Risk  Factors—Risks  Relating  to  Brazil—Changes  in  tax  laws  or  changes  in  their  interpretation  may 
increase our tax burden and, as a result, negatively affect our profitability.”  

•  Discounts, Returns and Other Deductions — Discounts, returns and other deductions are unconditional 

discounts granted to customers, product returns and other deductions from gross sales. 

Most of our deductions from gross sales are attributable to the ICMS, PIS and COFINS taxes.  As a result, 
our deductions from gross sales in the domestic market, which are subject to these taxes, are significantly greater than 
our deductions from gross sales in our export markets. 

The table below sets forth our gross sales and deductions for the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 

2017: 

Gross sales 

Brazil ...............................................................  
International .....................................................  

Other Segments ...............................................  

Sales deduction 

Brazil ...............................................................  
International .....................................................  

Other Segments ...............................................  

2019 

As of December 31, 
Restated 2018(1) 

in thousands of reais 

Restated 2017(1) 

20,659,378 
14,012,629 
941,360 

35,613,367 

(4,366,842)  
(943,958) 
(114,146) 

(5,424,946) 

19,350,033  
13,233,323 
952,506  

33,535,862  

(4,161,421) 
(983,475) 
(76,806) 

(5,221,702) 

21,645,253 
16,191,795 
1,167,463 

39,004,511 

(4,155,774)  
(1,292,401) 
(109,356) 

(5,557,531) 

68 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Net sales 

Brazil ...............................................................  
International .....................................................  

Other Segments ...............................................  

2019 

As of December 31, 
Restated 2018(1) 

in thousands of reais 

Restated 2017(1) 

17,489,479 
14,899,394 
1,058,107 

33,446,980 

16,292,536 
13,068,671 
827,214 

30,188,421 

15,188,612  
12,249,848  
875,700  

28,314,160  

(1) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

The  following  discussion  provides  comparisons  of  our  results  of  our  continuing  operations  for  the  years 
ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, based on our consolidated financial  statements prepared in accordance 
with IFRS, as issued by the IASB.  

Year Ended December 31, 2019 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2018  

Net Sales  

Our  net  sales  increased  R$3,258,559  thousand,  or  10.8%,  to  R$33,446,980  thousand  in  2019  from 
R$30,188,421 thousand in 2018, primarily due to higher average prices (R$/kg), which increased 11.2% and 13.5% 
in the Brazil and International segments, respectively. 

Net Sales by Operating Segments 

In 2019, we recorded the following net sales and volumes in our operating segments.  

Operating Segments 

Volume 
(in thousands 
of tons) 

Change from 
2018 

(%) 

Brazil .................................................  
International ......................................  
Other Segments .................................  
Total .................................................  

2,195 
1,909 
269 
4,373 

(3.4) 
0.5 
0.4 
(1.5) 

Net Sales 
(in thousands 
of reais) 
17,489,479 
14,899,394 
1,058,107 
33,446,980 

Change from 
2018 

(%) 

7.3 
14.0 
27.9 
10.8 

Brazil 

Our net sales for our Brazil operating segment increased R$1,196,943 thousand, or 7.3%, to R$17,489,479 
thousand in 2019 from R$16,292,536 thousand in 2018. This is primarily attributable to the increase in average selling 
prices  (R$/kg)  of  11.2%  from  2018,  which  is  mainly  due  to  our  profitability  recovery  strategic  plan  executed 
throughout  the  year  that  contemplates  (i)  reduction  in  inventory  levels,  supporting  a  more  efficient  commercial 
execution; (ii) a more efficient product mix; and (iii) the prioritization of more profitable channels.  

The following table provides a breakdown of our net sales and sales volume for Brazil. 

Volume 
Restated 
2018(1) 
(in thousands of tons) 

2019 

504 
117 
621 

533 
117 
650 

2019 

Net Sales 
Restated 
2018(1) 
(in thousands of reais) 
3,198,356 
3,692,377 
800,127 
943,220 
3,998,483 
4,635,597 

Change 
(%) 

(5.4) 
0.0 
(4.5) 

Change 
(%) 

15.4 
17.9 
15.9 

Poultry ............................  
Pork and Others ..............  
Total in natura meat ....  

69 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volume 
Restated 
2018(1) 
(in thousands of tons) 

2019 

1,574 
NM 
2,195 

1,623 
NM 
2,273 

Processed foods ..............  
Other sales ......................  
Total ..............................  

NM = not meaningful 

Change 
(%) 

2019 

Net Sales 
Restated 
2018(1) 
(in thousands of reais) 
(3.0)  12,839,008  12,274,681 
NM 
19,372 
14,874 
(3.4)  17,489,479  16,292,536 

Change 
(%) 

4.6 
(23.2) 
7.3 

(1) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

The following table sets forth our average selling prices in Brazil. 

Brazil 

International 

2019 

Average Selling Prices 
2018 

(in reais per kg) 

Change 
(%) 

7.97 

7.17 

11.2 

Our  net  sales  for  our  International  operating  segment  increased  R$1,830,723  thousand,  or  14.0%,  to 
R$14,899,394 thousand in 2019 from R$13,068,671 thousand in 2018, driven by (i) higher demand from the Asian 
market on account of African swine fever, especially from China as of the second half of 2019; (ii) higher volume 
exported by us due to an increased number of licensed plants; (iii) increased chicken leg production volume at our 
facilities,  increasing  from  lower  production  in  2018;  and  (iv)    sales  expansion  to  other  countries,  such  as  the 
Philippines and Vietnam, besides different channels.  

2019 

Volume 
Restated 
2018(1) 
(in thousands of tons) 
1,529 
132 
1,661 
239 
NM 
1,900 

1,504 
152 
1,656 
252 
1 
1,909 

Net Sales 
Restated 
2018(1) 
2019 
(in thousands of reais) 

Change 
(%) 

(1.6) 
15.2 
(0.3) 
5.4 
NM 
0.5 

11,262,954 
1,342,892 
12,605,846 
2,119,918 
173,630 
14,899,394 

10,021,923 
883,232 
10,905,155 
1,850,614 
312,902 
13,068,671 

Change 
(%) 

12.4 
52.0 
15.6 
14.6 
(44.5) 
14.0 

Poultry ............................. 
Pork and Others ............... 
Total in natura meat ..... 
Processed foods ............... 
Other sales ....................... 
Total ................................ 

NM = not meaningful 

(1) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

The following table sets forth our average selling prices for our International operating segment.  

Average Selling Prices 
Restated 
2018(1) 

2019 

(in reais per kg) 

Change 
(%) 

International ...................................................................  

7.81 

6.88 

13.5 

(1) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

Other Segments 

Our  consolidated  net  sales  for  our  Other  Segments  operating  segment  increased  R$230,893  thousand,  or 
27.9%, to R$1,058,107 thousand in 2019 from R$827,214 thousand in 2018, primarily driven by higher volumes of 
ingredients sold in 2019. 

70 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following table provides a breakdown of our net sales and volumes for Other Segments.  

Volume 
Restated 
2018(1) 
(in thousands of tons) 

2019 

Change 
(%) 

Net Sales 
Restated 
2018(1) 
(in thousands of reais) 
827,214 
1,058,107 

2019 

Change 
(%) 

27.9 

Other Segments ..............  

269 

268 

0.4 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

The following table sets forth our average selling prices for Other Segments.  

Average Selling Prices 
Restated 
2018(1) 

2019 

(in reais per kg) 

Other Segments ..............................................................  

3.93 

3.09 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

Change 
(%) 
27.2 

(1) 

(1) 

Cost of Sales  

Cost  of  sales  totaled  R$25,370,042  thousand  in  2019,  an  increase  of  0.2%  in  comparison  to  costs  of 
R$25,320,753  thousand  in  2018.  This  was  primarily  due  to  higher  personnel,  electricity,  maintenance  and  freight 
costs, partially offset by the cost reductions program implemented by our management.  

Gross Profit  

Our gross profit increased 65.9% in 2019, to R$8,076,938 thousand, from R$4,867,668 thousand in 2018, 
with a gross margin of 24.1% in 2019 compared to 16.1% in 2018. This increase was primarily driven by improved 
operating results in both Brazil and International operating segments due to our strategy to stimulate the operation’s 
profitability through sustainable price management, improved commercial execution, and an optimization of mix of 
channels, products and countries to which we export.  

Operating Expenses  

Our operating expenses increased 1.0% in 2019, to R$5,124,165 thousand, from R$5,074,002 thousand in 

2018, primarily due to the drivers described below. 

Selling Expenses  

Our selling expenses increased 8.8% to R$4,911,666 thousand in 2019 from R$4,513,594 thousand in 2018, 
mainly  due  to  (i)  greater  marketing  investments  to  strengthen  our  brands;  (ii)  higher  freight  expenses  in  the 
international market due to depreciated exchange rates; and (iii) increase in provisions for expenses relating to labor 
lawsuits in our Brazil operating segment. 

General and Administrative Expenses  

Our general and administrative expenses increased 11.7% to R$615,683 thousand in 2019, from R$551,165 

thousand in 2018, mainly due to increases in inflation and exchange rate variation in our international operations. 

Impairment loss on trade and other receivables 

Impairment  loss  on  trade  and  other  receivables  decreased  48.4%  to  R$23,899  thousand  in  2019  from 
R$46,269 thousand in 2018, primarily due to a general reduction in overdue payments and indebtedness ratios of the 
customers.  

71 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Operating Income (Expenses), Net  

Other operating income (expenses), net increased 1,062.0% to an income of R$224,384 thousand in 2019 
from R$19,311 thousand in 2018. This increase was mainly due to a favorable court ruling on a lawsuit filed by Sadia 
S.A., which recognized the right to exclude ICMS from the calculation basis of PIS/COFINS.  

Income (loss) from associates and joint ventures 

Income (loss) from associates and joint ventures decreased 109.8% to a loss of R$1,737 thousand in 2019 
from an income of R$17,715 in 2018, primarily due to the sale of our equity interests in the joint venture Sats BRF 
Food Pte Ltd., in Singapore. 

Operating Income (Loss) 

As a result of the foregoing, our operating income (loss) before financial expenses increased 1,423.0% to an 

income of R$2,748,337 thousand in 2019 from a loss of R$206,334 thousand in 2018. 

The table below sets forth our operating income (loss) on a segment basis. 

Brazil ..............................................................................  
International....................................................................  
Other Segments ..............................................................  
Subtotal ...........................................................................  
Corporate(1) .....................................................................  
Total ................................................................  

NM = not meaningful 

Operating Income (Loss) by Segment 

2019  Restated 2018(2) 
(in thousands of reais) 
590,416 
23,778 
89,311 
703,505 
(909,839) 
(206,334) 

1,818,813 
1,275,285 
109,138 
3,203,236 
(454,899) 
2,748,337 

Change 
(%) 
208.1 
5,263.3 
22.2 
355.3 
(50.0) 
1,423.0 

(1) 

The significant variation in corporate in 2018 and 2019 is attributable to incurred expenses throughout the year, primarily those in connection with the Carne Fraca  and Trapaça 

Operations, the U.S. class action filed against us in March 2018 and provisions.  

(2) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

Financial Income (Expenses), Net 

Net financial expenses amounted to R$1.9 billion in 2019, a decrease of 16.7% compared to R$2.2 billion in 
2018, mainly  due to (i) a  positive  foreign exchange rate  variation on assets and liabilities  denominated  in  foreign 
currency; and (ii) no relevant adjustment in 2019 arising from the expenses associated with the fair value measurement 
of Total Return Swap derivative instrument, in the amount of R$214 million registered in 2018.  

Income (loss) Before Taxes From Continuing Operations 

As a result of the foregoing, our income before taxes from continuing operations was R$882,938 thousand 

in 2019, an increase of 136.1% in comparison to a loss of R$2,447,808 thousand in 2018.  

Income Tax and Social Contribution 

Our income tax and social contribution amounted to R$195,395 thousand in 2019, a 41.4% decrease from 
R$333,302 thousand in 2018. The effective tax rate in 2019 was (22.1)% compared to an effective rate of 13.6% in 
2018. This variation was primarily due to deferred tax assets that we did not recognize in 2019 because we determined 
that the realization of these tax assets was not probable.  

72 

 
 
 
 
Net Income (loss) 

As a result of the foregoing, our net income from continuing operations increased 151.0% to R$1,078,333 
thousand in 2019, from a net loss of R$2,114,506 thousand in 2018. When taking into account discontinued operations, 
our net income increased 103.6% to R$162,524 thousand in 2019 from a net loss of R$4,466,246 thousand in 2018. 

Year Ended December 31, 2018 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2017 

Net Sales  

Our  net  sales  increased  R$1,874,261  thousand,  or  6.6%,  to  R$30,188,421  thousand  in  2018  from 
R$28,314,160 thousand in 2017, primarily due to higher volumes sold in the Brazil segment, which increased 7.1% 
from 2017.  

Net Sales by Operating Segments 

In 2018, we recorded the following net sales and volumes in our operating segments.  

Operating Segments 

Volume 
(in thousands 
of tons) 

Change 

(%) 

Brazil .................................................  
International ......................................  
Other Segments .................................  
Total .................................................  

2,273 
1,900 
268 
4,441 

6.9 
(0.9) 
6.3 
3.4 

Net Sales 
(in thousands 
of reais) 
16,292,536 
13,068,671 
827,214 
30,188,421 

Change 

(%) 

7.3 
6.7 
(5.5) 
6.6 

Brazil 

Our net sales for Brazilian operations increased R$1,103,924 thousand, or 7.3%, to R$16,292,536 thousand 
in 2018 from R$15,188,612 thousand in 2017. This is primarily attributable to the increase in volume sold in the Brazil 
segment, which increased 7.1% from 2017, as well as the average price increases in the Brazilin markets.  

The following table provides a breakdown of our net sales and sales volume for Brazil. 

Volume 
Restated 
Restated 
2018(1) 
2017(1) 
(in thousands of tons) 

533 
117 
650 
1,623 
NM 
2,273 

454 
109 
563 
1,560 
3 
2,126 

Poultry ............................  
Pork and Others ..............  
Total in natura meat ....  
Processed foods ..............  
Other sales ......................  
Total ..............................  

NM = not meaningful 

Change 
(%) 

Net Sales 
Restated 
Restated 
2018(1) 
2017(1) 
(in thousands of reais) 
2,689,908 
3,198,356 
793,331 
800,127 
3,483,239 
3,998,483 
4.0  12,274,681  11,688,008 
17,365 
NM 
6.9  16,292,536  15,188,612 

17.4 
7.3 
15.5 

19,372 

Change 
(%) 

18.9 
0.9 
14.8 
5.0 
11.6 
7.3 

(1) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

The following table sets forth our average selling prices in Brazil. 

2018 

Average Selling Prices 
2017 

(in reais per kg) 

Change 
(%) 

73 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Brazil 

International 

2018 

Average Selling Prices 
2017 

Change 

7.17 

7.14 

0.4 

Our  net  sales  for  the  International  segment  increased  R$818,823  thousand,  or  6.7%,  to  R$13,068,671 
thousand in 2018 from R$12,249,848 thousand in 2017, driven by improved balance between supply and demand of 
products and the consolidation of Banvit for the full year in 2018, partially offset by (i) volume restrictions in Russia; 
(ii) excess supply in the Japanese market; (iii) temporary anti-dumping measures imposed by China; and (iv) saturation 
of the Hong Kong market. In addition, the increase in grain prices and a suboptimal channel and product mix offset 
our restructuring savings. Volumes of pork cuts sold to China increased due to Russia’s partial ban on Brazilian pork 
imports. The following table provides a breakdown of our net sales and volumes for International.  

Volume 
Restated 
Restated 
2017(1) 
2018(1) 
(in thousands of tons) 
1,476 
159 
1,635 
171 
112 
1,918 

1,529 
132 
1,661 
239 
NM 
1,900 

Change 
(%) 

3.6 
(17.0) 
1.6 
39.8 
NM 
(0.9) 

Poultry .............................  
Pork and Others ...............  
Total in natura meat .....  
Processed foods ...............  
Other sales .......................  
Total ................................  

NM = not meaningful 

Net Sales 
Restated 
Restated 
2018(1) 
2017(1) 
(in thousands of reais) 
10,021,923 
883,232 

8,926,311 
1,369,886 
10,905,155  10,296,197 
1,534,163 
419,488 
13,068,671  12,249,848 

1,850,614 
312,902 

Change 
(%) 

12.3 
(35.5) 
5.9 
20.6 
(25.4) 
6.7 

(1) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

The following table sets forth our average selling prices for International. 

2018 

Average Selling Prices 
2017 

(in reais per kg) 

Change 
(%) 

International ...................................................................  

6.88 

6.39 

7.7 

Other Segments 

Our consolidated net sales for the Other Segments  decreased R$48,486 thousand, or  5.5%, to R$827,214 

thousand in 2018 from R$875,700 thousand in 2017, primarily driven by lower prices in 2018. 

The following table provides a breakdown of our net sales and volumes for Other Segments. 

Volume 
Restated 
Restated 
2018(1) 
2017(1) 
(in thousands of tons) 

Change 
(%) 

Other Segments ..............  

268 

252 

6.3 

Net Sales 
Restated 
Restated 
2018(1) 
2017(1) 
(in thousands of reais) 
875,700 

827,214 

Change 
(%) 

(5.5) 

(1) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

The following table sets forth our average selling prices for Other Segments. 

74 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Segments ..............................................................  

3.09 

3.47 

Cost of Sales  

2018 

Average Selling Prices 
2017 

(in reais per kg) 

Change 
(%) 
(11.0) 

Cost  of  sales  totaled  R$25,320,753  thousand  in  2018,  an  increase  of  11.9%  compared  to  R$22,601,215 
thousand in 2017. This increase was driven by an increase in grain prices and changes in our product mix to expand 
the share of in natura products. In addition, non-recurring factors also negatively influenced cost of sales, including: 
(i) R$403 million related to the Trapaça/Carne Fraca Operations; (ii) R$196 million from the Operating and Financial 
Restructuring Plan; and (iii) R$73 million resulting from the Brazilian truck drivers’ strike. 

Gross Profit  

Our gross profit decreased 14.0% in 2018, to R$4,867,668 thousand, from R$5,712,945 thousand in 2017, 
with a gross margin of 16.1% in 2018 compared to 20.2% in 2017. This decrease was primarily driven by the operating 
challenges that impacted our business chain, such as higher grain prices, antidumping measures imposed by China 
and adjustments to the production process to meet the new non-stunning requirements of Saudi Arabia. We also had 
a negative impact of R$184 million related to the effects of hedge accounting of export debt (established upon its 
designated) in 2018. 

Operating Expenses  

Our operating expenses increased 0.5% in 2018, to R$5,074,003 thousand, from R$5,049,761 thousand in 
2017. This increase was mainly driven by  (i) higher logistics expense as a result of the expansion of our logistics 
network to serve a higher average number of points of sale; (ii) increases in inflation; and (iii) exchange rate variation 
in our international operations.  As a percentage of net sales, operating expenses decreased to 16.8% in 2018 from 
17.8% in 2017. 

Selling Expenses  

Our selling expenses increased 7.1% to R$4,513,594 thousand in 2018 from R$4,208,683 thousand in 2017, 
mainly due to higher logistics expense as a result of the expansion of our logistics network to serve a higher average 
number of points of sale. 

General and Administrative Expenses  

Our general and administrative expenses increased 19.2%, to R$551,165 thousand in 2018, from R$462,523 
thousand in 2017, mainly driven by increases in inflation and exchange rate variation in our international operations. 

Impairment loss on trade and other receivables 

Impairment  loss  on  trade  and  other  receivables  decreased  to  R$46,269  thousand  in  2018  from  R$67,471 

thousand in 2017, primarily as a result of the initial adoption of IFRS 9.  

Other Operating Income (Expenses), Net  

Other  operating  income  (expenses),  net,  increased  to  an  income  of  R$19,311  thousand  in  2018  from 
R$333,467 thousand of expenses in 2017, mainly because of a decrease in provisions for civil contingencies and the 
recognition of tax credits after a favorable court decision regarding the exclusion of the ICMS from the PIS/COFINS 
calculation basis. 

75 

 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) from associates and joint ventures 

Income (loss) from associates and joint ventures decreased to R$17,715 thousand in 2018 from R$22,383 
thousand in 2017, primarily due to the termination of the Unilever Brasil Alimentos Ltda. joint venture, which was 
partially offset by increased profit from the joint venture SATS BRF Food in Singapore. 

Operating Income (Loss) 

As a result of the foregoing, our operating income (loss) before financial results and income taxes decreased 

to a loss of R$206,334 thousand in 2018 from an income of R$663,184 thousand in 2017. 

The table below sets forth our operating income (loss) on a segment basis. 

Operating Income (Loss) by Segment 

Restated 2018(2)  Restated 2017 
(in thousands of reais) 

Brazil ..............................................................................  
International....................................................................  
Other Segments ..............................................................  
Subtotal ...........................................................................  
Corporate(1) .....................................................................  
Total ................................................................  

590,416 
23,778 
89,311 
703,505 
(909,839) 
(206,334) 

987,163 
19,991 
79,016 
1,086,170 
(422,986) 
663,184 

Change 
(%) 

(40.2) 
18.9 
13.0 
(35.2) 
115.1 
(131.1) 

(1) 

The significant variation in Corporate in 2017 and 2018 is attributable to incurred expenses throughout the year, such as those in connection with the Carne Fraca Operation and 

provisions. 

(2) 

Restated to give effect to the management structure changes that resulted in the new presentation of our operating segments. 

Financial Income (Expenses), Net 

Net  financial  expenses  amounted  to  R$2,241,474  thousand  in  2018,  an  increase  of  19.1%  compared  to 
R$1,881,758  thousand  in  2017,  mainly  attributable  to  the  negative  impact  of  (i)  a  higher  foreign  exchange  rate 
variation  on  assets  and  liabilities  denominated  in  foreign  currency;  and  (ii)  the  fair  value  adjustment  of  the  Total 
Return Swap derivative instrument, which expense totaled R$214 million in 2018. 

Loss Before Taxes from Continuing Operations 

As a result of the foregoing, our loss before taxes from continuing operations was R$2,447,808 thousand in 

2018 and R$1,218,574 thousand in 2017. 

Income Tax and Social Contribution 

In 2018, income tax and social contribution amounted to income of R$333,302 thousand. In 2017, income 
tax and social contribution amounted to income of R$251,809 thousand. The effective tax rate in 2018 was  13.6% 
compared to an effective rate of 20.7% in 2017. This variance is primarily attributable to the increase in losses in 
2018, deferred tax assets related to tax loss and negative basis not being recognized because the realization was not 
probable,  exchange  rate  variation  on  foreign  investments,  results  of  our  foreign  subsidiaries  and  a  write-off  of 
unrealized tax assets due to the merger of SHB with and into BRF. 

Net Loss 

As a result of the above, our net loss from continuing operations increased to R$2,114,506 thousand in 2018 
from  R$966,765  thousand  of  net  loss  in  2017.  Including  the  discontinued  operations,  our  net  loss  increased  to 
R$4,466,246 thousand in 2018 from R$1,098,854 thousand of net loss in 2017. 

76 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
B. 

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

As  of  December  31,  2019,  we  held  R$4,237.8  million  in  cash  and  cash  equivalents.  Of  that  amount, 
R$3,187.5 million, or 75.2%, was held in jurisdictions outside Brazil. We regularly review the amount of cash and 
cash equivalents held outside of Brazil to determine the amounts necessary to fund the current operations of our foreign 
operations  and  their  growth  initiatives  and  amounts  needed  to  service  our  Brazilian  indebtedness  and  related 
obligations.  If  these  amounts  are  moved  out  of  these  jurisdictions  or  repatriated  to  Brazil,  we  may  be  subject  to 
Brazilian tax upon repatriation. 

Our main cash requirements are the servicing of our debt and capital expenditures. Our primary cash sources 
have been cash flows from operating activities, loans and other financings, offerings of our common shares and sales 
of marketable securities. Although we have substantial debt that will mature in the next several years (see “Item 3. 
Key Information—D. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness—We have substantial debt that matures in 
each of the next several years”), we believe that our solid position in cash and cash equivalents, along with our cash 
flows  from  operating  activities  and  the  extension  of  the  maturity  of  a  portion  of  our  current  indebtedness  will  be 
sufficient to cover our working capital needs and the service of our indebtedness in the ordinary course of our business.  

On December 27, 2019,  we entered into a  three-year  revolving credit  facility  with  Banco do Brasil for  a 
committed  maximum  amount  of  R$1.5  billion  to  provide  additional  liquidity  for  working  capital  needs.  As  of 
December 31, 2019, there were no amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. To further strengthen our 
liquidity in light of recent market volatility, in March 2020, we entered into one-year credit facilities with Brazilian 
financial institutions in the aggregate amount of, approximately, R$1.4 billion. 

Cash Flow 

The following table sets forth certain consolidated cash flow information for the periods indicated:  

Cash Flow 
Net cash provided by operating activities ..............................................  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities ...............................  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities ...............................  

Effect on exchange rate variation on cash and cash equivalent 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents .......................  

Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities  

Year Ended December 31, 

2019 

2018 

2017 

(in thousands of reais) 

2,521,230 
1,443,106 
(4,817,102) 

295,685 
(1,415,879) 
73,924 

649,356 
(2,134,513) 
1,057,083 

54,540 

71,452 

81,984 

(798,226) 

(974,818) 

(346,090) 

We recorded net cash flows provided by operating activities of R$2,521,230 thousand in 2019, compared to 
cash flows provided by operating activities of R$295,685 thousand in 2018. The increase of R$2,225,545 thousand is 
mainly due to an increase in income from continuing operations to R$1,078,333 thousand for the year ended December 
31, 2019 (compared to a loss of R$2,114,506 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018), adjusted by the non-
cash inflow effects of R$4,519,842 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2019 (compared to non-cash inflow 
effects of R$4,425,222 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018), in addition to an improvement of 9.3 days 
in the average financial cycle in 2019. 

We recorded net cash flows provided by operating activities of R$295,685 thousand in 2018, compared to 
cash flows provided by operating activities of R$649,356 thousand in 2017. The reduction of R$353,671 thousand is 
mainly due to an increase in net loss to R$2,114,506 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018 (compared to a 
net loss of R$966,765 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2017), adjusted by the non-cash inflow effects of 
R$4,425,222 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2018 (compared to non-cash inflow effects of R$3,752,518 
thousand  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2017),  which  was  mainly  related  to  financial  results  of  R$2,241,474 
thousand, partially offset by R$340,144 thousand of deferred income tax.  

77 

 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities  

We recorded net cash flows provided by investing activities of R$1,443,106 thousand in 2019, compared to 
cash flows used in investing activities of R$1,415,879 thousand in 2018. The increase of R$2,858,985 thousand is 
mainly due to the sale of our operations in Europe, Thailand and Argentina in the amount of R$1,664,073 thousand 
and the price adjustment  from the sale of our  then dairy segment to  Lactalis in 2015 in the amount of R$242,051 
thousand. 

We recorded net cash flows used in investing activities of R$1,415,879 thousand in 2018, compared to cash 
flows used in investing activities of R$2,134,513 thousand in 2017, a decrease of R$718,634 thousand mainly due to 
the business combination with Banvit in 2017. 

Cash Flows Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities  

We recorded cash flows used in financing activities of R$4,817,102 thousand in 2019, compared to cash 
flows provided by financing activities of R$73,924 thousand in 2018, mainly due to the amount of debt repaid in 2019, 
which  was  R$4,081,980  thousand,  net  of  the  proceeds  from  debt  issuance,  compared  to  an  amount  of  R$276,139 
thousand of debt issuance in 2018, net of repayments. 

We recorded cash flows provided by financing activities of R$73,924 thousand in 2018, compared to cash 
flows provided by financing activities of R$1,057,083 in 2017, mainly due to the amount of debt issuance in 2018, 
which was R$276,139 thousand net of repayments, compared to an amount of R$687,720 in 2017, in addition to the 
disposal of R$509,875 thousand in treasury shares in 2017. 

Dividends and Interest on Shareholders’ Equity 

We have not made any distributions for the years ended December 31, 2017 or 2018, and we will propose no 
distribution of dividends for the year ended December 31, 2019 at our annual shareholders’ meeting to be held in April 
2020 because, despite reporting our profit for the year ended December 31, 2019, we have been reporting accumulated 
losses since 2018. 

Debt  

We use the net proceeds of our indebtedness primarily for capital expenditures, liquidity and purchases of 
raw materials. The following table sets forth our indebtedness (according to the type of debt and currency) net of cash, 
cash equivalents, marketable securities, restricted cash and derivative financial instruments for the periods indicated.   

Total debt ................................................................. 
Derivative financial instruments, net ......................... 
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities and 
restricted cash 
Local currency ........................................................... 
Foreign currency ....................................................... 
Total .......................................................................... 
Net debt .................................................................... 

As of December 31, 2019 
Current 

Non-current 

As of December 31, 

2019 

2018 

(in millions of reais, except where indicated) 

(3,132.0) 
41.7 

(15,488.3) 
50.0 

(18,620.3) 
91.7 

(22,165.4) 
(52.7) 

1,743.6 
3,208.7 
4,952.3 
1,861.9 

14.9 
292.5 
307.4 
(15,130.9) 

1,758.5 
3,501.2 
5,259.7 
(13,269.0) 

5,041.8 
1,487.0 
6,528.8 
(15,689.43) 

The table below provides a further breakdown of our indebtedness by the type of debt. 

78 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current 

Non-current 

Total Loans and borrowings as of 
December 31, 

As of December 31, 2019 

2019 

2018 

(in millions of reais) 
-   

Development bank credit lines.....................  
Export credit facilities ..................................  
Working capital facilities .............................  
PESA loan facility .......................................  
Agribusiness Receivables Certificate ...........  
Debentures ...................................................  
Other ............................................................  
Local currency ...........................................  

Export credit facilities ..................................  
Bonds ...........................................................  
Advances on foreign exchange rate 
contracts .......................................................  
Working capital facilities .............................  
Foreign currency ........................................  
Total: ...........................................................  

45.5 
26.6 
1,568.6 
284.3 
891.4 
13.0 
5.7 
2,835.2 

 105.0  
 115.3  

 -   
 76.6  
 296.8  
 3,132.0  

The maturity schedule of our indebtedness is as follows: 

1,585.7 
1,744.0 

-   

706.1 
742.7 
- 
4,778.6 

 302.3  
 10,292.2  

 -   
 115.2  
 10,709.7  
 15,488.3  

45.5 
1,612.4 
3,312.6 
284.3 
1,597.4 
755.8 
5.7 
7,613.8 

 407.3  
 10,407.5  

 -   
 191.8  
 11,006.5  
 18,620.3  

264.5 
1,625.3 
5,863.0 
273.4 
2,597.5 

-   

3.3 
10,627.1 

 1,383.2  
 9,746.5  

 214.2  
 194.5  
 11,538.3  
 22,165.5  

As of December 31, 2019  
(in millions of reais) 

2020 .....................................................................................................................  
2021 .....................................................................................................................  
2022 .....................................................................................................................  
2023 .....................................................................................................................  
2024 .....................................................................................................................  
2025 onwards ......................................................................................................  
Total ....................................................................................................................  

3,132.0 
1,907.0 
2,123.5 
2,422.0 
2,340.7 
6,695.1 
18,620.3 

Our principal debt instruments as of December 31, 2019 are described below. For more information on these 
facilities,  including  information  on  average  interest  rates  and  weighted  average  maturities,  see  Note  16  to  our 
consolidated financial statements. 

Local Currency Debt  

Revolving Credit Facility  

Banco do Brasil RCF. On December 27, 2019, we entered into a revolving credit facility  with  Banco do 
Brasil for a committed maximum amount of R$1.5 billion to provide additional liquidity for working capital needs. 
As of December 31, 2019, there were no amounts outstanding under the revolving credit facility. 

Development Bank Credit Lines  

BNDES FINEM Facilities. We have a number of outstanding obligations with BNDES, including loans under 
its FINEM program in the amount of R$45.5 million as of December 31, 2019. The loans from BNDES were entered 
into to finance purchases of machinery and equipment and construction, improvement or expansion of our production 
facilities. Principal and interest on the loans are generally payable monthly, with remaining maturity dates varying 
through 2020. The principal amount of the loans is denominated in reais and bears interest at the TJLP or SELIC rates 
plus a  margin. These loans are included in the line “Development bank credit lines—Local currency” of the table 
above. 

79 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Export Credit Facilities  

Export Credit Notes.  In September 2019, we refinanced our outstanding export credit facilities with Banco 
Bradesco, totaling R$ 1,612.4 million as of December 31, 2019. These export credit notes bear interest at floating 
rates (CDI), with maturity dates from 2023 through 2028. These credit lines are included in the line “Local currency—
Export credit facilities” in the table above 

Working Capital Facilities 

Rural  Credit  Financing.  We have  short-term  rural  credit  loans  in  the  amount  of  R$3.312,6  million  as  of 
December 31, 2019 with several commercial banks under a Brazilian federal government program that offers favorable 
interest rates, as an incentive to invest in rural activities, with maturity dates from 2020 through 2022. Generally, the 
proceeds of such loans are used for working capital. From September to December 2019, we prepaid some of those 
loans, totaling R$ 2.32 billion. These credit lines are included in the line “Working capital facilities—Local currency” 
in the table above. 

PESA Loan Facility 

PESA. We have a loan facility obtained through the Special Sanitation Program for Agroindustrial Assets 
(Programa  Especial  de  Saneamento  de  Ativos,  or  “PESA”)  for  an  outstanding  amount  of  R$284.31 million  as  of 
December 31, 2019, subject to the variation of the IGP-M plus interest of 4.9% per year, secured by endorsements 
and pledges of public debt securities. 

Tax Incentive Financing Programs  

State Tax Incentive Financing Programs. We also had R$5.7 million outstanding as of December 31, 2019 
under credit facilities offered by the State of Goiás under tax incentive programs to promote investments in such state. 
Under these programs, we are granted credit proportional to the payment of ICMS tax generated by investments in the 
construction or expansion of manufacturing facilities in that state. The credit facilities have a 20-year term and fixed 
or variable interest rates based on the IGP-M plus a margin. This credit line is included in the line “Other—Local 
currency” in the table above. 

Agribusiness Receivables Certificate 

Agribusiness Receivables Certificate (“CRA”). On December 16, 2016, BRF concluded the CRA issuance 
related  to  the  public  offer  of  distribution  of  the  first  and  second  series  of  the  first  issuance  of  Vert  Companhia 
Securitizadora, in the amount of R$1.5 billion, net of interest. The CRAs of the first series were issued at a cost of 
96.00% of the DI rate, with the principal maturing in a single installment on December 16, 2020 and interest paid 
every eight months. The second series of CRAs were issued at a cost of 5.8970% restated by the variation of the IPCA, 
with the principal maturing in a single installment on December 18, 2023 and interest paid every 16 or 18 months. 

On  December  31,  2019,  the  balance  of  these  transactions  totaled  R$1,597.5  million.  These  transactions 

comprise the line “Agribusiness Receivables Certificate” in the table above. 

First Issuance of Debentures 

On  April  30,  2019,  we  issued  750,000  of  debentures  with  a  nominal  unit  value  of  R$1,000.00,  totaling 
R$750.0 million, in three series. The debentures are simple, non-convertible and unsecured, and they were distributed 
with restricted placement efforts. The amounts subscribed for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd series were R$70.0 million, R$411.7 
million and R$268.3 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding balance of the debentures totaled 
R$755.8 million. The balances for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd series totaled R$70.3 million, R$416.0 million and R$269.4 
million, respectively, as of December 31, 2019.  

80 

 
Foreign Currency Debt 

Export Prepayment Facility. We had an export prepayment facility in an outstanding amount of R$407.3 
million as of December 31, 2019. The indebtedness under this facility is denominated in U.S. dollars, with maturity 
dates between 2020 and 2023. Interest under this export prepayment facility accrues at LIBOR plus a spread. Under 
the  facility,  we  receive  a  loan  secured  by  the  accounts  receivable  relating  to  exports  of  our  products  to  specific 
customers. The facility is guaranteed by BRF S.A. The covenants under these agreements include limitations on liens 
and mergers. These credit lines are included in the line “Export credit facilities—Foreign currency” in the table above.  

Working Capital Facilities 

Working capital in foreign currency. These are funds obtained from financial institutions, mainly used for 
working capital and short-term import financing operations of subsidiaries mainly located in Turkey in the amount of 
R$191.8 million. This funding is denominated in Turkish lira and have maturity dates between 2020 and 2021. These 
credit lines are included in the line “Working capital facilities—Foreign currency” in the table above. 

Bonds 

BFF  Notes  2020.  On  January  28,  2010,  BFF  International  Limited  issued  senior  notes  in  the  amount  of 
U.S.$750 million, guaranteed by BRF S.A., bearing a nominal interest rate of 7.25% per year and effective rate of 
7.54% per year, and maturing on January 28, 2020 (“BFF Notes 2020”). On June 20, 2013, U.S.$120.7 million of the 
BFF Notes 2020 was replaced by the Senior Notes BRF 2023 (as defined below) and, on May 15, 2014, U.S.$409.6 
million  of  the  BFF  Notes  2020  were  repurchased  with  part  of  the  proceeds  from  the  Senior  Notes  BRF  2024  (as 
defined below). On May 28, 2015, we completed a tender offer for the BFF Notes 2020 in the amount of U.S.$101.4 
million  so  that  the  remaining  balance  totaled  U.S.$118.3  million  on  June  30,  2015.  On  September  21,  2016,  we 
completed a repurchase offer for the BFF Notes 2020 in the amount of U.S.$32.2 million and premium was paid in 
the transaction, net of interest, in the amount of U.S.$4.1 million. The premium paid to holders of existing bonds was 
recorded as a financial expense. On November 22, 2019, we completed a make-whole redemption of the remaining 
outstanding amount equivalent to R$363.7 million (U.S.$86.1 million) and premium was paid in the transaction, net 
of  interest,  equivalent  to  R$  3.4  million  (U.S.$0.8  million).    The  premium  paid  to  holders  of  existing  bonds  was 
recorded as a financial expense.  

BRF Notes 2022: On May 29, 2015, we completed a senior notes offering totaling EUR500.0 million, with 
principal due on May 3, 2022, which bear interest at a rate of 2.75% per year. On September 18, 2019,  an amount 
equivalent to R$795.9 million (EUR175.2 million) of the BRF Notes 2022 were repurchased through an any and all 
tender offer, and premium  was paid in the transaction, net  of interest, in the amount  equivalent to R$39.2 million 
(EUR8.5 million). The premium paid to holders of existing bonds was recorded as a financial expense. On December 
31, 2019, the outstanding notional amount of these notes was equivalent to R$1,471.4 million (EUR324.8 million). 

BRF Notes 2022. On June 6, 2012, we issued senior notes in an aggregate amount of U.S.$500.0 million. The 
bonds were guaranteed by BRF S.A., bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per year and mature on June 6, 2022. Later the 
same month, we issued an additional U.S.$250.0 million of senior notes under the same indenture and with the same 
terms and conditions (collectively, the “BRF Notes 2022”). On May 28, 2015, we completed a tender offer for the 
BRF Notes 2022 in the amount of U.S.$577.1 million so that the remaining balance totaled U.S.$172.9 million on 
June 30, 2015. On September 21, 2016, we completed a repurchase offer for the BRF Notes 2022 in the amount of 
U.S.$54.2 million, and premium was paid in the transaction, net of interest, in the amount of U.S.$5.7 million. The 
premium paid to holders of existing bonds was recorded as financial expense. On September 18, 2019,  an amount 
equivalent to R$38.9 million (U.S.$9.4 million) of the BRF Notes 2022 were repurchased through an Any and All 
tender offer, and premium  was paid in the transaction, net of interest, in the amount   equivalent to  R$1.5  million 
(U.S.$0.4 million). The premium paid to holders of existing bonds was recorded as a financial expense. On December 
31, 2019, the outstanding notional amount of these notes was equivalent to R$440.6 million (U.S.$109.3 million). 

BRF Notes 2023. In May 2013, we issued senior notes in an aggregate amount of U.S.$500.0 million, with 
principal  due  on  May  22,  2023  and  bearing  interest  at  a  rate  of  3.95%  per  year  (“Senior  Notes  BRF  2023”).  On 
September 18, 2019, an amount equivalent to R$641.4 million (U.S.$154.0 million) of  the BRF Notes 2023  were 
repurchased through an any and all tender offer, and premium was paid in the transaction, net of interest, in the amount 

81 

 
equivalent to R$7.2  million (U.S.$1.7 million). The premium paid to holders of existing bonds  was recorded as a 
financial expense. On December 31, 2019, the outstanding notional amount of these notes was equivalent to R$1,394.6 
million (U.S.$346.0 million). 

BRF Notes 2024. On May 15, 2014, we completed a senior notes offering totaling U.S.$750 million (“Senior 
Notes BRF 2024”). The principal is due on May 22, 2024 and bears interest at a rate of 4.75% per year. Of the proceeds 
from the offering, U.S.$470.6 million was used for a debt repurchase tender offer. To implement the tender offer, BRF 
made a payment of U.S.$86.4 million (equivalent to R$198.6 million) to the holders of existing bonds, which was 
recorded  as  an  interest  expense.  On  September  24,  2019,  an  amount  equivalent  to  R$961.8  million  (U.S.$230.9 
million) of the BRF Notes 2024 were repurchased through an early capped tender offer, and premium was paid in the 
transaction, net of interest, in the amount equivalent to R$38.5 million (U.S.$9.2 million). On October 8, 2019, an 
amount equivalent to R$4.8 million (U.S.$1.2 million) of the BRF Notes 2024 were repurchased through the final 
capped tender offer, and premium  was paid in the transaction, net of interest, in the amount  equivalent to R$0.05 
million (U.S.$0.01 million). Both premiums paid to holders of existing bonds were recorded as a financial expense. 
As  of  December  31,  2019,  the  outstanding  notional  amount  of  these  notes  was  equivalent  to  R$2,087.5  million 
(U.S.$517.9 million). 

BRF Notes 2026. On September 29, 2016, we, through our wholly-owned subsidiary BRF GmbH, issued 
senior notes in the aggregate amount of U.S.$500.0 million, which bear interest at a rate of 4.35% per year and mature 
on September 29, 2026. As of December 31, 2019, the outstanding notional amount of these notes was equivalent to 
R$2,015.4 million (U.S.$500.0 million). 

BRF Notes 2030. On September 24, 2019, we issued senior notes in the aggregate amount of U.S.$750.0 
million, which bear interest at a rate of 4.875% per year and mature on January 24, 2030. As of December 31, 2019, 
the outstanding notional amount of these notes was equivalent to R$3,023.0 million (U.S.$750.0 million). 

Derivatives Financial Liabilities, Net 

We entered into foreign currency exchange derivatives under which we had a fair value of R$115.3 million 
and commodity derivatives under which we had a fair value of negative R$23.6 million, in each case as of December 
31, 2019. The counterparties include several Brazilian financial institutions and involve interest rate swaps, and the 
purchase  and  sale  of  currencies  and  commodities.  Their  maturity  dates  vary  from  2018  through  2028.  These 
transactions do not require any guarantees and follow the rules of the B3, a trading and securities registration company. 
These derivatives are recorded in our balance sheet as other financial assets and liabilities. See “Item 11. Quantitative 
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.” 

Seasonality 

Brazil 

Our  net  sales  of  meat  and  processed  products  in  the  Brazilian  market  are  not  subject  to  large  seasonal 
fluctuations. However, our fourth quarter is generally slightly stronger than other quarters due to increased demand 
for  our  products  during  the  holiday  season,  particularly  turkeys,  Chester®  roosters,  ham  and  pork  loins.  We  also 
market certain products specifically for the holiday season, such as gift packages of our products that some employers 
distribute to their employees. Our results are also affected by the dry and rainy seasons for corn, soybeans and soy 
meal, which are our primary raw materials in feed production.  

In 2019, total Brazilian sales by quarter were as follows: 22.5% for the first quarter, 23.3% for the second 

quarter, 25.1% for the third quarter and 29.1% for the fourth quarter. 

International 

Our  sales  to  international  markets  as  a  whole  are  not  materially  affected  by  seasonality,  partly  because 
seasonal  buying  patterns  vary  according  to  our  international  markets.  However,  net  sales  in  specific  markets 

82 

 
sometimes vary with the season. In the Halal market, for example, we experience lower net sales during Ramadan and 
the summer months. 

In 2019, total International sales by quarter were as follows: 21.4% for the first quarter, 26.7% for the second 

quarter, 25.5% for the third quarter and 26.3% for the fourth quarter. 

Critical Accounting Policies 

We have prepared our consolidated financial  statements included in this Annual Report on Form 20-F in 

accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB. 

The  preparation  of  these  consolidated  financial  statements  required  management  to  make  estimates  and 
assumptions that affected the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities  at  the  date  of  the  consolidated  financial  statements  and  the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses 
during the reporting period. Management evaluates its estimates and judgments on an ongoing basis and bases its 
estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under 
the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. 

The following is a description of the critical accounting policies, estimates or judgments that are important 

to the presentation of our consolidated financial statements. 

Revenue Recognition 

Sales revenues comprise the value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of products, net of 

applicable taxes, returns, rebates and discounts. 

Sales revenues are recognized in accordance with the accrual basis of accounting, when the sales value is 
reliably measurable and the Company no longer has control over the product sold or any other liability related to its 
ownership and it is likely that the economic benefits will be received by the Company. 

The sales process begins with sales orders and formal agreements, in general executed with large retail and 
wholesale chains. The discounts and rebates may be negotiated on a spot basis or may have their conditions formally 
defined  in  the  agreements.  In  all  cases,  the  performance  condition  is  satisfied  when  control  over  the  goods  is 
transferred to the client. 

The  Company  has  sales  with  cash  and  installment  payments,  which  are  adjusted  to  present  value  for 

recognition of the financial component. 

Expected credit losses 

Accounting practice applied until December 31, 2017 

The Company assessed at each reporting period whether there was any objective evidence of impairment for 
the financial assets recognized. The main evidence considered was overdue amounts. For each group of receivables 
overdue,  the  Company  analyzed  the  financial  conditions  of  the  customer  and  guarantees  in  place,  recognizing 
impairment losses when applicable. 

Accounting practice applied from January 1, 2018 

The Company regularly assesses the historical losses on the customer portfolios it has in each region, taking 
into consideration the dynamics of the markets in which it operates and instruments it has for reducing credit risks, 
such as: letters of credit, insurance and collateral, as well as identifying specific customers whose risks are significantly 
different than the portfolio, which are treated according to individual expectations. 

83 

 
Based on these assessments, estimated loss factors are generated by portfolio and aging class, which, applied 
to  the  amounts  of  accounts  receivable,  generate  the  expected  credit  losses.  Additionally,  the  Company  evaluates 
macroeconomic factors that may influence these losses and, if necessary, adjusts the calculation model. 

Securities receivable with legal proceedings in place are reclassified to noncurrent as are the related estimated 
credit losses. The securities are written off against the estimated loss when our management considers that they are 
no longer recoverable after taking all appropriate actions to collect them. 

Assets held for sale and discontinued operations 

Assets held for sale are measured at the lower of the carrying amount and the fair value less costs to sell and 
are not depreciated or amortized. These items are only classified under this item when their sale is highly probable 
and they are available for immediate sale in their current conditions. Losses due to impairment are recorded under 
Other Operational Expenses. 

The statements of income and cash flows from discontinued operations are presented separately from those 
of continuing operations of the Company. The comparative periods are reclassified in the statements of income and 
cash flows. However, the statements of financial position remain as previously reported. 

Goodwill 

Goodwill is initially measured as the excess of the consideration transferred in relation to the fair value of 
the net assets acquired (identifiable assets and liabilities assumed, net). If the consideration is lower than the fair value 
of the net assets acquired, the difference should be recognized as a gain in the statement of income. 

Under IFRS, goodwill is not amortized and is subject to an annual impairment test. We identify our reporting 
units and determine the carrying amount of each reporting unit by assigning the assets and liabilities, including the 
existing goodwill and intangible assets. The recoverable amount of each reporting unit is the greater of its value in use 
and  its  fair  value  less  cost  to  sell.  We  determine  the  value  in  use  of  each  reporting  unit  by  expected  discounted 
operating cash flows generated by the reporting unit. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its recoverable 
amount, an impairment loss is recognized first to goodwill until it is reduced to zero and then proportionally to other 
long-lived assets. 

The use of different assumptions for valuation purposes, including estimates of future cash flows and discount 

rates, could have resulted in different estimates. 

The carrying amount of goodwill and the key assumptions used in the annual impairment test are disclosed 

in Note 15 to our consolidated financial statements. 

Contingencies 

We establish provisions when we have a present obligation, formalized or not, as a result of a past event, the 

outflow of resources to settle the obligation is more likely than not to occur and reliable estimate can be made. 

We are party to various lawsuits, including, tax, labor and civil claims. The assessment of the likelihood of 
loss in these lawsuits include an analysis of the available evidences, the hierarchy of the laws, available jurisprudence, 
the most recent court decisions and their relevance in the legal system, as well as the assessment of outside lawyers. 
We review and adjust the provisions to reflect changes in the circumstances, such as the applicable limitation period, 
conclusions of tax inspections or additional exposures identified based on new matters or court decisions. 

In cases where there are a large number of lawsuits and the amounts are not individually  material, we use 

historical studies to determine the probability and amounts of losses. 

Contingent liabilities from business combinations are recognized if they arise from a present obligation that 

arose from past events and if their fair value can be measured reliably.  

84 

 
Inventory 

We record inventories at average acquisition or formation cost, not exceeding their net realizable value. The 
cost of finished products includes purchased raw materials, labor, production cost, transportation and storage, which 
are  related  to  all  processes  necessary  for  bringing  the  products  to  sales  conditions.  Provisions  for  obsolescence, 
adjustments to net realizable value, impaired items and slow-moving inventories are recorded when necessary. Normal 
production  losses  are  included  in  the  production  cost  for  the  respective  month,  while  abnormal  losses,  if  any,  are 
expensed in cost of products sold when incurred.  

Income Tax and Social Contribution 

In Brazil, we are subject to income tax (Imposto de Renda Pessoa Jurídica, or “IRPJ”) and social contribution 
(Contribuição Social sobre o Lucro Líquido, or “CSLL”), which are calculated monthly based on taxable income, 
after offsetting tax losses and negative contribution base, limited to 30% of the taxable income, applying the rate of 
15% plus an additional 10% for IRPJ and 9% for CSLL.  

The results obtained from foreign subsidiaries are subject to taxation by the countries where they are based, 
according to applicable rates and legislation. The Company analyzes the results of each subsidiary for the application 
of its income tax legislation, in order to respect the treaties signed by Brazil and avoid double taxation. 

Deferred  taxes  represent  credits  and  deductions  on  IRPJ  tax  losses  and  negative  CSLL  bases,  as  well  as 
temporary  differences  between  the  tax  and  accounting  bases.  Deferred  taxes  and  social  contribution  assets  and 
liabilities  are  classified  as  non-current.  When  the  Company’s  internal  studies  indicate  that  the  future  use  of  these 
credits over a 10-year horizon is not probable, the asset is derecognized. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities must be measured by rates applicable in the period in which the asset is 
realized or the liability is settled, based on the rates (and tax legislation) that are in force on the financial position date. 

On  January  1,  2019,  the  interpretation  IFRIC  23  became  effective,  which  deals  with  the  recognition  and 

measurement requirements when there is uncertainty about the treatments of tax on profit. 

The Company analyzed relevant tax decisions of higher courts and whether they conflict in any way with the 
positions  adopted  by  the  Company.  Regarding  the  known  uncertain  tax  positions,  the  Company  reviewed  the 
corresponding legal opinions and jurisprudence and did not identify impacts to be recorded, since it concluded that 
the tax authorities are not likely to reject the positions adopted. 

The  Company  will  periodically  evaluate  the  positions  it  took  in  which  there  are  uncertainties  about  the 

adopted tax treatment and will create a provision when applicable. 

Financial instruments 

Financial instruments are contracts that give rise to a financial asset for one entity and a financial liability or 
equity instrument for another. Their presentation in the statement of financial position and explanatory notes takes 
place according to the characteristics of each contract. 

Classification of Financial Assets 

Financial assets are recognized when the entity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument 
and are classified based on the characteristics of their cash flows and on the management model for the asset. The 
table below shows how BRF classifies and measures financial assets: 

85 

 
 
Category

Amortized Cost

Initial Measurement
Accounts receivable from Clients and other 
receivables: billed amount adjusted to 
present value and, when applicable, reduced 
by expected credit losses

For other assets: Fair value less costs 
directly attributable to its issuance

Subsequent Measurement

Interest, changes in amortized cost and 
expected credit losses recognized in the income 
statement.

Fair Value through Profit and Loss 
(“FVTPL”)

Fair Value

Fair Value through Other Comprehensive 
Income (“FVTOCI”).

Fair value less costs directly attributable to 
its issuance.

Variation on the fair value recognized in the 
income statement.

Changes in fair value recognized in other 
comprehensive income. Upon settlement or 
transfer, accumulated gains or losses are 
directly reclassified to Retained earnings or 
accumulated losses.
For debt instruments, expected credit losses 
are recognized directly in the statement of 
income.

Since  the  adoption  of  IFRS  9  in  January  1,  2018,  the  Company  evaluates  expected  credit  losses  in  each 
reporting period for instruments measured at amortized cost and for debt instruments measured at fair value through 
Other  Comprehensive  Income.  Losses  and  reversals  of  losses  are  recorded  in  the  statement  of  income  (loss).  The 
policy for the year 2017 is described in the section “Expected credit losses” above. 

A financial asset is only derecognized when contractual rights expire or are effectively transferred. 

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  comprise  the  balances  of  cash,  banks  and  securities  of  immediate  liquidity, 
maturities of which, at the time of acquisition, are equal to or less than 90 days, readily convertible into a known 
amount of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value. Securities classified in this group, by 
their very nature, are measured at fair value through profit or loss. 

Hedge accounting 

We have chosen to apply the requirements of IFRS 9 in relation to hedge accounting. 

With respect to cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedge instrument is recognized 
under Other Comprehensive Income and the ineffective portion in the Financial result. Accumulated gains and losses 
are reclassified to the income statement or statement of financial position when the hedge is recognized, adjusting the 
item in which the hedge was accounted for. 

When the instrument is designated in a cash flow hedge relationship, changes in the fair value of the future 
element of the forward contracts and the time value of the options are recognized under Other Comprehensive Income. 
When the instrument is settled, these hedge costs are reclassified to the income statement together with the intrinsic 
value of the instruments. 

With respect to fair value hedge, the effective portion of the hedge instrument’s gain or loss is recognized in 
the  income  statement  or  statement  of  financial  position,  adjusting  the  item  under  which  the  hedge  is  or  will  be 
recognized. The hedge, when designated in this relationship, is also measured at fair value. 

With respect to net investment hedge accounting, as of August 31, 2019, the Company adopted the practice 
of performing net investment hedge accounting. In this relation, the effective result of the exchange variation of the 
instrument is recorded under Other Comprehensive Income, in the same item in which the accumulated translation 
adjustments of the investments (hedges) are recognized. Only when the hedged investments are sold, the accumulated 
amount is reclassified to the income statement, adjusting the gain or loss on the sale. 

Adjustment to present value 

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The  Company  measures  the  adjustment  to  present  value  on  short  and  long-term  balances  of  accounts 
receivable, suppliers and other obligations, being recognized as a deduction in the asset accounts against the financial 
result. The Company adopts the weighted average cost of capital to determine the adjustment to present value of the 
mentioned assets and liabilities, which corresponded to 11.3% per year on December 31, 2019 (10.4% per year on 
December 31, 2018).  

Leasing 

Accounting practice applied until December 31, 2018 

Leasing operations with risks and benefits inherent to ownership are substantially transferred to the Company 
and are classified as finance leases. If there is no significant transfer of the risks and benefits inherent to the property, 
the operations are classified as operating leases. 

Financial  leasing  contracts  are  recognized  in  property,  plant  and  equipment  or  intangible  assets,  against 
liabilities, at the lower of the present value of the minimum mandatory installments of the contract and the fair value 
of the asset, plus, when applicable, the initial direct costs incurred in the transaction. The amounts recorded in property, 
plant and equipment and intangible are depreciated and the interests implicit in the liability are recognized on the 
income statement according to the term of the contract. 

Operating lease agreements are recognized as an expense over the lease period. 

Gains or losses arising from the Company’s sale and leaseback transactions, classified after the sale of the 

assets as an operating lease, are recognized as follows: 

- Immediately in the income for the year when the transaction is measured at fair value; 

-  If  the  transaction  price  is  established  below  or  above  the  fair  value,  the  profit  or  loss  is  immediately 

recognized in the result, except if the result is offset by future lease payments below the market value. 

Accounting practice applied from January 1, 2019 

On  January  1,  2019,  the  Company  adopted  IFRS  16  and  opted  for  the  modified  retrospective  approach 
without  restating  comparative  periods.  Accordingly,  all  balances  related  to  the  year  ended  on  December  31,  2018 
(Note 19.1 to our financial statements) are presented in accordance with the standards previously in force (IAS 17), 
as described above. 

In the transition process, the Company chose not to use the practical expedient that would allow the Company 
to not reassess whether a contract is or contains a lease. Consequently, the new lease definitions contained in IFRS 16 
were applied to all contracts in force on the transition date. A contract is, or contains a lease, if the contract transfers 
the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period in exchange for consideration, for which it is necessary 
to assess whether: 

• 

• 

• 

the contract involves the use of an identified asset, which may be explicit or implicit, and may be 
physically distinct or represent substantially the entire capacity of a physically distinct asset. If the 
supplier has a substantial right to replace the asset, then the asset is not identified; 

the Company  has the right to obtain substantially all the economic benefits  from  using  the asset 
during the contract period; and 

the Company has the right to direct the use of the asset. The Company has the right to decide to 
change how and for what purpose the asset is used, if it: 

o 

has the right to operate the asset, or  

87 

 
 
o  designed the asset in a way that predetermines how and for what purpose it will be used. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  contract,  the  Company  recognizes  a  right-of-use  asset  and  a  lease  liability  that 

represents the obligation to make payments related to the underlying asset of the lease.  

The  right-to-use  asset  is  initially  measured  at  cost  and  comprises  the  initial  amount  of  the  lease  liability 
adjusted for any payment made on or before the contract start date, plus any direct initial costs incurred and estimated 
disassembly, removal costs, restoration of the asset in the place where it is located, less any incentive received. 

The right-to-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the start date to the 
end of the useful life of the right to use or the end of the lease term. The options  for extending the term or early 
termination of contracts are analyzed individually considering the type of asset involved as well as its relevance in the 
Company’s production process. The estimated useful life of the right-of-use asset is determined on the same basis as 
the assets owned by the Company. Additionally, the right-to-use asset is periodically reduced to recoverable value in 
accordance with IAS 36, when applicable, and readjusted by remeasurement of the lease liability. 

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the payments not made, less the incremental 

loan rate. 

The lease liability is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. It is remeasured when 
there is a change (i) in future payments resulting from a change in index or rate (ii) in the estimate of the expected 
amount to be paid in the guaranteed residual value or (iii) in the assessment of whether the Company will exercise the 
purchase option, extension or termination. 

When the lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding adjustment amount is recorded in the book value 
of the right-of-use asset or in the profit and loss statement, if the book value of the right-of-use asset has been reduced 
to zero. 

As a result of the adoption of IFRS 16, on January 1, 2019, there was recognition of a right-of-use asset of 
R$2,397,743  thousand,  a  lease  liability  of  R$2,391,456  thousand,  and  the  difference  between  the  balances  in  the 
amount of R$6,287 thousand, which was caused by provisions for operating leases already recorded on December 31, 
2018, in Shareholders’ Equity. Such contracts were previously disclosed as an operating lease, according to the annual 
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018. 

The Company used the following practical steps to transition to the new lease accounting requirements: 

• 

• 

chose not to recognize assets with right to use and lease liabilities with a contract term of less than 
12 months, and with no purchase option and of low value. Payments associated with such contracts 
are recognized as an expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease period; 

use of a single discount rate for each lease portfolio with reasonably similar characteristics. In this 
sense, the incremental loan rate was obtained, as of January 1, 2019, applicable to each of the leased 
asset  portfolios.  Through  this  methodology,  the  Company  obtained  a  weighted  average  rate  of 
7.92%. 

Additionally, contracts with an indefinite term with no fixed payment are expensed as incurred. 

Capital Expenditures  

See  “Item  4.  Information  on  the  Company—A.  History  and  Development  of  the  Company—Capital 

Expenditures.”  

C. 

Research and Development, Patents and Licenses  

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In 2019, we launched 233 new products for consumers, of which 136 were released for the domestic market 
and  97  for  the  international  market.  Of  the  international  market  releases,  43  were  in  Asia,  9  in  Africa,  10  in  the 
Americas, 16 in the Southern Cone and 19 in the Middle East. 

Our  Research,  Development  and  Innovation  activities  (“RD&I”)  incorporate  agricultural  research  and 
innovation, as well as products and processes research and development. The Research and Development of Meat 
Products’ team is based in Jundiaí city, in the state of São Paulo, where our BRF Innovation Center (“BIC”) is based. 

The  agricultural  RD&I  area  aims  to  strengthen  our  international  competitiveness  through  the  continuous 
introduction of new technologies. The goal of these activities is to reduce production costs, improve product quality 
and client satisfaction and meet consumer demands. For this purpose, we maintain a qualified and experienced team 
of specialists to experiment with new products and innovations. This team includes highly qualified researchers with 
advanced  degrees,  specialists  working  in  animal  production,  researchers,  veterinarians,  agronomists  and  technical 
support. In addition, we have collaborative arrangements with several universities, government research institutions 
and innovative private companies, and we use several research incentives made available by government research and 
development agencies.  

In recent years, we have been promoting the introduction of professionals with doctorate degrees (PhDs) in 
our technical  team in association  with  governmental agencies as FINEP, CNPq (PNPD – National Post-Doctorate 
Program  and  RHAE  –  Human  Resources  Formation  in  Strategic  Areas  Program),  Araucária  Foundation  (Post-
Doctorate Program in company) and the FAPESP (Foundation for Research Support of the State of São Paulo).  As a 
result, we have hired 17 researchers to date. We have also been developing a robust trainee and internship program as 
well as encouraging our employees to participate in undergraduate and graduate courses. In 2019, we started a new 
program called “PhD in Agro,” in which five PhD positions were created to develop specific projects in different areas 
– nutrition, animal breeding, animal health, swine production and poultry management. 

We have one of the largest poultry and swine agricultural experimental research  groups in the world. Our 
research system includes one experimental feed meal plant and 19 experimental barns, which are distributed across 
four experimental farms in the state of Santa Catarina, with a total of 1,380 experimental pens to evaluate the impact 
of new technology and innovation on the production chain. We also have six bromatological and five animal health 
laboratories supporting research and operational activities. 

In addition to our formal research department, we have field research initiatives in the production system that 
allows us to evaluate all technologies under real production conditions. We also use this field research to calculate the 
productivity and financial impact of innovations and establish the appropriate moment to introduce a technology. We 
believe that the field research system provides us  with an advantage in relation to other research centers and other 
companies in the sector. With respect to RD&I product projects, we have ongoing research projects on the reduction 
of additives in meat products, natural solutions for ingredients to extend the products’ due date with the food safety 
guarantee, new packaging and the reduction in the use of packaging materials. 

Beginning on June 20, 2013, BIC was financed by FINEP for a total amount of R$106.0 million, of which 
R$53.9 million was used for building the facilities. BIC has total space of 13,500m². The building exemplifies our 
commitment to investing in RD&I in order to create and add value in our products, processes and services. Its structure, 
which  was  developed  to  set  technological  development  standards  in  the  food  industry,  includes  research  and 
development  areas  for  meat,  pasta,  margarine,  vegetables,  packaging,  graphic  arts,  visual  standardization  of 
packaging, supplier quality, regulatory matters, sustainability and animal welfare. The facility also has meeting rooms, 
a pilot plant, areas for tests and sensorial evaluation, packaging laboratories, kitchens for food service clients, a library 
and spaces for brainstorming and benchmarking with potential partners. 

We  see  investments  in  RD&I  as  a  key  factor  in  maintaining  our  competitive  advantages,  including  by 
optimizing  our  production  chain,  improving  our  sustainability,  launching  innovative  products  and  reaching  the 
expectations and needs of consumers, clients and markets.   

Furthermore,  we  have our own swine breeding program in  eight exclusive farms,  which  we believe  have 
competitive  genetic  packages  compared  to  the  most  significant  international  breeding  programs.  The  breeding 
program has a team of seven highly qualified geneticists.  We are incorporating genomic evaluation into the swine 

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evaluation process in 2020. In order to implement this new technology, we established partnerships with six research 
centers  of  the  Brazilian  Company  for  Agricultural  and  Farming  Research  (Empresa  Brasileira  de  Pesquisa 
Agropecuária, or “EMBRAPA”), as well as with universities and governmental agencies (including BNDES, Finep 
and CNPq). 

In recent years, we have established research partnerships on projects funded by EMBRAPA, FINEP, CNPq 
and BNDES, and, since 2009, we have been benefiting from tax credits from the Science, Technology and Innovation 
Ministry (Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação) to incentivize innovation research, called Lei do Bem. This 
program  supports  technological  innovation  based  on  the  development  of  new  products  and  new  manufacturing 
processes and incremental improvement in actual products or processes. 

The RD&I teams were integrated under the same business unit in 2015 in order to encourage efficiencies 
among the teams, to increase the speed to market of products and to improve consumer and technological connections.  

More than 100 researchers and project managers are dedicated to continuously contributing innovative ideas 
to the RD&I pipeline, while running cost, process and formulation optimization. BRF has developed a unique stage 
gate  process,  which  is  managed  by  a  multifunctional  team  to  make  bi-monthly  decisions  regarding  potential 
innovations.  This  allows  us  to  accelerate  the  decision-making  process  in  a  very  complex  chain  while  considering 
multiple points of view. 

We define our growth platforms based on consumer preferences. Our main platforms for the Sadia brand are 
day-by-day meals, helpers, happy meals, well-being, premium and special dates. Our main platforms for the Perdigão 
brand are day-by-day meals, barbecue, Christmas and indulgent snacks. Our main platforms for the Qualy brand are 
breakfast,  new  occasions  and  margarine  2.0.  The  project  managers  are  now  able  to  navigate  through  different 
categories, such as ready meals, cold cuts, in natura meat, spreads, snacks and even food services, to design and apply 
solutions  that  either  fulfill  an  unmet  need  or  enhance  a  specific  consumer  preference.  Accordingly,  we  invested 
R$206.9 million, R$53.5 million and R$52.0 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

In 2019, we launched multiple pork cuts products in line with our strategy of developing new consumer habits 
for pork cuts in the Brazilian market. We launched a robust portfolio of pork cuts under both the Sadia and Perdigão 
brands, including day-by-day pork cuts under the Sadia brand, along with special pork cuts for Christmas and seasoned 
pork cuts for barbecues under the Perdigão brand. We also launched important sub-brands under our Sadia brand: the 
Speciale Sadia sub-brand, with a premium cold cuts portfolio that includes raw ham and salami with a pepper border, 
and the Na receita Sadia sub-brand, with a new line of pre-prepared chicken to be used in various recipes in both the 
retail and food service markets. Under our Sadia brand, we also focused on refreshing the ready meals and cold cuts 
categories, including launching a new item, namely Mac’n cheese, for the retail channel. In addition, we expanded the 
portfolio of our Perdigão brand through our Ouro sub-brand by launching mini sausages snacks and relaunching our 
pizza line, which is a volume-driven category that we expect will bring greater visibility to the brand on supermarkets’ 
gondolas. 

D. 

Trend Information 

In addition to the information set forth in this section, additional information about the trends affecting our 
business  can  be  found  in  “—Results  of  Operations—Principal  Factors  Affecting  our  Results  of  Operations.”  You 
should also read our discussion of the risks and uncertainties that affect our business in “Risk Factors.” 

Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, global GDP was expected to grow 2.5% in 2020 after a post-
crisis  level  of  2.4%  in  2019,  according  to  a  report  released  in  January  2020  by  the  World  Bank.  However,  any 
economic estimates for growth in 2020 made prior to recent events, especially connected to the developments of the 
COVID-19 pandemic, are likely to be revised or otherwise modified, given the high current degree of uncertainty and 
volatility  in  global  markets.  For  additional  information,  see  “Item  3.  Key  Information—D.  Risk  Factors—Risks 
Relating  to  Our  Business  and  Industry—Pandemics  or  human  disease  outbreaks,  such  as  the  novel  coronavirus 
(COVID-19 virus), may disrupt consumption and trade patterns, supply chains and production processes, which could 
materially affect our operations and results of operations.” 

90 

 
A threat to global economic growth is the intensification of protectionist pressures, because of a potential 
widening of global imbalances coupled with sharp exchange rate movements. According to the International Monetary 
Fund (“IMF”), increased restrictions on global trade and migration would hurt productivity and incomes and have an 
immediate impact on market sentiment. Another potential risk discussed by the IMF is a tightening of global financing 
terms. The World Bank expects growth of 1.8% in 2020 and 1.7% in 2021 for the U.S. and of 1.0% in 2020 and 1.3% 
in  2021  for  European  Union.  For  emerging  markets  and  developing  countries  in  2020, the  World Bank  expects  a 
growth rate of 5.8% for India and 1.6% for Russia, along with a more modest growth in China of 5.9% for 2020. The 
same report expects Brazil’s GDP to increase 2.0% in 2020 and 2.5% in 2021. The SELIC interest rate (the primary 
Brazilian interest reference rate) is expected to end 2020 at 4.25%, according to reports by Focus. 

Exports 

Brazil is a leading producer in global export markets due to its natural advantages (land, water, and climate), 
competitive inputs costs and increasing efficiencies in animal production. Like other large Brazilian producers, we 
have capitalized on these advantages to develop the scope and scale of our business. 

Brazilian chicken exports increased by 2.8% in the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the year 
ended December 31, 2018, in terms of volume.  Pork exports registered an increase of 16.2% in volume sold in the 
year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the year ended December 31, 2018. Beef exports recorded an increase 
of 12.9% in volume sold in the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to the year ended December 31, 2018. 

In international markets, we and other Brazilian producers compete with local and other foreign producers. 
Traditionally, Brazilian producers have emphasized exports of frozen whole and cut poultry and frozen pork and beef 
cuts. These products continue to account for a substantial portion of export volumes in recent years. Brazilian food 
companies have also expanded the sales of processed food products. We anticipate that, over the next several years, 
we and our main Brazilian competitors will sell greater volumes of frozen whole and cut poultry and frozen pork as 
well as increasing volumes of processed food products. 

Brazilian chicken exports in the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled 4.2 million tons on sales of R$28.17 
billion (equivalent to U.S.$6.99 billion). China is the main destination for these exports (13.9%), followed by Saudi 
Arabia (11.1%), Japan (10.1%) and the United Arab Emirates (8.1%). 

Pork export volume in the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled 750.3 thousand tons, totaling around R$6.45 
billion (equivalent to U.S.$6.99 billion). The leading importers, China, Hong Kong and Singapore represented 33.2%, 
21.7% and 5.9%, respectively, of total exports from Brazil. 

Beef shipments in the year ended December 31, 2019 totaled 1.81 million tons with sales of around R$29.77 
billion (equivalent to U.S.$7.39 billion). This increase in volume was driven by higher exports sent to China and Hong 
Kong, which import 27.2% and 18.2% of Brazilian beef exports, respectively.  

According to the West Texas Intermediate index, which benchmarks oil prices, oil prices decreased 11.9% 
in 2019, from an average of U.S.$64.77 in 2018 to an average of U.S.$57.03 in 2019. Since the start of 2020, oil prices 
have dropped drastically following from the global economic slowdown brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic as 
well as an oil supply dispute among key oil producers. A decrease in oil prices will generally result in decreased GDP 
growth and decreased revenues for oil producing countries, which can devalue the local currency and negatively affect 
disposable income due to an increase in inflation. In the past, declines in the price of oil reduced the ability of certain 
countries to import Brazilian products. A price improvement may help protein prices to rise since countries dependent 
on revenue from oil production will be able to import additional products. Food products are less sensitive than other 
goods to foreign exchange and to income variations. Rich oil producing countries that are located in warm regions 
with a low availability of grains rely on government subsidies in order to cope with much higher chicken production 
costs than countries with moderate climates and a high availability of grains, such as Brazil. Thus, falling oil prices 
will not necessarily lead to lower chicken imports from Brazil as governments might reduce subsidies leading to a 
decline in local production of chicken. 

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Brazilian Market 

Brazil  is  one  of  the  largest  meat  consumers  in  the  world,  with  per  capita  consumption  in  2019  of  99.9 
kilograms, including beef, chicken and pork products, according to the USDA, an increase of 1.3% compared to 2018. 
Demand  for  poultry  and  pork  products  in  the  domestic  market  is  directly  affected  by  the  country’s  economic 
conditions.  Given  the  slight  economic  recovery  in  2019,  meat  consumption  increased  in  2019  compared  to  2018. 
Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, further economic improvement was expected for 2020, which would 
have meant that meat consumption should increase in 2020. However, economic forecasts for Brazilian GDP growth 
in  2020  have  been  revised  downwards  or  otherwise  modified,  given  the  high  current  degree  of  uncertainty  and 
volatility  resulting  from  the  COVID-19  pandemic  and  other  factors.  For  additional  information,  see  “Item  3.  Key 
Information—D.  Risk  Factors—Risks  Relating  to  Our  Business  and  Industry—Pandemics  or  human  disease 
outbreaks,  such  as  the  novel  coronavirus  (COVID-19  virus),  may  disrupt  consumption  and  trade  patterns,  supply 
chains and production processes, which could materially affect our operations and results of operations.” 

Brazil’s  domestic  market  is  highly  competitive,  particularly  for  fresh  food  and  frozen  poultry  and  pork 
products. Besides BRF, there are many large producers, including Seara (which was acquired from Marfrig by JBS in 
2013), Aurora and JBS. The main producers in the fresh food market face strong competition from a large number of 
small producers which operate in the informal economy and sometimes offer low quality products at lower prices than 
those of the large producers. BRF seeks to develop quality products, focusing on innovative solutions that meet clients’ 
needs and capture value for the strong brands it owns, such as Sadia and Perdigão. 

The  processed  food  sector  is  more  concentrated  than  the  fresh  food  sector  in  terms  of  the  number  of 
competitors. Consumption of processed products is influenced by a number of factors, including the level of consumer 
income and marketing efforts directed at meeting consumer demand for more value-added products. We believe that 
processed foods also represent an opportunity for growth in the coming years. 

Raw Materials 

In 2019, Brazil harvested its historic second best soybean crop. Additionally, the trade dispute between the 
U.S. and China, which began in April 2018, carried on through 2019 with China making purchases only to meet its 
short-term  demand.  Such  scenario  negatively  affected  Brazilian  prices  for  raw  materials  as  Chinese  demand  for 
Brazilian soybean decreased as well. Average soybean prices in Brazil decreased 4.4% in 2019 compared to 2018, 
while soybean prices on the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”) decreased 10.4% in 2019. 

In the Brazilian market, average corn prices increased 3.1% in 2019 compared to 2018 as Brazilian exports 
reached historically high levels, boosted by the depreciation of the Brazilian real. According to Brazil’s national food 
supply  agency  (Companhia  Nacional  de  Abastecimento),  the  corn  crop  totaled  100  million  tons  in  2018/19,  after 
totaling 81.4 million tons in 2017/18. In the international market, corn crop in the United States in 2017/18 (371.10 
million tons) and a slightly lower crop in 2018/19 (364.26 million tons) increased the CBOT corn prices by 4.1% in 
2019. 

Social Contributions 

Brazilian Provisional Measure No. 774/17, valid as of July 2017, required that we pay a social contribution 
equal to 20% of our payroll, which is higher than the social contribution we had previously paid based on our gross 
operating revenue (between 1% and 2.5%). This  provisional measure  was revoked on August 2017 by Provisional 
Measure No. 794/17 and thus was not converted into law. In May 2018, Law No. 13,670/18 reestablished paying the 
social  contribution  based  on  gross  operating  revenues  instead  of  payroll  until  December  2020.  Although  the  new 
Brazilian  government  is  considering  granting  Brazilian  companies  permanent  relief  from  social  contributions,  we 
cannot assure that the current relief will available after December 2020. 

92 

 
E. 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements  

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements, other than the ones described below, that have or are reasonably 
likely  to  have  effects  on  our  financial  condition,  revenues  or  expenses,  results  of  operations,  liquidity,  capital 
expenditure or capital resources that are material to investors.  

BRF provides guarantees to loans obtained by certain outgrowers located in the central region of Brazil as 
part of a special development program for that region. These loans are used to improve the outgrowers’ farm facilities 
and are expected to be repaid in ten years. The loans guaranteed by BRF are in the amount of R$12,949 thousand as 
of December 31, 2019 (compared to R$29,794  thousand as of December 31, 2018).  In the event of a default,  we 
would be required to assume  the outstanding balance.  As  a result,  we  have  recorded provisions in the amount of 
R$1,491 thousand as of December 31, 2019 (compared to R$2,506 thousand as of December 31, 2018), which is equal 
to our assessment of the fair value of the non-contingent portion of these obligations, and a reversion of provision in 
the amount of R$1,015 thousand in our statement of income  for the  year ended December 31, 2019 (compared to 
R$1,540 thousand as of December 31, 2018).  

BRF guarantees a loan to the Sadia Sustainability Institute (Instituto Sadia de Sustentabilidade) from BNDES 
to set up biodigesters on the properties of the rural producers that are participating in BRF’s integration system as part 
of BRF’s sustainable hog breeding program, which seeks to develop mechanisms for clean development and reduction 
of emission of carbon gases. The total amount of these guarantees as of December 31, 2019 was R$3,897 thousand 
(compared to R$5,956 thousand as of December 31, 2018). In the event of a default, BRF would be required to assume 
the outstanding balance. Based on our assessment of the fair value of the non-contingent portion of these obligations, 
we  have not recorded provisions as of  December 31, 2019, and  we  did not reverse provisions in our statement of 
income for the year ended December 31, 2019 (compared to R$28 thousand reversed as of December 31, 2018). 

The  aggregate  amount  of  BRF’s  off-balance  sheet  guarantees  as  of  December 31,  2019  was 
R$16,846 thousand (compared to R$35,750 thousand as of December 31, 2018), and we reversed provisions for the 
non-contingent  portion  of  these  obligations  in  the  amount  of  R$1,015 thousand,  which  had  been  included  in  our 
statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2019 (compared to R$1.569 thousand as of December 31, 2018). 

F. 

Tabular Disclosure of Contractual Obligations 

The  following  table  summarizes  significant  contractual  obligations  and  commitments  due  by  period,  at 

December 31, 2019.  

Payments Due by Period 

Obligation 

Loans and financing(1) ......................................................  
Interest on loans and financing(2) ......................................  
Lease liabilities.................................................................  
Commitments for purchases of goods and services(3) .......  
Total .................................................................................  

Total 

18,620.3 
 4,538.9 
2,430.7 
5,996.0 
31,585.8 

Less than 
1 year 

1-3 years 
(in millions of reais) 

3-5 years 

 3,132.0 
 583.1 
521.6 
4,306.2 
8,542.9 

4,030.5 
1,528.1 
785.9 
812.6 
7,157.0 

4,762.7 
1,121.7 
528.2 
392.1 
6,804.7 

More 
than 5 
years 

6,695.1 
1,306.0 
595.0 
485.1 
9,081.1 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Includes both current and non-current loans and borrowings. 

Represents expected interest obligations on the loans and financing set forth in the table above, assuming the interest rates in effect on each facility as of December 31, 2019.  

These purchase commitments include future purchase commitments for corn and soy meal and service fees to our integrated outgrowers. Amounts payable under contracts for goods or 

services that allow termination at any time without penalty have been excluded. With respect to contracts for goods and services that allow termination at any time without penalty after a 

specified notice period, only amounts payable during the specified notice period have been included. 

We also recorded R$1,794.4 million as contingencies with probable losses as of December 31, 2019. 

93 

 
 
 
 
G. 

Safe Harbor 

See “Part I—Introduction—Forward-Looking Statements.” 

DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES  

A. 

Directors and Senior Management 

Board of Directors 

Our board of directors provides our overall strategic direction. At least two members or 20% of our board of 
directors, whichever is greater, must be independent under the Novo Mercado rules. Our board members are elected 
at Ordinary General Shareholders’ Meetings for a two-year term and may be reelected. Our board of directors currently 
consists  of  10  members.  Our  bylaws  do  not  contemplate  alternates  to  board  members.  There  is  no  mandatory 
retirement age for our board members. In case of any vacancy, the remaining members will nominate a board member 
who will serve until the next shareholders’ meeting, and the shareholders shall elect another board member to serve 
for the remaining term of office at such meeting. If more than one-third of the positions on the board of directors are 
vacant at the same time, then an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting shall be called within 30 days counted from such 
vacancy event. The following table sets forth information about our current Board members: 

Name 

Position Held 

Pedro Pullen Parente..............................................   Chairman 
Augusto Marques da Cruz Filho(1) .........................   Vice-Chairman 
Dan Ioschpe(1) ........................................................   Board Member 
Flavia Buarque de Almeida(1) ................................   Board Member 
Francisco Petros O. L. Papathanasiadis(1) ..............   Board Member 
José Luiz Osório(1) .................................................   Board Member 
Luiz Fernando Furlan(1)  ........................................   Board Member 
Roberto Antônio Mendes(1) ...................................   Board Member 
Roberto Rodrigues(1) ..............................................   Board Member 
Walter Malieni Jr. ..................................................   Board Member 

(1) 

Independent member (as defined in the Brazilian Novo Mercado regulations). 

Director 

Since 

April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 

Age 

67 
67 
55 
52 
55 
68 
73 
67 
77 
50 

On March 5, 2018, we called for the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting, which was held on April 
26, 2018, at the request of two of our shareholders, PREVI and PETROS, which jointly hold approximately 20% of 
our capital stock. Additionally, on April 12, 2018, we received from Aberdeen, on behalf of the investment funds and 
portfolios managed by it and its subsidiaries, a request that a cumulative vote system be adopted for the election of 
members of our board of directors at the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting. 

On April 19, 2018, PREVI, PETROS, Tarpon Investimentos S.A. (“Tarpon”) and Mr. Abilio Diniz, holders, 
directly and indirectly, of 32.80% of the shares issued by us, entered into a voting agreement regarding matters to be 
discussed at the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting (the “Voting Agreement”). On the same date, our board 
decided that if Aberdeen were to withdraw its request for the adoption of a cumulative vote system, it would nominate 
the following individuals to serve as board members: Mr. Augusto Marques da Cruz Filho, Mr. Dan Ioschpe, Mrs. 
Flávia Buarque de Almeida, Mr. Francisco  Petros Oliveira Lima Papathanasiadis, Mr. José Luiz Osório, Mr. Luiz 
Fernando Furlan, Mr. Pedro Pullen Parente, Mr. Roberto Antonio Mendes, Mr. Roberto Rodrigues and Mr. Walter 
Malieni Jr. Our board of directors nominated Mr. Pedro Pullen Parente and Mr. Augusto Marques da Cruz Filho as 
Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively. 

On  April  25,  2018,  Aberdeen  withdrew  its  request  for  the  adoption  of  a  cumulative  vote  system  at  the 
Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting. However, minutes before the start of the Ordinary and Extraordinary 
Shareholders’ Meeting, we received a letter from the CVM requesting that such a system be adopted given that some 

94 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
shareholders previously delivered their votes based on such system. Therefore, we adopted the cumulative vote system 
at the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting. Under a cumulative voting system, Brazilian Corporation Law 
provides that the dismissal or other vacancy of any board member shall mean the dismissal of all other board members 
and a new election will have to be called. As a result, the adoption of the cumulative voting system would have created 
a greater degree of instability at our board of directors because the departure of any director would result in the early 
termination of the term of office of all other board members. However, on November 8, 2018, the CVM confirmed 
that the election of our board members at the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting occurred via an adequate 
slate-based voting system and, therefore, none of the effects of the cumulative voting system are applicable to the 
election.  

At the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting, the number of members of our board of directors was 
set at 10 members, new members were elected to the board of directors and the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the 
board of directors were elected. Only four of the 10 board members elected during the Ordinary and Extraordinary 
Shareholders’ Meeting were previously members of our board of directors. 

Below is a summary of the professional experience and areas of activity of our current board members.  

Pedro Pullen Parente – Mr. Parente received a bachelor’s degree in electric engineering from the University 
of Brasília in 1976. He held the position of Global CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company from 
June 2018 to April 2019, when he stepped down from the Global CEO position. He remains as Chairman of the Board 
of Directors of the Company. Mr. Parente started his professional career at Banco do Brasil in 1971 and was transferred 
to  the  Brazilian  Central  Bank  in  1973.  He  has  been  a  consultant  for  the  International  Monetary  Fund  and  public 
institutions in Brazil, including several State Departments and the National Constituent Assembly of 1988, and has 
occupied various government positions focusing on economics. As deputy minister of Finance, he was part of the 
team leading Plano Real which succeeded in reducing inflation in Brazil. Between 1999 and 2002, he served as the 
Chief  of  Staff  to  President  Fernando  Henrique  Cardoso,  Minister  of  Planning,  and  led  the  transition  team  after 
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s election in 2002. During this period, he played an important role as Chairman 
of the Energy Crisis Management Chamber when he coordinated the efforts that allowed Brazil to avoid an energy 
crisis. During president Cardoso’s government, Mr. Parente was chairman of Petrobras’ board, the state-owned oil 
company, later becoming its CEO in July 2016, after an invitation from president Temer. In the private  sector, he 
served as the Chief Operating Officer for media group RBS, as chairman and CEO of Bunge Brasil and has also served 
on the board of directors of private and state-owned companies, including CPFL, B3, Duratex, Banco do Brasil and 
others. Currently, he is chairman of the board of directors of General Atlantic in Brazil, associate of EB Capital and 
member of the board of directors at Prumo S.A., Continental Grain Corporations and Syngenta AG.  

Augusto  Marques da  Cruz  Filho  –  Vice-Chairman  of  our  Board  of  Directors  and  member  of  the  People, 
Governance,  Organization  and  Culture  Committees.  Mr.  Cruz  Filho  holds  a  PhD  in  Economic  Theory  from  the 
Institute  of  Economic  Research  (IPE)  of  the  University  of  São  Paulo,  graduated  in  Economic  Sciences  from  the 
Economic and Administration University of the University of São Paulo (FEA-USP) and attended development abroad 
at INSEAD – Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires. Mr. Cruz Filho worked at Grupo Pão de Açúcar for 11 
years holding the positions of executive officer of the company, administrative and financial officer and, for over two 
years, CFO, until leaving the position in 2005. Between 2005 and 2010, Mr. Cruz Filho was member of the Board of 
Directors and Audit Committee of B2W. From April 2016 to August 2019, Mr. Cruz Filho acted as the Chairman of 
the Board of Directors of BR Distribuidora. He is also member of the Board of Directors of JSL S.A. and General 
Shopping.  

Dan Ioschpe – Mr. Ioschpe graduated from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. He also holds a 
postgraduate degree from ESPM – SP and an MBA from the Tuck School of Dartmouth College. He started working 
at Iochpe-Maxion in 1986, where he held several positions until June, 1996, when he left to act as President of AGCO 
in Brazil. He returned to Iochpe-Maxion in January, 1998, where he held the position of President. On April 2014, he 
left such position to become president of the Board of Directors. Mr. Ioschpe acted as presidet of Fórum of Empresas 
Transnacionais Brasileiras (FET). Currently, he is member of the Board of Directors of WEG, Profarma, Cosan and 
Marcopolo, president of Institute for Industrial Development Studies (IEDI) and president of the Board of Directors 
of Sindipeças.Additionally, he acts as Coordinator of the People, Governance, Organization and Culture Committee 
and is a member of the Finance and Risk Management Committee of BRF. Mr. Ioschpe has not been subject, in the 
last five years, to any conviction (i) of a criminal nature, (ii) in a CVM administrative proceeding or (iii) of a final, 

95 

 
judicial  or  administrative  decision  that  has  suspended  or  disqualified  him  for  the  practice  of  any  professional  or 
commercial activity. 

Flavia Buarque de Almeida – Board member at BRF since 2017. Ms. Almeida has been the Chief Executive 
Officer at Peninsula Capital Participações since 2019. She has also been an associate and officer at Peninsula Capital 
Participações S.A. and, indirectly, an associate and officer at O3 Gestão de Recursos Ltda. She is a board member of 
the Carrefour S.A. (France), W2W E-Commerce de Vinhos S.A (wine.com.br), Vitamina Chile S.P.A, and Instituto 
Península.  In  2019,  Ms.  Almeida  was  elected  to  the  position  of  independent  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of 
Ultrapar Participações S.A. Ms. Almeida was a board member of Harvard University (Board of Overseers) from 2011 
to 2017, GAEC S.A.-Anima Educação from 2014 to 2017, and also an independent member of the board of directors 
of  Lojas  Renner  S.A.  from  2011  to  2016.  Between  2009  and  2013,  she  was  a  senior  partner  of  Monitor  Group 
(currently  Monitor  Deloitte).  Prior  to  that,  between  2003  and  2009,  Ms.  Almeida  was  the  general  director  of 
Participações Morro Vermelho S.A., a family holding company that controls the Camargo Corrêa Group. During the 
years 1989 to 2003, Ms. Almeida worked at McKinsey & Company, where she was a partner. Ms. Almeida holds a 
degree in Business Administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  

Francisco Petros Oliveira Lima Papathanasiadis – Board member, Coordinator of our Audit and Integrity 
Committee and member of the Finance and Risk Management Committee. Mr. Papathanasiadis is an economist and 
a lawyer specializing in corporate law, compliance, capital markets and corporate governance. He is the managing 
director of Fernandes, Figueiredo, Françoso and Petros - Sociedade de Advogados. He has worked for more than 30 
years in the Brazilian capital and financial markets, in the areas of investment analysis, corporate finance and asset 
management, in several institutions, including Unibanco, Brasilpar and Grupo Sul América. He was vice president 
and president of the Brazilian Association of Capital Markets (ABAMEC - São Paulo) between 1999 and 2001 and 
the  first  Chairman  of  the  Supervisory  Council  of  the  Association  of  Capital  Markets  Analysts  and  Investment 
Professionals (APIMEC). From July 2015 to January 2019, he was a member of the Board of Directors of Petrobras 
and its Audit Committee. 

José Luiz Osório – Board member and member of the Quality and Sustainability Committee. Mr. José Luiz 
Osório has Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering from PUC-Rio and a Master’s degree in Engineering from 
Stanford  University  in  the  United  States.  He  founded  Jardim  Botânico  Investimentos  in  2003  and  he  has  been  a 
member of the Board of Elba Equipamentos e Serviços S.A., since 2010. He held executive positions at Bank Boston 
and  Banco  Garantia,  between  1978  and  1993.  In  addition, he  was  the  managing  partner  of  investment  banking  at 
Banco  Icatu  (1993  –  1997),  country  manager  at  Lehman  Brothers  Brasil  (1997-1999),  executive  officer  of 
BNDES/BNDESPar (1999) and President of the CVM (2000-2002). He was member of the board of directors of Lojas 
Renner (2005-2007), Invest Tur (2007 – 2008), Merger and Acquisitions Committee (2013 – 2015), Banco Triângulo 
(2003 – 2017), MZ Group (2009 – 2018) and was member of the Advisory Council of the Millstein Center for Global 
Markets and Corporate Ownership, Columbia University (2013 – 2016) and Millstein Center for Global Markets and 
Corporate Ownership, Columbia University (2007 – 2012). He also was the CEO of Icatu Securities and Garantia Inc., 
both in New York, and CEO of Instituto Ibero Americano de Mercado de Capitais.  

Luiz  Fernando  Furlan  –  Board  member  and  member  of  the  Quality  and  Sustainability  Committee  and 
Strategy and Marketing Committee. Mr. Furlan was Chairman of the board of directors of Sadia S.A. from 1993 to 
2002 and from 2008 to 2009, and he also occupied several different executive positions from 1976 to 1993.  He was 
Vice-Chairman  of  the  board  of  directors  of  BRF  S.A.  from  2009  to  2011,  as  well  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
Telefónica  S.A.  (Spain)  from  2008  to  2019,  Global  Board  of  Panasonic  (Japan)  from  2008  to  2013,  Walmart 
Internacional (USA) from 2011 to 2013, AMIL Participações S.A. from 2008 to 2013, AGCO Corporation (USA) 
from 2010 to 2017 and a member of the Advisory Board of ABERTIS Infraestruturas S.A. (Spain) from 2013 to 2015. 
He served as Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade of Brazil from 2003 to 2007. From 2008 to 2016, 
he  was  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Fundação  Amazonas  Sustentável  (FAS),  and  since  then  has  been  an  honorary 
member. He was also a member of the Global Commission for the Conservation of Oceans (Global Ocean Commission 
– USA) from 2013 to 2015 and, currently, is a member of the board of directors of Telefonica Brasil S.A. (Brazil), 
Chairman of the board of LIDE and President of Deliberative Council of SP Negócios (appointed by the Mayor of the 
São Paulo City). He is also a member of the Wise Group Brazil-Japan (which seeks the strengthening of strategic 
economic partnership between Brazil and Japan). Mr. Furlan graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from 
FEI (the Industrial Engineering School) and a degree in Business Administration from the Universidade de Santana - 
São Paulo, with extension and specialization courses in Brazil and abroad. 

96 

 
Roberto Antônio Mendes – Board member and member of the Audit and Integrity Committee and Financial 
and Risk Management Commitee. Mr. Roberto Mendes is currently a member of the board of directors of Hermes 
Pardini  Institute,  Pottencial  Insurance  Company  and  Hapvida.  He  also  participates  in  the  Audit  and  Finance 
Committees  of  Localiza  Rent  a  Car.  He  was  Director  of  Finance  and  Investor  Relations  of  Pottencial  Insurance 
Company  from  1985  to 2018  and  CFO  from  July  2018  to January  2019.  He  graduated with  a  degree  in  Business 
Administration and Accounting Sciences  from the Federal University of Minas Gerais. He  attended the Executive 
STC of FDC and Kellogg School of Management in Chicago and the Strategy and Innovation in Business at Wharton 
University of Pennsylvania in 2011. He began his career in 1971 at PWC, worked at KPMG and was Controller of 
Valep (now Fosfertil) and Mendes Junior. 

Roberto Rodrigues – Board member, Coordinator of the Quality and Sustainability Committee and member 
of the People, Governance, Organization and Culture Commitee. Mr. Rodrigues graduated with a degree in agricultural 
engineering from the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture of the University of São Paulo (ESALQ-USP) in 1965. 
He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree in Rural Administration from the São Paulo State University (UNESP) 
in 1998. Mr. Rodrigues was a professor at UNESP until 2012, and member of the board of directors of Minerva S.A. 
from 1967 until 2017. He has been a member of the Advisory Council of the Organization of Cooperatives of the State 
of São Paulo (OCESP) since 1990 and Coordinator of the Agribusiness Center of the Fundação Getúlio Vargas (FGV) 
since 2006. He was President of the Organization of the Brazilian Cooperatives from 1985 to 1991, the Brazilian Rural 
Society  from  1994  to  1996,  the  Brazilian  Association  of  Agribusiness  from  1999  to  2002,  the  International 
Cooperative Alliance from 1997 to 2001 and the Agribusiness Council of the Federation of Industries of the State of 
São Paulo (COSAG FIESP) from 2006 to 2012. He also was Minister of the Agriculture of Brazil from 2003 to 2006. 
He  is  currently  a  member  of  the  Agribusiness  Council  of  the  Federation  of  Industries  of  the  State  of  São  Paulo 
(COSAG FIESP).  

Walter Malieni Júnior – Board member, member of the Audit and Integrity Committee and member of the 
Finance  and  Risk  Management  Committee.  Mr.  Malieni  Junior  holds  a  degree  in  Economics  from  Universidade 
Presbiteriana  Mackenzie,  an  MBA  in  Capital  Markets  and  Finance  from  Ibmec,  a  postgraduate  degree  in  General 
Training for Executives from USP and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Universidade Presbiteriana 
Mackenzie. Currently, he is the CEO of BrasilPrev. Mr. Malieni has been a civil servant at Banco do Brasil since 
1984, when he joined the company in the Minor Apprentice program. In addition to his most recent position as Vice 
President  in  the  Wholesale  Business  area,  he  also  served  as  Vice  President  of  Retail  Distribution  and  Personnel 
Management, Vice President of Internal Controls and Risk Management and Statutory Commercial Director of Cia. 
De Seguros Alliance of Brazil. His career also includes experience as a Director of companies such as BRF, Eletrobrás, 
Kepler Weber S.A, Neoenergia and Previ.  

Executive Officers  

Our  executive  officers  are  responsible  for  our  day-to-day  operations  and  implementation  of  the  general 

policies and guidelines approved from time to time by our board of directors.  

Our bylaws require that the board of executive officers consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Financial 
and Investor  Relations Officer and up to thirteen additional Vice Presidents, each  with the designation and duties 
assigned by our board of directors. 

Our executive officers are elected by our board of directors for two-year terms and are eligible for reelection. 
Our board of directors may remove any executive officer from office at any time with or without cause. Under the 
Brazilian Corporation Law, our executive officers must be residents of Brazil but do not need to be our shareholders. 
Our executive officers hold ordinary monthly meetings, as well as extraordinary meetings, when called by our Chief 
Executive Officer. 

The following table sets forth the name, position and the applicable date of appointment of each of our current 

executive officers. 

Name 

Position Held 

Appointment Date 

Age 

97 

 
 
 
 
 
Name 
Lorival Nogueira Luz Júnior* ...................   Global Chief Executive Officer 
Carlos Alberto Bezerra de Moura .............  
Vinícius Guimarães Barbosa .....................   Operations and Procurement Officer 
Sidney Rogério Manzaro ..........................  

Position Held 

Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer 

Alessandro Rosa Bonorino........................  

Comercial Brazil Market Vice President 
Human Resources and Shared Services Vice 
President 
Strategy, Managing and Innovation Vice 
President 

Rubens Fernandes Pereira .........................  
Neil Hamilton dos Guimarães Peixoto Jr ..   Quality and Sustainability Vice President 

Leonardo Campo Dall’Orto ......................  

Sales & Operations Planning and Supply Chain 
Vice President 

Appointment Date 

Age 

March 28, 2019 
September 16, 2019 
August 1, 2018 
May 30, 2019 

May 30, 2019 

May 30, 2019 
May 30, 2019 

May 30, 2019 

48 
45 
51 
53 

50 

47 
54 

46 

The following is a summary of the business experience in the sector, areas of expertise and principal outside 

business interests of our current executive officers. 

Lorival Nogueira Luz Júnior — Mr. Luz has more than 28 years of professional experience. In September 
2017, he was appointed as Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer (CFO) at BRF, and in April 2018, he was 
appointed as interim CEO. In June 2018, he was appointed as Global Chief Operating Officer (COO) and on March 
28, 2019, he was named Mr. Parente’s successor as the Global CEO of the Company following the end of Mr. Parente’s 
term.  From  2013  to  September  2017,  he  was  the  Vice  President  of  Finance  and  Investor  Relations  at  Votorantim 
Cimentos S.A. Between 2010 and 2011, he was Executive Officer of Treasury and Investor Relations at Votorantim 
Industrial, and in March 2011 he was elected as Finance and Investor Relations Officer of CPFL Energia S.A. and 
subsidiaries of the CPFL Energia group. From 2008 to 2009, he was CFO and Investor Relations Officer at Estácio 
Participações. Prior to that, Mr. Luz worked at Citibank for 17 years, holding different positions in the Corporate and 
Investment Bank, Treasury, Retail Bank and Financial Control divisions. He was also Executive Officer of Treasury 
at  Credicard  and  held  the  same  position  at  Banco  Citicard  until  2008.  Mr.  Luz  holds  a  degree  in  Business 
Administration at Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado - FAAP, with several specialization courses abroad. 

Carlos Alberto Bezerra de Moura -Mr. Moura worked as Executive Officer and CFO at Companhia Brasileira 
de  Metalurgia  e  Mineração  (CBMM).  Previously,  he  held  the  position  of  Corporative  Vice  President  and  Chief 
Financial Officer of Diagnósticos da América S.A. (DASA) from November 2009 to May 2011. He was Officer and 
Partner of Itaú Unibanco Financial Holding for the retail sector from December 2001 to November 2009, and he has 
previous positions at Banco Bozano, Simonsen and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. He graduated in Accounting Sciences 
from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, he holds a post-graduation in Financial Administration from 
the  Getúlio  Vargas  Foundation  of  Rio  de Janeiro  (FGV/RJ)  and  an  MBA  from  the  Dom  Cabral  Foundation,  with 
coursework at the Kellogg School of Management. Mr. Moura also acted as a member of the Board of Director at 
companies in various sectors, including information technology, financial services and loyalty programs.  

Vinícius Guimarães Barbosa — Mr. Barbosa graduated in Production Engineering from the University of 
Rio de Janeiro and holds an MBA from IBMEC. He began his career as a trainee at Brahma and served in several 
positions in procurement, operations and logistics. At Brahma, he was responsible for the integration of several M&A 
transactions in the supply chain department. Before joining BRF, Mr. Barbosa was Vice President of Operations and 
Logistics  at  Anheuser-Busch  for  the  United  States  and  Canada.  He  took  over  the  position  of  Operations  and 
Procurement Officer of BRF in 2018. 

Sidney Rogério Manzaro — Mr. Manzaro holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of 
Santana and an MBA in Advertising and Marketing from School of Higher Education in Advertising and Marketing 
(ESPM),  with  a  38-year  experience  in  business  management  in  the  food  sector,  with  extensive  experience  in  the 
commercial and restructuring areas. Mr. Manzaro began his career as a trainee at AmBev in 1991, where he worked 
for  14  years,  with  a  distinguished  career  in  the  commercial  area,  leading  restructurings,  the  go-to-market  (GTM) 
strategy and various projects in multiple sales channels. At BRF, his career started in 2005 in the AS channel, where 
he headed the business of the Rezende/Wilson brand, the TAC/CADE project. He also led the GTM strategy of dairy 
products and route channel. In 2013, he led the GTM project and he took over the retail commercial executive board, 
directly managing the teams for Sadia, Perdigão, Lácteos (dairy products) and Food Service. In 2015, he was appointed 

98 

 
 
to the São Paulo regional executive board, in charge of Brazil’s highest volume for BRF. Between 2015 and 2018, 
Mr. Manzaro served as Grano’s CEO and in 2018, he returned to BRF as Chief Commercial Officer for Brazil. 

Alessandro Rosa Bonorino – Mr. Bonorino graduated in Economics from the Federal University of Rio de 
Janeiro – UFRJ, and he holds an Executive MBA from the Dom Cabral Foundation. Mr. Bonorino has more than 30 
years of professional experience, having spent the past 19 years in executive positions. He started his career as an 
auditor at KPMG. In the human resources field, he began his career at IBM in 1992, where he led transformative 
projects across multiple areas of people management on a national, regional and global scale. Recognized for several 
years  as  one  of  the  top  human  resources  professionals  in  Brazil  by  industry  publications,  Mr.  Bonorino  has  had 
extensive experience in  multiple corporate  cultures, and he has  worked in various countries as a human resources 
specialist. In particular, he  was the global Vice President of Recruitment at IBM Corporation in China, he led the 
human resources department for South America in Argentina, and he was the head of human resources for Brazil and, 
subsequently, of all of Latin America. In 2017, he joined BRF as Vice President of Human Resources and, in 2018, 
he also became the head of Shared Services. 

Rubens  Fernandes  Pereira  —  Mr.  Pereira  holds  a  degree  in  Electronic  Engineering  from  Aeronautics 
Institute of Technology (ITA), with an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has over 20 years 
of professional experience following the start of his career in strategy and management consulting in 1995 at Booz-
Allen & Hamilton in Brazil. In 1999, he joined the team of Boston Consulting Group, where he served until 2004, 
working in several projects in Brazil, the United States and Canada. From 2004, he served at Cargill where  he held 
several  executive  positions.  In  2012,  Mr.  Pereira  became  Managing  Director  of  Vegetable  Oil  and  Consumption 
Products unit in Brazil and by mid-2016, he cumulated the position of Global Strategy and Innovation Officer of the 
referred unit. Since 2018, at BRF, he has been acting as VP of Strategy, Management, and Innovation. 

Neil Hamilton dos Guimarães Peixoto Junior — Mr. Peixoto Junior holds a degree in Chemical Engineering, 
with a master’s degree in Biochemical Processes Engineering and an MBA, all from the Federal University of Rio de 
Janeiro. Mr. Neil Peixoto has had a 27-year career with national and international experience in the food industry. 
With a solid background in R&D, Quality, Manufacturing, and Business, he began his career at Fleischmann & Royal 
in 1997. From 1997 to 2000, he held the position of Manager of R&D and Quality in Latin America for the Division 
of  Industrial  Products  at  Nabisco,  which  was  subsequently  acquired  by  Kraft  Foods.  At  Kraft  Foods,  he  acted  as 
Associated Officer of Scientific, Regulatory and Nutrition Issues in  Latin  America  for almost  seven  years and, in 
2007, he was appointed to the position as Manager of R&D for beverages and foods covering Latin America, based 
in  the  United  States,  and  later  in  Mexico.  After  the  spin-off  of  Kraft  Foods  into  two  new  companies  (Mondelez 
International and Kraft Foods), Mr. Neil continued his career at Mondelez International, where, in 2012, he held the 
position of Executive Officer of R&D of Food in Europe and, subsequently, Executive Global Officer of R&D of the 
Food Category based in Switzerland. Since 2018, Mr. Neil has been serving as Vice President of Quality, Research, 
Development and Sustainability at BRF. 

Leonardo  Campo  Dall’Orto  –  Mr.  Dallorto  holds  a  degree  in  Mechanical  Engineering  from  the  Federal 
University  of  Espírito  Santo,  with  a  master’s  degree  and  a  doctorate  in  industrial  engineering  from  the  Pontifical 
Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-RJ) and an MBA from the Dom Cabral Foundation. Mr. Dallorto has 18 
years of experience, the last 10 years of which holding executive positions. He began his career at Vale in 2002 in the 
Railway and Port Logistics area, and he took part in the company’s international expansion, working in projects in 
Canada, India and Africa. Between 2007 and 2011, he served with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company, focused 
on  Supply  Chain,  Procurement,  Strategy  and  M&A  of  companies  across  different  sectors  in  Latin  America.  Mr. 
Dallorto joined BRF in 2011, serving as Officer, heading the Supplies and Integrated Planning area. As Officer of the 
Commercial VP Brazil, he led the Logistics and South Region units, developing customer relationship programs, GTM 
strategies  and  the  review  of  distributors’  role  in  the  region.  As  the  Industrial  Operations  Officer,  he  took  part  in 
defining the company’s manufacturing footprint and led the productivity project (Guide). Since 2018, Mr. Leonardo 
has been BRF’s Vice President of Integrated Planning & Supply Chain. 

B. 

Compensation 

In 2019, the total salary paid by us to all our executive officers and the total compensation paid by us to all 
members of our board of directors and fiscal council for services in all capacities was R$59.6 million. In addition, the 
amount paid to our executive officers in 2019 as part of our profit sharing plan was R$18.7 million. The aggregate 

99 

 
total compensation paid to members of the board of directors, fiscal council and audit  and integrity committee and 
executive officers in 2019 (including salaries, profit sharing payments, as described below, and benefits) was R$60.9 
million. 

The amount of variable compensation paid to each executive officer in any year pursuant to our profit sharing 
plan is primarily related to financial and non-financial results such as EBIT, leverage, net income and quality. It is 
also based on an assessment of individual performance of each officer conducted by the CEO and members of Board 
of Directors. This methodology follows best market practices and provides reasonable  maximum amounts keeping 
compensation / retention competitiveness at same time.  

Our executive officers are also eligible to participate in our Stock Option Plan and Restricted Stock Plan. As 
of December 31, 2019, a total of 1,363,159 stock options, RSUs and PSUs were held by our executive officers, with 
a cost to our company of R$12.0 million. In 2019, a total of 598,949 stock options and shares of restricted stock were 
granted to our executive officers. For additional information regarding our Stock Option Plan and Restricted Stock 
Plan, see “—E. Share Ownership—Stock Option Plan and Restricted Stock Plan.” 

The table below shows information about the stock options and RSUs granted to executive officers of BRF 

in previous years that are still outstanding as of December 31, 2019: 

Grant 

# Options / 
Restricted 
Stock Units 

Grant Price(1) 

Strike Price as 
of December 
31, 2019(2) 

2016  ...........................................   34,180 
2018 (Restricted Stock Units) ....   276,000 
2018 (Restricted Stock Units) ....   135,000 
2018 (Restricted Stock Units) ....   319,030 
2019 (Restricted Stock Units)  
598,949 
Total ...........................................   1,363,159 

R$46.68 
R$22.29 
R$20.00 
R$21,44 
R$30,61 

R$48.87 
N/A 
N/A 
N/A  
N/A 

Expiration Date 

May 30, 2022 
June 30, 2020 
June 30, 2020 
October 1, 2021 
June 1, 2022 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

The grant price refers to the average stock price at B3 of the last 20 trading days before the grant date. 

Strike price updated with IPCA from January 2019 through November 2019. 

The grant price refers to the stock price at B3 on the day of the grant date. 

The executive officers receive certain additional benefits generally provided to employees and their families, 
such as  medical  assistance, educational expenses, development and supplementary  social security benefits, among 
others. They also participate in our private pension plan. At age 61, we cease making contributions to pension plans 
for  executive  officers  and  other  employees.  In  2019,  the  amount  paid  as  benefits  and  private  pension  plan  to  the 
executive officers totaled R$1.1 million.   

Our executive officers and the members of our board of directors, audit and integrity committee and fiscal 
council are not parties to employment agreements or other contracts providing for benefits upon the termination of 
employment. However, non-compete agreements may be entered into with executive officers departing the Company. 
In 2019, we paid severance benefits to former executive officers in the amount of R$16.3 million. 

C. 

Board Practices  

For information about the date of expiration of the current term of office and the period during which each 
member of the Board of Directors and executive officer has served in such office, see “—A. Directors and Senior 
Management.”  For  information  about  contracts  for  benefits  upon  termination  of  employment,  see  “—B. 
Compensation.” 

100 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal Council  

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, the fiscal council is a corporate body independent of management and 
the company’s external auditors, which has authority, among other matters, to supervise certain acts of management, 
to issue a report on the financial statements prepared by management and to give an opinion on management proposals 
to be submitted to general shareholders’ meetings regarding changes in the capital stock, issuance of debentures or 
warrants,  investment  plans  or  capital  budgets,  dividend  distribution,  transformation,  merger,  consolidation  or 
demerger. The fiscal council is not the equivalent of, or wholly comparable to, a U.S. audit committee. 

We have a permanent fiscal council composed of three members and their alternates who are elected at the 
ordinary general shareholders’ meeting, with terms lasting until the succeeding ordinary general shareholders’ meeting 
with reelection being permitted. 

The following table sets forth information with respect to the current members of our fiscal council and their 

respective alternates. 

Position Held 

Name 
Attilio Guaspari(1) ..............................   President of the Fiscal Council  
Susana Hanna Stiphan Jabra(1) ..........   Alternate  
Maria Paula Soares Aranha (1) ...........   Member of the Fiscal Council 
Mônica Hojaij Carvalho Molina1) .....   Alternate 
André Vicentini(1) ..............................   Member of the Fiscal Council 
Valdecyr Maciel Gomes(1) .................   Alternate 

Current Position 
Held Since 

April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 
April 29, 2019 
April 29, 2019 
April 26, 2018 
April 26, 2018 

Age 
73 
62 
63 
50 
38 
64 

(1) 

Independent Member (as defined under the Brazilian Novo Mercado rules). 

Below  is  a  summary  of  the  professional  experience  and  areas  of  activity  of  our  current  fiscal  council 

members:  

Attilio Guaspari —President of the Fiscal Council. Mr. Guaspari holds a degree in Civil Engineering from 
the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo (POLI-USP) and a Master’s degree in Business Sciences. He 
was  a  member  of  the  Audit  Committee  of  the  National  Development  Bank  –  BNDES and  President  of  the  Fiscal 
Council and the Audit Committee of both Perdigão and BRF, with the designation of audit committee financial expert. 
He has extensive experience in the position of Internal Audit Committee Head, Financial Director and member of 
boards of directors. Mr. Guaspari qualifies as an independent member of the Fiscal Council under the Novo Mercado 
rules.  

Maria Paula Soares Aranha – Mrs. Aranha has a bachelor’s degree in administration by FGV-EAESP, a 
postgraduate  degree  in  Administration  with  specialization  in  Finances  by  FGV-EAESP,  a  postgraduate  degree  in 
Accounting Sciences by FGV-RJ, an MBA Controller by Universidade de São Paulo – USP and a Master’s degree in 
Controllership and Accountability by FEA/USP. She was (i) Member of the Board of Directors  of Fibria Celulose 
S.A. (2013-2018), acting as coordinator of CAE–Committee of Statutory Audit, since its implementation, (ii) Member 
of the Board of Directors of Paranapanema S.A. (2014-2016), also as coordinator of the Audit Committee, in this case 
non-statutory, (iii) Tax Advisor for 2 years in Fibria Celulose S.A. (2011-2013) and another 2 years in Invepar S.A. 
(2016-2018). Currently, she acts in the Audit and Risks Committee of Grupo Hapvida as specialist in management of 
risks and studies of financial statements. She is a certified Board Member by the ICSS-A, with participation in the 
commission of Management of Risks and Controls of IBGC and participation in the Board Members of EY. She is a 
specialist  adviser  in  controllership,  internal  controls  and  systems  of  corporate  management.  Mrs.  Aranha  was  an 
employee of Banco do Brasil from 1981 to 2007, having held the position of Executive Manager of the Controllership 
Board and Distribution Board. She has experience with 28 financial institutions, both in the conception of models and 
in the implementation and development of tools and management systems. She also has experience with planning and 
budget, costs, management accounting, risks management, management in the area of distribution of bank services, 
and management of agency network, of service terminals, of the process and of service to clients. 

101 

 
 
André  Vicentini  —  Mr.  André  Vicentini  graduated  in  Mechanical  Production  Engineering  by  Escola 
Politécnica of the University of São Paulo – USP with specialization in ALM (Asset Liability Management) and in 
Risk Management. Working as Corporate Superintendent of Treasury and Financial Services, he has more than 20 
years’ experience in the financial management of large corporations, such as BM&FBOVESPA S.A., Telefonica S.A., 
Perdigão S.A. and Banco Votorantim.  

Audit and Integrity Committee 

Our shareholders approved the establishment of a statutory audit committee at our ordinary and extraordinary 
general shareholders’ meeting held on April 3, 2014. On November 5, 2018, shareholders at our extraordinary general 
shareholders’ meeting voted to rename the committee the Audit  and Integrity Committee. The Audit and Integrity 
Committee is composed of three to five members, a majority of whom must be independent members, one of whom 
cannot be a member of the board of directors and none of whom may be an executive officer (in accordance with the 
independence standards of the CVM, in particular CVM Instruction No. 509/11). 

The members of the Audit and Integrity Committee must be appointed by the board of directors for terms of 
two years, but for a total period not to exceed ten years. They are subject to removal from their positions by the board 
of directors at any time. The members of the Audit and Integrity Committee who are also members of the board of 
directors shall terminate concomitantly with his or her termination as a board member.  

Our Audit and Integrity Committee complies with CVM Instruction No. 509/11 of November 16, 2011, and 
accordingly,  allows  us  to  rely  on  the  exemption  from  the  audit  committee  requirements  of  the  SEC  contained  in 
paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). The 
Audit and Integrity committee is not the equivalent of, or wholly comparable to, a U.S. audit committee.  

The following table sets forth information with respect to the current members of our Audit  and Integrity 

Committee.  

Name 
Francisco Petros Oliveira Lima 
Papathanasiadis(2) ...........................................   Coordinator 
Roberto Antônio Mendes(2) ............................   Member 

Position Held 

Fernando Maida Dall’Acqua(1)(2) ....................  
Walter Malieni Júnior ....................................   Member 
Thomas Tosta de Sa(2)(3) .................................   External Member 

External Member and Financial 
Expert 

Current Position 
Held Since 

Age 

June 14, 2018 
June 14, 2018 

June 14, 2018 
June 14, 2018 
January 31, 2019 

55 
67 

70 
50 
80 

(1) 

(2) 

Audit Committee Financial Expert (as defined under the rules of the SEC) 

Independent Member (as defined under the Brazilian Novo Mercado rules).  

(3)   On December 31, 2018 Mr. Sergio Ricardo Silva Rosa was an external member and was replaced by Mr. Thomas Tosta de Sa on January 31, 2019. 

Below is a summary of the professional experience and areas of activity of our current members of the Audit 

and Integrity Committee: 

Please see “—A. Directors and Senior Management” for the biographical information of Mr. Papathanasiadis, 

Mr. Roberto Antônio Mendes and Mr. Malieni Júnior. 

Fernando  Maida  Dall’Acqua –  External  Member  of  the  Audit  and  Integrity  Committee  and  its  Financial 
Expert. Mr. Dall’Acqua holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a 
PhD in Economic Development from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA, and received the post-doctoral title 
of “Livre Docente” in Business Administration from the Getulio Vargas Foundation. He is a Professor of Economics 
at the School of Administration of São Paulo (Getulio Vargas Foundation) and provides consulting services to major 
companies  on  mergers  and  acquisitions,  economic  and  financial  valuation  and  macroeconomic  and  tax  advisory 
services. He was the Chairman of the Fiscal Council of Grupo Pão de Açúcar and Via Varejo. He is currently a board 

102 

 
 
member and chairman of the Audit Committee of ISA-CTEEP and the chairman of the Audit Committee of O Estado 
de São Paulo newspaper. He was the Finance Secretary of the state of São Paulo, in addition to serving as a member 
of the São Paulo State Privatization Council. He was director of the Project Center for Latin America and the Caribbean 
of the IICA/OEA.  He was also a member of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee of Sabesp and a member 
of the Boards of CESP, PRODESP, DERSA, Banco Nossa Caixa and Banespa, as well as served on the Advisory 
Board of Grupo Pão de Açúcar. He was president of the People Bank of the São Paulo Government. He was also a 
Fellow at Michigan State University, U.S.A. and adviser of the World Bank for fiscal policy and credit market. 

Thomas Tosta de Sa – External Member of the Audit and Integrity Committee. Mr. Tosta is an Engineering 
graduate from PUC-RJ and received an MBA from New York University. He is CEO of Ibmec (Brazilian Institute of 
Capital Markets). He also acts as coordinator of the Executive Committee of the Capital Markets Master Plan, member 
of the Board of Abrasca (Brazilian Association of Public Companies) and member of the Advisory Board of ABVCAP 
(Brazilian Association of Private Equity & Venture Capital). He is former president of the CVM (Securities Exchange 
Commission in Brazil) and Cosra (Securities Regulators Board of the Americas) - 1995.  

For more information about the Audit and Integrity Committee, see “Item 10. Additional Information –– B. 

Memorandum and Articles of Association––Audit and Integrity Committee.” 

Advisory Committees for our Board of Directors  

Under  our  bylaws,  our  board  of  directors  may,  for  advisory  purposes,  set  up  technical  or  consultative 

committees, of a non-deliberative nature, to undertake special tasks or general activities of interest to us. 

In addition to the Audit and Integrity Committee, we have other three advisory committees for our board of 
directors:  (i)  Finance  and  Risk  Management  Committee,  (ii)  People,  Governance,  Organization  and  Culture 
Committee and (iii) Quality and Sustainability Committee. They are composed of members of our board of directors, 
as well as other professionals. The Strategy and Marketing Committee was extinguished following the meeting of our 
Board of Directors held on December 19, 2019. 

The  People,  Governance,  Organization  and  Culture  Committee  is  responsible  for  advising  the  board  of 
directors in setting compensation policies and the compensation of executives and employees, provides support to the 
executive officers in the assessment, selection and development of top leadership, advises the board of directors in the 
formulation and practice of BRF culture to monitor and encourage proper behavior of leaders, and proposes actions 
to align the expectations of shareholders and executives. This committee is not the equivalent of, or wholly comparable 
to, a U.S. compensation committee.  

The Finance and Risk Management Committee is responsible for evaluating recommendations to the board 
of  directors  concerning  financial  and  risk  policies  of  the  Company;  analysis  of  financial  information,  issuing 
recommendations  in  accordance  with  the  annual  plan  of  objectives  and  goals,  and  taking  into  consideration  the 
Company’s more relevant risks; follow-up regarding financial statements, financial operations and M&A transactions, 
report to the board of directors the limits of exposure to risks of the Company, request adjustments, when applicable. 

The Quality and Sustainability Committee is responsible for evaluating the social, environmental, economic 
and  quality  aspects  pertaining  to  the  business  model  of  the  Company,  assisting  in  the  development  of  products, 
guidelines, certifications, and policies; follow-up on compliance matters regarding ISO standards, specific standards 
on food safety, sustainability, and customers of the Company; and, monitor the Quality Assurance System. 

D. 

Employees  

The  table  below  sets  forth  the  number  of  our  employees  by  primary  category  of  activity  as  of  the  dates 

indicated:  

Administration  ..........................................................................  

18,904 

21,839 

21,189 

As of December 31, 
2018 

2017 

2019 

103 

 
 
 
Production  ................................................................................  
Total  .........................................................................................  

As of December 31, 
2018 

2019 

73,938 
92,842 

83,782 
105,621 

2017 

87,045 
108,234 

All of our employees listed above are located in Brazil, except for approximately 6,717 employees in 2019 
(20,558 in 2018 and 16,022 in 2017) who are located abroad, mainly in our offices and processing plants in the Middle 
East. 

We do not employ a material number of temporary employees. However, during the Christmas holiday season 

in Brazil we contract a company that furnishes sales representatives to assist us with holiday sales. 

All of our employees in Brazil are represented by labor unions and each location has a different union. The 
terms  of  our  collective  bargaining  agreements  vary  in  accordance  with  the  union.  In  each  case,  however,  salary 
negotiations are conducted annually between workers’ unions and us. The agreement reached with the local or regional 
union  that  negotiates  the  applicable  collective  bargaining  agreement  for  a  particular  facility  is  binding  on  all 
employees, whether or not they are members of the union. In general, collective bargaining agreements are applicable 
to all employees of that union or region, respecting the different professional categories. In other countries, where 
applicable, a union represents our employees and all of them are covered by collective bargaining agreement. We 
believe that our relations with our employees and their labor unions are satisfactory. 

We  offer  to  our  employees  all  legally  required  benefits  according  to  each  country’s  laws  and  in  some 
locations complementary benefits are also offered. We have competitive benefit plans for each office around the world. 
In Brazil, the main benefits are: (1) the private pension plan, administered by BRF Previdência (formerly BFPP  – 
Brasil Foods Sociedade de Previdência Privada), (2) a credit cooperative that offers to the associated employee credit 
lines  with  attractive  interest  rates,  (3)  supplementary  health  plan  that  allows  the  employee  to  use  the  network 
agreements with costs subsidized by us, (4) meals, offered in our own restaurants or restaurant cards for subsidies of 
up to 80% by us, (5) basic consumer products granted to employees with salary of up to five times the minimum wage 
and 80% subsidized by us and (6) a collective insurance life policy. 

We have implemented productivity incentive programs, such as the Profits and Results Sharing  Program, 
which is available to all employees, as well as variable compensation systems linked to targets for operating and sales 
personnel. The purpose of those programs is to institute and regulate employee participation in our profits and results, 
thus encouraging improved performance, the recognition of team and individual effort and accomplishment of our 
targets. 

E. 

Share Ownership  

Share  Ownership  of  Directors,  Executive  Officers  and  Members  of  the  Fiscal  Council  and  the  Audit  and 
Integrity Committee 

As of December 31, 2019, members of our board of directors, our executive officers and members of our 
Fiscal Council (and alternates) and  Audit and Integrity Committee  owned the common shares of our company set 
forth on the table below. The share numbers set forth below show the shares held by such persons in their individual 
capacity and exclude any shares held by shareholders who have nominated certain of our directors.  

Directors, Executive Officers and Members of the  
Fiscal Council (and Alternates) and the Audit and Integrity Committee 

Common Shares 

% 

Members of the Board of Directors 

Pedro Pullen Parente ..............................................................................................  

Augusto Marques da Cruz Filho.............................................................................  

303,175 
— 

0.04 
— 

104 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors, Executive Officers and Members of the  
Fiscal Council (and Alternates) and the Audit and Integrity Committee 

Common Shares 

% 

Dan Ioschpe ............................................................................................................  

Flavia Buarque de Almeida ....................................................................................  

Francisco Petros O. L. Papathanasiadis ..................................................................  
José Luiz Osório .....................................................................................................  

— 
— 
— 
— 

Luiz Fernando Furlan .............................................................................................  

6,171,243 

Roberto Antônio Mendes .......................................................................................  

Roberto Rodrigues ..................................................................................................  

Walter Malieni Jr. ...................................................................................................  

Subtotal  .................................................................................................................  
Executive Officers(1) 
Lorival Nogueira Luz Júnior  .................................................................................  

Carlos Alberto Bezerra de Moura........................................................................... 

Sidney Rogério Manzaro........................................................................................ 

Neil Hamilton dos Guimarães Peixoto Junior........................................................ 

Rubens Fernandes Pereira...................................................................................... 

Alessandro Rosa Bonorino .....................................................................................  

Leonardo Campo Dallorto ......................................................................................  

Subtotal  .................................................................................................................  
Fiscal Council (and alternates) 
Attilio Guaspari  .....................................................................................................  

Susana Hanna Stiphan Jabra ...................................................................................  
Maria Paula Soares Aranha………………………………………………………. 
Mônica Hojaij Carvalho Molina…………………………………………………. 
André Vicentini ......................................................................................................  

Valdecyr Maciel Gomes .........................................................................................  

Subtotal  .................................................................................................................  
Audit and Integrity Committee (1)  
Thomás Tosta de Sá................................................................................................ 

Fernando Maida Dall’Acqua.................................................................................. 

Subtotal  .................................................................................................................  

— 
2 
— 

6,474,420 

80,115 

— 
66,924 

9,018 

11,272 

52,777 
— 
236,338 

— 
— 
— 
— 
600 
— 
600 

— 

— 

- 

— 
— 
— 
— 
0.76 
— 
0.00 
— 
0.79 

0.01 

— 
0.01 

0.00 

0.00 

0.01 
— 
0.03 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
0.00 
— 
0.00 

— 

— 

- 

(1)  

The other members of the audit and integrity committee, Francisco Petros O. L. Papathanasiadis, Roberto Antônio Mendes and Walter Malieni Júnior, are members of the Board of 

Directors whose share ownership is already included above. 

For  information  about  the  stock  options  held  by  the  persons  listed  above,  including  information  about 

exercise prices, expiration dates and exercises, see “—B. Compensation.”  

Stock Option Plan and Restricted Stock Plan  

We  have  a  long-term  incentive  program  for  the  executive  officers  and  other  employees  of  BRF  and  its 
subsidiaries for the award of stock options. This plan is part of the eligible executives’ compensation and is intended 

105 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
to attract, retain and motivate our executives in order to generate value for our companies and align their interests with 
the interests of our shareholders.  

The long-term incentive program is available for our executive officers, directors and executive managers, 
such as plant managers. It is a significant element of our compensation strategy, and we rely more on this long term 
compensation component than our direct competitors or the overall food industry in Brazil. For senior leadership roles, 
over  1/3  of  their  direct  compensation  is  based  on  the  long-term  incentive  program,  which  is  the  element  with  the 
heavier weight in their compensation mix. The long-term incentive program is intended to attract, retain and motivate 
our  executives  to  generate  long  term  value  for  our  companies  and  align  their  interests  with  the  interests  of  our 
shareholders. 

The current stock option plan (“Stock Option Plan”) was approved at the shareholder meeting held on April 

8, 2015.  

The Stock Option Plan is managed by our board of directors. Exercise prices of stock options granted under 
the Stock Option Plan are determined by our board of directors on the grant date based on the average closing price 
of our shares  for the 20 trading days preceding the grant date.  Exercise prices are adjusted monthly based on the 
IPCA. 

On April 26, 2017, a restricted stock units program (“Restricted Stock Plan”) was approved at our shareholder 
meeting eventually to replace the Stock Option Plan. This change in the long-term incentive program was proposed 
to align it with best market practices with the objective to retain and align the interests of top management and our 
shareholders.  Since  then, no  more  stock options  units  were granted by the company  under its long-term incentive 
program.  

There  are  currently  two  programs  under  our  Restricted  Stock  Plan,  the  Restricted  Share  Units  program 
(“RSU”) mentioned above and the Performance Share Units program (“PSU”). The Restricted Stock Plan enables the 
company to make a partial grant in RSUs and a partial grant in PSUs. Our board of directors approved a grant under 
the Restricted Stock Plan in May 2019. In June 2019, the RSU grant represented 80% and the PSU grant represented 
20%. The  amount  to  be  granted  to  a  particular  executive  is  subject  to  programs  rules,  based  on  market  practices, 
company and individual performance evaluation, and it is submitted to our Board of Directors for approval. Vesting 
conditions are time-based and performance based for RSUs and for PSUs, respectively, and our Board of Directors 
sets forth the collective goals for the performance indicators, which is currently ROIC (Return on Invested Capital). 

With respect to the Stock Option Plan, as of December 31, 2019, a total of 20,941,681 options had been 
granted,  of  which  2,923,302  were  outstanding  and  held  by  approximately  102  people.    During  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2019, no options were exercised. As of December 31, 2019, the weighted average strike price of our 
outstanding  options  was  R$55.59  per  share,  and  the  weighted  average  of  the  remaining  contractual  terms  was  28 
months. 

With respect to the Restricted Stock Plan, the RSU and PSU programs are managed by our board of directors. 
As administrator of the Restricted Stock Plan, our board of directors approves the program rules, eligibility, payment 
levels, severance rules of the Restricted Stock Plan, to guarantee the program competitiveness and the alignment of 
interests with shareholders. The total number of shares of restricted stock that may be granted under the RSU and PSU 
programs shall not exceed 0.5% of the common stock, with no par value, representing the total capital stock of the 
Company.  As of December 31, 2019, a total  of  5,238,043 RSU/PSUs had been granted, of  which  3,377,560  were 
outstanding and held by approximately 230 people.  

  MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS  

A. 

Major Shareholders  

The  capital  stock  of  BRF  is  comprised  of  common  shares.  As  of  March  17,  2020,  we  had  outstanding 
811,759,800  common  shares,  or  99.91%  of  our  total  common  shares  (excluding  713,446  common  shares  held  in 
treasury), 113,019,018, or 13.91%, of which correspond to ADRs. On March 17, 2020, we had approximately 53,309 

106 

 
shareholders,  including  approximately  252  registered  U.S.  resident  holders  of  our  common  shares  (including  The 
Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary). 

Major Shareholders  

The following table sets forth certain information as of March 17, 2020 (except to the extent disclosed below), 
with respect to (1) any person known to us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our common shares (including 
treasury shares) and (2) certain other shareholders who disclose their share ownership in Brazil.  

Major Shareholders 
Fundação Petrobras de Seguridade Social – PETROS(1) .............................................  
Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil – PREVI(1).....................  

These pension funds are controlled by participating employees of the respective companies. 

(1) 

Quantity 

% 
92,716,266  11.4 
76,477,152  9.41 

Our major shareholders do not have differing voting rights.   

Changes in Ownership 

There  has  been  no  significant  change  in  the  percentage  ownership  held  by  any  major  shareholder  since 

January 1, 2017, except as described below.  

•  On  February  2,  2017,  GIC  Private  Limited  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding  position  had 
reached  40,467,128  common  shares,  representing  approximately  4.98%  of  our  share  capital  as  of 
February 2, 2017. 

•  On May 5, 2017, Tarpon informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 69,485,935 

common shares, representing approximately 8.55% of our share capital as of May 5, 2017. 

•  On May 9, 2017, GIC Private Limited informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 
51,913,800 common shares and/or other securities and derivatives referred in such shares, representing 
approximately 6.39% of our share capital as of May 4, 2017. 

•  On  June  2,  2017,  BlackRock,  Inc.  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding  position  had  reached 
30,643,993 common shares and 6,912,165 ADRs, representing approximately 4.62% of our share capital 
as of May 31, 2017. 

•  On August 18, 2017, Standard Life Aberdeen plc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position 
had reached 41,421,259 common shares and/or other securities and derivatives referred in such shares, 
representing approximately 5.09% of our share capital as of August 14, 2017. 

•  On  September  21,  2017,  Standard  Life  Aberdeen  plc.  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding 
position had reached 40,164,585 common shares and/or other securities and derivatives referred in such 
shares, representing approximately 4.94% of our share capital as of September 18, 2017. 

•  On  September  25,  2017,  Standard  Life  Aberdeen  plc.  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding 
position had reached 41,205,885 common shares and/or other securities and derivatives referred in such 
shares, representing approximately 5.07% of our share capital as of September 20, 2017. 

•  On October 17, 2017, Standard Life Aberdeen plc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position 
had reached 40,586,026 common shares and/or other securities and derivatives referred in such shares, 
representing approximately 4.99% of our share capital as of October 12, 2017. 

107 

 
 
•  On October 20, 2017, Standard Life Aberdeen plc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position 
had reached 40,748,226 common shares and/or other securities and derivatives referred in such shares, 
representing approximately 5.02% of our share capital as of October 20, 2017. 

•  On December 6, 2017, GIC Private Limited informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had 
reached  40,618,045  common  shares  and/or  other  securities  and  derivatives  referred  in  such  shares, 
representing approximately 4.99% of our share capital as of December 4, 2017. 

•  On  June  1,  2018,  BlackRock,  Inc.  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding  position  had  reached 
37,594,345 common shares and 3,425,202 ADRs, representing approximately 5.04% of our share capital 
as of May 30, 2018. 

•  On June 15, 2018, BlackRock, Inc. informed us that its aggregate  shareholding position had reached 
37,508,775 common shares and 3,069,935 ADRs, representing approximately 4.99% of our share capital 
as of June 14, 2018. 

•  On  July  5,  2018,  BlackRock,  Inc.  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding  position  had  reached 
37,309,516 common shares and 3,413,575 ADRs, representing approximately 5.01% of our share capital 
as of July 3, 2018. 

•  On  July  13,  2018, BlackRock,  Inc.  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding  position  had  reached 
36,965,486 common shares and 3,535,739 ADRs, representing approximately 4.98% of our share capital 
as of July 12, 2018. 

•  On  July  24,  2018, BlackRock,  Inc.  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding  position  had  reached 
37,112,724 common shares and 3,550,231 ADRs, representing approximately 5.00% of our share capital 
as of July 23, 2018. 

•  On August 8, 2018, BlackRock, Inc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 
37,147,915 common shares and 3,436,208 ADRs, representing approximately 4.99% of our share capital 
as of August 7, 2018. 

•  On August 9, 2018, BlackRock, Inc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 
37,211,315 common shares and 3,436,208 ADRs, representing approximately 5.00% of our share capital 
as of August 8, 2018. 

•  On August 10, 2018, BlackRock, Inc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 
37,128,021 common shares and 3,396,733 ADRs, representing approximately 4.98% of our share capital 
as of August 9, 2018. 

•  On  September  28,  2018,  Tarpon  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding  position  had  reached 
40,229,235 common shares, representing approximately 4.95% of our share capital as of September 26, 
2018. 

•  On October 26, 2018, BlackRock, Inc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 
36,795,404 common shares and 3,881,447 ADRs, representing approximately 5.00% of our share capital 
as of October 25, 2018. 

•  On October 30, 2018, BlackRock, Inc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 
36,584,167 common shares and 3,881,447 ADRs, representing approximately 4.98% of our share capital 
as of October 26, 2018. 

108 

 
•  On October 31, 2018, BlackRock, Inc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 
36,857,067 common shares and 3,823,935 ADRs, representing approximately 5.00% of our share capital 
as of October 30, 2018. 

•  On December 6, 2018, Standard Life Aberdeen plc. informed us that its aggregate shareholding position 
had reached 40,485,544 common shares and/or other securities and derivatives referred in such shares, 
representing approximately 4.98% of our share capital as of December 5, 2018. 

•  On  February  12,  2019,  Standard  Life  Aberdeen  plc.  filed  a  Schedule  13G/A  reporting  beneficial 
ownership of 39,027,817 common shares and/or ADRs, representing approximately 4.8% of our share 
capital. 

•  On May 31, 2019, GIC Private Limited informed us that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 
40,776,747 common shares and/or other securities and derivatives referred in such shares, representing 
approximately 5.02% of our share capital as of May 31, 2019. 

•  On  August  14,  2019,  GIC  Private  Limited  informed  us  that  its  aggregate  shareholding  position  had 
reached  40,408,499  common  shares  and/or  other  securities  and  derivatives  referred  in  such  shares, 
representing approximately 4.97% of our share capital as of August 12, 2019. 

•  On August 29, 2019, Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil – PREVI informed us 
that its aggregate shareholding position had reached 81,121,752 common shares and/or other securities 
and  derivatives  referred  in  such  shares,  representing  approximately  9.4%  of  our  share  capital  as  of 
August 28, 2019.  

B. 

Related Party Transactions  

From time to time we have entered into transactions with related parties, including with entities involving 

certain members of our board of directors or senior management.   

We have a Related Party Transactions Policy which sets forth rules and principles to ensure transparency and 
arm's-length terms in our transactions with related parties and other situations of potential conflicts of interest. The 
definition of related party is based on applicable accounting standards and on this internal policy, which may be more 
restrictive than applicable laws and regulations under certain circumstances. This policy establishes the corporate body 
responsible for approving related party transactions.  Our Audit and Integrity Committee is also responsible for, among 
other things, reviewing whether the procedures set forth in the Related Party Transactions Policy are followed. For 
further details regarding our related party transactions, see Note 31 to our consolidated financial statements included 
elsewhere in this annual report. 

None of the members of our board of directors, our executive officers or close members of their families has 
had any direct interest in any transaction we effected that is or was unusual in its nature or conditions, or material to 
our business during the year, and which remains outstanding or unperformed. In addition, we have not entered into 
any transaction with related parties which is or was unusual in its nature or conditions during the current or the three 
immediately  preceding  financial  years,  nor  is  any  such  transaction  proposed,  that  is  or  would  be  material  to  our 
business. Our Related Party Transactions Policy prohibits us from extending loans or guarantees to the members of 
our board of directors, our executive officers, our key management personnel or any close member of their families. 

Arrangements with BRF Previdência 

We  leased  properties  owned  by  BRF  Previdência.  The  total  amount  of  rental  payments  paid  to  BRF 
Previdência  was  R$18,200  thousand  and  R$16,924  thousand  for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019  and  2018, 
respectively. The rent value was set based on market conditions.  

Transactions with Sustainability Institutes 

109 

 
We  are  the  guarantors  of  a  loan  obtained  by  the  Sadia  Sustainability  Institute  (Instituto  Sadia  de 
Sustentabilidade)  from  BNDES.  The  loan  was  obtained  with  the  purpose  of  allowing  the  implementation  of 
biodigesters in the farms of the outgrowers which take part in Sadia’s integration system, targeting the reduction of 
greenhouse gases emission.  

We had a liability in the amount of R$0.8 million as of December 31, 2019 related to the fair value of these 
guarantees  (for  more  details,  see  “Item  5.  E—Operating  and  Financial  Review  and  Prospects—Off-balance  Sheet 
Arrangements”).  

In addition, we had, as of December 31, 2019, a liability in the amount of R$3.1 million in other obligations 

with this entity in connection with our acquisition of biodigesters from the Sadia Sustainability Institute. 

Indemnification Agreements 

We have entered into indemnification agreements with our executive officers (the “indemnified parties” and 
each, an “indemnified party”). Pursuant to these agreements, we have agreed to indemnify and hold harmless each 
indemnified party with respect to losses which they may be subject to in connection with any administrative or judicial 
proceedings in Brazil or abroad so long as the proceeding arises from their relationship with us in such role (or related 
roles),  among  other  circumstances  (the  “covered  risks”),  excluded  from  the  coverage  of  these  indemnifications 
agreements any action of the indemnified parties taken with bad faith or scienter. Under the terms of these agreements, 
we have also agreed to either advance or reimburse expenses incurred by the indemnified parties in connection with 
the  covered  risks  (including  legal  counsels’  fees).  We  have  also  agreed  to  contract  director  and  officer  insurance 
coverage for acts carried out by the indemnified parties in the course of their duties. Each agreement will remain in 
force during and after the period of the indemnified party’s employment with us, for an indefinite period of time.  In 
our  extraordinary  shareholders’  meeting  held  on  May  25,  2018,  our  shareholders  approved  the  execution  of 
indemnification agreements by us with current and former members of our board of directors. 

C. 

Interests of Experts and Counsel 

Not applicable.  

FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

A. 

Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information 

Our consolidated financial statements are appended at the end of this Annual Report starting at page F-1, and 

form a part hereof.  

Legal Proceedings 

We are involved in certain legal proceedings arising from the regular course of business, which include civil, 

commercial, administrative, regulatory, environmental, tax, social insurance and labor lawsuits.  

We classify the risk of adverse decisions in the legal suits as “remote,” “possible” or “probable.” We record 
provisions  for  probable  losses  in  our  financial  statements  in  connection  with  these  proceedings  in  an  amount 
determined by our management on the basis of legal advice. We disclose the aggregate amounts of these proceedings 
that we have judged possible or probable, to the extent those amounts can be reasonably estimated, and we record 
provisions only for losses that we consider probable. However, the amounts involved in certain of the proceedings are 
substantial, and the losses to us could, therefore, be significantly higher than the amounts for which we have recorded 
provisions, if any. Even for the amounts recorded as provisions for probable losses, a judgment against us would have 
an adverse impact on our cash flow if we are required to pay those amounts. See “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk 
Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Unfavorable outcomes in legal proceedings may reduce our 
liquidity and negatively affect us.” 

110 

 
 
Tax Proceedings  

Contingencies for Probable Losses 

We  are  engaged  in  several  legal  proceedings  with  Brazilian  tax  authorities  for  which  we  have  recorded 
provisions for probable losses. As of December 31, 2019, our provision for such tax proceedings was R$583.5 million, 
compared to R$230.1 million as of December 31, 2018.  

The tax contingencies classified as probable losses involve the following main legal proceedings: 

• 

• 

ICMS: We are involved in a number of administrative and judicial tax disputes regarding the recording 
and/or use of amounts paid in respect of the ICMS as tax credits against other taxes assessed on certain 
transactions,  such  as  exports,  acquisition  of  consumption  materials  and  monetary  correction.  The 
provision amount is R$419.0 million as of December 31, 2019 (R$100.7 million as of December 31, 
2018). 

Staple basket products: In December 2019, the Federal Supreme Court rendered its final judgment on 
the case involving the provision of stable basket products (cesta básica) and the maintenance of ICMS 
tax credits on the acquisition of staple basket produtcs (cesta básica) with a reduced tax burden. As this 
decision was rendered by the Federal Supreme Court with general applicability, we recognized a liability 
in the amount of R$749.2 million. This amount has been partially  paid and the remaining amount of 
R$333.7 million was outstanding as December 31, 2019.  

•  PIS and COFINS: We are involved in administrative proceedings related to the use of federal PIS and 
COFINS tax credits to offset other federal taxes, in the amount of R$139.7 million as of December 31, 
2019 (R$125.1 million as of December 31, 2018).  

•  PRODEPE: On March 16, 2020, we also received a tax assessment notice of ICMS in the total amount 
of R$107 million, due to alleged non-compliance with the requirements of the Pernambuco Economic 
Development Program (“PRODEPE”), provided for in art. 21-A, III, of Decree No. 21.959 / 1999, as 
amended,  for  the  period  from  January  2017  to  July  2019.  With  the  publication  of  the  State 
Complementary Law No. 424/2020, on March 24, 2020 (amending Complementary Law No. 393/2018), 
which provides a partial exemption for the assessed amounts related to operations with tax incentives, 
we decided to settle the case with the authorized cash payment, made on March 31, 2020, with an 80% 
discount on the total amount involved. 

•  Other  tax  contingencies:  We  recorded  other  provisions  for  lawsuits  related  to  the  payment  of  social 
security  contributions  under  various  Brazilian  government  programs  (SAT,  INCRA,  FUNRURAL, 
Education Salary) and tax liabilities relating to accessory obligations, the payment of legal fees and other 
tax matters. 

Contingencies for Possible Losses 

The  amount  of  tax  contingencies  for  which  the  probability  of  loss  was  classified  as  “possible”  was 

R$11,811.7 million as of December 31, 2019 (R$12,336.9 million as of December 31, 2018). 

The most significant of these tax cases for which the risk of loss is classified as possible are described below:  

•  PIS and COFINS: We are involved in administrative proceedings regarding the use of PIS and COFINS 
credits arising from a divergence in the definition of inputs in the non-cumulative tax system and their 
use as important and essential products in our industry. We are also involved in proceedings concerning 
PIS and COFINS that discuss (i) tax revenues for purposes of ICMS credits as a tax benefit, (ii) liabilities 
relating to the tax classification of seasoned meats, (iii) Decrees-Law Nos. 2,445/88 and 2,449/88, which 
were considered unconstitutional by the Federal Supreme Court as they established different basis and 
rates of  calculation, as well as determined different timing for payment (semi-annual), among others. 

111 

 
Such  proceedings  amount  to  R$4,915.3  million  as  of  December  31,  2019  (R$4,363.1  million  as  of 
December 31, 2018).  

• 

ICMS:  We  are  involved  in  a  number  of  disputes  relating  to  the  ICMS  tax,  including:  (i)  the  alleged 
improper granting of ICMS tax credits generated by states of origin (known as the guerra fiscal dispute) 
in a total amount of R$1,457.9 million as of December 31, 2019 (R$1,724.8 million as of December 31, 
2018); (ii) the absence of evidence to prove the balances of exports in the amount of R$261.9 million as 
of December 31, 2019 (R$396.2 million as of  December 31, 2018); and (iii) R$2,291.6 million as of 
December 31, 2019 (R$2,061.8 million as of December 31, 2018) related to other tax lawsuits regarding 
ICMS. 

•  Tax  credits:  In  October  2019,  we  received  a  tax  assessment  notice  from  the  State  of  Rio  de  Janeiro 
charging amounts corresponding to the tax benefits that were subject to the Special Regime Agreement 
(Termo de Acordo de Regime Especial) that we executed with the State of Rio de Janeiro, for the period 
between  October  and  December  2014,  in  the  total  amount  of  R$52.5  million.  In  February  2020,  we 
received another tax assessment notice, also related with the same charge, for the period between 2015 
and 2018, in the amount of R$484.3 million. The total amount under discussion is of R$536.8 million, 
including applicable interest and fine.  

•  Profits earned abroad: We were assessed by the Brazilian Federal Revenue (Receita Federal do Brasil) 
for  alleged  underpayment  of  income  tax  and  social  contribution  on  profits  earned  by  subsidiaries 
established abroad. The total amount is R$534.8 million as of December 31, 2019 (R$524.5 million as 
of December 31, 2018). We have presented our defense based on the fact that our subsidiaries located 
abroad are only subject to full taxation in the countries in which they are based as a result of treaties 
regarding double taxation. We will continue to address the remaining cases in the judicial system. 

• 

• 

• 

Income  tax  and  social  contribution:  We  are  involved  in  administrative  disputes  regarding  the  use  of 
income tax and social contribution losses, refunds and credits to offset other federal tax debts, including 
credits generated by legal disputes related to the Plano Verão, an economic stabilization plan from 1989. 
In addition, on February 5, 2015, BRF received a tax assessment notice related to the compensation of 
tax loss carryforwards and negative calculation basis up to a limit of 30% when it incorporated one of 
the group’s entities during calendar year 2012. The judgment of our appeal to the superior administrative 
court remains pending. The income tax and social contribution disputes total  R$1,238.6 million as of 
December 31, 2019 (R$1,311.1 million as of December 31, 2018).  

IPI: We are involved in administrative proceedings relating to the failure to permit the use of credits 
under the sales tax for industrial products (Imposto sobre Produtos Industrializados, or “IPI”) generated 
from purchases of goods not taxed, sales to the Manaus Free Zone and purchases of supplies by non-
taxpayers  to  offset  PIS  and  COFINS  taxes,  We  have  secured  favorable  decisions  in  some  of  these 
proceedings. The amount involved in such proceedings was R$291.7 million as of December 31, 2019 
(R$445.1 million as of December 31, 2018). 

Social security charges: We are involved in disputes related to social security charges allegedly due on 
payments  to  service  providers  and  social  contributions  allegedly  due  to  civil  construction  service 
providers and others in the aggregate amount of R$274.3 million as of December 31, 2019 (R$244.5 
million as of December 31, 2018). 

•  Other contingencies: We are involved in other tax contingencies involving a variety of matters, including 
cases related to the requirement of a 50% fine over the amount of PIS/COFINS and IRPJ compensation 
not ratified but pending final judgment before the compensation proceedings, the tax basis for calculating 
social contribution on net income, tax assessment notice referring to taxes on services, IPTU, import tax, 
IOF as well as an isolated fine resulting from alleged inaccuracies in EFD (accessory obligation) totaling 
R$493.1 million as of December 31, 2019 (R$449.3 million as of December 31, 2018).  

112 

 
As noted above, we are involved in other lawsuits for which we classify our risk of loss as remote, and the 

amounts involved in certain of those proceedings are substantial. 

Exclusion of VAT (ICMS) from PIS and COFINS Tax Base 

On March 15, 2017, the Federal Supreme Court decided in the judgment of the Extraordinary Appeal (“RE”) 
No. 574.706/PR, brought by the Import, Export and Oil Industry (“IMCOPA”), that the amount of ICMS levied on 
the sale of products or services should not be included in the taxable basis of PIS/COFINS. 

In  June  2019,  the  court  issued  a  final  decision  on  one  of  our  proceedings,  which  was  originally  filed  by 
Perdigão Agroindustrial (a company that was merged with and into BRF). In August 2019, the court issued a final 
decision on another proceeding, filed by Sadia (also a company that was merged with and into BRF). The effects of 
these proceedings are disclosed in Note 9.2 to our consolidated financial statements.  

Labor Proceedings 

On December 31, 2019, we were involved in 12,812 labor claims in the total amount of R$798.2 million 
(amount includes risks deemed “remote”, “possible” and “probable”), compared to R$863.6 million as of December 
31, 2018. These cases are mainly related to overtime, time spent by employees when changing clothes for uniforms, 
work-related travel time, rest breaks, article 253 of the Labor Code (Consolidation of Labor Laws), illnesses allegedly 
contracted at work and work accidents. Labor claims are being processed mainly at the Brazilian lower court level 
and our provisions for “probable” losses from these labor claims are recorded in the amount of R$603.1 million on 
December 31, 2019, compared to R$468.5 million on December 31, 2018. These provisions were recorded based on 
our past historical payments and the opinions of our legal counsel. 

Included in these proceedings is a series of lawsuits filed by the Public Ministry of Work and Union related 
to overtime, mandatory rest breaks and other labor-related issues. Of the 108 cases pending, some have no assigned 
value and the largest has a value of approximately R$43.4 million, which is included in the total amounts disclosed 
above as of December 31, 2019. 

Civil, Commercial and Other Proceedings  

As  of  December  31,  2019,  we  were  defendants  in  4,209  civil,  commercial  and  other  proceedings 
(administrative, environment, regulatory and other matters) amounting to total claims of R$2.0 billion (such amount 
includes risks deemed “remote,” “possible” and “probable”). We were defendants in several civil, commercial and 
other proceedings related to, among other things, alleged breach of contracts, alleged breach of civil and commercial 
law, traffic and other accidents, consumer claims and alleged infringement of environmental and regulatory standards. 
We have recorded provisions for probable losses in the amount of R$307.2 million in connection with our pending 
civil, commercial and other proceedings as of December 31, 2019 (R$282.0 million as of December 31, 2018). We 
recorded these provisions based on our historical payments and on the opinions of our legal counsel.  

The most significant of these civil, commercial and other proceedings are described below. We are involved, 
or may become involved, in other legal proceedings from time to time and the amounts involved in certain of those 
other proceedings could be substantial. 

On May 18, 2001, a declaratory action together with a condemnatory request was filed by Texaco do Brasil 
S/A Produtos de Petróleo (currently Ipiranga Produtos de Petróleo S/A), where the plaintiff claimed that Perdigão 
Alimentos S/A (currently BRF) did not comply with the three contracts executed by the parties (the Tax Incentives 
Implementation Commitment and Promise of Share Purchase and Sales, the Share Purchase and Sale Contract and 
Resale  Promise  and  the  Private  Instrument  of  Tax  Incentives  Implementation  Commitment  and  Promise  of  Share 
Purchase and Sales). Such contracts were related to the structuring and acquisition of common and preferred shares 
of Perdigão Amazônia S.A, whose project would be financed by Texaco via tax incentives. The case ended with an 
unfavorable decision against BRF, ordering the company to indemnify Ipiranga for the damages related to the project. 
Although  the  damages  are  currently  subject  to  a  court-appointed  expert  evaluation,  we  recorded  a  provision  with 

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respect to this dispute, which is based on the opinion of a valuation and accounting expert hired by BRF to calculate 
an estimate of the damages amount. 

On October 6, 2004, a public civil action was filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor Office seeking moral 
and  material  damages  resulting  from  the  integrated  production  contracts  executed  with  public  resources  of  an 
agricultural  fund.  BRF  was  ordered  to  pay  an  award  with  respect  to  the  material  damages,  but  this  decision  was 
suspended by the Court of Appeals. BRF filed an appeal to the Superior Court of Justice and, since September 8, 2015, 
the admissibility of such appeal has been pending. Based on the report of our outside counsel, we have not included 
any provision for this lawsuit regarding the material damages (the amount of which will be determined in a future 
procedure). 

In 2008, 2012 and 2018, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office filed  three public civil actions in order to 
obtain a judicial decision compelling us not to use overweight trucks on federal highways and sought indemnification 
for collective damages. The first two proceedings resulted, at first, in favorable decisions for us in the Court of Appeals 
and Superior Courts, with no provisions recorded. On September 3, 2019, the Superior Court of Justice, by a majority 
of votes decision, granted the special appeal filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office and found that the public 
civil action filed in 2012 has grounds. On November 18, 2019, we filed an appeal against such decision, which has 
not yet been ruled on. With respect to the public civil action filed in 2008, the Superior Court of Justice has not yet 
decided  on  the  appeal  filed  by  the  Federal  Public  Prosecutor’s  Office,  although  some  of  the  judges  have  already 
indicated that they are favorable to the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office’s case. With respect to the public civil action 
filed in 2018, the first instance decision was favorable to BRF, and we are currently awaiting a decision by the Court 
of Appeals on the appeal filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office.  

On August 20, 2008, the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office filed a public civil action against BRF due to 
alleged  damages  to  consumers  related  to  the  excess  of  water  absorbed  by  the  chicken  products  manufactured  at 
Francisco Beltrão, State of Paraná and Dois Vizinhos, State of Paraná. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office requests 
indemnification  for  all  consumers  individually  who  acquired  products  with  any  quality  issues  related  to  water  in 
excess, as well as that BRF publicly discloses this problem via newspaper, radio and other means. After an unfavorable 
judgment  was  issued  ordering  the  us  and  other  defendants  to  (i)  indemnify  consumers  for  the  irregularity  of  the 
products, (ii) pay R$700.0 thousand as collective damages, and (iii) publicly disclose a message describing this matter 
via  local  media  (newspaper,  radio  and  other  means),  BRF  and  the  other  defendants  filed  their  respective  appeals, 
which the Court of Appeal rejected in 2011. On January 30, 2012 BRF filed an appeal to the Superior Court. The case 
is currently awaiting judgment at the Superior Court. We recorded a provision with respect to this dispute based on 
the opinion of our legal advisers.  

On  January  28,  2009,  Valore  Participações  e  Empreendimentos  Ltda.  and  Ama  Participações  e 
Empreendimentos filed an execution proceeding based on extrajudicial title requesting the payment of the fifth and 
sixth installments (R$84.4 million, in total) of their industrial plant sales contract signed with BRF. On June, 2018, 
the process was suspended by the lower court for purposes of producing evidence. 

On  October  1,  2009,  we  received  an  environmental  infraction  notice  for  allegedly  not  complying  with 
licensing conditions related to air condenser equipment and gas tank facility and constructing buildings in a permanent 
preservation area. The value of the fine on the date of the assessment was R$811.0 thousand. An administrative appeal 
is pending in this proceeding.  

On September 21, 2011, the Association of the Villagers of Paraíba and Mudau River Ares filed an action 
seeking indemnification for moral and material damages due to the “Açude das Nações” dam rupture. The case is in 
the pre-trial phase and evidence is being produced. This action is still at its preliminary stages and we have classified 
the risk of loss as possible, with no provisions recorded. As of December 31, 2019, the amount at issue in the case is 
estimated to be R$145.2 million.  

On December 7, 2011, we executed a consent agreement (“TAC”) with the Public Prosecutors’ Office of the 
Rio Grande do Sul State. Their objective is to fill the non-vegetated areas and provide adequate soil cover with native 
tree  species.  In  addition,  they  are  seeking  to  minimize  the  effects  of  erosion  near  the  facility  located  in  Lajeado. 
Satisfaction of the TAC is in progress and an evaluation of the evidence is pending. 

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BRF and WJ Produtos Alimentícios Ltda. (“WJ”) had a leasing contract for an industrial plant, which was 
terminated by BRF. On April 11, 2012, WJ filed an action to require BRF to comply with the leasing contract and to 
pay an early termination fine of R$3.7 million and material damages of up to R$5 million. The expert report indicated 
that the industrial plant was destroyed and calculated a loss value of R$28 million. The judge found in favor of WJ 
and ordered BRF to pay for the losses and damages caused by the early termination of the leasing contract, which are 
not limited to the R$28 million calculated by the expert since part of the alleged losses and damages still need to be 
estimated due to their nature. The judge ruled that another expert assessment of the case is necessary to determine the 
total loss value in the execution stage of the proceeding. BRF filed an appeal against such decision, which is awaiting 
judgment by São Paulo State Court. The risk of loss in this proceeding has been classified as possible. The amount at 
issue in the case is currently estimated to be R$70.6 million. Such amount does not consider the losses and damages 
that still need to be estimated in the execution stage.   

On October 10, 2013, an action for damages was filed by Attilio Fontana’s heiresses in order to require BRF 
to pay damages for the destruction and/or concealment of Sadia S.A.’s statutory books. Such books were not exhibited 
in the preliminary proceeding, which would have prevented the plaintiffs from discovering eventual illegal donations 
made by Mr. Fontana to his other heirs and their other siblings. On December 12, 2018, the case was dismissed on the 
grounds that the lack of the statutory books did not cause any harm to the plaintiffs since they could investigate the 
existence of potential illegal donations through other statutory documents that were available to them. The plaintiffs 
filed an appeal to the Court of Appeals and BRF then filed its response. The plaintiffs’ appeal was dismissed. The 
plaintiffs filed an appeal to the Superior Court of Justice and to the Federal Supreme Court. Since the decision is not 
final and conclusive, we have classified the risk of loss as possible, with no provisions recorded.  

In  the  last  few  years,  BRF  has  been  sued  by  ex-carriers  seeking  indemnification  for  the  absence  of  the 
previous payment for road toll fees, as established under Brazilian federal law. BRF currently has ten ongoing cases 
related to this matter: six cases have initially resulted in unfavorable decisions for us (two of such cases are being 
processed before the Court of Small Claims) and four cases are pending decisions (one of such cases is being processed 
before the Court of Small Claims). For all ten cases, we recorded a provision with respect to the disputes based on the 
opinion of our legal advisers. 

On October 17, 2013, Mr. Marcus Macedo Cazarré filed an indemnification action as a result of the alleged 
exploitation of his Patent MU 8300298-7 by BRF in the biodigesters used in farms. Mr. Cazarré requested damages 
of over R$300.0 million. An expert report favorable to BRF was issued, which indicated that there was no violation 
of Mr. Cazarré’s patent. On September 22, 2017 the lower court judge dismissed the requests made by Mr. Cazarré. 
On December 1, 2017 Mr. Cazarré filed an appeal and BRF presented its counterarguments on February 2, 2018. On 
June 20, 2018 the Court of Appeals ruled and granted the appeal on the merits and, therefore, the trial decision was 
overturned. As a result, Mr. Cazarré’s requests were granted and BRF was ordered to pay material damages (in an 
amount to be calculated in the execution proceedings) and R$150,000 for moral damages.   On February 20, 2019, 
BRF filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals to elevate the proceeding to the Superior Court of Justice, and on March 
27, 2019, Mr. Cazarré responded to such  appeal. On April 15, 2019, the Court of Appeals ruled dismissing BRF’s 
appeal. On May 13, 2019, BRF filed an appeal directly to the Superior Court  of Justice and on June 29, 2019, Mr. 
Cazarré presented his defense. On July 11, 2019, the Court of Appeals reviewed its decision and admitted BRF’s 
appeal, determining that the proceeding’s records be sent to the Superior Court of Justice. BRF’s appeal is pending 
before the court. We have classified the risk of loss as possible, with no provisions recorded for this case. 

On April 24, 2014, we executed a consent agreement (“TAC”) with the public prosecutors’ office of the State 
of Goiás because of irregularities in the ground activity resulting from approximately 300 tons of solid material, which 
did not have proper treatment in the facility located in Rio Verde. Satisfaction of the TAC is in progress. 

On  April 30, 2014, we received an environmental infraction notice  for allegedly improperly disposing of 
certain waste. The value of the fine on the date of assessment was R$7.0 million. BRF presented a defense requesting 
that the proceeding be declared void, which is currently pending with the court 

On August 22, 2014, Transfood Logística filed a lawsuit against BRF seeking moral and material damages 
resulting from the termination of contracts between them. After BRF’s defense on October 30, 2014, oral evidence 
was  produced  and  several  witnesses  were  heard.  On  July  11,  2019,  a  decision  was  rendered  in  BRF’s  favor.  The 

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majority of the claims was dismissed and BRF was ordered to pay R$57 thousand. The plaintiff filed an appeal and 
the case is pending a decision by the State Court of Santa Catarina. 

On March 24, 2014, we signed a TAC with the Consumer Protection Agency of the Municipality of Rio de 
Janeiro (Procon Carioca) due to problems with the distribution of skimmed UHT milk in Rio de Janeiro. Because of 
that agreement, we paid a fine of R$150,000 and undertook other obligations that have already been fulfilled by us. 
On October 23, 2014, the Consumer Protection Agency of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Procon Estadual) filed a civil 
action against BRF related to a similar claim with respect to the distribution of skimmed milk. In May 2016, a judgment 
was issued recognizing that BRF had diligently taken all necessary actions to mitigate damages on this case, including 
signing a TAC on the matter. Nevertheless, the lower court determined that any consumers that manage to prove they 
suffered material losses as a result of the milk shall be reimbursed. The PROCON Estadual appealed the decision and 
their  appeal  was  dismissed,  but  they  made  a  Special  Appeal  which  was  granted  and  BRF  was  ordered  to  pay 
R$100,000. The case currently awaits judgment in the Superior Court of Justice following BRF’s appeal.  We recorded 
a provision with respect to this dispute based on the management’s evaluation and also on the opinion of our legal 
advisers. 

On  October  23,  2015,  Perdue  Foods  LLC  (“Perdue”)  filed  an  enforcement  lawsuit  against  BRF.  Perdue 
sought to order BRF to comply with the obligations undertaken in the Coexistence Agreement, as amended, entered 
into by both parties related to the trademarks of Perdue and Perdix. In the event that BRF does not comply with these 
obligations, Perdue also seeks the imposition of a daily fine, in the amount of R$50,000 for each day of delay. BRF 
has presented its defense in the case and the case is currently pending judgment in the lower court. Concurrently, the 
parties are assessing the possibility of entering into a new Coexistence Agreement and settling the case. Since the 
enforcement lawsuit has no measurable economic value, no provisions have been recorded for these proceedings.  

On  August  20,  2015,  a  city  councilor  filed  a  popular  action  against  BRF  in  connection  with  alleged 
irregularities identified on a competitive bid for the supply of school meal to the Municipality of São Paulo. We have 
filed our defense. On December 9, 2019, the court-appointed expert presented a technical report informing that there 
is no evidence of irregularity. The plaintiff and the Public Prosecutors’ Office of the State of São Paulo filed motions 
against  the  technical  report  and  requesting  that  it  be  complemented.  The  court-appointed  expert  was  notified  to 
respond. We have classified the risk of loss as possible, with no provisions recorded. 

On September 18, 2015, we executed a consent agreement (“TAC”) with the Public Prosecutors’ Office of 
Rio  de  Janeiro  State  in  order  to  restore  the  environmental  license  of  the  facility  located  in  Duque  de  Caxias. 
Satisfaction of the TAC is in progress. 

On December 14, 2015, the Public Prosecutors’ Office of the State of Pernambuco filed a public civil action 
against BRF in connection with alleged irregularities identified on dairy products sold by BRF. On March 19, 2019, 
the plaintiff’s claims were partially granted and BRF was ordered to: (i) pay damages in the amount of R$1 million; 
(ii) under the penalty of payment of a R$5 million fine for each instance of non-compliance, (a) recall the batches of 
sausages  that  present  risk  to  consumers’  health  and  (b)  provide  a  public  notice  regarding  such  recall  through  the 
company’s website and social media; (iii) publish the trial court decision in a newspaper of general circulation in the 
city of Recife, under the penalty of a R$1 thousand daily-fine for non-compliance; and (iv) pay 50% of the court fees. 
On Abril 23, 2019, BRF filed an appeal to the Pernambuco Court of Appeals. On June 12, 2019, the court granted an 
interim relief to stay the trial’s court decision. The appeal is still pending a decision on its merits. Since the decision 
is not final and conclusive, we have classified the risk of loss as possible, with no provisions recorded. 

On March 14, 2016, a public civil action was filed by Abracon-Saúde – Associação Brasileira de Defesa dos 
Consumidores de Plano de Saúde, an association for health insurance customers, seeking to require BRF to insert the 
following warning on the package of its products: “CONTAINS GLUTEN – gluten is harmful to celiac patients” or 
another  similar  alert  to  demonstrate  how  gluten  can  be  harmful  to  consumers.  After  BRF  presented  its  defense,  a 
judgment was issued on September 14, 2016 ordering BRF to include said information on the package of all of its 
products that contain gluten. BRF filed an appeal and on December 20, 2019, the Federal Regional Court (TRF3) 
ruled that the Superior Court of Justice is the competent authority to rule on this proceeding. No substantial provisions 
were deemed necessary for this proceeding. 

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On April 4, 2016, we executed a consent agreement (“TAC”) with the public prosecutor office of the Goiás 
State in order to compensate for the environmental damage caused by the disposal of industrial waste without proper 
treatment in the “Córrego Lageado” by the Jataí facility. Satisfaction of the TAC is in progress, pursuant to which the 
Company will implement its environmental remediation. 

On  October  11,  2017,  the  Public  Prosecutor’s  Office  of  Rio  Grande  do  Sul  filed  a  public  civil  action 
requesting that BRF restore native vegetation at BRF’s property in Porto Alegre. The case is in its preliminary stages. 

On May 9, 2018, the Public Prosecutors’ Office of the State of Pernambuco filed a public civil action against 
BRF in connection with alleged irregularities identified in meat products (sausages) sold by BRF. BRF filed its defense 
on May 3, 2019. On February 15, 2019, the trial court judge rendered a decision granting the injunction requested by 
the Public Prosecutors’ Office to order BRF to, under the penalty paying a R$5 million fine for each instance of non-
compliance, (i) cease commercialization of sausages with irregularities; (ii) comply with the legislation on sausage 
manufacturing;  (iii)  cease  using  deteriorated  or  mislabeled  ingredients  in  sausage  manufacturing;  (iv)  recall  the 
batches of sausages that present risk to consumers’ health; (v) provide a public notice regarding such recall through 
the company’s website and social media. On April 24, 2019, BRF filed an interlocutory appeal with a request for an 
interim relief in order to stay the injunction, which is still pending decision. We have classified the risk of loss as 
possible, with no provisions recorded. 

BRF also has potential regulatory liabilities corresponding to 1,025 cases, with a total provision of R$28.7 
million (probable losses) as of December 31, 2019. The cases refer to MAPA fines and other administrative sanctions 
(especially the suspension of a plant’s activities for a period of some days), for alleged noncompliance with the sanitary 
legislation and, individually, they do not represent significant losses. These fines are a result of routine inspections of 
the  quality  processes  by  the  MAPA.  The  cases  are  addressed  directly  with  the  MAPA,  and  when  BRF  does  not 
successfully  defend  against  these  penalties,  the  payments  are  made  to  the  MAPA,  or  BRF  may  initiate  legal 
proceedings to attempt to nullify the penalties imposed. 

On  March  14,  2019,  the  TCA  (“Turkish  Competition  Authority”)  announced  a  decision  regarding  its 
investigation into Banvit and other producers for alleged anticompetitive practices in connection with chicken meat 
production  in  Turkey.  The  TCA  imposed  an  administrative  fine  equivalent  to  R$22,507  thousand  (TRY  30,518 
thousand)  against  Banvit.  The  decision  was  confirmed  on  September  17,  2019,  confirming  that  the  alleged 
anticompetitive practices took place before the acquisition of Banvit’s control by BRF. Banvit anticipated the payment 
of the fine to benefit from a 25% discount, under the terms of the Turkish law. The Company seeks to recover the fine 
paid  and  costs  associated  through  an  insurance  policy  and  through  contractual  provisions  for  losses  related  to  the 
period prior to the acquisition of Banvit by BRF, as per the purchase agreement signed with Banvit’s previous owners. 

On  May  16,  2019,  BRF  executed  the  Commitment  Term  nº  009/2019  with  the  Rio  Verde  Municipal 
Secretariat for the Environment for the purpose of granting a deadline for BRF to fulfill its obligation contained in the 
Technical Opinion 340/2019 regarding the intervention in aerated lagoon. Satisfaction of this term is in progress. 

On October 11, 2019, the Consumer Protection Police Unit of Recife, State of Pernambuco, opened a Police 
Inquiry in order to investigate a possible crime against consumer relations. The facts  under investigation were the 
subject of the Notice of Infraction No. 005/2018/SIF2999 issued by the MAPA against BRF’s plant located in Vitória 
de Santo Antão, State of Pernambuco. According to the notice, on October 30, 2018, during an inspection carried out 
by the MAPA, the inspector verified that frozen raw material was being used in the production line, such as expired 
turkey ham. The inspector alleged that the plant’s production line was operating with the use of expired raw materials. 
Certain employees of BRF were heard, who clarified that expired products were not used in the production of sausages, 
that all expired raw materials were separated for disposal and that such expired raw materials were not used in the 
production line. These employees also clarified that the possible error of grouping products with different expiration 
dates, even if separated in trays by their expiration date, could have occurred when these products  were palletized in 
an outsourced warehouse that stores products for BRF, but that the packages are individually verified on the production 
line and the expired products were not used. BRF is cooperating with the authorities. 

On March 27, 2020, we filed confidential arbitration proceedings against Usina Paulista Lavrinhas de Energia 
S.A., Usina Paulista Queluz de Energia S.A. and Electra Comercializadora de Energia Ltda. with Fundação Getúlio 
Vargas  -  FGV’s  Arbitration  Chamber  (Câmara  de  Mediação  e  Arbitragem  da  FGV).  The  proceedings  seek  the 

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termination of two electric power sales and purchase agreements, executed in 2007 and expiring in 2025. Alternatively, 
we request that the terms of the contracts be reviewed and amended by the  arbitral tribunal. We believe that both 
claims are supported by the excessive financial burden imposed by external and unforeseeable events occurring during 
the term of the agreements. Since the proceedings are in their initial stages, we cannot estimate the risk of loss nor the 
range of a possible loss. 

Pasteur Operation  

Brazilian  authorities  are  investigating  Brazil’s  dairy  industry  in  the  so-called  “Pasteur  Operation.”  The 
Federal Police announced the operation on December 27, 2014 with the purpose of investigating improper payments 
and bribery to Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock auditors. One of such auditors and a former employee of BRF 
entered into plea bargains with the Brazilian authorities confirming that such improper payments were made between 
2009 to 2013.  

On November 29, 2019, the Chief of the Federal Police filed criminal charges against two public servants for 
supposedly requesting bribes and also against former employees of BRF and other individuals for allegedly seeking 
to  bribe  the  Ministry’s  public  auditors  from  2009  to  2013.  BRF  itself  is  not  a  party  to  such  proceedings  and 
investigations.  

On January 19, 2020, the Federal Court of Lajeado in the State of Rio Grande do Sul transferred the case to 
the Federal Court of Caxias do Sul, also in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The case is now with the Public Prosecutor’s 
Office, which may offer formal charges, which, if received by the judge, will result in a criminal lawsuit, a dismissal 
of the case, or a request for a further investigation by the police, which would need to be specified. 

Police inquiry – Mr. Antonio Palocci Filho’s Plea Bargain Agreement  

A police inquiry was opened on June 17, 2019 by the Federal Police of São Paulo (Delecor) to investigate 
allegations reported by Mr. Antonio Palocci Filho (former Finance Minister of Brazil) in the annex 18 of his plea 
bargain  agreement  in  relation  to  the  Lava  Jato  Operation.  In  such  document,  Mr.  Palocci  described  the  financial 
difficulties that Sadia was going through in 2008 due to contracts involving exchange derivatives. He also described 
that, in this context, the CEO of Sadia at that time instructed Mr. Palocci to request a meeting with former president, 
Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Mr. Palocci reported that two alternatives were considered at the meeting in the context 
of the financial difficulties of Sadia: enabling the merger between Sadia and Perdigão with support and contribution 
from BNDES; or BNDESPAR injecting resources into Sadia through a loan and equity interest. According to Mr. 
Palocci’s  plea  bargain  agreement,  Mr.  da  Silva  took  steps  to  support  the  merger  option,  and  his  assistance  was 
necessary since Perdigão was under the control of state-controlled pension funds. According to Mr. Palocci, Mr. da 
Silva  was  instrumental  in  compelling  the  pension  funds  to  carry  out  the  transaction  without  proper  analysis,  and 
influencing BNDES, which extended financing in record time. 

After the merger was approved, on July 13, 2011, Mr. da Silva allegedly complained to Mr. Palocci about 
BRF’s lack of reciprocity. Mr. Palocci passed on the message and the CEO of Sadia at that time and allegedly promised 
to donate resources to the Lula Institute and to political campaigns by Mr. da Silva’s political party, PT (Partido dos 
Trabalhadores). 

Mr. Palocci also mentioned a donation to a future campaign in the amount of R$3.6 million. Furthermore, 
BRF allegedly donated to PT’s financial committee or through a party donation amounts of R$800 thousand in 2010, 
R$70 thousand in 2012 and R$2.2 million in 2014. 

According  to  the  Federal  Public  Prosecutor’s  Office,  crimes  of  active  and  passive  corruption,  money 
laundering and fraudulent management of financial institution were allegedly committed. BRF is cooperating with the 
authorities in connection with these matters. 

Civil inquiry - Public Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Tax Benefits involving dairy factory in 
Barra do Piraí, State of Rio de Janeiro) 

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The Public Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Rio de Janeiro opened a civil inquiry to investigate alleged 
acts by the government through which tax benefits would have been irregularly granted to BRF and another competing 
company, through irregular electoral donations. The investigation is being conducted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office 
of the State of Rio de Janeiro (Specialized Acting Group to Combat Tax Evasion and Illicit Acts against the Tax Order 
– GAESF). 

With respect to BRF, the inquiry is investigating the concession of tax benefits granted based on the future 
construction of a dairy factory by the Company in Barra do Piraí, in the State of Rio de Janeiro. The city government 
of Barra do Piraí  assigned the land for the  facility, but  based on an  internal decision, BRF chose to  terminate  the 
project although the tax benefit had already been granted. The land and initial construction by BRF, amounting to 
R$26 million, were returned in 2014 to the city government free of charge. 

Since the inquiry is investigating conduct relating to two competing companies, this legal proceeding and 
related documentation are confidential and we do not have access to most of the documents. BRF is cooperating with 
and providing all requested clarifications to the authorities. 

Police inquiry - Superintendence of the Federal Police of Rio de Janeiro (dairy factory in Barra do Piraí, State of 
Rio de Janeiro)  

On  October  29,  2018,  the  Federal  Police  of  Rio  de  Janeiro  opened  an  investigation  into  possible  illegal 
payments made by a third party (a BRF competitor) to Sérgio Cabral (former governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro) 
and another person. On January 6, 2020, an excerpt from a report issued by the Specialized Acting Group to Combat 
Tax Evasion and Illicit Acts against the Tax Order – GAESF within the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Rio 
de Janeiro became publicly available. Information in that document indicated that the inquiry is investigating benefits 
granted to the J&F Group, including a 400,000 m² land in Barra do Piraí, State of Rio de Janeiro, where a factory of 
VIGOR (a company of J&F Group) was built. The report also mentions how the land was previously granted to BRF 
and later transferred by the government to VIGOR. In this context, a notice was sent to BRF to clarify how the land 
in Barra do Piraí, State of Rio de Janeiro was granted to BRF, returned to the city of Barra do Piraí, State of Rio de 
Janeiro and then transferred by the city government to VIGOR (a company of J&F Group).  

BRF is cooperating with and providing all requested clarifications to the authorities. 

Carne Fraca Operation  

Brazilian  authorities  are  investigating  Brazil’s  meat  processing  industry  in  the  so-called  “Carne  Fraca 
Operation.” The  investigation  involves  a  number  of  companies  in  the  Brazilian  industry  and,  among  other  things, 
includes allegations relating to food safety, quality control and misconduct related to improper offers and/or promises 
to government inspectors. 

On March 17, 2017, we learned of a decision issued by a federal judge of the state of Paraná authorizing the 
search and seizure of information and documents from us, and the detention of certain individuals in the context of 
the Carne Fraca Operation. Two BRF employees were detained (both of whom have been released) and three others 
were identified for questioning (of which only two were questioned).  

In addition, our Mineiros plant was temporarily suspended by the MAPA on March 17, 2017, so that MAPA 
could  conduct  an  additional  audit  on  its  production  process.  After  conducting  an  audit,  the  MAPA  authorized  the 
Mineiros plant to resume operations as of April 8, 2017. The Mineiros plant reopened on April 10, 2017 and resumed 
its operations on April 11, 2017. 

On April 15, 2017, the Brazilian Federal Police issued a report on the investigation and recommended charges 
against three  BRF employees. On April 20, 2017, based on the Brazilian Federal Police investigation, Brazilian federal 
prosecutors filed charges against two former BRF employees (one of our regional manufacturing officers and one of 
our  corporate  affairs  managers).  One  of  the  employees  was  acquitted  of  all  charges  and  the  other  employee  was 
convicted and sentenced to six months of imprisonment. Both the defendant and the federal prosecutors appealed the 
judgment and those appeals are awaiting a decision by the Federal Court of Appeals. 

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In June 2018 the Company learned of an administrative proceeding commenced by the Comptroller General 
of the Union (“CGU”), which is primarily related to alleged irregularities in the relationship between BRF employees 
and government inspectors from the MAPA at BRF’s plants located in: Rio Verde (State of Goiás), Mineiros (State 
of  Goiás),  Uberlândia  (State of  Minas  Gerais)  and  at  the  Paranaguá  Harbor  (State of  Paraná). This  administrative 
proceeding remains pending.  

On  January  22,  2018,  the  Attorney  General’s  Office  of  the  Third  District  of  the  State  of  Goiás  filed  a 
complaint against the industrial manager of our Mineiros plant at the time of the events subject to investigation in the 
Carne Fraca Operation, who is currently a member of our corporate engineering team, and the former head of quality 
control  at  our  Mineiros  plant,  who  was  dismissed  on  August  16,  2016.  Both  of  them  were  charged  for  allegedly 
committing crimes against consumers, as provided in article 7, item II of Law 8,137/90. According to the Attorney 
General’s Office of the Third District of the State of Goiás, laboratory tests (dripping tests) have detected excessive 
levels of water absorbed by the chicken products collected by authorities at our Mineiros plant. The Attorney General’s 
Office of the Third District of the State of Goiás alleges we produced chicken products with higher quantities of water 
than the limits permitted by the MAPA, with potential damages to customers, considering they would potentially be 
acquiring chicken meat products with a weight lower than that indicated on the packaging, since part of the weight of 
the frozen chicken would consist merely of water contained therein. The complaint does not contain any allegations 
of corruption. 

BRF informed certain regulators and governmental entities of the Carne Fraca Operation, including the SEC 

and the U.S. Department of Justice. BRF is cooperating with the authorities. 

BRF’s Audit and Integrity Committee initiated an investigation with respect to the allegations involving BRF 
employees  in  the  Carne  Fraca  Operation,  CGU  proceedings,  and  related  conduct  with  the  assistance  of  outside 
counsel. Following this initial investigation, the Audit and Integrity Committee started a new internal investigation to 
address  the  allegations  related  to  the  Trapaça  Operation,  as  described  below.  The  internal  investigations  remain 
ongoing  with  the  assistance  of  outside  counsel.  The  effects  of  the  Carne  Fraca  Operation  had  operational 
consequences for us, which are disclosed together with the Trapaça Operation below. 

The outcome of the Carne Fraca Operation may result in penalties, fines and sanctions from governmental 
authorities  or  other  forms  of  liabilities,  which  may  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our  results  of  operations, 
financial position and cash flows. Currently, the losses related to this matter are not possible to be estimated, and, as 
a result, no provision has been recorded. 

For information about the risks related to this investigation, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors—
Risks  Relating  to  Our  Business  and  Industry—We  may  fail  to  ensure  compliance  with  relevant  anti-fraud,  anti-
corruption, anti-money laundering and other international laws and regulations.”  

Trapaça Operation 

On March 5, 2018, BRF learned of a decision issued by a federal judge of the 1st Federal Court of Ponta 
Grossa in the State of Paraná, which authorized the search and seizure of information and documents from us and 
certain current and former employees and the temporary detention of certain individuals.  In what media reports have 
identified as the “Trapaça Operation,” eleven current and former employees of BRF were temporarily detained for 
questioning, including former Chief Executive Officer Pedro Faria and former Vice President for Global Operations 
Helio  Rubens.  All  such  current  and  former  employees  were  released  from  custody  and  those  who  are  still  our 
employees  are  on  leaves  of  absence  from  BRF.  A  number  of  other  BRF  employees  and  former  employees  were 
identified for questioning. The primary allegations in the Trapaça Operation involve alleged misconduct relating to 
quality violations, improper use of feed components and falsification of tests at certain BRF manufacturing plants and 
accredited labs. 

On October 15, 2018, the Brazilian Federal Police issued the final report on the investigation of the Trapaça 
Operation  with  accusations  against  forty-three  people,  among  which  twenty-three  are  BRF  current  or  former 
employees, including former Chief Executive Officer Pedro Faria, former chairman of the board of directors Abilio 
Diniz,  and  three  former  vice  presidents.  Those  who  are  still  our  employees  are  on  leaves  of  absence  from  BRF. 
Allegations  against  these  senior  employees  generally  focused  on  communications  relating  to  alleged  dioxin 

120 

 
contamination.  Since  then,  the  police  investigation  has  been  under  review  by  the  Brazilian  Federal  Prosecutor 
responsible for the case to determine whether to bring criminal charges.  

As a result of the Trapaça Operation, on March 5, 2018, we received notice from MAPA that it immediately 
suspended exports from our Rio Verde, State of Goiás, Carambeí, State of Paraná and Mineiros, State of Goiás plants 
to 13 countries with specific sanitary requirements related to Salmonella spp. As a precautionary measure, MAPA 
also suspended exports from 10 other BRF plants to the European Union on March 15, 2018, which was lifted on 
April 18, 2018. On May 14, 2018, the European Union released its decision to remove 12 of our production facilities 
in Brazil from the list that permits imports of animal products by the countries in the European Union. The European 
Union generally has stricter requirements related to salmonella levels and other food safety standards compared to 
Brazil and the other international markets in which we operate. Given the ban of imports from our production facilities, 
we  are  no  longer  able  to  sell  our  products  from  such  embargoed  production  plants  in  the  European  Union  and, 
therefore, our results of operations may be further adversely affected if we are not able to direct excess production 
capacity resulting from such suspension to other markets at similar prices or margins.  

On December 4, 2019, in the context of the Trapaça Operation, a complaint was filed by the Federal Public 
Prosecutor’s Office   against former and inactive employees of BRF for allegedly committing, in  the manufacturing 
of animal feed and PREMIX compound (a supplement added to the animal feed), aggravated larceny by fraud, false 
representation, wrapper or container with false indication, forgery of substance or food product, forgery of product 
intended  for  therapeutic  or  medicinal  purposes  and  criminal  association  between  the  years  2012  and  2018.  The 
complaint was received by the judge on January 21, 2020. The process currently awaits for the defendants to present 
their  response.  The  inactive  employee  of  BRF  who  is  involved  in  this  proceeding  is  on  a  leave  of  absence  and, 
therefore, has been removed from his duties in the Company. 

BRF informed certain regulators and governmental entities of the Trapaça Operation, including the SEC and 
the U.S. Department of Justice. BRF is cooperating with the authorities. BRF’s Audit  and Integrity Committee has 
initiated an investigation with respect to the allegations and related conduct involving BRF employees in the Trapaça 
Operation. The investigation involves outside counsel and is still in progress.  The effects of the  Carne Fraca and 
Trapaça Operations had operational consequences for us, as we incurred expenses in the amount of R$79.9 million in 
2019 mainly with law firms, recorded as other operating expenses. In 2018, we incurred expenses of R$78.9 million 
(R$78.3 million in 2017)  recorded as other operating expenses, such as  media and communication expenses, law 
firms, freight and storage, as well as provision for losses in inventories in the amount of R$403.8 million (R$285.0 
million in 2017), arising from closed external markets and/or blocked products, recorded as cost of goods sold.  

The  outcome  of  the  Trapaça  Operation  may  result  in  penalties,  fines  and  sanctions  from  governmental 
authorities  or  other  forms  of  liabilities,  which  may  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our  results  of  operations, 
financial position and cash flows. Currently, the losses related to this matter are not possible to be estimated, and, as 
a result, no provision has been recorded. 

See “Item 3.—D. Risk Factors— Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—Health risks related to our 
business and the food industry could adversely affect our ability to sell our products” and “Item 3.—D. Risk Factors— 
Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry—We have been subject to significant investigations relating to, among 
other things, food safety and quality control, and an adverse outcome of any of these investigations could result in 
penalties, fines or other forms of liability and could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, brand, 
results of operations and financial condition.” 

Romanos Operation 

Arising from the Trapaça Operation, the Romanos Operation was launched to investigate MAPA auditors 
who were identified by BRF as having received improper benefits to take actions in favor of BRF. On September 25, 
2019, in response to requests made by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, precautionary measures were carried 
out, such as searches and seizures, suspension of the exercise of public functions and inquiry of inspectors. BRF itself 
is not a party to such proceeding and investigations. 

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U.S. Class Action  

On March 12, 2018, a shareholder class action lawsuit was filed against us,  some of our former managers 
and a current officer of ours in the U.S. Federal District Court in the Southern District of New York. On July 2, 2018, 
the Court appointed the  City  of Birmingham Retirement and Relief System lead plaintiff in  the action (the  “Lead 
Plaintiff”). On December 5, 2018, the Lead Plaintiff filed an amended complaint that sought to represent all persons 
and  entities  who  purchased  or  otherwise  acquired  BRF  ADRs  during  the  period  from  April  4,  2013,  through  and 
including March 2, 2018. The class action alleges, among other things, that BRF and certain of its officers and/or 
directors engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices related to the regulatory issues in connection 
with the Carne Fraca Operation and Trapaça Operation. On December 13, 2019, we and the other defendants filed a 
motion to dismiss. On January 21, 2020, the Lead Plaintiff filed an opposition motion. On February 11, 2020, we and 
the other defendants filed our response. While the court’s decision on the motion to dismiss was still pending, the 
parties reached an agreement on March 27, 2020 to settle this class action for U.S.$40 million, subject to definitive 
documentation and court approval. The effects of these proceedings are disclosed in Note 36.1 to our consolidated 
financial statements. 

Brazilian Investor Arbitrations  

In  March  2020,  three  confidential  arbitration  proceedings  were  brought  against  us  in  the  B3’s  Market 
Arbitration Chamber (Câmara de Arbitragem do Mercado) in Brazil by investors that had purchased our shares traded 
on the B3, seeking recovery from alleged losses incurred by them, due to the price fall of our shares, during the period 
starting from April 4, 2013 and afterwards. Because these three arbitration proceedings are in their initial stages, we 
believe the possible loss or range of losses, if any, arising from these arbitrations cannot be estimated. In the event 
that any of these arbitrations is decided against us, or we enter into an agreement to settle, there can be no assurance 
that an unfavorable outcome would not have a material impact on us. We intend to defend these claims. 

Dividends and Dividend Policy 

Our  dividend  policy  has  historically  included  the  distribution  of  periodic  dividends,  based  on  quarterly 
balance sheets approved by our board of directors. When we pay dividends on an annual basis, they are declared at 
our annual shareholders’ meeting, which we are required by the Brazilian Corporation Law and our bylaws to hold by 
April 30 of each year. When we declare dividends, we are generally required to pay them within 60 days of declaring 
them unless the shareholders’ resolution establishes another payment date. In any event, if we declare dividends, we 
must pay them by the end of the fiscal year in which they are declared.  

As permitted by the Brazilian Corporation Law, our bylaws specify that 25% of our adjusted net profits for 
each fiscal year must be distributed to shareholders as dividends or interest on shareholders’ equity. We refer to this 
amount  as  the  mandatory  distributable  amount.  Under  the  Brazilian  Corporation  Law,  the  amount  by  which  the 
mandatory distributable amount exceeds the “realized” portion of net income for any particular year may be allocated 
to  the  unrealized  income  reserve,  and  the  mandatory  distribution  may  be  limited  to  the  “realized”  portion  of  net 
income. The “realized” portion of net income is the amount by which our net income exceeds the sum of (1) our net 
positive results, if any, from the equity method of accounting for earnings and losses of our subsidiaries and certain 
associated  companies,  and  (2)  the  profits,  gains  or  income  obtained  on  transactions  maturing  after  the  end  of  the 
following fiscal year. As amounts allocated to the unrealized income reserve are realized in subsequent years,  such 
amounts must be added to the dividend payment relating to the year of realization. 

During the years ended December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017, no dividends and interest on shareholders’ equity 

were paid to holders of our common shares.  

Any decision to declare and pay dividends and/or interest on shareholders’ equity in the future will be made 
at our discretion and will be subject to our continuing determination that such payments are in the best interests of our 
shareholders and are in compliance with all laws and agreements to which we are subject. 

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Amounts Available for Distribution 

The  section  of  this  form  entitled  “Item  10.  Additional  Information––B.  Memorandum  and  Articles  of 
Association––Description of Share Capital” contains a description of the calculation and payment of dividends and 
interest  on  shareholders’  equity  under  the  Brazilian  Corporation  Law.  See  “—Allocation  of  Net  Income  and 
Distribution of Dividends” and “—Payment of Dividends and Interest on Shareholders’ Equity” under Item 10.  

Disclosure pursuant to Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act 

Section 13(r) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires issuers to make specific disclosure in their 
annual reports of certain types of dealings with Iran, including certain transactions or dealings with persons or entities 
who meet the definition of Government of Iran pursuant to 31 C.F.R. § 560.304.  In 2019, we won a tender process 
for a one-time contract to supply up to a maximum of 1,500 metric tons of agricultural commodities to a  livestock 
product and feedstuff company in Iran,  which  we understand to be affiliated  with the Government of Iran.  Sales 
consisted of 367.027 metric tons of frozen chicken.  This limited business was conducted by a non-U.S. affiliate of 
the Company. The turnover from these sales was €467,959.48, representing less than 0.006% of our global revenue 
for  the  year  ended  December  31,  2019.    Sales  were  pursuant  to  a  single  contract  for  the  supply  of  agricultural 
commodities and are expected to continue pursuant to the terms of that contract until the maximum value of 1,500 
metric tons of frozen chicken is reached.  

In addition to Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act, U.S. law generally restricts dealings by persons subject to 
U.S. jurisdiction with certain countries or territories that are the target of comprehensive sanctions, currently Crimea, 
Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria. We do business, via non-U.S. entities (which are not owned or controlled by U.S. 
entities), in certain of these jurisdictions. While we believe any such dealings comply in all material respects with all 
applicable U.S. sanctions, such laws are complex and continue to evolve rapidly. 

B. 

Significant Changes 

None. 

THE OFFER AND LISTING 

A. 

Offer and Listing Details 

Our common shares trade on the São Paulo Stock Exchange. ADRs representing our common shares trade 
on  the  NYSE.  On  December  31,  2019,  there  were  811,759,800  common  shares  without  par  value  issued  and 
outstanding  (excluding  713,446  common  shares  held  in  treasury),  and  there  were  113,235,218 ADRs  outstanding, 
representing 13.93% of our outstanding common shares.  

B. 

Plan of Distribution 

Not applicable.  

C. 

Markets 

Our common shares trade on the São Paulo Stock Exchange. ADRs representing our common shares  trade 

on the NYSE. 

Trading on the B3 

The B3 S.A. – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão, or the São Paulo Stock Exchange, is a public company which resulted 
from the merger among Bolsa de Mercadorias e Futuros (BM&F, the Brazilian commodities and futures exchange), 
Bolsa  de  Valores  de  São  Paulo  (“Bovespa”),  Companhia  Brasileira  de  Liquidação  e  Custódia  (“CBLC,”  the 
Bovespa’s securities clearing system) and CETIP S.A. - Balcão Organizado de Ativos e Derivativos. 

123 

 
 
Trading on the São Paulo Stock Exchange is limited to member brokerage firms and a limited number  of 
authorized non-members. The São Paulo Stock Exchange currently has trading sessions, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 
local time. There is also trading in the so-called After-Market, only through the automated quotation system of the 
São Paulo Stock Exchange, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time. Only shares that were traded during the regular 
trading session of the day may be traded in the After-Market of the same day. Trades are made by entering orders in 
the Mega Bolsa electronic trading system, created and operated by the B3. 

Settlement of transactions conducted on the São Paulo Stock Exchange is effected three business days after 
the  trade  date  without  any  adjustment  for  inflation.  Delivery  of  and  payment  for  shares  is  made  through  Central 
Depositária, the São Paulo Stock Exchange’s securities clearing system. The seller is ordinarily required to deliver the 
shares to the exchange on the third business day following the trade date. 

In order to maintain better control over the fluctuation of the São Paulo Stock Exchange index, the São Paulo 
Stock Exchange has a “circuit breaker” system in which the trading session is suspended for a period of 30 minutes 
or one hour in the event the São Paulo Stock Exchange index were to fall below the limit of 10% or 15%, respectively, 
in relation to the closing rate of the index of the previous trading session. 

The São Paulo Stock Exchange is significantly less liquid than the NYSE and the world’s other major stock 
exchanges. While all of the outstanding shares of a listed company may trade on the São Paulo Stock Exchange, in 
most cases fewer than half of the listed shares are actually available for trading by the public. The remaining shares 
are often held by a single or small group of controlling persons or by governmental entities. 

Trading on the São Paulo Stock Exchange by a holder not deemed to be domiciled in Brazil for Brazilian tax 
and regulatory purposes, or a non-Brazilian holder, is subject to certain limitations under Brazilian foreign investment 
regulations.  With  limited  exceptions,  non-Brazilian  holders  may  trade  on  the  São  Paulo  Stock  Exchange  only  in 
accordance with the requirements of Resolution No. 4,373 of September 29, 2014 of the CMN. Resolution No. 4,373 
requires  securities  held  by  non-Brazilian  holders  to  be  maintained  in  the  custody  of,  or  in  deposit  accounts  with, 
financial institutions that are authorized by the Central Bank and the Brazilian Securities Commission. In addition, 
Resolution No. 4,373 requires non-Brazilian holders to restrict their securities trading to transactions on the São Paulo 
Stock  Exchange  or  organized  over-the-counter  markets.  With  limited  exceptions,  non-Brazilian  holders  may  not 
transfer the ownership of investments made under Resolution No. 4,373 to other non-Brazilian holders through private 
transactions. For more information, see “Regulation of Foreign Investment” under Item 10. 

Regulation of Brazilian Securities Markets 

The Brazilian securities markets are regulated by the CVM, which has authority over stock exchanges and 
the securities markets generally, by the CMN and by the Central Bank, which has, among other powers, licensing 
authority  over  brokerage  firms  and  which  regulates  foreign  investment  and  foreign  exchange  transactions.  The 
Brazilian securities market is governed by Brazilian Law No. 6,385/76, as amended, and by the Brazilian Corporation 
Law and other CVM rulings and regulations. 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, a company may be either public (companhia aberta), as we are, or 
closely  held  (companhia  fechada).  All  public  companies  are  registered  with  the  CVM  and  are  subject  to  periodic 
reporting requirements. A company registered with the CVM may have its securities traded on the Brazilian stock 
exchanges or in the Brazilian over-the-counter market. The shares of a listed company, like those of our company, 
also may be traded privately subject to certain limitations. 

The  Brazilian  over-the-counter  market  consists  of  direct  trades  between  persons  in  which  a  financial 
institution registered with the CVM serves as intermediary. No special application, other than registration with the 
CVM, is necessary for securities of a public company to be traded in this market. The CVM must receive notice of all 
trades carried out in the Brazilian over-the counter market by the respective intermediaries. 

Trading of a company’s securities on the São Paulo Stock Exchange may be suspended in anticipation of a 
material announcement. A company must also suspend trading of its securities on international stock exchanges on 
which its securities are traded. Trading may also be suspended by the São Paulo Stock Exchange or the CVM, among 

124 

 
other reasons, based on or due to a belief that a company has provided inadequate information regarding a material 
event or has provided inadequate responses to an inquiry by the CVM or the relevant stock exchange. 

Brazilian Law No. 6,385/76, as amended, the Brazilian Corporation Law and regulations issued by the CVM 
provide  for, among  other  things,  disclosure  obligations,  restrictions  on  insider  trading  and  price  manipulation  and 
protections  for  minority  shareholders.  However,  the  Brazilian  securities  markets  are  not  as  highly  regulated  and 
supervised  as  securities  markets  in  the  United  States  and  some  other  jurisdictions.  In  addition,  rules  and  policies 
against self-dealing or for preserving shareholder interests may be less well-defined and enforced in Brazil than in the 
United States, which may put holders of our common shares and ADRs at a disadvantage. Corporate disclosures also 
may be less complete than for public companies in the United States and certain other jurisdictions. 

São Paulo Stock Exchange Corporate Governance Standards 

The São Paulo Stock Exchange has listing segments:  

•  The Bovespa Mais; 

•  The Bovespa Mais Level 2; 

•  Corporate Governance Level 1;  

•  Corporate Governance Level 2; and  

•  The Novo Mercado (New Market) of the São Paulo Stock Exchange.  

These listing segments have been designed for the trading of shares issued by companies that voluntarily 
undertake to abide by corporate governance practices and disclosure requirements in addition to those already required 
under the Brazilian Corporation Law. The inclusion of a company in any of the new segments requires adherence to 
a  series  of  corporate  governance  rules.  These  rules  are  designed  to  increase  shareholders’  rights  and  enhance  the 
quality of information provided by Brazilian corporations. 

In  April  2006,  we  entered  into  a  listing  agreement  with  the  São  Paulo  Stock  Exchange,  under  which  we 
agreed to comply with stricter corporate governance and disclosure requirements established by the São Paulo Stock 
Exchange in order to qualify as a company admitted to the Novo Mercado. 

As a company listed on the Novo Mercado and subject to its regulations, we agreed, among other things, to: 

•  maintain a share capital structure composed exclusively of common shares; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

ensure the free float of shares representing at least 25% of our total outstanding share capital or 15%, in 
case of average daily trading volume greater than R$25 million; 

adopt offering procedures that favor widespread ownership of shares whenever making a public offering; 

comply with minimum quarterly disclosure standards; 

follow  stricter  disclosure  policies  with  respect  to  transactions  involving  our  securities  made  by  any 
controlling shareholders and our directors and executive officers; 

•  make a schedule of corporate events available to our shareholders; 

• 

offer  tag-along  rights  to  minority  shareholders  (meaning  that,  upon  the  acquisition  of  a  controlling 
interest, the purchaser must also agree to purchase the shares of minority shareholders for the same price 
paid for the shares in the controlling stake); 

125 

 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

in the event of a delisting of shares, conduct a public tender offer for our common shares at a price at 
least equal to the economic value determined according to CVM and Novo Mercado rules; 

present an annual balance sheet prepared in accordance with, or reconciled to, IFRS; 

establish a maximum of two-year term for all members of the board of directors; 

require  that  at  least  2  members  or  20%  of  our  board  of  directors,  whichever  is  greater,  consist  of 
independent directors; and 

submit  to  arbitration  by  the  Market  Arbitration  Chamber  (Câmara  de  Arbitragem  do  Mercado)  all 
controversies involving our company, members of our board of directors, board  of executive officers, 
fiscal  council  and  audit  and  integrity  committee  or  shareholders  relating  to  the  application,  validity, 
efficacy, interpretation, violation or effect of the Novo Mercado listing agreement and rules, our bylaws, 
the  Brazilian  Corporation  Law  or  the  rules  of  the  CMN,  the  Central  Bank,  the  CVM  or  the  Market 
Arbitration Chamber or other rules within the jurisdiction of the Market Arbitration Chamber. 

All members of our board of directors and board of executive officers executed a management compliance 
statement (Termo de Anuência dos Administradores) under which they take personal responsibility for compliance 
with the Novo Mercado listing agreement, the rules of the Market Arbitration Chamber and the Novo Mercado rules.  

D. 

Selling Shareholders  

Not applicable.  

E. 

Dilution   

Not applicable.  

F. 

Expenses of the Issue  

Not applicable.  

  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 

A. 

Share Capital  

Not applicable.  

B. 

Memorandum and Articles of Association  

Description of Share Capital 

Set forth below is a summary of the material terms of provisions of our common shares. This description 
does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated bylaws (filed 
herewith as Exhibit 1.01), the Brazilian Corporation Law, the rules and regulations of the CVM and the rules of the 
Novo Mercado. We have described some of the amendments below. 

Under the Novo Mercado listing agreement that we entered into with the São Paulo Stock Exchange (B3) 
and our bylaws, we may not issue preferred shares or shares with restricted voting rights. Accordingly, this section 
does not discuss the Brazilian statutory rights conferred upon holders of preferred shares. 

126 

 
General 

We are a publicly held corporation (sociedade por ações de capital aberto) incorporated under the laws of 
Brazil. Our headquarters are located in Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina. We are duly registered with the Junta Comercial 
do Estado de Santa Catarina under NIRE 42.300.034.240 and with the CVM under No. 01629-2. 

On December 31, 2019, our paid-in capital was R$12,553,417,953.36, which is composed of 812,473,246 
book-entry  common  shares  without  par  value.  The  Board  is  authorized  to  increase  our  capital  stock  to  1  billion 
common shares.  

Corporate Purpose 

Article 3 of our bylaws provides that our corporate purpose consists of:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the manufacture, sale, in the retail and wholesale sector, and transaction of business relating to food in 
general, particularly animal protein by-products and food items that use the cold chain for support and 
distribution; 

the manufacture and sale of animal feed, nutrients and food supplements for animals; 

the provision of food services in general; 

the manufacture, refining and sale of vegetable oils, fats and dairy products; 

the production, conservation, storage, silage and sale of grains, their derivatives and by-products;  

the sale on the retail and wholesale market of consumer and production goods, including equipment and 
vehicles for the development of its logistical activity; 

the export and import of production and consumer goods; 

the provision of services of transport, logistics and distribution of freight and food in general; 

holding equity stakes in other companies, with the aim of achieving the corporate purposes to the fullest 
extent; and 

• 

the participation in any projects needed for the operation of our business. 

We may further engage directly, or indirectly through others, in any support activities for the core business 

described above, such as: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

administrative, technical or operational support activities, aimed at creating conditions to improve our 
core business; 

transport services, in general; 

product storage and stocking services and other related ancillary services; 

activities to promote and replace our products in the retail market and at points of sale exposed to the 
final consumer, including the support needed by clients which allows the packaging and visualization of 
the products; 

• 

services for receiving and allocating raw materials to be used in production; 

127 

 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the provision of machine and vehicle repair, maintenance and overhaul services; 

the promotion of the growth of agribusiness in Brazil through programs, technical assistance and supply; 

the manufacture, development and sale of packaging products of any kind; 

the processing and raising of livestock in general; 

the sale of commodities in general; 

research and development of techniques for the production and improvement of our genetic matrixes; 

the activities of reforestation, extraction, manufacturing and sale of timber; 

the sale of mobile assets, real estate, including machines, equipment and vehicles, fixed assets, to meet 
the activities within our corporate purpose; and 

services to supply fuel for our own fleet or outsourced service providers, particularly freight, transport, 
logistics and distribution. 

Our bylaws  prohibit our  managers from engaging  in any practices that involve  us in  matters or activities 
inconsistent with our corporate purpose and core business or contrary to our bylaws. Any such practices shall be null 
and void and may result in civil or criminal liability, as the case may be, of the individuals involved.  

Rights of Common Shares 

At our shareholders’ meetings, each share of our common stock is entitled to one vote. Pursuant to our bylaws 
and to the Novo Mercado listing agreement, we may not issue shares without voting rights or with restricted voting 
rights. In addition, our bylaws and the Brazilian  Corporation Law provide that  holders of our common  shares are 
entitled to dividends or other distributions made in respect of our common shares ratably in accordance with their 
respective participation in the total amount of our issued and outstanding shares. See “— Payment of Dividends and 
Interest on Shareholders’ Equity” for a more complete description of the payment of dividends and other distributions 
on our shares. In addition, upon our liquidation, holders of our common shares are entitled to share our remaining 
assets, after payment of all of our liabilities, ratably in accordance with their respective participation in the total amount 
of  our  issued  and  outstanding  shares.  Common  shareholders  have,  except  in  certain  circumstances  listed  in  the 
Brazilian Corporation Law and in our bylaws, the right to participate in our company’s future capital increases, in 
proportion to their participation in our capital stock, and also the right to dispose of shares in a public offering in case 
of acquisition of shares in quantities equal to or in excess of 33.3% of total shares issued in the offering, in compliance 
with the terms and conditions provided in Article 41 of our bylaws.  

According to the Brazilian Corporation Law, neither our bylaws nor actions taken at a shareholders’ meeting 

may deprive a shareholder of the following rights: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the right to participate in the distribution of profits; 

the right to participate equally and ratably in any remaining residual assets in the event of our liquidation; 

preemptive rights in the event of issuance of shares, convertible debentures or warrants, except in certain 
specific circumstances under Brazilian Corporation Law described under “—Preemptive Rights”; 

the right to  monitor our  management in accordance  with  the provisions of the Brazilian  Corporation 
Law; and 

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• 

the right to withdraw from our company in the cases specified in the Brazilian Corporation Law, which 
are described under “—Withdrawal Rights.” 

Meeting of Shareholders 

Under  the  Brazilian  Corporation  Law,  our  shareholders  are  generally  empowered  at  our  shareholders’ 
meetings to take any action relating to our corporate purposes and to pass resolutions that they deem necessary to our 
interests and development at duly called and convened general meetings. Shareholders at our annual shareholders’ 
meeting, which is required to be held within four months of the end of our fiscal year, have the exclusive right to 
approve  our  audited  financial  statements  and  to  determine  the  allocation  of  our  net  profits  and  the  distribution  of 
dividends with respect to the fiscal year ended immediately prior to the relevant shareholders’ meeting. The election 
of  our  board  members  typically  takes  place  at  the  annual  shareholders’  meeting,  every  two  years,  although  under 
Brazilian Corporation Law it may also occur at an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting. Members of the fiscal council 
(conselho fiscal) may be elected at any shareholders’ meeting. 

An extraordinary shareholders’ meeting may be held concurrently with the annual shareholders’ meeting and 

at other times during the year.  

Under our bylaws and the Brazilian Corporation Law, the following actions, among others, may be taken 

only at a shareholders’ meeting: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

amendment of our bylaws; 

election  and  dismissal,  at  any  time,  of  the  members  of  our  board  of  directors  and  fiscal  council  and 
approval of their aggregate compensation; 

approval of management accounts and our audited financial statements; 

granting stock awards and approval of stock splits or reverse stock splits; 

approval of stock option plans for our management and employees or individuals who provide services 
to us, as well as those of companies directly or indirectly controlled by us; 

authorization of the issuance of convertible debentures exceeding the authorized capital stock; 

suspension of the rights of a shareholder; 

approval of the distribution of our profits and payment of dividends, as well as the establishment of any 
reserve other than the legal reserve; 

acceptance or rejection of the valuation of in-kind contributions offered by a shareholder in consideration 
for issuance of shares of our share capital; 

approval of our transformation, merger, consolidation, spin-off; 

approval of any dissolution or liquidation, and the appointment and dismissal of a liquidator, as well as 
the members of our fiscal council, which shall be installed in the event of our liquidation if it does not 
already exist at the time; 

authorization to delist from the Novo Mercado, as well as the approval of the waiver of the presentation 
of the Public Offer of Purchase of Shares in such circumstances; and 

• 

authorization to petition for bankruptcy or file a request for judicial or extra-judicial restructuring. 

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Quorum 

As a general rule, the Brazilian Corporation Law provides that the quorum for our shareholders’ meetings 
consists of shareholders representing at least a quarter of our issued and outstanding shares on the first call and, if that 
quorum is not reached, any percentage on the second call. If the shareholders are convened to amend our bylaws, a 
quorum  at  a  shareholders’  meeting  consists  of  shareholders  representing  at  least  two-thirds  of  our  issued  and 
outstanding share capital entitled to vote on the first call and any percentage on the second call. In most cases, the 
affirmative  vote  of  shareholders  representing  at  least  the  majority  of  our  issued  and  outstanding  shares  present  in 
person or represented by proxy at a shareholders’ meeting is required to approve any proposed action, and blank votes 
are not counted as shares present in person or represented by proxy. However, the affirmative vote of shareholders 
representing not less than one-half of our issued and outstanding shares is required to, among other measures: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

reduce the percentage of mandatory dividends;  

change our corporate purpose;  

consolidate with or merge our company into another company;  

spin off assets of our company;  

approve our participation in a centralized group of companies;  

apply for cancellation of any voluntary liquidation; and  

approve our dissolution.  

A quorum smaller than the quorum established by the Brazilian Corporation Law may be authorized by the 
CVM for a public company with widely traded shares and that has had less than half of the holders of its voting shares 
in attendance at its last three shareholders’ meetings. 

Elimination of or amendment to limit shareholders’ rights under Article 41 of our bylaws, which requires 
any shareholder who becomes the holder of 33.3% or more of our total capital stock to effect a public offer for all of 
our outstanding stock, is permitted only when approved by the majority of shareholders present at the shareholders’ 
meeting.  

Notice of Shareholders’ Meetings 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, notice of our shareholders’ meetings must be published at least three 
times in the Diário Oficial do Estado de Santa Catarina, the official newspaper of the State of Santa Catarina, and in 
another widely circulated newspaper in the same state, which is currently the Valor Econômico.  

Notices of shareholders’ meetings must contain the agenda for the meeting and, in the case of an amendment 
to our bylaws, a summary of the proposed amendment. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, the first notice must be 
published at least 15 days before the date of the meeting on the first call, and no later than eight days before the date 
of the  meeting on the second call. However, under our bylaws and CVM Instruction No. 559 of March 27, 2015, 
Brazilian issuers of depositary receipts, such as our company, must call their shareholders’ meetings not less than 30 
days prior to the meeting in the first call, and no later than eight days before the date of the meeting on the second 
call. In addition, upon request of any shareholder, the CVM may suspend for up to 15 days the required prior notice 
of an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting so that the CVM can become familiar with, and analyze, the proposals to 
be submitted at the meeting and, if applicable, inform the company, up to the end of the suspension period, about the 
reasons why it believes that a proposed resolution violates legal or regulatory provisions. 

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Location of Shareholders’ Meetings 

Our shareholders’ meetings take place at our head offices in the City of Itajaí, State of Santa Catarina. The 
Brazilian Corporation Law allows our shareholders to hold meetings in another location in the event of force majeure, 
provided that the meetings are held in the same city in which the company’s head office is located and the relevant 
notice includes a clear indication of the place where the meeting will occur. 

Calling of Shareholders’ Meetings 

Our board of directors may call shareholders’ meetings. Shareholders’ meetings also may be called by: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

any shareholder, if our board of directors fails to call a shareholders’ meeting within 60 days after the 
date it is required to do so under applicable law and our bylaws; 

shareholders holding at least 5% of our common shares, if our board of directors fails to call a meeting 
within eight days after receipt of a request to call the meeting by those shareholders indicating the reasons 
for calling such a meeting and the proposed agenda; 

shareholders holding at least 5% of our common shares if our board of directors fails to call a meeting 
within eight days after receipt of a request to call a meeting to approve the creation of a fiscal council; 
and 

our fiscal council, if the board of directors fails to call an annual shareholders’ meeting within one month 
after the date it is required to do so under applicable law and our bylaws. The fiscal council may also 
call  an  extraordinary  general  shareholders’  meeting  if  it  believes  that  there  are  important  or  urgent 
matters to be addressed. 

Conditions of Admission 

Our shareholders may be represented at a shareholders’ meeting by a proxy appointed less than a year before 
the meeting, which proxy holder must be either a shareholder, a corporate officer, a lawyer or, in the case of a publicly 
traded company, such as our company, a financial institution. An investment fund shareholder must be represented by 
its investment fund officer or by a proxy holder. 

Pursuant to our bylaws, to ensure the efficiency of the works during our shareholders’ meetings shareholders 
attending a shareholders’ meeting are required to deliver, at least five days prior to the shareholders’ meeting, proof 
of their status as shareholders and proof that they hold the shares they intend to vote by delivery of proper identification 
and, if necessary, a receipt issued by the custodian agent, a power of attorney (if the shareholder is represented by a 
third party) and/or an extract evidencing the holding of registered shares. Notwithstanding the above and in accordance 
with  Brazilian  Corporation  Law  and  our  bylaws,  shareholders  who  are  able  to  make  proof  of  their  status  as 
shareholders of the Company may participate and vote at our shareholders’ meeting. 

In addition, shareholders may vote by sending the distance voting form or by public request for proxy made 
available by the Company, duly filled and signed directly to the Company at Avenida das Nações Unidas, 8501, 1st 
Floor, Zip Code 05425-070, São Paulo – SP – Brazil to the attention of the Corporate Legal Department, with copies 
of the following documents:  

• 

• 

certified copies of an identification document with a photo for individuals and the bylaws, corporate and 
proxy documents and an identification document with a photo of the proxy holder for legal entities; and 

in the case of investment funds, the rules of the fund, the bylaws of the manager or the administrator, 
according  to  the  voting  policy  of  the  fund,  corporate  and  proxy  documents  and  an  identification 
document with a photo of the proxy holder.  

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It is not mandatory to notarize the signature on the distance voting form. Corporate and proxy documents of 
legal entities and investment funds in foreign languages shall be notarized and accompanied by a sworn translation.  

The holders of ADRs will be represented by The Bank of New York Mellon, in its capacity as a depository 

institution within the terms of the Deposit Agreement signed with the Company.  

Shareholders may also vote by means of instruction transmitted to the Company’s bookkeeping agent. This 
option is aimed exclusively to shareholders whose shares are kept with the bookkeeping agent and that are not held in 
the central depositary. 

Shareholders with shares which are not held in the central depositary and who choose to exercise their voting 
right through service providers may transmit their instructions to the bookkeeping agent of the shares issued by the 
Company, in accordance with the service provider’s rules. Shareholders should contact the bookkeeping agent and 
verify the procedures it has established for distance voting form along with the documents and information it requires 
to exercise this service.  

The shareholders whose shares are deposited in the central depositary of the B3 and who choose to exercise 
their voting right through service providers should transmit their instructions to the respective custodian agents, in line 
with their rules, which, in turn, will forward these voting instructions to the central depositary of the B3. This option 
is  aimed  exclusively  at  shareholders  whose  shares  are  in  the  custody  of  the  B3.  Voting  will  be  exercised  by  the 
shareholders according to the procedures adopted by their custodian agents. 

Board of Directors 

Under our bylaws, our board of directors is composed of nine to eleven members. The members of our board 
of directors are elected at the shareholders’ meeting for a period of two years and may be reelected.  Our bylaws do 
not contemplate alternates to board members. At least 2 of the directors or 20% of the board of directors, whichever 
is greater, must be independent (as defined in the Novo Mercado rules). The Board of Directors must annually assess 
and disclose the independent board members and describe any event that may compromise their independence. There 
is no mandatory retirement age for our directors. In case of any vacancy, the remaining members will nominate an 
alternate director who will serve until the next shareholders’ meeting, when shareholders shall elect another director 
to serve for the remaining term of office. If more than 1/3 of the seats on the board of directors are vacant at the same 
time, then an extraordinary shareholders’ meeting shall be called within 30 days counted from such vacancy event to 
elect  the  substitutes  for  such  positions,  who  will  serve  for  a  term  of  office  coinciding  with  the  term  of  the  other 
members. 

Pursuant to our bylaws, whenever the shareholders’ meeting is convened to elect the board of directors, the 
board members are required to vote on and submit to the shareholders’ meeting a slate with candidates for all of the 
vacant board seats, including for the positions of chairman and vice chairman of the board. A shareholder who intends 
to nominate one or more members that are not on the slate prepared by the board must notify us, preferably in writing, 
at least five days prior to the shareholders’ meeting at which the members of the board of directors will be elected, 
providing  us  with  the  name,  a  complete  list  of  qualifications  and  resume  of  the  candidate.  If  we  receive  such  a 
notification, we will be responsible for immediately disclosing this information through a Shareholders’ Notice to be 
posted on the CVM website and our website.  

The Brazilian Corporation Law sets forth that a cumulative vote system must be made available upon request 
of shareholders representing at least 10% of our voting share capital. The cumulative vote system entitles each share 
held by a shareholder to as many votes as there are members of the board of directors and to give each share the right 
to vote cumulatively for only one candidate or to distribute its votes among several candidates. Whenever the election 
has been carried out by the cumulative vote process, the dismissal of any member of the board of directors by the 
shareholders’ meeting will imply the dismissal of all other members, and a new election shall be held. 

Pursuant to CVM regulations, the  minimum percentage of  voting capital required for the adoption of the 
cumulative vote system by a publicly held company may be reduced based on its share capital, varying from 5% to 
10%. In our case, considering the amount of our share capital, shareholders representing 5% of the voting capital may 

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request the adoption of the cumulative vote system to elect the members of our board of directors. Pursuant to our 
bylaws, if a shareholder requests the adoption of the cumulative vote system, as provided by Section 141, paragraph 
one of the Brazilian Corporation Law, we must disclose our receipt and the contents of such notification immediately 
through a Shareholder Notice, available on the CVM website or in accordance with applicable laws or CVM rules. 

At the Company’s Ordinary and Extraordinary General Meeting held on April 26, 2018, a cumulative voting 
system  was adopted for the election of our board members, pursuant to  the applicable  CVM  rules. However, in a 
decision published on November 8, 2018, after an appeal that was presented by the Company, the CVM overruled this 
decision and agreed that the votes cast for the election of our board members should be considered under a slate-based 
voting system.  See “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—A. Directors and Senior Management—
Board of Directors.”  

Board of Executive Officers 

Our bylaws provide for a board of executive officers composed of at least two and no more than 15 members, 
one of which is the Global Chief Executive Officer, one of which is the Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer 
and all other members as Vice President. The titles and duties of the remaining executive officers are proposed by the 
Global Chief Executive Officer to the board of directors. 

The members of our board of executive officers are elected by our board of directors for two-year terms and 
are eligible for reelection. Our board of directors may remove any executive officer from office at any time with or 
without cause. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, our executive officers must be residents of Brazil but need not 
be shareholders of our company. 

In  accordance  with  the  Novo  Mercado  rules  and  our  bylaws,  the  position  of  Chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Directors and Chief Executive Officer may not be occupied by the same individual, except in the event of a vacancy 
in  the  position  of  Chief  Executive  Officer,  in  which  case,  the  company  should:  (i)  disclose  the  occurrence  of  an 
individual holding both positions as a result of the vacancy; (ii) disclose, within 60 days, counted from the vacancy, 
the measures taken to end any such occurrence; and (iii) end any such occurrence within one year. 

Pursuant to Novo Mercado rules, Mr. Pedro Pullen Parente’s term as Chief Executive Officer ended on June 
18, 2019, as he was only allowed to hold the positions of Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive 
Officer at the same time for a period of one year. In connection with the end of Mr. Pedro Pullen Parente’s term as 
Chief Executive Officer, our board of directors appointed Mr. Lorival Nogueira Luz Júnior as our new Chief Executive 
Officer on March 28, 2019 and he took office on June 18, 2019. 

Fiscal Council 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, the fiscal council is an auditing body independent from the company’s 
management.  Its  main  responsibility  is  to  inspect  the  management  actions  and  audit  our  consolidated  financial 
statements, reporting its conclusions to the shareholders. 

We have a permanent  fiscal council composed of three  members and an equal  number of alternates. The 
Brazilian  Corporation  Law  and  our  bylaws  provide  that,  if  there  is  a  controlling  shareholder,  then  minority 
shareholders jointly representing 10% or more of the company shares will have the right to elect, in a separate vote, 
one member of the fiscal council and one alternate.   

Members of the fiscal council may not be members of the board of directors, officers or employees of the 
company or of a controlled company or a company from the same group.  The Brazilian Corporation Law also requires 
that  members  of  the  fiscal  council  receive  compensation,  at  a  minimum,  in  the  amount  of  10%  of  the  average 
compensation paid to the Company’s officers, excluding other benefits.   

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Audit and Integrity Committee 

At  our  shareholders’  meeting  held  on  April  3,  2014,  our  shareholders  approved  the  establishment  of  a 
permanent audit and integrity committee. Our bylaws provide that the permanent audit and integrity committee shall 
be comprised of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members, provided that (i) the majority of the members 
shall be independent, (ii) at least one of the independent members of the board of directors shall be a member of the 
audit and integrity committee, (iii) at least one of the audit and integrity committee members shall not be a member 
of the board of directors, and (iv) none of them can be an officer. The audit and integrity committee is designed to 
comply with CVM Instruction No. 308, as amended, and to allow us to rely on the exemption from the audit committee 
requirements  of  the  SEC  contained  in  paragraph  (c)(3)  of  Rule  10A-3  under  the  Exchange  Act.    See  “Item  16D. 
Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.” 

The audit and integrity committee is an advisory body directly linked to the board of directors.  The members 
of the audit and integrity committee are appointed by the board of directors for terms of two years and will serve for 
no more than 10 years.  At least one of the members of the audit and integrity committee must be a financial specialist, 
having knowledge of corporate accounting, auditing and finance. 

The audit and integrity committee has the following functions: 

• 

• 

opine on the engagement and removal of the independent external auditors for the preparation of the 
outside independent audit or for any other service; 

supervise  the  activities  (a)  of  the  independent  external  auditors  to  evaluate  their  independence,  the 
quality and suitability of the services rendered and the annual  work plan, (b) of our internal controls 
department, (c) of our internal audit department and (d) of our financial reporting department; 

•  monitor  the  quality  and  integrity  of  our  internal  control  mechanisms,  our  quarterly  information,  our 
interim and annual financial statements and additional information and metrics published on the basis of 
adjusted account data and non-accounting data which may incorporate information not typically reported 
in the financial statements; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

evaluate  and  monitor  our  exposure  to  risk,  including  requiring  detailed  information  on  policies  and 
procedures  related  to  management  compensation,  the  use  of  our  assets  and  expenses  incurred  in  our 
name, and integrity (compliance) practices; 

evaluate and monitor, jointly with management and the internal audit department, the policy, suitability 
and reasoning of transactions with related parties, and internal policies;  

evaluate,  monitor  and  recommend  to  the  board  of  directors  the  remediation  or  improvement  of  the 
Company’s internal policies, including the Related Parties Transactions Policy; 

evaluate the Company’s compliance practices and suggest improvements; 

evaluate and discuss the annual work plan for the independent external auditor and submit it to the board 
of directors for its assessment; and 

prepare a summarized annual report to be presented together with the financial statements containing a 
description  of  its  activities,  results  and  conclusions  reached  and  recommendations  offered,  and  any 
situations  where  there  is  significant  divergence  between  our  management,  the  independent  external 
auditors and the audit and integrity committee in relation to our financial statements. 

The audit and integrity committee must also have mechanisms to receive, retain and respond to whistleblower 
complaints, including of a confidential nature, on matters related to the scope of the company’s internal or external 
activities,  related  to  the  violation  of  legal  provisions  and  rules  applicable  to  the  Company  (including  those  of  an 

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accounting, internal controls and auditing nature), in addition to internal codes and rules, including with provisions 
for specific procedures for the protection of whistleblowers and the confidentiality of the information. 

The audit and integrity committee has a written charter, which was approved by the board of directors and 

describes in detail the committee’s functions and operating procedures. 

Transactions in Which Members of the Board of Directors and Executive Officers Have a Conflict of Interest 

Our bylaws contain a specific provision limiting the right of a member of the board of directors to have access 
to information, participate in the discussions or vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which he or she has an 
interest that conflicts with our interests. In addition, the Brazilian Corporation Law prohibits a member of the board 
of directors or board of executive officers from intervening in any transaction that conflicts with the interests of the 
company. 

Allocation of Net Income and Distribution of Dividends 

Calculation of Distributable Amount 

At each annual shareholders’ meeting, our board of executive officers and our board of directors are required 
to  recommend  how  to  allocate  our  net  profits,  if  any,  from  the  preceding  fiscal  year.  This  allocation  is  subject  to 
consideration by our shareholders. 

The Brazilian Corporation Law defines “net profits” for any fiscal year as net profits after income and social 
contribution taxes for that fiscal year, net of any accumulated losses from prior fiscal years and any amounts allocated 
to  employees’  and  management’s  participation  in  our  net  profits  in  such  fiscal  year.  Our  bylaws  provide  that  the 
shareholders may allocate the participation of directors, executive officers and employees on our net profits as follows: 
up to 10% to employees and up to the limit established under applicable laws to our directors and executive officers. 

Our bylaws provide that an amount equal to 25% of our net profits, if any, as reduced by amounts allocated 
to our legal reserves and contingency reserves, and increased by any reversals of our contingency reserves, if any, 
must be allocated for dividend distributions in any particular year. This dividend is limited to the realized portion of 
our net profits, which amount is the minimum mandatory dividend. Such amount must be calculated after excluding 
the allocation of profits to employees and directors. The calculation of our  net profits, allocations to reserves and 
distributable amounts are determined on the basis of our unconsolidated financial statements prepared in accordance 
with the Brazilian Corporation Law. 

Profit Reserve Accounts  

The  financial  statements  of  corporations  constituted  under  Brazilian  law  include  two  principal  reserve 
accounts: profit reserves and capital reserves. Except for the legal reserve, allocations to any reserve are subject to the 
approval of our shareholders at our annual shareholders’ meetings. 

Profit Reserves 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, our profit reserves account is comprised of the legal reserve, unrealized 
profits  reserve,  contingency  reserve,  bylaw  reserves  and  retained  earnings  reserve.  Allocations  to  each  of  these 
reserves  (other  than  the  legal  reserve)  are  subject  to  approval  by  company’s  shareholders  at  annual  shareholders’ 
meeting. 

Legal Reserve 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law and our bylaws, we are required to maintain a legal reserve to which 
we must allocate 5% of net profits for each fiscal year until the aggregate amount in the reserve equals 20% of share 
capital.  However,  we  are  not  required  to  make  any  allocations  to  legal  reserve  in  a  fiscal  year  in  which  the  legal 
reserve, when added to the established capital reserves, exceeds 30% of total capital. The amounts to be allocated to 

135 

 
such reserve may only be used to increase share capital or to absorb losses, but are not available for distribution. This 
amount  must  be  calculated  after  excluding  the  allocation  of  profits  to  employees,  officers  and  directors.  As  of 
December 31, 2018, we did not have a legal reserve.  

Unrealized Profit Reserve 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, the amount by which the distributable amount exceeds realized net 
profits in a given fiscal year may be allocated to unrealized profits reserves. The Brazilian Corporation Law defines 
realized  net  profits  as  the  amount  by  which  net  profits  exceed  the  sum  of  (1)  the  portion  of  net  income,  if  any, 
attributable to earnings and losses of subsidiaries and affiliates accounted for using the equity method of accounting 
and (2) the profits, gains or returns that will be received by company after the end of the next fiscal year. The profits 
allocated to the unrealized profits reserves must be added to the next mandatory minimum dividend distribution after 
those profits have been realized, if they have not been used to absorb losses in subsequent periods. As of December 
31, 2018, we did not have an unrealized profits reserve.  

Contingency Reserve 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, a percentage of net profits may be allocated to a contingency reserve 
for estimable losses that are considered probable in future years. Any amount so allocated in a prior year must either 
be reversed in the fiscal year in which the loss had been anticipated if the loss does not occur as projected or be offset 
in the event that the anticipated loss occurs. As of December 31, 2018, we did not have a contingency reserve.  

Bylaw Reserves 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, any corporation  may provide in its bylaws  for additional reserves, 
provided  that  the  maximum  amount  that  may  be  allocated,  the  purpose  and  allocation  criteria  of  the  reserve  are 
specified. Our bylaws provide for the following additional reserves:  

•  Reserves for increases in capital. 20% of adjusted net profits for each fiscal year must be allocated to 
reserves for increases in capital until the aggregate amount in such reserve equals 20% of share capital. 
This  amount  must  be  calculated  after  excluding  the  allocation  of  profits  to  employees,  officers  and 
directors. As of December 31, 2018, we did not have increases in capital reserve. 

•  Expansion  reserves.  Shareholders  may  decide  at  a  meeting  to  retain  up  to  50%  of  our  net  profits  to 
allocate to an expansion reserve, up to a limit of 80% of share capital. This amount must be calculated 
after excluding the allocation of profits to employees, officers and directors. This reserve is intended to 
ensure investment in fixed assets or the increase in our working capital. As of December 31, 2018, we 
did not have an expansion reserve. 

In addition, under the Brazilian Corporate Law, shareholders may decide at a meeting to retain the portion of 
net  profits  arising  from  government  donations  or  subsidies  for  investment  and  allocate  them  to  a  reserve  for  tax 
incentives.  This  reserve  can  be  excluded  from  the  calculation  basis  of  the  mandatory  minimum  dividends.  As  of 
December 31, 2018, we did not have a reserve for tax incentives.   

Retained Earnings Reserves 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, our shareholders may decide at a general shareholders’ meeting to 
retain a portion of our net profits that is provided for in a capital expenditure budget. As of December 31, 2018, we 
did not have a retained earnings reserve.  

Capital Reserves 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, the capital reserve consists of the share premium from the issuance of 
shares,  goodwill  reserves  from  mergers,  sales  of  founders’  shares  and  sales  of  subscription  warrants.  Amounts 
allocated to our capital reserve are not taken into consideration for purposes of determining the mandatory minimum 

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dividends. We are not allowed to issue founders’ shares. In addition, the remaining balance in the capital reserve may 
only be used to increase share capital, to absorb losses that surpass accumulated profits and the profit reserves or to 
redeem, reimburse or purchase shares. As of December 31, 2018, we had a capital reserve of R$115.4 million.  

Payment of Dividends and Interest on Shareholders’ Equity  

The bylaws of a Brazilian company must specify a minimum percentage of profit available for distribution, 
which must be paid to shareholders as mandatory dividends or as interest on shareholders’ equity. Consistent with the 
Brazilian Corporation Law, our bylaws provide that an amount equal to 25% of our net profits, adjusted as described 
in “—Allocation of Net Income and Distribution of Dividends” above, must be allocated for dividend distributions or 
payment of interest on shareholders’ equity in a particular year. 

While we are required under the Brazilian Corporation Law to pay a mandatory dividend each year, we may 
suspend  the  mandatory  dividends  if  our  administrative  bodies  report  to  our  annual  shareholders’  meeting  that  the 
distribution  is  incompatible  with  our  financial  condition.  Our  fiscal  council,  if  in  operation,  must  review  any 
suspension  of  mandatory  dividends  recommended  by  our  management.  In  such  case,  our  management  would  be 
required to submit a report to the CVM setting forth the reasons for any suspension of dividends. Profits not distributed 
by virtue of such a suspension are allocated to a special reserve and, if not absorbed by any subsequent losses, are 
required to be distributed as dividends as soon as our financial condition permits their distribution. 

We  are  able  to  allocate  mandatory  dividends  in  the  form  of  interest  on  shareholders’  equity,  which  is 
deductible when calculating our income tax and social contribution. We have done so in the past and expect to continue 
to do so in the foreseeable future. 

Dividends 

We are required by the Brazilian Corporation Law and our bylaws to hold an annual shareholders’ meeting 
no later than the fourth month following the end of each fiscal year at which, among other things, the shareholders 
must vote to declare an annual dividend. The annual dividend is calculated based on our audited financial statements 
prepared for the immediately preceding fiscal year. 

Any  holder  of  shares  on  the  date  the  dividend  is  declared  is  entitled  to  receive  the  dividend.  Under  the 
Brazilian Corporation Law, dividends are generally required to be paid within 60 days of the declaration date, unless 
the shareholders’ resolution establishes another date of payment, which, in any case, must occur before the end of the 
fiscal year in which the dividend is declared. 

Our bylaws do not require that we index the amount of any dividend payment to inflation. 

Our board of directors may declare interim dividends or interest on shareholders’ equity based on realized 
profits  reflected  in  semiannual  financial  statements.  The  board  of  directors  may  also  declare  dividends  based  on 
financial statements prepared for shorter periods, but they cannot exceed the amount of capital reserves. Any payment 
of interim dividends may be set off against the amount of mandatory dividends relating to the net profits earned in the 
year in which the interim dividends were paid. 

Interest on Shareholders’ Equity  

Since January 1, 2006, Brazilian companies are permitted to pay interest on shareholders’ equity and treat 
those payments as a deductible expense for purposes of calculating Brazilian income tax and social contribution tax. 
The  amount  of  the  deduction  is  limited  to  the  greater  of:  (1) 50%  of  our  net  profits  (after  deduction  of  social 
contribution and before payment of any interest or any deduction for income taxes) relating to the period to which the 
payment  is  made;  and  (2) 50%  of  our  accumulated  profits.  The  payment  of  interest  on  shareholders’  equity  is  an 
alternative to the payment of mandatory dividends. The rate applied in calculating interest on shareholders’ equity 
cannot  exceed  the  TJLP  rate  for  the  applicable  period.  The  amount  distributed  to  our  shareholders  as  interest  on 
shareholders’ equity, net of any income tax, may be included as part of the mandatory dividends. In accordance with 
applicable law, we are required to pay to shareholders an amount sufficient to ensure that the net amount they receive 

137 

 
in respect of interest on shareholders’ equity, after payment of any applicable  withholding tax plus the amount of 
declared dividends, is at least equivalent to the mandatory dividend amount. For more information, see “E. Taxation—
Brazilian Tax Considerations—Income Tax.” 

Any payment of interest on shareholders’ equity to holders of common shares or ADRs, whether or not they 
are Brazilian residents, is subject to Brazilian withholding tax at the rate of 15%, except that a 25% withholding tax 
rate applies if the recipient is a Tax Haven Resident. A tax haven jurisdiction is a country (1) that does not impose 
income  tax  or  whose  income  tax  rate  is  lower  than  20%  or  (2)  that  does  not  permit  disclosure  of  the  identity  of 
shareholders of entities organized under its jurisdiction. Under our bylaws, we may include the amount distributed as 
interest on shareholders’ equity, net of any withholding tax, as part of the mandatory dividend amount. 

There  are  no  restrictions  on  our  ability  to  distribute  dividends  that  have  been  lawfully  declared  under 
Brazilian  law.  However,  as  with  other  types  of  remittances  from  Brazil,  the  Brazilian  government  may  impose 
temporary restrictions on remittances to foreign investors of the proceeds of their investments in Brazil, as it did for 
approximately  nine  months  in  1989  and  early  1990,  and  on  the  conversion  of  Brazilian  currency  into  foreign 
currencies, which could hinder or prevent the depositary from converting dividends into U.S. dollars and remitting 
these U.S. dollars abroad. 

Statute of Limitations 

Our shareholders have three years to claim dividend distributions made with respect to their shares, from the 
date  that  we  distribute  the  dividends  to  our  shareholders,  after  which  any  unclaimed  or  not  received  dividend 
distributions legally revert to us. We are not required to adjust the amount of any distributions for inflation that occurs 
during the period from the date of declaration to the payment date. 

Withdrawal Rights 

Shareholders  who dissent from certain actions taken by our shareholders at a shareholders’  meeting have 
withdrawal rights. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, a shareholder’s withdrawal rights may be exercised in the 
following circumstances, among others: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

spin-off (as described below);  

reduction in our mandatory dividends;  

change in our corporate purpose;  

consolidation with or merger into another company;  

participation in a group of companies (as defined in the Brazilian Corporation Law); or 

the acquisition by our company of the control of any company if the acquisition price exceeds the limits 
established in the second paragraph of Article 256 of the Brazilian Corporation Law. 

However,  under  the  Brazilian  Corporation  Law,  a  spin-off  will  not  trigger  withdrawal  rights  unless,  as  a 

result: 

• 

there is a change in our corporate purpose, except to the extent that the principal business purpose of the 
entity to which the spun-off assets and liabilities were transferred is consistent with our business purpose; 

• 

there is a reduction in our mandatory dividend; or 

•  we are made part of a centralized group of companies, as defined in the Brazilian Corporation Law. 

In cases where we:  

138 

 
•  merge into or consolidate with another company; 

• 

• 

• 

participate in a group of companies (as defined in the Brazilian Corporation Law); 

participate in a merger of shares; or 

acquire the control of any company if the acquisition price exceeds the limits established in the second 
paragraph of Article 256 of the Brazilian Corporation Law,  

our shareholders will not be given withdrawal rights if our shares (1) are “liquid,” which means that they are part of 
the São Paulo Stock Exchange Index or another traded stock exchange index, as defined by the CVM, and (2) are 
widely held, such that our controlling shareholders and their affiliates jointly hold less than 50% of the type or class 
of shares that are being withdrawn. 

The right to withdraw expires 30 days after publication of the minutes of the relevant shareholders’ meeting. 
We are entitled to reconsider any action giving rise to withdrawal rights for ten days after the expiration of this period 
if we determine that the redemption of shares of dissenting shareholders would jeopardize our financial stability. 

Any shareholder who exercises withdrawal rights is entitled to receive book value for its shares, based on 
our  most recent audited balance sheet approved by our shareholders. However, if the resolution  giving rise to the 
withdrawal rights is made more than 60 days after the date of our most recent balance sheet, a shareholder may request 
that its shares be valued in accordance with a new balance sheet dated no more than 60 days prior to the date of the 
resolution. In such case, we are obligated to pay 80% of the refund value of the shares based on the most recent balance 
sheet approved by our shareholders, and the remaining balance must be paid within 120 days after the date of the 
resolution at the shareholders’ meeting that gave rise to withdrawal rights based on the new balance sheet. 

Redemption 

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, we may redeem our shares by a decision taken in an extraordinary 

shareholders’ meeting by shareholders representing at least 50% of our share capital. 

Preemptive Rights 

Except  as  described  below,  each  of  our  shareholders  has  a  general  preemptive  right  to  participate  in  any 
issuance of new shares, convertible debentures and warrants, in proportion to its shareholding at such time, but the 
conversion  of  debentures  and  warrants  into  shares,  the  granting  of  options  to  purchase  shares  and  the  issuance  of 
shares as a result of the exercise of options are not subject to preemptive rights. 

A  period  of  at  least  30  days  following  the  publication  of  notice  of  the  issuance  of  shares,  convertible 
debentures or warrants is allowed for the exercise of the preemptive right, and the right may be transferred or disposed 
of for value. Under the terms of Article 172 of the Brazilian Corporation Law and our bylaws, our board of directors 
may exclude preemptive rights or reduce the exercise period with respect to the issuance of new shares, debentures 
convertible into our shares and  warrants up to the limit of  our authorized stock capital if the distribution of those 
securities is effected through a stock exchange, through a public offering or through an exchange offer for shares in a 
public offering the purpose of which is to acquire control of another company. 

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions in Bylaws 

Our bylaws contain provisions that have the effect of avoiding concentration of our common shares in the 
hands of a small group of investors, in order to promote more widespread ownership of our common shares. These 
provisions require each shareholder who becomes the holder of 33.3% or more of our total share capital to immediately 
disclose that fact and within 30 days from the date of such event or acquisition, commence a public tender offer to 
buy all of our outstanding shares in accordance with the CVM and the São Paulo Stock Exchange regulations and our 
bylaws. These provisions are triggered by the acquisition of beneficial ownership as well as record ownership of our 
common shares.  

139 

 
These provisions are not applicable to shareholders who become holders of 33.3% or more of our common 
shares as a result of (1) legal succession, provided that the shareholder sells any shares in excess of the 33.3% limit 
within 60 days of the event, (2) the merging of another company into us, (3) the merging of the shares of another 
company by us and (4) the subscription of shares of the Company carried out in a single primary issue. 

Involuntary  capital  increases  resulting  from  cancellation  of  treasury  shares  or  capital  reductions  with 

cancellation of shares will not be considered in the calculation of the 33.3% of total shares issued by us. 

The public tender offer must be (1) directed to all our shareholders, (2) made through an auction to take place 
at the São Paulo Stock Exchange, (3) launched at a fixed price in accordance with the procedure set forth below and 
(4) paid upfront in Brazilian currency. The takeover should be immediately disclosed through a material fact notice, 
and a public tender offer must be commenced within 30 days from the date of such acquisition or event and must be 
done with respect to all of our shares for a price per share that may not be less than the greater of: (i) 140% of the 
average trading price on the stock exchange trading the greatest volume of shares of the capital stock of the Company 
during the last 120 trading sessions prior to the date on which the public tender offer became obligatory; and (ii) 140% 
of the average trading price on the stock exchange trading the greatest volume of shares of the capital stock of the 
Company during the last 30 trading days prior to the date on which the public tender offer became obligatory. 

The realization of the public tender offer does not exclude the right of another of our shareholders or of our 

company to launch a competing public tender offer in accordance with applicable regulations. 

Restriction on Certain Transactions by Controlling Shareholders, Directors and Officers 

We  are  subject  to  the  rules  of  CVM  Instruction  358,  of  January  3,  2002,  relating  to  the  trading  of  our 
securities.  We,  the  members  of  our  board  of  directors,  executive  officers  and  members  of  our  fiscal  council  and 
members of any technical or advisory body, any current or future controlling shareholders, or whomever or whatever, 
by virtue of their or its title, duty or position with us, or with any such controlling shareholder, controlled company or 
affiliates, has knowledge of a material fact, and any other person who has knowledge of material information and 
knows it has not been disclosed to the market (including auditors, analysts, underwriters and advisers), are considered 
insiders and must abstain from trading our securities, prior to the disclosure of such material information to the market. 

This restriction also applies:  

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

to any of our former officers, directors or members of the fiscal council for a twelve-month period after 
leaving the Company; 

if we intend to merge or combine with another company, consolidate, spin off part or all of our assets or 
reorganize, until such information is disclosed to the market; 

to us, if an agreement for the transfer of our control has been executed, or if an option or mandate to 
such effect has been granted, until such information is disclosed to the market; 

during the public distribution of securities issued by us; 

at any time, to the trading of derivatives based on securities issued by us; 

during the 15-day period before the disclosure of our quarterly and annual financial statements required 
by the CVM; or 

to the controlling shareholders, our officers, and members of our board of directors, whenever we, or 
any of our controlling companies, affiliates or companies under common control, are in the process of 
purchasing or selling shares issued by us. 

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Arbitration 

In accordance with our bylaws, we, our shareholders, directors and members of our fiscal council agree to 
resolve through arbitration any disputes or controversies that may arise between us relating to or derived from, in 
particular, the application, validity, enforceability, interpretation or breach (and its effects) of the provisions under 
Law No. 6,385/1976,  Novo Mercado listing agreement, Novo Mercado rules, our bylaws, the Brazilian Corporation 
Law, the rules published by the CVM, the other rules applicable to the Brazilian capital markets in general, other B3 
rules, as well as the rules of the Market Arbitration Chamber of the São Paulo Stock Exchange itself, in each case in 
accordance with the rules of the Market Arbitration Chamber.  

Going-Private Process 

We  may  become  private  if  our  controlling  shareholder  or  any  company  which  controls  us,  directly  or 
indirectly, as the case may be, conducts a public tender offer to acquire all of our outstanding shares in accordance 
with the rules under the Novo Mercado rules. The offered price per share must be fair and shareholders holding more 
than 33.33% of the outstanding shares must agree to the public tender offer or otherwise expressly agree to voluntarily 
exit the Novo Mercado without the effective sale of shares. The voluntary exit from the  Novo Mercado may occur 
regardless of the public tender offer, if approved by shareholders in a meeting pursuant to the rules and conditions of 
the Novo Mercado rules.  

The compulsory exit from the Novo Mercado must be preceded by a public tender offer pursuant to the CVM 
rules. Our shares will remain listed under the Novo Mercado segment for an additional six months in the event the 
minimum percentage for delisting is not reached after completion  of the public tender offer. In addition, BRF will 
remain subject to other penalties that may be imposed by B3. 

Delisting from the Novo Mercado 

Our delisting from the Novo Mercado, either by voluntary or compulsory action or by virtue of a corporate 
restructuring, shall observe the rules contained in the Regulation of the Novo Mercado. At any time, we may delist 
our shares from the Novo Mercado, provided that a public tender offer for the acquisition of our outstanding shares is 
carried out.  

Such tender offer shall observe the procedures provided in the regulation issued by CVM on the tender offer 
for the cancellation of registration as a publicly held company, including the following requirements: (i) the price 
offered shall be fair, and a request of new valuation of the Company shall be in the form established in the Brazilian 
Corporation Law; and (ii) shareholders holding more than 1/3 of the outstanding shares shall accept the tender offer 
or expressly agree with the delisting from the Novo Mercado without the effective sale of the shares. 

The voluntary delisting from the Novo Mercado may occur regardless of the completion of the tender offer 
mentioned above in the event of a waiver approved at a General Shareholders’ Meeting, which must observe the rules 
and conditions of the Regulation of the Novo Mercado. The compulsory delisting from the Novo Mercado shall be 
preceded by a tender offer that observes the procedures provided in the regulation issued by CVM on public tender 
offers  for  purchases  of  shares  for  cancellation  of  registration  of  a  publicly  held  company  and  the  requirements 
established  in  Article  43  of  our  bylaws.    Our  shares  will  remain  listed  under  the  Novo  Mercado  segment  for  an 
additional six months in the event the minimum percentage for delisting is not reached after completion of the public 
tender offer. In addition, BRF will remain subject to other penalties that may be imposed by B3.  

With the exception of tender offers related to the delisting from the Novo Mercado and/or to the cancellation 
of registration of a publicly held company, the unified tender offer may only be initiated by a shareholder who holds 
an  amount  equal  or  higher  than  33.33%  of  our  total  shares,  observing  the  minimum  price  to  be  paid  per  share 
established in Article 41 of our bylaws. 

141 

 
Change of Control 

Under the rules of the Novo Mercado, the direct or indirect sale of our control, in one transaction or in a series 
of transactions, creates an obligation by the acquirer to complete, subject to applicable regulations, a public tender 
offer  for  the  acquisition  of  all  other  outstanding  shares  on  the  same  terms  and  conditions  granted  to  the  selling 
controlling shareholder. 

The  change  of  control  concept  provided  for  in  our  bylaws  and  the  situations  in  which  the  acquiring 
shareholder is required to make a public tender offer includes and may be broader than the concepts and situations 
provided for in the Brazilian Corporation Law and in the Novo Mercado rules. 

The  acquirer  must  take  all  necessary  measures  to  reconstitute  the  minimum  percentage  of  the  free  float 

required under the Novo Mercado regulations within eighteen months of the acquisition. 

Holders of 33.3% or More of Our Shares 

Any person who acquires or becomes a shareholder through an offering for quantities of shares equal to or 
greater than 33.3% of the total issued shares should undertake or apply for registration of a takeover bid of all shares 
of  our  offering  and  should  comply  with  CVM  rules,  the  regulations  of  the  São  Paulo  Stock  Exchange,  and  the 
provisions of our bylaws. 

The takeover should be immediately disclosed through a material fact notice, and a public tender offer must 
be commenced within 30 days from the date of such acquisition or event and must be done with respect to all of our 
shares for a price per share that may not be less than the greater of: (i) 140% of the average trading price on the stock 
exchange trading the greatest volume of shares of the capital stock of the Company during the last 120 trading sessions 
prior to the date on which the public tender offer became obligatory; and (ii) 140% of the average trading price on the 
stock exchange trading the greatest volume of shares of the capital stock of the Company during the last 30 trading 
days prior to the date on which the public tender offer became obligatory. For a detailed description of the procedures 
applicable to takeover bid by increased participation, see our bylaws filed as exhibit 1.01 to this Annual Report on 
Form 20-F. 

Suspension of Rights of Acquiring Shareholder for Violation of Our Bylaws 

In the event an acquiring shareholder violates the provisions of our bylaws regarding the need to conduct a 
public offer as a result of a change of control or of the purchase of shares representing 33.3% or more of our share 
capital, the rights of such acquiring shareholder may be suspended by a decision taken at our shareholders’ meeting. 
If such a violation occurs, we must hold a shareholders’ meeting and the acquiring shareholder will not be entitled to 
vote at such meeting. 

Purchases of Our Shares by Our Company 

Our bylaws entitle our board of directors to approve the acquisition of our shares, except when approval by 
the shareholders is mandatory pursuant to CVM rules. The acquisition of our shares for cancellation or maintenance 
in treasury may not, among other actions: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

be used to purchase shares of the controlling shareholder; 

be carried out in organized markets at a price greater than market price; 

be carried out during a public tender offer for the acquisition of shares issued by us; 

require the use of resources greater than those available, pursuant to the CVM rules; 

create, directly or indirectly, any artificial demand, supply or share price condition, or use any unfair 
practice as a result of any action or omission; or 

142 

 
• 

be carried out when there is a material information not yet disclosed to the market. 

The decision to purchase our own shares, when taken by the board of directors, which must specify, among 
other information: (i) the purpose and economic effects of the purchase; (ii) the amount of shares to be purchased; (iii) 
price;  (iv)  impacts  on  the  shareholding  structure;  (v)  maximum  term  for  the  liquidation  of  the  purchase;  (vi) 
intermediary  institutions,  if  any;  and  (vii)  the  reasons  why  the  board  believes  the  purchase  will  not  affect  the 
compliance with obligations with creditors or the payment of mandatory dividends. 

We cannot hold in treasury more than 10% of our total shares, including the shares held by our subsidiaries 

and affiliates. 

Reporting Requirements 

We are subject to the reporting requirements established by the Brazilian Corporation Law and the regulations 
of the CVM. In addition, as a result of our listing on the Novo Mercado, we must meet the reporting requirements of 
the Novo Mercado rules. 

Information Required by the CVM 

Brazilian  securities  regulations  require  that  a  publicly  held  corporation  must  provide  the  CVM  and  the 

relevant stock exchanges with the following periodic information, among others: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS and related management, fiscal council, audit and 
integrity committee and auditors’ reports, within three months from the end of its fiscal year or on the 
date in which they are published or made available to shareholders, whichever occurs first, together with 
the  Demonstrações  Financeiras  Padronizadas  (a  report  on  a  standard  form  containing  financial 
information derived from our financial statements required to be filled out by us and filed with the CVM). 
Due to subsequent events, the consolidated financial statements included herein differ from those filed 
with the CVM, as detailed in Note 36.1 to our consolidated financial statements; 

notices of our annual shareholders’ meeting on the date of its publication; 

a summary of the decisions taken at the annual general shareholders’ meeting on the day the meeting is 
held; 

a copy of the minutes of the annual shareholders’ meeting within seven business days of its occurrence; 

report  on  good  governance  practices,  pursuant  to  the  Brazilian  Code  of  Corporate  Governance  for 
Publicly Listed Companies (Código Brasileiro de Governança Corporativa - Companhias Abertas); 

•  Formulário  de  Referência  –  a  report  on  a  standard  form  containing  annual  corporate,  business,  and 
selected financial information, five (5) months from the end of our fiscal year; and we must update this 
document in accordance with Instructions 480 and 481 of the CVM; 

• 

Informações Trimestrais – ITR (a report on a standard form containing quarterly corporate, business and 
financial information), together with a special review report issued by our independent auditor,  within 
45 days from the end of each quarter (except for the last quarter of each year) or upon disclosure of such 
information to the public if it occurs within 45 days from the end of the relevant quarter. 

In addition to the foregoing, we must also file with the CVM and the São Paulo Stock Exchange the following 

information, among others: 

• 

a notice of any extraordinary shareholders’ meeting on the same date it is published; 

143 

 
• 

a summary of the decisions taken at any extraordinary shareholders’ meetings on the day the meeting is 
held; 

•  minutes of any extraordinary shareholders’ meeting within seven business days of the date the meeting 

occurred; 

•  minutes of board of directors' meetings, whenever its decisions are to be effective in relation to third 

parties; 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

a copy of any shareholders’ agreement within seven business days it is filed with us; 

any press release giving notice of material facts, on the same date it is published in the press; 

information on any filing for plan of reorganization, as well as a copy of any judicial decision on such 
request, on the same date it is filed and on the date, we take notice of the judicial decision, respectively; 

request for bankruptcy, on the same day that the Company becomes aware of such requests; and 

a copy of any judicial decision granting a bankruptcy request and appointing of a bankruptcy trustee, on 
the date we become aware of it. 

Information Required by the São Paulo Stock Exchange from Companies Listed on the Novo Mercado 

The  shares  of  the  Company  have  been  listed  to  trade  on  the  Brazilian  Securities  and  Derivatives  Stock 
Exchange  special  listing  segment  named  Novo  Mercado, of  B3.    Accordingly,  the  Company,  its  shareholders,  the 
directors and officers and the fiscal council members (if the council is active) are bound by B3’s Novo Mercado Listing 
Rules.  Whenever a provision of our bylaws is detrimental to our shareholders who may benefit from any tender offer, 
the Novo Mercado Regulations shall prevail over the provisions of the bylaws. 

As a  Novo Mercado company,  we  must observe the following additional disclosure requirements, among 

others: 

•  we must publish the internal rules of our board of directors and its advisory committees, and of the fiscal 

council;  

•  we must inform the market that an officer or a director has resigned or has been removed; 

•  we must publish statements of material facts, information on earnings and press releases of our results 

in English; 

•  we must make a public presentation on our quarterly results and on our financial statements within five 

(5) days of their publishing; and 

•  we must make a calendar available up to December 10th each year with the dates of the following events: 
(i) publishing of our financial statements and our standardized financial statements (DFP); (ii) publishing 
of our quarterly information (ITR); (iii) ordinary general shareholders’ meeting; and (iv) filing of our 
Formulário de Referência (FR). 

Information Regarding Any Trading Carried Out by Any Controlling Shareholders, Members of Our Board 
of Directors, Our Board of Executive Officers or Members of Our Fiscal Council 

Pursuant to the rules of the CVM and the Novo Mercado, any controlling shareholders, officers, directors, 
members of the fiscal council, if active, and members of any other technical or advisory committee created by our 
bylaws, must disclose to us, the CVM and the São Paulo Stock Exchange information in connection with the total 

144 

 
amount and characteristics of our securities owned, directly or indirectly, or any derivatives with reference to such 
securities,  as  well  as  any  subsequent  trading  of  such  securities  and  derivatives.  In  the  case  of  individuals,  this 
information must also include securities held by the spouse, companion or dependents of such persons and be included 
in the annual income tax statement of the controlling shareholder, officer, director or member of the fiscal council. 
This information must be communicated to the CVM and the São Paulo Stock Exchange by the Investor Relations 
Officer within ten days after the end of each month. 

In addition, our shareholders who have caused the election of members of our board of directors or fiscal 
council, as well as any individual, legal entity or group of persons acting jointly to conduct relevant negotiations (i.e., 
transactions by means of which the direct or indirect equity of such persons surpasses, upwards or downwards, 5%, 
10%, 15% and so on of the specie or class of shares that represent our capital stock) must provide to us, the CVM and 
the São Paulo Stock Exchange the following information: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the name and qualifications of the person acquiring the shares or other securities, with their respective 
enrollment number before the Taxpayers’ Registry;  

the  number  of  shares  and  other  securities  and  derivative  financial  instruments  benchmarked  on  such 
shares, either physically or financially settled, informing the amount, class and type of the benchmarked 
shares; 

the reason and purpose of the acquisition containing, if applicable, statement that such negotiations do 
not intend to modify our equity or management structure;  

information on any agreement regarding the exercise of voting rights or the purchase and sale of our 
securities; and 

in case the shareholder is resident or domiciled abroad, the name or corporate name and the Taxpayer 
enrollment number of its attorney or legal representative in the country. 

Disclosure of Material Developments 

According to Law No. 6,385 of December 7, 1976 and subsequent amendments, and the rules published by 
the CVM, we must disclose any material development related to our business to the CVM and to the São Paulo Stock 
Exchange and must publish a notice of the material development. A development is deemed to be material if it impacts 
the price of our securities, the decision of investors to trade in our securities or the decision of investors to exercise 
any rights as holders of any of our securities. Under special circumstances, we may request confidential treatment of 
certain material developments from the CVM when our management believes that public disclosure could result in 
adverse consequences to us. 

Annual Calendar 

Novo  Mercado  regulations  require  that  companies  and  their  management,  by  December  10  of  each  year, 
disclose an annual calendar, and send a copy to the São Paulo Stock Exchange, containing the dates for the following 
events:  (i)  the  publishing  of  our  financial  statements  and  our  standardized  financial  statements  (DFP);  (ii)  the 
publishing of our quarterly financial information (ITR); (iii) our ordinary general shareholders’ meeting; and (iv) the 
filing of our Formulário de Referência (FR). Amendments to the calendar must be communicated to the São Paulo 
Stock Exchange. 

Trading on Stock Exchanges 

Our shares trade on the Novo Mercado segment of the São Paulo Stock Exchange under the symbol “BRFS3.” 
The  CVM  and  the  São  Paulo  Stock  Exchange  have  discretionary  authority  to  suspend  trading  of  the  shares  of  a 
particular issuer under certain circumstances. 

145 

 
The São Paulo Stock Exchange operates a central clearing system. A holder of our shares may choose, in its 
discretion, to participate in this system and elect all shares to be deposited in the custody of  the  São Paulo Stock 
Exchange (through a Brazilian institution duly authorized by the Central Bank and with a clearing account with the 
São Paulo Stock Exchange). The fact that those shares are held in the custody of the São Paulo Stock Exchange will 
be reflected in our register of shareholders. Each participating shareholder will, in turn, be registered in our register 
of  beneficial  shareholders  maintained  by  the  São  Paulo  Stock  Exchange  and  will  be  treated  in  the  same  way  as 
registered shareholders. 

Agreements within Our Group 

According to CVM Instruction no. 480, we must disclose and send the São Paulo Stock Exchange information 
relating to any agreements entered into by our company with our controlled companies and affiliates, officers and any 
controlling shareholders, and, moreover, any agreements entered into by our company with controlled companies and 
affiliates of the officers and controlling shareholders as well as other companies that, together  with these persons, 
compose a single group, in fact or in right, provided that such agreements, whether or not they involve one single 
agreement or successive agreements or the same or different purposes, in the explanatory notes. 

The information disclosed should include a description of the purpose of the relevant agreement, its term, 
value, termination provisions and any influence that this agreement may have over the management and operations of 
our company.  

Regulation of Foreign Investment 

Investors  residing  outside  Brazil,  including  institutional  investors,  are  authorized  to  purchase  equity 
instruments, including our common shares, on the São Paulo Stock Exchange, provided that they comply with the 
registration requirements set forth in Resolution No. 4,373 and CVM Instruction No. 560.  

With  certain  limited  exceptions,  Resolution  No. 4,373  investors  are  permitted  to  carry  out  any  type  of 
transaction in the Brazilian capital markets involving a security traded on a stock, future or organized over-the-counter 
market, but may not transfer the ownership of investments made under Resolution No. 4,373 to other non-Brazilian 
holders through private transactions. Investments and remittances outside Brazil of gains, dividends, profits or other 
payments under our common shares are made through the foreign exchange market. 

In order to become a Resolution No. 4,373 investor, an investor residing outside Brazil must: 

• 

• 

• 

appoint at least one representative in Brazil who will be responsible for complying with registration and 
reporting requirements and procedures  with the Central Bank and the CV,  which shall be a financial 
institution or institution authorized by Central Bank to operate in Brazil.  

register as a foreign investor with the CVM; and 

appoint at least one custodian duly authorized by CVM. 

Securities and other financial assets held by foreign investors pursuant to Resolution No. 4,373 must be registered or 
maintained in deposit accounts or under the custody of an entity duly licensed by the Central Bank or the CVM. In 
addition, securities trading by foreign investors is generally restricted to transactions on the São Paulo Stock Exchange 
or in organized over-the-counter markets licensed by the CVM. 

C. 

Material Contracts  

For the two years immediately preceding the publication of this annual report, we were not a party to any 
material  contract  outside  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  except  for  the  M&A  contracts  described  in  Item  4. 
Information on the Company—A. History and Development of the Company—Sale of Quickfood, —Sale of Avex, 
and —Sale of Assets in Europe and Thailand. 

146 

 
D. 

Exchange Controls  

Brazilian law provides that, whenever there is a significant imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or 
reasons to foresee such an imbalance, temporary restrictions may be imposed on remittances of foreign capital abroad. 
For  approximately  six  months  in  1989  and  early  1990,  for  example,  with  the  goal  of  preserving  Brazil’s  foreign 
currency reserves, the Brazilian government froze all  dividend and capital repatriations that  were owed to foreign 
equity investors and held by the Central Bank. These amounts were subsequently released in accordance with Brazilian 
government  directives.  There  can  be  no  assurance,  however,  that  the  Brazilian  government  may  not  take  similar 
measures in the future. 

There  are  no  restrictions  on  ownership  of  capital  share  of  the  Company  by  individuals  or  legal  entities 
domiciled outside Brazil. However, the right to convert dividend payments and proceeds from the  sale of common 
shares into foreign currency and to remit such amounts outside Brazil is subject to exchange control restrictions and 
foreign investment legislation that generally requires, among other things, obtaining an electronic registration under 
the Resolution No. 4,373 of the CMN. Under such resolution, qualified foreign investors registered with the CVM 
and acting through authorized custody accounts managed by local agents may buy and sell shares on Brazilian share 
exchanges  without  obtaining  separate  electronic  registration  for  each  transaction.  Investors  under  the  Resolution 
No. 4,373 are also generally entitled to favorable tax treatment. 

Electronic registrations by the Brazilian Central Bank have been issued in the name of the Company with 
respect to the ADRs. Pursuant to the electronic registration, the custodian will be able to convert dividends and other 
distributions with respect to the shares represented by the ADRs into foreign currency and remit the proceeds outside 
Brazil. 

E. 

Taxation 

The following summary contains a description of certain Brazilian and U.S. federal income tax consequences 
of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares or ADRs, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive 
description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase common shares or ADRs. The 
summary is based upon the tax laws of Brazil and regulations thereunder and on the tax laws of the United States and 
regulations thereunder as in effect on the date hereof, which are subject to change. Prospective purchasers of common 
shares or ADRs should consult their own tax advisors as to the tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and 
disposition of common shares or ADRs. 

Although there is at present no tax treaty to avoid double taxation between Brazil and the United States, the 
tax authorities of the two countries have had discussions that may culminate in such a treaty. No assurance can be 
given, however, as to whether or when a treaty will enter into force or how it will affect the U.S. Holders (as defined 
below  under  “—U.S.  Federal  Income  Tax  Considerations”)  of  common  shares  or  ADRs.  Prospective  holders  of 
common  shares  or  ADRs  should  consult  their  own  tax  advisors  in  order  to  clarify  the  tax  consequences  of  the 
acquisition, ownership and disposition of common shares or ADRs in their particular circumstances. 

Brazilian Tax Considerations 

The following discussion summarizes the material Brazilian tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership 
and  disposition  of  common  shares  or  ADRs  by  a  holder  that  is  not  domiciled  in  Brazil  for  purposes  of  Brazilian 
taxation (a “Non-Resident Holder”) and does not specifically address all the Brazilian tax considerations applicable 
to any particular Non-Resident Holder. Each Non-Resident Holder should consult its own tax adviser concerning the 
Brazilian tax consequences of an investment in common shares or ADRs. The information below is based on Brazilian 
law as currently in effect. Any change in that law may change the consequences described below. 

Income Tax 

Dividends.  Dividends  paid  by  a  Brazilian  corporation,  such  as  BRF,  including  stock  dividends  and  other 
dividends  paid  to  a  Non-Resident  Holder  of  common  shares  or  ADRs,  are  currently  not  subject  to  Brazilian 
withholding income tax, as far as such amounts are related to profits generated on or after January 1, 1996. Dividends 

147 

 
relating to profits generated prior to January 1, 1996 may be subject to Brazilian withholding tax at varying rates, 
depending on the year the profits were generated. 

Interest on Shareholders’ Equity. Law No. 9,249, dated as of December 26, 1995, as amended, permits a 
Brazilian corporation to make distributions to shareholders of interest on shareholders’ equity. These distributions 
may be paid in cash. Such payments represent a deductible expense from the payer’s corporate income tax and social 
contribution on net profits tax basis. For tax purposes, this interest is limited to the daily pro rata variation of the TJLP 
(the Brazilian government's long-term interest rate), as determined by Brazilian Central Bank from time to time, and 
may not exceed the greater of: 

• 

• 

50% of net income (after the social contribution on net profits tax, and before the provision for corporate 
income tax and the amounts attributable to shareholders as interest on shareholders’ equity) for the period 
in respect of which the payment is made; and 

50% of the sum of retained profits and profit reserves as of the date of the beginning of the period in 
respect of which the payment is made. 

Payment of interest to a Non-Resident Holder is subject to withholding income tax at the rate of 15%, or 25% 
if the Non-Resident Holder is resident of a tax haven. For this purpose, a “tax haven” is a country or location that does 
not impose income tax, where the income tax rate is lower than 20% or where the local legislation imposes restrictions 
on  disclosing  the  shareholding  composition  or  the  ownership  of  the  investment.  These  payments  of  interest  on 
shareholders’ equity may be included as part of mandatory dividends.  

We  recommend  prospective  investors  to  consult  their  own  tax  advisors  from  time  to  time  to  verify  any 
possible tax consequences arising from Normative Instruction No. 1,037/2010 (that provides an exhaustive list of all 
jurisdictions considered by Brazilian legislation as “tax havens.” 

Distributions of interest on shareholders equity to Non-Resident Holders may be converted into U.S. dollars 
and remitted outside Brazil, subject to applicable exchange controls, to the extent that the investment is registered 
with the Brazilian Central Bank. 

Gains 

According to Law No. 10,833/03, capital gains recognized by Non-Resident Holders on the disposition of 
assets located in Brazil, such as common shares are subject to income tax in Brazil. This rule is applicable regardless 
of whether the disposition is conducted in Brazil or abroad and/or if the disposition is or is not made to an individual 
or entity resident or domiciled in Brazil. 

Generally, capital gains realized as a result of a disposition transaction are the positive difference between 

the amount realized on the disposition of the common shares and the respective acquisition cost. 

Capital gains realized by Non-Resident Holders on the disposition of common shares sold on the Brazilian 
stock exchange (which includes the transactions carried out on the organized over-the-counter market) are subject to 
the following taxes: 

• 

• 

• 

0% income tax with respect to gains realized by a Non-Resident Holder that (i) is a Registered Holder 
(according to Resolution 4,373 from Brazilian Central Bank) and (ii) is not a Tax Haven Resident; 

income tax at a rate of 15% with respect to gains realized by a Non-Resident Holder that is neither a 
Registered Holder nor a Tax Haven Resident.  

income tax at a rate of 15% with respect to gains realized by a Non-Resident Holder that is a Tax Haven 
Resident if such holder is a Registered Holder. For Non-Registered holders domiciled in a Tax Haven 
withholding income tax should be applied at a 25% rate. In addition, a withholding income tax of 0.005% 

148 

 
will  apply  and  can  be  offset  against  any  income  tax  due  on  the  capital  gain,  except  in  the  case  of  a 
Registered Holder that is not resident or domiciled in a tax haven jurisdiction. 

Any other gains realized on the disposition of common shares that are not carried out on the Brazilian stock 
exchange: 

• 

are subject to income tax at the following progressive rates when realized by any Non-Resident Holder 
that is not a Tax Haven Resident, whether or not such holder is a Registered Holder: 

i. 
ii. 

iii. 

iv. 

15% upon the portion of capital gains not exceeding R$5,000,000.00; 
17.5%  upon  the  portion  of  capital  gains  that  exceeds  R$5,000,000.00  but  not  exceeding 
R$10,000,000.00; 
20%  upon  the  portion  of  capital  gains  that  exceeds  R$10,000,000.00  but  not  exceeding 
R$30,000,000.00; and 
22.5% upon the portion of capital gains that exceeds R$30,000,000.00. 

• 

are subject to income tax at a rate of 25% when realized by Non-Resident that is a Tax Haven Resident, 
whether or not such holder is a Registered Holder. 

In the cases described above, if the gains are related to transactions conducted on the Brazilian non-organized 
over-the-counter market with intermediation, the withholding income tax of 0.005% shall also be applicable and can 
be offset against any income tax due on the capital gain. 

Any exercise of preemptive rights relating to common shares will not be subject to Brazilian withholding 
income  tax.  Gains  realized  by  a  Non-Resident  Holder  on  the  disposition  of  preemptive  rights  will  be  subject  to 
Brazilian income tax according to the same rules applicable to disposition of common shares. 

In the case of a redemption of common shares or a capital reduction, the positive difference between the 
amount received by the Non-Resident Holder and the acquisition cost of the common shares redeemed in reais is 
treated as capital gain derived from the sale or exchange of shares not carried out on a Brazilian stock exchange market 
and is therefore subject to income tax at the above-mentioned progressive rate, or 25%, as the case may be. 

There can be no assurance that the current favorable tax treatment of Registered Holders will continue 

in the future. 

Sale of ADRs by U.S. Holders to Other Non-Residents in Brazil 

As  discussed  above,  the  sale  of  property  located  in  Brazil  involving  Non-Resident  Holders  is  subject  to 
Brazilian withholding income tax. Our understanding is that ADRs do not qualify as property located in Brazil and, 
thus, should not be subject to the Brazilian withholding tax. Insofar as the regulatory norm referred to in Article 26 of 
Law No. 10,833/03 is generic and has not been tested through the administrative or judicial courts, we are unable to 
assure the final outcome of such discussion. 

Gains on the Exchange of ADRs for Common Shares 

Although there is no clear regulatory guidance, the exchange of ADRs  for common shares should not be 
subject  to  Brazilian  withholding  tax.  Non-Resident  Holders  may  exchange  the  ADSs  evidenced  by  ADRs  for  the 
underlying common shares, sell the common shares on a Brazilian stock exchange and remit abroad the proceeds of 
the sale within five business days from the date of exchange (in reliance on the depositary’s electronic registration) 
with no tax consequences. 

Upon receipt of the underlying common shares in exchange for ADSs evidenced by ADRs, Non-Resident 
Holders may also elect to register with the Brazilian Central Bank the U.S. dollar value of such common shares as a 
foreign portfolio investment under Resolution 4,373, which will entitle them to the tax treatment discussed above. 

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Alternatively, the Non-Resident Holder is also entitled to register with the Brazilian Central Bank the U.S. 
dollar value of such common shares as a foreign direct investment under Law 4,131/62, in which case the respective 
sale would be subject to the tax treatment applicable to transactions carried out on the Brazilian stock exchange. 

Gains on the Exchange of Common Shares for ADRs 

The deposit of common shares in exchange for the ADRs may be subject to Brazilian withholding income 
tax on capital gains if the amount previously registered with the Central  Bank as a foreign investment in common 
shares or, in the case of other market investors under Resolution No. 4,373, the acquisition cost of the common shares, 
as the case may be, is lower than: 

• 

• 

the average price per common share on the Brazilian stock exchange on which the greatest number of 
such common shares were sold on the day of deposit; or 

if no common shares were sold on that day, the average price on the Brazilian stock exchange on which 
the greatest number of common shares were sold during the 15 preceding trading sessions. 

The difference between the amount previously registered, or the acquisition cost, as the case may be, and the 
average price of the common shares, calculated as set forth above, is considered a capital gain subject to income tax 
at the above-mentioned progressive rate from 15% to 22.5%, or 25% for Tax Haven Residents. 

Tax on Foreign Exchange and Financial Transactions (“IOF”) 

Brazilian  law  imposes  a  tax  on  financial  transactions  involving  foreign  exchange,  securities,  credit  and 
insurance. The rate of IOF applicable on foreign exchange transactions (“IOF exchange”) involving common shares 
is currently 0%, but the Minister of Finance is permitted to prospectively increase such rate at any time up to 25%.  

IOF may also be levied on transactions involving bonds and securities (“IOF securities”), including those 
carried out on a Brazilian stock, futures or commodities exchanges. The rate of the IOF securities applicable to most 
transactions involving common shares is currently 0%, but the Brazilian government may also prospectively increase 
the rate of the IOF up to 1.5% per day at any time. 

Other Brazilian Taxes 

There are no Brazilian inheritance, gift or succession taxes applicable to the ownership, transfer or disposition 
of common shares or ADRs, except for gift and inheritance taxes imposed by some Brazilian states on gifts or bequests 
by individuals or entities not domiciled or residing in Brazil to individuals or entities domiciled or residing within 
such states. There are no Brazilian stamp, issue, registration or similar taxes or duties payable by holders of common 
shares or ADRs. 

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations  

The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, beneficial 

ownership and disposition of our common shares and ADRs as of the date hereof.  

Except where noted, this summary deals only with U.S. Holders (as defined below) that hold our common 
shares or ADRs as capital assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment). As 
used in this summary, the term “U.S. Holder” means a holder of our common shares or ADRs that is for U.S. federal 
income tax purposes: 

• 

• 

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;  

a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or 
organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia; 

150 

 
• 

• 

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or 

a trust if it (1) is subject to the primary supervision of a U.S. court and one or more U.S. persons have 
the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) has a valid election in effect under 
applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes. 

A “non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of our common shares or ADRs that is neither a U.S. Holder nor 

a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. 

This  summary  does  not  represent  a  detailed  description  of  the  U.S.  federal  income  tax  consequences 
applicable to you if you are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, including if you are: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

a broker or dealer in securities or currencies;  

a bank or other financial institution;  

a regulated investment company;  

a real estate investment trust;  

a holder who holds our common shares or ADRs in a retirement account or other tax-deferred account; 

an insurance company;  

a tax-exempt organization;  

a  holder  who  holds  our  common  shares  or  ADRs  as  part  of  a  hedging,  integrated  or  conversion 
transaction or a straddle; 

a holder deemed to sell our common shares or ADRs under the constructive sale provisions of the U.S. 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); 

a trader in securities that has elected the mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities; 

a holder liable for alternative minimum tax;  

a holder who owns or is deemed to own 10% or more of our stock (by vote or value); 

 a controlled foreign corporation or a passive foreign investment company; 

a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes;  

a holder who is required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to our 
common  shares  or  ADRs  as  a  result  of  such  income  being  recognized  on  an  applicable  financial 
statement; 

a holder who is a U.S. expatriate, former U.S. citizen or former long-term resident of the United States; 
or  

• 

a holder whose “functional currency” for U.S. federal income tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar. 

The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Code, existing and proposed income tax regulations 
issued under the Code and judicial decisions and administrative rulings thereunder, all as of the date of this Annual 
Report. All of the foregoing are subject to be replaced, revoked or modified at any time, and any such action could be 

151 

 
retroactive and could affect the accuracy of this discussion. This discussion is not binding on the IRS or the courts, 
and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will not take a different position concerning the U.S. federal 
income tax consequences of an investment in our common shares or the ADRs or that any such position would not be 
sustained. In addition, this summary is based, in part, upon representations made by the depositary to us and assumes 
that the deposit agreement relating to the ADRs, and all other related agreements, will be performed in accordance 
with their terms. 

If a partnership (including for this purpose any entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax 
purposes) holds our common shares or ADRs, the U.S. tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status 
of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding our common shares or 
ADRs, you should consult your tax advisors. 

This summary does not contain a detailed description of all the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you 
in light of your particular circumstances and does not address the Medicare tax on net investment income, U.S. federal 
non-income tax laws, such as  U.S. federal estate and gift tax laws, or the effects of any state, local or non-United 
States tax laws. If you are considering the purchase,  beneficial ownership or disposition of our common shares or 
ADRs, you should consult your own tax advisors concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you in light 
of your particular situation, as well as any consequences arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. 

ADRs 

If you hold ADRs, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you generally will be treated as the owner of the 
underlying  common  shares  that  are  represented  by  the  ADSs  evidenced  by  ADRs.  Accordingly,  deposits  or 
withdrawals of common shares for ADRs will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax.  The U.S. Department of 
Treasury has expressed concerns that intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holder of an ADS and the 
issuer of the security underlying the ADS may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax 
credits for U.S. holders of ADSs. Accordingly, the credibility of foreign taxes, if any, as described below, could be 
affected by actions taken by intermediaries in the chain of ownership between the holder of an ADS and the Company. 

Taxation of Dividends 

Subject to the discussion under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company” below, if you are a U.S. Holder, 
the gross amount of distributions on the ADRs or our common shares (including amounts withheld to reflect Brazilian 
withholding taxes and distributions of interest on shareholders’ equity, as described above under “—Brazilian Tax 
Considerations”) will be taxable to you as dividends, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and 
profits,  as  determined  under  U.S.  federal  income  tax  principles.  Such  income  (including  withheld  taxes)  will  be 
includable in your gross income as ordinary income on the day actually or constructively received by you, in the case 
of our common shares, or by the depositary, in the case of ADRs. Such dividends will not be eligible for the dividends 
received  deduction  generally  allowed  to  U.S.  corporations  in  respect  of  dividends  received  from  other  U.S.  or,  in 
certain circumstances, non-U.S. corporations. 

With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, certain dividends received from a qualified foreign corporation 
may be subject to reduced rates of taxation so long as certain holding period and other requirements are met. Subject 
to certain limitations, a foreign corporation generally is treated as a qualified foreign corporation if its shares (or ADRs 
backed by such shares) are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States, such as the NYSE, 
and  such  corporation  is  not  a  PFIC  (as  discussed  below  under  “—  Passive  Foreign  Investment  Company”)  in  the 
taxable year in which dividends are paid or in the preceding taxable year. U.S. Treasury Department guidance indicates 
that the ADRs (which are listed on the NYSE), but not our common shares, are readily tradable on an established 
securities  market  in  the  United  States.  Thus,  although  we  believe  that  dividends  received  with  respect  to  ADRs 
currently  meet the conditions required for those reduced tax rates,  we do not believe that dividends received  with 
respect to common shares (rather than ADRs) currently meet the conditions required for those reduced tax rates. We 
cannot assure you that the ADRs will be considered readily tradable on an established securities market in later years. 
Additionally, even if we are a qualified foreign corporation, the reduced rates on dividends will  apply only if such 
dividends are paid with respect to the ADRs that a non-corporate U.S. Holder has held for at least 61 days during the 
121-day period beginning 60 days before the “ex-dividend date.” Also, regardless of our status as a qualified foreign 
corporation, the reduced rates will not apply if a non-corporate U.S. Holder elects to treat the dividend income as 

152 

 
“investment income” for purposes of the investment interest expense limitations of Section 163(d) of the Code. In 
addition, the rate reduction will not apply to a dividend if the recipient of the dividend is obligated (whether pursuant 
to a short  sale  or otherwise) to  make related payments  with respect to positions  in  substantially  similar or related 
property. This disallowance applies even if the minimum holding period has been met. The dividend rules are complex, 
and  you  should  consult  your  own  tax  advisors  regarding  the  application  of  these  rules  given  your  particular 
circumstances. 

The amount of any dividend paid in reais will equal the U.S. dollar value of the reais received calculated by 
reference to the exchange rate in effect on the date the dividend is received by you, in the case of common shares, or 
by the depositary, in the case of ADRs, regardless of whether the reais are converted into U.S. dollars. If the reais 
received as a dividend are converted into U.S. dollars on the date they are received, you generally will not be required 
to recognize foreign currency gain or loss in respect of the dividend income. If the reais received as a dividend are not 
converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, you will have a basis in the reais equal to their U.S. dollar value on 
the date of receipt. Any gain or loss of a U.S. Holder realized on a subsequent conversion or other disposition of the 
reais generally will be treated as U.S. source ordinary income or loss. 

Subject  to  certain  conditions  and  limitations,  if  you  are  a  U.S.  Holder  of  our  common  shares  or  ADRs, 
Brazilian withholding taxes on distributions (including distribution of interest on shareholders’ equity) paid to you 
with respect to the common shares or ADRs generally will be treated as foreign taxes eligible for credit against your 
U.S. federal income tax liability. For purposes of calculating the foreign tax credit, dividends paid on the ADRs or 
our common shares will be treated as income from sources outside the United States and will generally constitute 
passive category income. In addition, in certain circumstances, if you have held ADRs or common shares for less than 
a specified minimum period during which you are not protected from risk of loss or are obligated to make payments 
related to the dividends, you will not be allowed a foreign tax credit for foreign taxes imposed on dividends paid on 
the ADRs or common shares. The rules governing the foreign tax credit are complex. You are urged to consult your 
tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit under your particular circumstances. Instead of claiming 
a credit, you may, at your election, deduct such otherwise creditable Brazilian withholding taxes in computing your 
taxable income, but only for a taxable year in which you elect to do so with respect to all foreign income taxes paid 
or accrued in such taxable year and subject to generally applicable limitations under U.S. law. 

Subject  to  the  discussion  under  “—Passive  Foreign  Investment  Company”  below,  to  the  extent  that  the 
amount of any distribution (including amounts withheld to reflect Brazilian withholding taxes and distributions of 
interest on shareholders’ equity, as described above under “—Brazilian Tax Considerations”) exceeds our current and 
accumulated  earnings  and  profits  for  a  taxable  year,  as  determined  under  U.S.  federal  income  tax  principles,  the 
distribution will first be treated as a tax-free return of capital, causing a reduction in the adjusted basis of the ADRs 
or  common  shares  (but  not  below  zero),  and  the  balance  in  excess  of  adjusted  basis  will  be  taxed  as  capital  gain 
recognized on a sale or exchange (as discussed below under “—Taxation of Dispositions”). However, we do not expect 
to calculate earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. federal income tax principles. Therefore, you should assume 
that a distribution will generally be treated as a dividend (as discussed above). 

Distributions of common shares or ADRs, or rights to subscribe for common shares or ADRs,  which are 
received as part of a pro rata distribution to all of our shareholders generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income 
tax. 

If you are a non-U.S. Holder, dividends paid to you generally will not be subject to U.S. income tax unless 
the dividends are “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States, and the 
dividends are attributable to a permanent establishment (or in the case of an individual, a fixed place of business) that 
you maintain in the United States if that is required by an applicable income tax treaty as a condition for subjecting 
you to U.S. taxation on a net income basis. In such cases you generally will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. 
Holder. If you are a corporate non-U.S. Holder, “effectively connected” dividends may, under certain circumstances, 
be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or a lower rate if you are eligible for the benefits of an 
income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate. 

Taxation of Dispositions 

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For U.S. federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss on any sale, 
exchange or redemption of its common shares or ADRs in an amount equal to the difference between the amount 
realized for the common shares or ADRs (including any amounts withheld to reflect Brazilian withholding taxes) and 
the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares or ADRs, both determined in U.S. dollars. Subject to the 
discussion under “—Passive Foreign Investment Company” below, such gain or loss will generally be capital gain or 
loss. Capital gains of U.S. Holders who are individuals (as well as certain trusts and estates) derived with respect to 
capital assets held for more than one year are generally eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The deductibility of 
capital losses is subject to limitations. Any gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder will generally be treated as U.S. 
source gain or loss. Consequently, in the case of gain from the disposition of common shares or ADRs, U.S. Holders 
may not be able to use the foreign tax credit arising from any Brazilian tax imposed on the disposition of our common 
shares or ADRs unless such credit can be applied (subject to applicable limitations) against tax due on other income 
treated as derived from sources outside the United States in the appropriate category for foreign tax credit purposes. 

A U.S. Holder’s initial tax basis on our common shares or ADRs will be the U.S. dollar value of the reais 
denominated purchase price determined on the date of purchase.  With respect to the sale, exchange or other taxable 
disposition of common shares or ADRs, the amount realized generally will be the U.S. dollar value of the payment 
received determined on (1) the date of actual or constructive receipt of payment in the case of a cash basis U.S. Holder 
and (2) the date of disposition in the case of an accrual basis U.S. Holder.  If the common shares or ADRs are traded 
on an “established securities market,” a cash basis U.S. Holder, or an electing accrual basis U.S. Holder, will determine 
the  U.S.  dollar  rate  of  the  cost  of  the  common  shares  or  the  amount  realized  based  on  the  exchange  rate  on  the 
settlement date of the sale.  If a U.S. Holder sells or otherwise disposes of our common shares or ADRs in exchange 
for currency other than U.S. dollars, any gain or loss that results from currency exchange fluctuations during the period 
from the date of the sale or other disposition until the date that the currency is converted into U.S. dollars generally 
will be treated as ordinary income or loss and will not be eligible for the reduced tax rate applicable to long-term 
capital gains.  Such gain or loss generally will be U.S.-source income or loss.  If the currency is converted into U.S. 
dollars on the date of receipt, a U.S. Holder generally would not be required to recognize foreign currency gain or loss 
in respect of the amount realized.  U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the treatment of 
any foreign currency gain or loss realized with respect to any currency received in a sale or other disposition of the 
common shares or ADRs that is converted into U.S. dollars (or otherwise disposed of) on a date subsequent to receipt. 

If you are a non-U.S. Holder, you will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on gain recognized on the 

sale, exchange or other disposition of your common shares or ADRs unless: 

• 

the gain is “effectively connected” with your conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and 
the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment (or, in the case of an individual, a fixed place 
of business) that you maintain in the United States if that is required by an applicable  income tax 
treaty as a condition for subjecting you to U.S. taxation on a net income basis, or 

• 

you are an individual, you are present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year 
of such sale, exchange or other disposition and certain other conditions are met. 

In the first case, the non-U.S. Holder will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. Holder. In the second case, 
the non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on the amount by which such non-U.S. 
Holder’s U.S. source capital gains exceed non-U.S. source capital losses. 

If you are a corporate non-U.S. Holder, “effectively connected” gains that you recognize may also, under 
certain circumstances, be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate or at a lower rate if you are eligible 
for the benefits of an income tax treaty that provides for a lower rate. 

Passive Foreign Investment Company 

The  Code  provides  special  rules  regarding  certain  distributions  received  by  U.S.  persons  (which  would 
include U.S. Holders as defined above for purposes of this discussion) with respect to, and sales, exchanges and other 
dispositions, including pledges, of, shares of stock (or ADRs backed by such shares) in a PFIC. In general, we will be 
a PFIC for any taxable year in which:  

154 

 
• 

• 

at least 75% of our gross income is passive income, or  

at least 50% of the value (based on the average of the fair market values of the assets determined at the 
end  of  each  quarterly  period)  of  our  assets  is  attributable  to  assets  that  produce  or  are  held  for  the 
production of passive income. 

For this purpose, passive income generally includes dividends, interest, royalties, rents (other than royalties 
and  rents  derived  in  the  active  conduct  of  a  trade  or  business  and  not  derived  from  a  related  person),  gains  from 
commodities and securities transactions, and gains from passive assets. Passive assets generally include the assets that 
produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, cash is treated as passive 
asset. If we own (directly or indirectly) at least 25% (by value) of the stock of another corporation, we will be treated, 
for purposes of the PFIC tests, as owning our proportionate share of the other corporation’s assets and receiving our 
proportionate share of the other corporation’s income. 

Based on our financial statements, relevant market and shareholder data, and the projected composition of 
our income and valuation of our assets, including goodwill, we do not believe we were a PFIC for U.S. federal income 
tax purposes for 2019, and we do not expect to be a PFIC for 2020, although we can provide no assurances in this 
regard. The determination of whether we are a PFIC must be made annually. Accordingly, it is possible that we may 
become a PFIC in the current or any future taxable year due to changes in our income or asset composition. Because 
we have valued our goodwill based on the market value of our equity, a decrease in the price of our ADRs or common 
shares may also result in our becoming a PFIC. If you are a U.S. Holder and we are a PFIC for any taxable year during 
which you hold our ADRs or common shares, you will be subject to special tax rules discussed below and could suffer 
adverse tax consequences. 

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds our ADRs or common shares, such 
U.S. Holder will be subject to special tax rules with respect to any “excess distribution” received and any gain realized 
from a sale or other disposition, including a pledge, of ADRs or common shares. Distributions received in a taxable 
year that are greater than 125% of the average annual distributions received during the shorter of the three preceding 
taxable  years  or  the  U.S.  Holder’s  holding  period  for  the  ADRs  or  common  shares  will  be  treated  as  excess 
distributions. Under these special tax rules: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the excess distributions and gains are allocated ratably to each day of the U.S. Holder’s holding period 
during which we were a PFIC, 

amounts allocated to the taxable year in which the excess distribution or disposition occurs and amounts 
allocated to any period in the U.S. Holder’s holding period before the first day of the first taxable year 
that we were a PFIC will be treated as ordinary income (rather than capital gain) earned in the taxable 
year of the excess distribution or disposition,  

the amount allocated to each other year will be subject to tax at the highest tax rate in effect for that year 
and the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of tax will be imposed on the resulting tax 
attributable to each such year, and 

the tax liability for amounts allocated to years before the year of disposition or excess distribution cannot 
be offset by any net operating losses for such year, and gains (but not losses) realized on the sale of the 
common shares or ADRs cannot be treated as capital gain, even if the U.S. Holder held such common 
shares or ADRs as capital assets. 

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year during which a U.S. Holder holds the common shares or ADRs, then 
we generally will continue to be treated as a PFIC with respect to the U.S. Holder for all succeeding years during 
which the U.S. Holder holds the common shares or ADRs, even if we no longer satisfy either the passive income or 
passive asset test described above, unless the U.S. Holder terminates this deemed PFIC status by making a “deemed 
sale” election. If such election is made, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to have sold the common shares or ADRs at 
their fair market value on the last day of the last taxable year for which we were a PFIC, and any gain from such 
deemed sale would be subject to the excess distribution rules as described above. After the deemed sale election, the 

155 

 
common shares or ADRs with respect to which the deemed sale election was made will not be treated as shares in a 
PFIC unless we subsequently become a PFIC. 

In addition, non-corporate U.S. Holders will not be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on any dividends 
received from us if we are a PFIC in the taxable year in which such dividends are paid or in the preceding taxable year 
(as described above under “—Taxation of Dividends”). You will generally be required to file Internal Revenue Service 
Form 8621 if you hold our ADRs or common shares in any year in which we are classified as a PFIC. 

If we are a PFIC for any taxable year and any of our non-U.S. subsidiaries is also a PFIC, a U.S. Holder 
would  be  treated  as  owning  a  proportionate  amount  (by  value)  of  the  common  shares  of  the  lower-tier  PFIC  for 
purposes of the application of these rules. You are urged to consult your tax advisors about the application of the PFIC 
rules to any of our subsidiaries. 

In  certain  circumstances,  in  lieu  of  being  subject  to  the  excess  distribution  rules  discussed  above,  a  U.S. 
Holder  may  make  an  election  to  include  gain  on  the  stock  of  a  PFIC  as  ordinary  income  under  a  mark-to-market 
method, provided that such stock is regularly traded on a qualified exchange. Under current law, the mark-to-market 
election may be available to the U.S. Holders of ADRs because the ADRs are listed on the NYSE, which constitutes 
a qualified exchange, although there can be no assurance that the ADRs will be “regularly traded” for purposes of the 
mark-to-market election. It should also be noted that only the ADRs and not the common shares are listed on the 
NYSE. Our common shares are listed on the Novo Mercado (New Market) of the São Paulo Stock Exchange, which 
must meet certain trading, listing, financial disclosure and other requirements to be treated as a qualified exchange 
under applicable Treasury regulations for purposes of the mark-to-market election, and no assurance can be given that 
the common shares will be “regularly traded” for purposes of the mark-to-market election. 

If a U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election for the first taxable year in which such U.S. Holder 
holds (or is deemed to hold) the common shares or ADRs when we are determined to be a PFIC, such U.S. Holder 
generally will not be subject to the PFIC rules described above in respect of its common shares or ADRs. Instead, a 
U.S. Holder that makes a mark-to-market election will be required to include in income each year an amount equal to 
the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the common shares or ADRs that the U.S. Holder owns as of the close 
of the taxable year over the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares or ADRs. The U.S. Holder will be 
entitled to deduct the excess, if any, of the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the common shares or ADRs over their 
fair market value as of the close of the taxable year, but only to the extent of the net mark-to-market gains with respect 
to the common shares or ADRs included by the U.S. Holder in prior taxable years as a result of the mark-to-market 
election. If the U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election, in each year that we are a PFIC amounts included 
in income of such U.S. Holder pursuant to a mark-to-market election, as well as gain on the sale, exchange or other 
disposition of its common shares or ADRs will be treated as ordinary income, and any loss will be treated as ordinary 
loss, but only to the extent of the net amount previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election. 

If a U.S. Holder makes a valid mark-to-market election, its adjusted tax basis in the ADRs or common shares 
will be increased by the amount of any income inclusion and decreased by the amount of any deductions under the 
mark-to-market rules. Any distributions made by us in a year in which we are a PFIC and a mark-to-market election 
is in effect would generally be subject to the rules discussed above under “—Taxation of Dividends,” except the lower 
rate applicable to qualified dividend income would not apply. In addition, gain or loss realized by the U.S. Holder on 
the sale of our common shares or ADRs will be ordinary gain or loss provided a valid mark-to-market election is in 
effect. 

Once properly made, a mark-to-market election will be effective for the taxable year for which it is made and 
all subsequent taxable years unless the common shares or ADRs are no longer regularly traded on a qualified exchange 
or the IRS consents to the revocation of the election. The excess distribution rules generally do not apply to a U.S. 
Holder for taxable years for which a mark-to market election is in effect. If we are a PFIC for any year in which the 
U.S. Holder owns our common shares or ADRs but before a mark-to-market election is made, the interest charge rules 
described above will apply to any mark-to-market gain recognized in the year the election is made. Generally, if we 
cease to be a PFIC, the U.S. Holder’s mark-to-market election would no longer require the income inclusion (or permit 
the deduction of loss) described above. However, cessation of our status as a PFIC will not terminate a mark-to-market 
election and if we become a PFIC again, mark-to-market inclusion may be required. You are urged to consult your 

156 

 
tax advisor about the availability of the mark-to-market election, and whether making the election would be advisable 
in your particular circumstances. 

Additionally, if we are a PFIC and have any non-U.S. subsidiaries that are PFICs (each a “Subsidiary PFIC”), 
a  U.S.  Holder  will  be  treated  as  owning  its  proportionate  amount  (by  value)  of  the  common  shares  of  each  such 
Subsidiary PFIC and will be subject to the PFIC rules with respect to each such Subsidiary PFIC.  A U.S. Holder may 
not make a mark-to-market election with respect to the common shares of any Subsidiary PFIC.  Thus, the mark-to-
market election is not available to mitigate the adverse tax consequences attributable to any Subsidiary PFIC.   

Alternatively, the excess distribution rules may be avoided if a U.S. Holder makes a qualified electing fund 
(“QEF”) election effective beginning with the first taxable year in the U.S. Holder’s holding period in which we are 
treated as a PFIC with respect to such U.S. Holder. However, the QEF election is not available to our U.S. Holders 
because we do not intend to comply with the requirements necessary to permit our U.S. Holders to make this election. 

U.S. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors as to our status as a PFIC, and, if we are treated as a 
PFIC, as to the effect on them of, and the reporting requirements with respect to, the PFIC rules and the desirability 
of making, and the availability of, a mark-to-market election with respect to our common shares or ADRs. 

Information with respect to Foreign Financial Assets 

U.S.  Holders  that  are  individuals  (and,  to  the  extent  provided  in  regulations,  certain  entities)  that  own 
“specified  foreign  assets,”  including  possibly  the  common  shares  or  ADRs,  with  an  aggregate  value  in  excess  of 
$50,000 at the end of the taxable year or $75,000 at any time during the taxable year are generally required to file IRS 
Form 8938 with information regarding such assets. Depending on the circumstances, higher threshold amounts may 
apply. Specified foreign financial assets include any financial accounts maintained by foreign financial institutions, 
as well as any of the following, but only if they are not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions: (i) stock 
and securities issued by non-U.S. person, (ii) financial instruments and contracts held for investment that have non-
U.S. issuer or counterparties, and (iii) interests in non-U.S. entities. If a U.S. Holder is subject to this information 
reporting regime, the failure to timely file IRS Form 8938 may subject the U.S. Holder to penalties. In addition to 
these requirements, U.S. Holders may be required to annually file FinCEN Report 114 (Report of Foreign Bank and 
Financial Accounts) with the U.S. Department of Treasury. U.S. Holders are thus encouraged to consult their U.S. tax 
advisors with respect to these and other reporting requirements that may apply to their acquisition of the common 
shares and ADRs. 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding 

In general, information reporting requirements  will apply to distributions  made on the common shares or 
ADRs within the United States to a non-corporate U.S. holder and to the proceeds from the sale, exchange, redemption 
or other disposition of common shares or ADRs by a non-corporate U.S. Holder to or through a U.S. office of a broker. 
Payments made (and sales or other dispositions effected at an office) outside the U.S. will be subject to information 
reporting in limited circumstances. 

In addition, backup withholding of U.S. federal income tax may apply to such amounts if the U.S. Holder 
fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number (or otherwise establishes, in the manner provided by law, 
an exemption from backup withholding) or to report dividends required to be shown on the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal 
income tax returns. 

Backup  withholding  is  not  an  additional  income  tax,  and  the  amount  of  any  backup  withholding  from  a 
payment to a U.S. holder will be allowed as credit against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided 
that the appropriate returns are timely filed. 

A  non-U.S.  Holder  generally  may  eliminate  the  requirement  for  information  reporting  and  backup 
withholding by providing a properly completed and duly executed certification of its foreign status to the payer, under 
penalties  of  perjury,  on  IRS  Form  W-8BEN  or,  W-8BEN-E  or  other  appropriate  W-8,  as  applicable.  You  should 

157 

 
consult your own tax advisor as to the qualifications for exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for 
obtaining the exemption. 

The foregoing does not purport to be a complete analysis of the potential tax considerations relating to the 
acquisition, beneficial ownership and disposition of common shares or ADRs. Prospective investors should consult 
their own tax advisors as to the particular tax considerations applicable to them relating to the acquisition, beneficial 
ownership and disposition of common shares or ADRs, including the applicability of the U.S. federal, state and local 
tax laws or non-tax laws, foreign tax laws, any tax treaties, and any changes in applicable tax laws and any pending 
or proposed legislation or regulations. 

F. 

Dividends and Paying Agents  

Not applicable. 

G. 

Statement by Experts  

Not applicable.  

H. 

Documents on Display  

The Company makes its filings in electronic form under the EDGAR filing system of the SEC. Its filings are 
available through the EDGAR system at www.sec.gov. In addition, the Company’s filings are available to the public 
over the Internet at BRF’s web site at http://www.brf-br.com/ir.  Such filings and other information on its website are 
not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. You may request a copy of this filing, and any 
other report, at no cost, by contacting BRF at: 

Investor Relations Department 
BRF S.A. 
Avenida das Nações Unidas, 8501 - 1st Floor 
05425-070 – São Paulo – SP – Brazil  
Tel.: +55 11 2322-5377 
E-mail: acoesri@brf-br.com  

I. 

Subsidiary Information  

See Note 1.1 to our consolidated financial statements for a description of the Company’s subsidiaries. 

  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 

We are exposed to a variety  of  market risks related to potential losses resulting  from adverse changes in 
interest rates, exchange rates  and the price  of some commodities. We have established  policies and procedures to 
manage  our  sensitivity  to  such  risks  in  our  Financial  Risk  Management  Policy.  These  procedures  include  the 
monitoring of our level of exposure to each  market risk through an analysis based on our balance  sheet exposure 
combined  with  an  analysis  of  expected  cash  flows.  We  also  use  derivative  financial  instruments  to  mitigate  our 
exposure  to  these  risks,  guided  by  our  risk  policy  under  the  management  of  our  Financial  Risk  Management 
Committee, our board of executive officers and our board of directors.  

Our risk management department is responsible for monitoring, evaluating and reporting our financial risk. 
Our board of directors is responsible for approving our risk policy and periodically evaluating improvements to it, 
defining the limits of risk tolerance for different types of risks to which we are exposed and defining action plans to 
align the risks within these limits. Our Financial Risk Management Committee is in charge of the execution of our 
risk  policy,  which  includes  supervising  the  risk  management  process,  planning  and  verifying  the  impact  of  the 
decisions implemented, evaluating and approving hedging alternatives, and monitoring the exposure levels to risks in 
order to ensure compliance with our risk policy.  Our risk policy defines the risk management strategies to be adopted. 
Among other things, our risk policy does not authorize us to engage in leveraged transactions in derivative markets 

158 

 
and states that the notional amount of individual hedging transactions must be limited to 2.5% of our shareholders’ 
equity. 

Under  IFRS,  we  have  accounted  for  our  derivative  instruments  using  the  fair  value  method.    For  more 

information on our financial instruments and risk management, see Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements. 

The following section describes the  significant  market risks associated  with our activities and the related 

financial instruments. 

Interest Rate Risk  

We are exposed to risk from changes in interest rates, which may be caused by factors related to the global 
economy,  changes  in  monetary  policy  in  the  Brazilian  and  foreign  markets,  and  other  factors.  Our  interest  rate 
exposure under our indebtedness is primarily to the LIBOR rate, the TJLP rate, the UMBNDES rate and the CDI rate. 
We also have indebtedness denominated in reais and U.S. dollars that bear interest at fixed rates. With respect to our 
marketable securities, our principal exposure is to the CDI rate for investments in the Brazilian market. Our marketable 
securities in foreign markets are generally U.S. dollar instruments at a fixed coupon. 

The table below provides information about our financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest 
rates  as  of  December 31,  2019.  For  debt obligations,  the  table  presents  principal  cash  flows  and  related  weighted 
average interest rates by expected maturity dates. The information is presented in real equivalents. The instruments’ 
actual cash flows are denominated in U.S. dollars, euro and reais, as applicable, once these currencies are subject to 
interest rate  risks. See  also  “—Foreign Exchange  Risk” below,  which describes our  foreign exchange derivatives. 
Even though these derivatives were entered into primarily to manage foreign exchange risk, they may also have an 
interest rate risk component because certain derivatives are linked to variable interest rates such as the CDI rate. 

To facilitate the analysis of market risk, the table below includes cash, cash equivalents and debt (amounts 

in millions of reais, except weighted average annual interest rates). 

Financial 
Instruments 

Assets 
  Fixed rate 
    In US dollar 
    In US dollar 
    In Reais 
  Variable rate 
    In Reais 
    In Reais 
    In Reais 

  Floating rate 
    In Reais 
  MTM 
    Other currencies 
  Without rate 
    In Reais 
    In Euros 
    Other currencies 

Liabilities 
  Fixed rate 
    In US dollar 
    In Euros 
    In Reais 
    In Turkish Lira 
  Variable rate 
    In Reais 
    In Reais 
    In Reais 

All-in weighted 
average annual 
interest rate 

2.89% 
Overnight rate 
2.47% 

100% of CDI 
100% of SELIC 
IGPM+012% 

Floating rate 

 -    

- 
- 
- 

4.63% 
2.74% 
6.93% 
16.56% 

100% of CDI+1.79% 
111.13% of CDI 
SELIC+2.26% 

Short 
Term 
 4,952.3  
 3,204.7  
 979.9  
 2,118.7  
 106.0  
 1,573.0  
 903.9  
 397.0  
 272.2  

 3.5  
 3.5  
 -   
 -   
 171.0  
 167.1  
 3.8  
 0.2  

2020 

2021 

2022 

2023 

 26.7  
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 26.7  
 26.7  
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 280.7  
 265.8  
 265.8  
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 14.9  
 14.9  
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

Thereafter  Fair value 
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 5,259.6  
 3,470.4  
 1,245.7  
 2,118.7  
 106.0  
 1,573.0  
 903.9  
 397.0  
 272.2  

 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 18.4  
 18.4  
 26.7  
 26.7  
 171.0  
 167.1  
 3.8  
 0.2  

 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

 (3,132.0) 
 (1,390.2) 
 (88.9) 
 (26.4) 
 (1,198.4) 
 (76.6) 
 (1,741.8) 
 (406.0) 
 (794.6) 
 (26.3) 

 (1,907.0) 
 (115.2) 

 -   
 -   
 -   

 (115.2) 
 (1,791.8) 

 -   

 (1,691.0) 

 (2,123.5) 
 (1,900.1) 
 (433.8) 
 (1,466.3) 

 -   
 -   

 (223.4) 
 (69.6) 
 (53.0) 

 -   

 -   

 (2,422.0) 
 (1,363.6) 
 (1,363.6) 

 (2,340.7) 
 (2,073.9) 
 (2,073.9) 

 (6,695.1) 
 (4,954.6) 
 (4,954.6) 

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 (1,058.3) 
 (251.5) 

 (266.8) 
 (266.8) 

 (1,740.5) 
 (1,334.1) 

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 (18,620.3) 
 (11,797.6) 
 (8,914.8) 
 (1,492.7) 
 (1,198.4) 
 (191.8) 
 (6,822.7) 
 (2,328.1) 
 (2,538.6) 
 (26.3) 

159 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial 
Instruments 

    In Reais 
    In Reais 
    In Reais 
    In US dollar 

Net 

All-in weighted 
average annual 
interest rate 
IGPM+4.90% 
IPCA+5.76% 
TJLP+2.28% 
LIBOR6M+2.90% 

Short 
Term 
 (284.3) 
 (106.4) 
 (19.2) 
 (105.0) 

2020 

2021 

2022 

2023 

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   

 (706.1) 

 -   

 (100.8) 

 (100.8) 

 (100.8) 

 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   

Thereafter  Fair value 
 (284.3) 
 -   
 (1,218.9) 
 (19.2) 
 (407.3) 

 (406.4) 

 -   
 -   

 1,820.2  

 (1,880.3) 

 (2,123.5) 

 (2,141.3) 

 (2,340.7) 

 (6,695.1) 

 (13,360.7) 

Foreign Exchange Risk 

In managing our foreign exchange risk, we seek to balance our assets denominated in foreign currency against 
our liabilities also denominated in foreign currency. We also consider future cash flows resulting from transactions in 
foreign  currency,  especially  exports  denominated  in  U.S.  dollars,  euro  and  pounds  sterling.  We  usually  enter  into 
derivative instruments, mainly local short-term swaps, to manage such foreign exchange risk, but these derivatives 
generally do not cover all of the principal amount of our U.S. dollar-denominated obligations. 

The table below provides information about our financial instruments and presents such information in real 
equivalents  as  of  December 31,  2019.  The  table  summarizes  information  on  instruments  and  transactions  that  are 
sensitive to foreign currency exchange rates. The table presents principal cash flows and related weighted average 
interest rates by expected maturity dates (amounts in millions of reais, except average annual interest rates).  

On-balance Sheet Financial 
Instruments 
US dollars instruments 
  Assets 
    Short/Long-term investments 
    Average annual interest rate 
    Short/Long-term investments 
    Average annual interest rate 
  Liabilities 
    Loans and borrowings 
    Average annual interest rate 

Euro instruments 
  Assets 
    Short/Long-term investments 
    Average annual interest rate 
  Liabilities 
    Loans and borrowings 
    Average annual interest rate 

Other currencies instruments 
  Assets 
    Short/Long-term investments 
    Average annual interest rate 
    Short/Long-term investments 
    Average annual interest rate 
  Liabilities 
    Loans and borrowings 
    Average annual interest rate 

Short Term 
 2,997.8  
 3,098.6  
 979.9  
2.63% 
 2,118.7  
 O.night rate  
 (100.8) 
 (100.8) 
4.88% 

2021 

 (100.8) 

 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   

2022 

 (275.6) 
 265.8  
 265.8  
3.82% 

 -   
 -   

2023 
 (1,495.3) 

2024 
 (2,087.3) 

Thereafter 
 (5,038.4) 

 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   

 (100.8) 
 (100.8) 
4.88% 

 (541.4) 
 (541.4) 
5.69% 

 (1,495.3) 
 (1,495.3) 
4.01% 

 (2,087.3) 
 (2,087.3) 
4.75% 

 (5,038.4) 
 (5,038.4) 
4.66% 

Fair value 

 (5,999.6) 
 3,364.4  
 1,245.7  
2.89% 
 2,118.7  
 O.night rate  
 (9,364.0) 
 (9,364.0) 
4.64% 

 3.8  
 3.8  
 3.8  
- 
 -   
 -   
- 

 31.7  
 106.2  
 106.2  
2.43% 

 -   
 -   

 (74.5) 
 (74.5) 
17.28% 

 -   
 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   
- 

 (1,471.4) 

 -   
 -   
- 
 (1,471.4) 
 (1,471.4) 
2.74% 

 (88.5) 
 26.7  
 -   
- 
 26.7  
 MTM  
 (115.2) 
 (115.2) 
16.06% 

 -   
 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
- 

 -   
 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   
- 

 -   
 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
- 

 -   
 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   
- 

 -   
 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
- 

 -   
 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   
- 

 -   
 -   
 -   
- 
 -   
 -   
 -   
 -   
- 

 (1,467.6) 
 3.8  
 3.8  
- 
 (1,471.4) 
 (1,471.4) 
2.74% 

 (56.8) 
 132.9  
 106.2  
2.43% 
 26.7  
 MTM  
 (189.7) 
 (189.7) 
16.54% 

(1) 

(2) 

Includes overnight deposits, time deposits, long-term Brazilian government bonds, credit linked notes and other short-term investments. 

Denominated in U.S. dollars. 

The  table  below  presents  our  derivative  financial  instruments  under  which  we  have  exposure  to  foreign 
exchange risk and interest rate risk, using the notional amounts and weighted average exchange rates by expected 
(contractual) maturity dates.  

160 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exchange / Interest rate 
derivatives 

Total Notional 

Short Term 
 14,870.8  

Cross currency swaps 
  Receive Reais Pay US Dollar 
    Notional amount 
    Average interest received in 
CDI+1,43% 
    Average interest paid in US 
dollar 
    Duration 

Non-deliverable forward 
  Receive Reais Pay US Dollar 
    Notional amount 
    Average interest paid in US 
dollar 
    Duration 

  Receive Euros Pay Reais 
    Notional amount 
    Average interest paid in reais 
    Duration 

  Receive Euros Pay Iene 
    Notional amount 
    Average interest paid in iene 
    Duration 

  Receive Euros Pay RUB 
    Notional amount 
    Average interest paid in 
Russian ruble 
    Duration 

  Receive Euros Pay US Dollar 
    Notional amount 
    Average interest paid in US 
dollar 
    Duration 

  Receive US dollar Pay Reais 

    Notional amount 

    Average interest paid in reais 

    Duration 

FX Options: 
    Notional amount US dollar 
    Duration 

FX Futures: 
    Notional amount 
    Duration 

 -   

 -   

- 

- 
 -   

 4,964.6  

 2,037.8  

2.09% 
 0.3  

 1,016.4  
3.76% 
 0.3  

 92.4  
0.22% 
 0.5  

 95.7  

7.37% 
 0.3  

 157.9  

2.53% 
 0.3  

 1,564.4  

1.37% 

 0.3  

 9,122.2  
 9,122.2  
 0.4  

 784.0  
 784.0  
 0.1  

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

Thereafter 

Fair value 

 4.3  

 -   

 -   

- 

- 
 -   

 4.3  

 4.3  

3.07% 
 1.1  

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 

 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   

 -   

- 

- 
 -   

 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 

 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   

 -   

- 

- 
 -   

 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 

 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   

 -   

- 

- 
 -   

 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 

 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 1,601.1  

 115.3  

 1,601.1  

 1,601.1  

 49.8  

 49.8  

5.83% 

5.83% 

4.24% 
 8.9  

 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   
- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 
 -   

 -   

- 

 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   
 -   

4.24% 
 8.9  

 17.0  

 40.0  

2.09% 
 0.3  

 (5.1) 
3.76% 
 0.3  

 0.0  
0.22% 
 0.5  

 (0.8) 

7.37% 
 0.3  

 0.8  

2.53% 
 0.3  

 (18.0) 

1.37% 

 0.3  

 53.4  
 53.4  
 0.4  

 (4.9) 
 (4.9) 
 0.1  

The table below provides further detail on our foreign currency-denominated assets and liabilities as of the 

dates indicated below.  

(in millions of R$) 
Cash and cash equivalents ................................................................ 
Trade accounts receivable – third parties ......................................... 
Trade accounts payable .................................................................... 
Loans and financing ......................................................................... 
Hedge(1) ............................................................................................ 
Investments, net ................................................................................ 

161 

As of December 31, 

2019 

2018 

329.6 
32.4 
(2,057.1) 
(7,863.0) 
1,734.5 
7,424.2 

127.3 
65.8 
(861.3) 
(7,348.0) 
5,209.2 
2,571.9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in millions of R$) 
Other assets and liabilities, net ......................................................... 
Foreign exchange exposure in R$ .................................................... 

As of December 31, 

2019 

2018 

0.1 
(399.2) 

0.3 
(234.8) 

(1) 

Swaps, U.S. dollar futures and embedded derivatives not designated as hedge accounting instruments, which impact our financial results. 

We account for the exchange rate variation clauses of our export prepayment facilities as hedging instruments 
that mitigate the risk of exchange rate variations relating to our exports. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review 
and Prospects—B. Liquidity and Capital Resources—Export Credit Facilities—Export Prepayment Facilities” for a 
general description of our export prepayment facilities.  For more information about our accounting relating to these 
facilities, see Note 25 to our consolidated financial statements. 

The  table  below  presents  a  sensitivity  analysis  relating  to  our  foreign  exchange  risk  that  considers  five 
scenarios in the next twelve months for the variations in exchange rates between the real and the U.S. dollar, the real 
and the euro, and the real and the pound sterling. We have adopted what we believe is the most likely scenario shown 
in the table. The total of export sales analyzed corresponds to the total of derivative financial instruments plus the 
amortization flow under export prepayment facilities designated as hedge accounting instruments.   

Parity - Brazilian Reais x U.S. Dollar 

4.0307 
Current 

Transaction/Instrument 

Risk 

Scenario 

Designated as hedge accounting 

3.6276 
Scenario I 
10% 
appreciation 

3.0230 
Scenario II 
25% 
appreciation 

5.0384 
Scenario III 
25% 
devaluation 

6.0461 
Scenario IV 
50% 
devaluation 

Non-deliverable forward  
Options – currencies 
Bonds 
Exports (object) 
Costs (object) 

Devaluation of R$ 
Devaluation of R$ 
Devaluation of R$ 
Appreciation of R$ 
Appreciation of R$ 

46,325 
52,954 
(518,452) 
442,051 
(22,878) 

248,991 
428,644 
(413,931) 
(149,406) 
(114,298) 

552,991 
1,072,548 
(257,149) 
(1,116,964) 
(251,426) 

(460,341) 
(880,094) 
(779,754) 
1,914,520 
205,669 

(967,007) 
(1,953,268) 
(1,041,056) 
3,527,114 
434,217 

Not designated as hedge accounting 
NDF – Purchase 
Options – Purchase 
Futures – Purchase – B3 
Net effect 

Appreciation of R$ 
Devaluation of R$ 
Appreciation of R$ 

(18,635) 
- 
1,605 
(17,030) 

(173,817) 
5,886 
(76,792) 
(244,723) 

(406,590) 
14,955 
(194,388) 
(586,023) 

369,319 
(11,391) 
197,598 
555,526 

757,274 
(26,506) 
393,591 
1,124,359 

Parity - Brazilian Reais x Euro 

4.5305 
Current 

Transaction/Instrument 

Risk 

Scenario 

Not designated as hedge accounting 

4.0775 
Scenario I 
10% 
appreciation 

3.3979 
Scenario II 
25% 
appreciation 

5.6631 
Scenario III 
25% 
devaluation 

6.7958 
Scenario IV 
50% 
devaluation 

NDF - Purchase EUR x U.S.$  Appreciation of EUR 
Appreciation of EUR 
NDF - Purchase EUR x RUB 
Appreciation of R$ 
NDF – Purchase 
Net effect 

442 
(1,764) 
(7,825 
(9,147) 

(15,415) 
(11,323) 
(109,762) 
(136,500) 

(39,200) 
(25,660) 
(262,666) 
(327,526) 

40,083 
22,132 
247,015 
309,230 

79,725 
46,028 
501,856 
627,609 

Commodity Price Risk 

In the normal course of our operations, we purchase commodities, including corn, soy meal and live hogs, 

which make up a significant portion of our raw materials and costs of production. 

Corn and soy meal prices are subject to volatility resulting from weather conditions, crop yield, transportation 
costs, storage costs, agricultural policy of the government, foreign exchange rates and the prices of these commodities 
on the international market, among other factors. The price of hogs acquired from third parties is  subject to market 
conditions and is determined by supply and demand in the international market, among other factors.  

162 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our risk policy provides guidelines to hedging against increases in the price of corn and soy meal. In 2019, 

we used derivative instruments such as corn futures in addition to inventory management for this purpose.  

The table below presents the notional amounts of our derivative financial instruments under which we have 

exposure to corn prices: 

2020 

2021 

2022 

2023 

Commodities derivatives 

Commodities Futures 
  Receive Corn Pay US dollar 
    Notional amount (Ton/USD) 
    Duration 
  Receive Soybean Meal Pay   
US dollar 
    Notional amount (Ton/USD) 
    Duration 
  Receive Soy Oil Pay US dollar 
    Notional amount (Ton/USD) 
    Duration 
  Receive US dollar Pay Corn 
    Notional amount (Ton/USD) 
    Duration 
  Receive US dollar Pay Soy 
    Notional amount (Ton/USD) 
    Duration 
  Corn Futures 
    Notional amount (Ton/USD) 
    Duration 

Short 
Term 
 1,753.4  

 369.7  
 0.2  

 170.9  
 0.4  

 11.0  
 0.4  

 6.5  

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 1,103.3  
 0.5  

 6.5  
 1.0  

 35.0  
 0.7  

 63.6  
 0.1  

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

Thereafter  Fair value 
 (29.5) 
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 -   
 -   

 (38.9) 
 0.2  

 (0.1) 
 0.4  

 3.7  
 0.4  

 9.3  
 0.5  

 (3.1) 
 0.7  

 (0.5) 
 0.1  

The  table  below  presents  a  sensitivity  analysis  relating  to  our  commodity  price  risk  that  considers  five 

scenarios in the next twelve months for the variations in corn, soybean meal and soybean prices. 

Price parity CBOT - Corn - U.S.$/Ton 

Risk 

Transaction/Instrument 
Designated as hedge accounting 
NDF - Corn Sale  
NDF - Corn purchase 
Put 
Corn Options 
Costs (object) 

Increase in corn price 
Decrease in corn price 
Increase in corn price 
Decrease in corn price 
Increase in corn price 

Net effect 

Price parity CBOT - Soybean meal - U.S.$/Ton 

Transaction/Instrument 
Designated as hedge accounting 
NDF - Soybean meal 
purchase  

Risk 

Decrease in soybean meal 
price 
Decrease in soybean meal 
price 
Increase in soybean meal 
price 

Soybean meal Options 

Cost (object) 

Net effect 

156.76 
Current 
Scenario 

141.08 
Scenario I 

117.57 
Scenario II 

Decrease 10%  Decrease 25% 

195.95 
Scenario III 
Increase 25% 

235.14 
Scenario IV 
Increase 50% 

13,878 
(34,285) 
(875) 
- 
21,282 
- 

83,998 
(57,645) 
(15,946) 
- 
(10,407) 
- 

189,178 
(92,685) 
(38,552) 
(1,718) 
(56,223) 
- 

(161,423) 
24,115 
- 
2,975 
134,333 
- 

(336,723) 
82,515 
- 
6,118 
248,090 
- 

122.14 
Current 
Scenario  Decrease 10%  Decrease 25% 

91.61 
Scenario II 

109.93 
Scenario I 

152.68 
Scenario III 
Increase 25% 

183.21 
Scenario IV 
Increase 50% 

(24) 

(8,435) 

(21,052) 

21,004 

(2,656) 

(8,912) 

7,573 

42,032 

18,000 

11,091 

29,964 

(28,577) 

(60,032) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

24 

- 

Price parity CBOT - Soybean - U.S.$/Ton 

Transaction/Instrument 
Designated as hedge accounting 

Risk 

359.21 
Current 
Scenario  Decrease 10%  Decrease 25% 

269.41 
Scenario II 

323.29 
Scenario I 

449.01 
Scenario III 
Increase 25% 

538.81 
Scenario IV 
Increase 50% 

163 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Price parity CBOT - Soybean - U.S.$/Ton 

Transaction/Instrument 
NDF - Soybean sale  
Cost (object) 

Risk 
Increase in soybean price 
Increase in soybean price 

Net effect 

Price parity CBOT - Soybean oil - U.S.$/Ton 

Risk 

Transaction/Instrument 
Designated as hedge accounting 
NDF - Soybean purchase   Decrease in soybean oil price 
Decrease in soybean oil price 
Soybean oil options 
Cost (object) 
Increase in soybean oil price 
Net effect 

323.29 
Scenario I 

269.41 
Scenario II 

359.21 
Current 
Scenario  Decrease 10%  Decrease 25% 
9,603 
(9,603) 
- 

(3,056) 
3,056 
- 

2,007 
(2,007) 
- 

773.62 
Current 
Scenario  Decrease 10%  Decrease 25% 

580.22 
Scenario II 

696.26 
Scenario I 

449.01 
Scenario III 
Increase 25% 
(15,715) 
15,715 
- 

538.81 
Scenario IV 
Increase 50% 
(28,373) 
28,373 
- 

967.03 
Scenario III 
Increase 25% 

1,160.43 
Scenario IV 
Increase 50% 

3,686 
- 
(3,686) 
- 

255 
252 
(507) 
- 

(4,892) 
(745) 
5,637 
- 

12,263 
4,562 
(16,825) 
- 

20,840 
7,657 
(28,497) 
- 

  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES 

A. 

Debt Securities 

Not applicable.  

B. 

Warrants and Rights 

Not applicable.  

C. 

Other Securities 

Not applicable.  

D. 

American Depositary Shares 

The following table sets for the fees and charges that a holder of ADRs may have to pay pursuant to our 
Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of November 2, 2011 (the “Deposit Agreement”), with The Bank 
of New York Mellon, as depositary, in connection with our ADR program:  

Fees and Reimbursement Provisions 

Rates and Fees 
1.  U.S.$0.05 (or less) per ADR 

2.  U.S.$0.02 (or less) per ADR 
3.  U.S.$0.02 (or less) per ADRs per calendar 

year 

4.  A fee equivalent to the fee that would be 

payable if securities distributed to you had 
been shares and the shares had been 
deposited for issuance of ADRs 

5.  Registration or transfer fees 

Service 
Issuance of ADRs, including issuances resulting from a 
distribution of shares, rights or other property; and 
Cancellation of ADRs for the purpose of withdrawal, 
including if the deposit agreement terminates. 
Any cash distribution to ADR holders. 
Depositary services. 

Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited 
securities which are distributed by the Depositary to ADR 
holders. 

Transfer and registration of shares on BRF’s share registry 
to or from the name of the Depositary or its agent when you 
deposit or withdraw shares. 

164 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Rates and Fees 
6.  Expenses of the Depositary 

7.  Taxes and other governmental charges the 

Depositary or the Custodian may have to pay 
on any ADR or share underlying an ADR 
8.  Any charges incurred by the Depositary or its 
agents for servicing the deposited securities 

Service 
Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly 
provided in the deposit agreement); and Converting foreign 
currency to U.S. dollars. 
As necessary. 

As necessary. 

The fee and reimbursement provisions described in rows 3. and 8. of the table above may, at the depositary’s 
discretion, be billed to the holders of ADRs or deducted from one or more cash dividends or other cash distributions.   

For the year ended December 31, 2019, pursuant to a letter agreement between BRF and the depositary, the 
depositary reimbursed us for fees, expenses and related taxes in the gross amount of U.S.$3.1 million or net amount 
of U.S.$2.28 million. 

A form of the Deposit Agreement is filed as Exhibit 2.01 to this Annual Report on Form 20-F. We encourage 

you to review this document carefully if you are a holder of ADRs. 

  DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES 

None. 

  MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF 

PROCEEDS 

None. 

  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES  

A. 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

As of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 20-F, management, with the participation 
of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, performed an evaluation of the effectiveness 
of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of 
the  Exchange  Act.  Our  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  are  designed  to  ensure  that  information  required  to  be 
disclosed in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported 
within  the  time  periods  specified  in  the  SEC’s  rules  and  forms,  and  that  such  information  is  accumulated  and 
communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, to allow 
timely  decisions  regarding  required  disclosures.  Any  controls  and  procedures,  no  matter  how  well  designed  and 
operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objective. For information about the 
significance of these entities, see “—B. Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Report.” 
Based on our management’s evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as 
of December 31, 2019, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.  

B. 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

In  2019,  we  implemented  changes  in  our  controls  related  to  recognition,  measurement,  presentation  and 
disclosure of leases. There were no other significant changes in our controls that have materially affecteded, or are 
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

165 

 
 
 
Management  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over  financial 
reporting  for  the  Company.  In  order  to  evaluate  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  as 
required  by  Section  404  of  the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act,  management  has  conducted  an  assessment,  including  testing, 
using  the  2013  criteria  in  Internal  Control-Integrated  Framework,  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring 
Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (COSO).  Our  system  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  is 
designed  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  regarding  the  reliability  of  financial  reporting  and  the  preparation  of 
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Because of its 
inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements.  Also, 
projections  of  any  evaluation  of  effectiveness  to  future  periods  are  subject  to  the  risk  that  controls  may  become 
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may 
deteriorate. 

Based  on  its  assessment,  management  has  concluded  that  we  maintained  effective  internal  control  over 
financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on criteria in Internal Control-Integrated Framework, issued by 
the COSO (2013). 

KPMG Auditores Independentes, an independent registered public accounting firm, which has audited and 
reported  on  the  consolidated  financial  statements  contained  in  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  20-F,  has  issued  an 
attestation report on management’s assessment of our internal control over financial reporting.  

C. 

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm 

See “Item 18—Financial Statements.” 

D. 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 
15d-15(f)  under  the  Exchange  Act)  that  occurred  during  the  year  ended  December 31,  2019  that  have  materially 
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting. 

We have not made any significant change in internal controls over financial reporting during the year ended 

December 31, 2019. 

[RESERVED]  

ITEM 16A.  AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT 

The Board of Directors has determined that Fernando Maida Dall’Acqua, a member of the Company’s Audit 
and  Integrity  Committee,  is  an  “audit  committee  financial  expert,”  as  such  term  is  defined  in  the  SEC  rules.  Mr. 
Dall’Acqua is independent, as such term is defined in the Novo Mercado listing rules. The Company has determined 
that Mr. Dall’Acqua is independent under the standards of the NYSE listing rules and Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange 
Act that would apply if the Company were not relying on the exemption provided in paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3, 
as described in “Item 16D. Exemptions from the Listing Standards for Audit Committees.” See “Item 6. – A. Directors, 
Senior  Management  and  Employees—C.  Board  Practices”  for  information  regarding  the  experience  of  Mr. 
Dall’Acqua. 

ITEM 16B.  CODE OF ETHICS 

Under NYSE Rule 303A.10, each U.S. listed company must adopt and disclose a code of business conduct 
and  ethics  for  directors,  officers  and  employees  and  promptly  disclose  any  waivers  of  the  code  for  directors  or 
executive officers. We are subject to a similar requirement under Brazilian Decree 8.420/2015, article 42 item 2, and 
we have adopted a code of conduct and ethics that applies to our directors, officers and employees. 

Our code of conduct and ethics, called the “Transparency Guide,” as well as further information concerning 
our  corporate  governance  practices  and  applicable  Brazilian  law,  is  available  on  our  website  at  https://www.brf-

166 

 
 
global.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/transparency_guide-eng.pdf. Information on our website is not incorporated 
by reference in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. Copies of our “Code of Ethics and Conduct” are also available 
without charge upon request to our Investor Relations Office. 

If we make any substantive amendment to the code of ethics or grant any waivers, including any implicit 
waiver, from a provision of the code of ethics that apply to our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, 
principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, we intend to disclose the nature of 
such amendment or waiver on our website. During the year ended December 31, 2019, no such amendment was made 
or waiver granted.  

ITEM 16C.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES  

Audit and Non-Audit Fees 

The following table sets forth the fees billed to BRF by its independent auditors responsible for auditing the 
financial statements included in the Annual Report on Form 20-F, which was KPMG Auditores Independentes for the 
fiscal  years ended December  31, 2019 and 2018. No payments of consultancy fees  were  made to the independent 
auditors during 2019 and 2018. The hiring of our auditors for consultancy services is subject to Board of Directors’ 
and  Audit  and  Integrity  Committee’s  approvals  and  presupposes  that  the  service  in  question  does  not  risk  the 
independence and objectivity of our auditors in the performance of the outside audit. The Board’s approval also takes 
into account restrictions on certain services under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. 

Aggregate  fees  for professional services rendered to us by  KPMG Auditores  Independentes for the  years 

ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were:  

Audit fees ..........................................................................  
Audit-related fees ..............................................................  
Tax fees .............................................................................  
All other fees .....................................................................  
Total fees ..........................................................................  

Year Ended 
December 31, 

2019 

2018 

(in thousands of Reais) 

9,272.3 
547.1 
- 
- 
9,819.4 

10,071.9 
430.4 
1,924.7 
- 
12,427.0 

Audit fees in the above table are the fees billed by our independent auditors in connection with the audit of 
our annual consolidated financial statements, the review of our quarterly financial information, the audit of our internal 
control over financial reporting and the statutory audits of our foreign subsidiaries. 

Audit-related fees in the above table for 2019 and 2018 refer to services related to debt offerings. In 2018, 

tax fees related to claims for a refund of import taxes paid in Europe. 

There were no other fees in 2019 or 2018. 

ITEM 16D.  EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES 

Our  audit  and  integrity  committee  meets  the  requirements  for  the  exemption  available  to  foreign  private 
issuers under paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The audit and integrity committee is not the 
equivalent of, or wholly comparable to, a U.S. audit committee. Among other differences, it is not required to meet 
the standards of “independence” established in Rule 10A-3 and is not fully empowered to act on all the matters that 
are required by Rule 10A-3 to be within the scope of an audit committee’s authority. Nonetheless, with the attributes 
provided to the audit and integrity committee under the Company’s bylaws to the extent permitted by Brazilian law, 
the Company believes that its corporate governance system, taken as a whole, is materially equivalent to a system 
having an audit committee functioning as a committee of its board of directors. Accordingly, the Company does not 
believe that its reliance on the exemption in paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 materially adversely affects the ability of 

167 

 
 
 
 
 
 
the audit and integrity committee to act independently and to satisfy the other requirements of Rule 10A-3 to the extent 
permitted by the Brazilian Corporation Law. 

The Company also has a permanent Fiscal Council.  However, as of April 3, 2014, the Company no longer 
relies on the Fiscal Council to avail itself of the exemption contained in paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 under the 
Exchange Act. 

ITEM 16E.  PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED 

PURCHASERS 

We did not engage in any share repurchases during 2019. 

On March 26, 2020, our board of directors approved a share repurchase program for an aggregate amount of 
up to 7,500,000 common shares potentially to be repurchased during a one-year period ending on March 26, 2021. 
Our board of executive officers will determine the specific dates and terms for executing repurchases in accordance 
with  the  program,  which  may  be  executed  in  compliance  with  Rule  10b-18  under  the  Exchange  Act.  Any  of  the 
common shares acquired under the program may be held in treasury, cancelled or later resold, or they may be used to 
comply with the obligations assumed by the Company under the Stock Option Plan and the Restricted Stock Plan, 
which are further described under “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees—E. Share Ownership—
Stock Option Plan and Restricted Stock Plan.”. 

ITEM 16F.  CHANGE IN REGISTRANT’S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT  

None. 

ITEM 16G.  CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  

We adopt corporate governance practices for a continual process of organizational improvement aimed at 

greater transparency, liquidity and return for our investors. 

We were the first company in the food sector to list on B3’s  Novo Mercado (2006), which requires us to 
comply with stringent regulations, including, among them, diffused control, protection mechanisms and equality of 
rights  among  shareholders.  In  addition,  the  Company  has  adhered  to  Level A  of  the  Global  Reporting  Initiative 
guidelines for the publication of its annual reports under Brazilian law. 

Further information concerning our corporate governance practices and applicable Brazilian law is available 
on the Company’s website (https://ri.brf-global.com).  Information on our website is not incorporated by reference in 
this Annual Report on Form 20-F. 

Under Section 303A.11 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual (the “LCM”), we are required to disclose any 
significant differences in our corporate governance practices from those required to be followed by U.S. companies 
under the NYSE listing standards. We have summarized these significant differences below. 

We are permitted to follow practices in Brazil in lieu of the provisions of the LCM, except that we are required 
to  have  a  qualifying  audit  committee  under  Section  303A.06  of  the  LCM  or  avail  ourselves  of  an  appropriate 
exemption. As a foreign private issuer, we have established an audit and integrity committee in order to avail ourselves 
of an exemption from the listing standards for audit committees. See “Item 6.—A. Directors, Senior Management and 
Employees—C.  Board  Practices—Audit  and  Integrity  Committee.”  In  addition,  our  chief  executive  officer  is 
obligated, under Section 303A.12(b) of the LCM, to promptly notify the NYSE in writing after any of our executive 
officers becomes aware of any material non-compliance with any applicable provisions of the LCM.  We are also 
required under Section 303A.12(c) of the LCM to submit an annual written affirmation of compliance with applicable 
provisions of the rules and, under certain circumstances, an interim written affirmation. 

168 

 
Majority of Independent Directors 

Under Section 303A.01 of the LCM, each U.S. listed company must have a majority of independent directors. 
Under the Novo Mercado rules, at least 2 directors or 20% of our board of directors, whichever is greater, must be 
independent,  and a  majority  of our directors currently  meet that standard. In addition, the independence standards 
under the LCM are different from the independence standards under the Novo Mercado rules. 

Separate Meetings of Non-Management Directors 

Under Section 303A.03 of the LCM, the non-management directors of each U.S. listed company must meet 
at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management. In addition, if a listed company chooses to hold regular 
meetings  of  all  non-management  directors,  such  listed  company  should  hold  an  executive  session  including  only 
independent directors at least once a year. We do not have a similar requirement under Brazilian practice, but in any 
event,  all  members  of  our  board  are  non-executive  directors.  However,  our  independent  directors  do  not  meet 
separately from directors who are not independent. 

Nominating/Corporate Governance Committee 

Under Section 303A.04 of the LCM, each U.S. listed company must have a nominating/corporate governance 
committee composed entirely of independent directors. We are not required to have such a committee under Brazilian 
law.  However,  we  have  a  People,  Governance,  Organization  and  Culture  Committee  composed  of  independent 
members according to Novo Mercado rules. This committee is not the equivalent of, or wholly comparable to, a U.S. 
nominating/corporate governance committee. 

Compensation Committee 

Section 303A.05 of the LCM requires each U.S. listed company to have a compensation committee composed 
entirely of independent directors and contains more specific guidance regarding the independence standards for those 
directors. Listed companies must grant the compensation committee, in its sole discretion, the authority to retain or 
obtain a compensation adviser and to be directly responsible for the compensation and oversight of any compensation 
adviser so retained with appropriate funding from the listed company. In addition, the compensation committee must 
assess the independence of any compensation adviser, subject to certain exceptions.  

We are not required to have such a committee or to comply with similar requirements under Brazilian rules. 
However, we have established the People, Governance, Organization and Culture Committee, which is responsible 
for advising the board of directors in setting compensation policies and the compensation of executives and employees, 
providing support to the executive officers in the assessment, selection and development of top leadership, advising 
the board of directors in the formulation and practice of BRF culture to monitor and encouraging proper behavior of 
leaders, and proposing actions to align the expectations of  shareholders and executives.  This committee is not the 
equivalent of, or wholly comparable to, a U.S. compensation committee.  

In accordance with Brazilian Corporation Law, our shareholders approve the aggregate compensation of the 
members of our board of directors, audit and integrity committee and fiscal council for each fiscal year. Our board of 
directors  then  decides  the  allocation  of  the  compensation  among  its  members  and  the  members  of  the  audit  and 
integrity committee and the fiscal council. In addition, our board of directors is directly responsible for employee and 
executive compensation and recruitment, incentive compensation and related matters. 

Audit and Integrity Committee 

Under Section 303A.06 of the LCM and the requirements of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, each U.S. 
listed company is required to have an audit committee consisting entirely of independent members that comply with 
the  requirements  of  Rule  10A-3.  In  addition,  the  audit  committee  must  have  a  written  charter  compliant  with  the 
requirements of Section 303A.07(b) of the LCM, the listed company must have an internal audit function and  the 
listed company must fulfill all other requirements of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3. The SEC has recognized that, for 
foreign private issuers, local legislation may delegate some of the functions of the audit committee to other bodies. 

169 

 
We have established the Audit and Integrity Committee as approved at the Annual and Extraordinary General Meeting 
of April 3, 2014. Our Audit and Integrity Committee meets the requirements for the exemption available to foreign 
private issuers under paragraph (c)(3) of Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act. The Audit and Integrity Committee is 
not the equivalent of, or wholly comparable to, a U.S. audit committee. Among other differences, it is not required to 
meet the standards of “independence” established in Rule 10A-3 and is not fully empowered to act on all the matters 
that are required by Rule 10A-3 to be within the scope of an audit committee’s authority. 

Corporate Governance Guidelines 

Under NYSE Rule 303A.09, each U.S. listed company must adopt and disclose their corporate governance 
guidelines. We do not have a similar requirement under Brazilian law. However, we have listed our common shares 
on  the  Novo  Mercado  of  the  São  Paulo  Stock  Exchange,  which  requires  adherence  to  the  corporate  governance 
standards  described  under  “Item  9.  The  Offer  and  Listing—C.    Markets  —São  Paulo  Stock  Exchange  Corporate 
Governance Standards.” In addition, we have adopted a written policy on trading of securities and relevant disclosure 
matters.  

Further information concerning our corporate governance practices and applicable Brazilian law is available 

on our website. Information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 20-F. 

ITEM 16H.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE 

Not applicable.  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

Not applicable. 

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

See our consolidated financial statements beginning at page F-1. 

  EXHIBITS 

The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this Annual Report on Form 20-F are not intended 
to  provide  factual  information  or  other  disclosure  other  than  with  respect  to  the  terms  of  the  agreements  or  other 
documents  themselves,  and  you  should  not  rely  on  them  for  that  purpose.  In  particular,  any  representations  and 
warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the 
relevant agreement or document and for the benefit of the other parties to the agreements and they may not describe 
the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.  

The total amount of long-term debt of the Company authorized under each instrument does not exceed 10% 
of the total assets of the Company and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis. The Company undertakes to furnish to 
the SEC any instruments relating to long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries upon request by the SEC. 

The following are filed as exhibits hereto: 

Exhibit 
Number  
1.01  

Description 
Amended  and  Restated  Bylaws  of  the  Registrant,  approved  at  the  extraordinary  meeting  of  the 
shareholders of BRF S.A. on November 5, 2018 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Report 
on Form 6-K filed on November 6, 2018, SEC File No.  001-15148). 

170 

 
 
 
 
Exhibit 
Number  
2.01  

2.02  

4.01 

4.02 

8.01  

12.01  

12.02 

13.01* 

13.02* 

Description 
Form of Deposit Agreement among BRF S.A. (Perdigão S.A.), The Bank of New York Mellon, as 
depositary, and the owners and beneficial owners of American Depositary Shares, as amended and 
restated as of November 2, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registration Statement 
on Form F-6, filed on November 2, 2011, SEC File No. 333-177676).  

Form of American Depositary Receipt (incorporated by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 1 to the 
Registration Statement on Form F-6, filed on November 2, 2011, SEC File 333-177676).  

Stock  Options  Grant  Plan  of  BRF  S.A.,  approved  at  the  ordinary  and  extraordinary  general 
shareholders’ meeting held on April 8, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Annex I to the Report on 
Form 6-K, filed on April 10, 2015, SEC File No. 001-15148). 

Restricted Stocks Plan of BRF S.A., approved at the ordinary and extraordinary general shareholders’ 
meeting held on April 29, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to the Report on Form 6-K, 
filed on April 29, 2019, SEC File No. 001-15148). 

Subsidiaries of the Registrant. 

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 
15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Securities Exchange Act Rules 13a-14(a) and 
15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant 
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant 
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 

101 

eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL)  

* 

This certification will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. §78r), or otherwise 
subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing 
under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the Registrant specifically incorporates it by 
reference. 

171 

 
 
SIGNATURES 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant, BRF S.A., 
hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused this annual 
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of São Paulo, in the state of 
São Paulo, Brazil, on April 24, 2020. 

BRF S.A.  

By: /s/ Lorival Nogueira Luz Júnior 
Name:  Lorival Nogueira Luz Júnior 
Title:  Global Chief Executive Officer 

By: /s/  Carlos Alberto Bezerra de Moura 
Name:  Carlos Alberto Bezerra de Moura 
Title:  Chief Financial and Investor Relations Officer 

172 

 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

Consolidated Financial Statements: 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ..............................................   R-1 
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 ...........   F-4 
Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 

and 2017 .......................................................................................................................   F-5 

Consolidated  Statements  of  Comprehensive  Income  (Loss)  for  the  Years  Ended 

December 31, 2019, 2018 and 2017 .............................................................................   F-6 

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 

2018 and 2017 ..............................................................................................................   F-7 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2019, 2018 

and 2017 .......................................................................................................................   F-9 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements ................................................................   F-10 

1 

 
 
 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors 
BRF S.A.: 

Opinions on the Consolidated Financial Statements and Internal Control Over Financial Reporting  

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of BRF S.A. and subsidiaries 
(the Company) as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the related consolidated statements of income (loss), 
comprehensive income (loss), changes in equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period 
ended December 31, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). We also 
have audited the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2019, based on 
criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission. 

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, 
the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2019 and 2018, and the results of its operations and 
its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, in conformity with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. Also in 
our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting 
as of December 31, 2019 based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) 
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. 

Change in Accounting Principle 

As discussed in Note 3.14 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of 
accounting for lease arrangements as of January 1, 2019 due to the adoption of IFRS 16 “Leases”. 

Emphasis of matter 

We draw attention to explanatory note 1.2 to the consolidated financial statements, which describe the 
investigations involving the Company, as well as their current and potential developments. In the current stage 
of the investigations, it is not possible to determine the potential financial and non-financial impacts to the 
Company as a result of those investigations and their potential developments and, consequently, to recognize 
potential losses which could have a material adverse impact on the Company´s financial position, results of 
operations and cash flows in the future.  

Basis for Opinions  

The Company’s management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining 
effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control 
over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over 
Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s consolidated financial 
statements and an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We 
are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) 
(PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal 
securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the 
PCAOB. 

 
 
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we 
plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial 
statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal 
control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. 

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of 
material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing 
procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence 
regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included 
evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as 
evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over 
financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the 
risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of 
internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we 
considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our 
opinions. 

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting  

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance 
regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in 
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting 
includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, 
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide 
reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements 
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the 
company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; 
and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, 
or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. 

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect 
misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that 
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the 
policies or procedures may deteriorate. 

Critical Audit Matters 

The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current period audit of the 
consolidated financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit 
committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial 
statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication 
of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as 
a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the 
critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate. 

Assessment of recoverability of deferred tax assets 

As discussed in Notes 3.8 and 10 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has deferred tax 
assets of R$ 1,845.9 million as of December 31, 2019. The deferred tax assets relate to tax losses, negative 
basis of social contribution and temporary differences. The estimate of probable future taxable profit is based 
on subjective judgments regarding prospective assumptions such as sales prices of the products, commodity 
costs, operating and administrative expenses and are recorded to the extent that the Company considers 
probable the generation of future taxable income against which the deferred tax assets will be realized. The 
process of estimating the recoverability of deferred tax assets involves high degree of judgment required in 

2 

 
 
assessing the significant assumptions and the interpretation of tax laws that are considered in the forecast of 
future taxable income. Therefore, we consider this as a critical audit matter. 

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following. We tested 
certain internal controls over estimate of probable future taxable profit relating to the recoverability of deferred 
taxes assets, including controls related to the determination of assumptions used in the preparation and review 
of the business plan, budget, technical studies and analysis of forecast of future taxable income prepared by 
the Company. We involved corporate finance professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted 
in: evaluating the main assumptions and methodology used in the Company’s forecast in the preparation of the 
future taxable income, especially those related to expectations of sales prices of the products, commodity 
costs, operating and administrative expenses and the consistency of these assumptions with the five-year 
strategic plan approved by the Board of Directors. We performed sensitivity analysis over the key assumptions 
to assess their impact on the Company’s forecast of the future taxable income. In addition, we involved tax 
professionals with specialized skills and knowledge, who assisted in assessing the Company’s application of 
the tax laws and tax deductions. We also evaluated the disclosures made by the Company on the expected 
recoverability of the deferred tax assets. 

Trade discounts recognition 

As discussed in Notes 3.21 and 27 to the consolidated financial statements, in the course of business, the 
Company provides to its customers trade discounts, which are recorded as deductions from net sales in the 
consolidated statements of income (loss). These trade discounts are recognized based on contractual 
agreements for which the terms and conditions are negotiated separately with each customer. We identified the 
measurement of Company’s trade discounts as a critical audit matter due to the high volume of transactions, 
the relevance of the amounts involved and judgment to evaluate the Company’s assessment on the specific 
terms and conditions of each contract used in the recognizing trade discounts and to evaluate the timing of 
recognition in the consolidated financial statements. 

The primary procedures that we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following. We tested 
certain internal controls over the Company’s trade discounts process related to recognition of accruals. We 
compared, on a sample basis, trade discounts recognized with underlying documentation (including the terms 
and conditions of the contracts signed with customers), to assess the amount and the respective accrual 
period. We obtained confirmations from third parties for a sample of the Company’s customers over the 
outstanding amount of trade discounts at year-end and compared with the amount recorded by the Company. 
For a sample of trade discounts, we tested the settlements that occurred after period end and compared them 
to the recorded trade discounts. We also evaluated the Company’s disclosures in relation to the accounting 
policies adopted for the recognition of trade discounts. 

/s/ KPMG Auditores Independentes 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2017.  

São Paulo, Brazil 
April 24, 2020 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of Brazilian reais) 

Consolidated 
Financial 
Statements 
December 31, 2019 and 2018 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Index 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION ..................................................................................................................................... 4 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (LOSS) .................................................................................................................................................. 5 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)........................................................................................................... 6 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY ....................................................................................................................................... 7 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS ....................................................................................................................................................... 9 

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17. 

18. 

19. 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

27 

28 

 ...........................................................................................................................................................................10 

BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ................................................................15 
COMPANY’S OPERATIONS

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES ....................................................................................................................16 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS ...............................................................................................................................................................26 

MARKETABLE SECURITIES .........................................................................................................................................................................26 

TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES ...................................................................................................27 

INVENTORIES ....................................................................................................................................................................................................28 

BIOLOGICAL ASSETS ......................................................................................................................................................................................29 

RECOVERABLE TAXES ...................................................................................................................................................................................31 

INCOME AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION TAXES ..................................................................................................................................32 

JUDICIAL DEPOSITS ........................................................................................................................................................................................34 

ASSETS AND LIABILITIES HELD FOR SALE AND DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS .............................................................34 

INVESTMENTS ...................................................................................................................................................................................................38 

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET ........................................................................................................................................39 

INTANGIBLE ASSETS ......................................................................................................................................................................................41 

LOANS AND FINANCING ...............................................................................................................................................................................43 

TRADE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE .....................................................................................................................................................................46 

SUPPLY CHAIN FINANCE ..............................................................................................................................................................................47 

LEASES ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................47 

SHARE-BASED PAYMENT ............................................................................................................................................................................49 

EMPLOYEES BENEFITS PLANS ..................................................................................................................................................................52 

PROVISION FOR TAX, CIVIL, LABOR AND OTHER RISKS ..............................................................................................................58 

 ............................................................................................................................................................................61 

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ..................................................................................................................................................................62 
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISKS MANAGEMENT ...............................................................................................................63 

SEGMENT INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................................................................73 

NET SALES ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................75 

OTHER OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSES), NET ..............................................................................................................................76 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

34 

35 

36 

37 

FINANCIAL INCOME (EXPENSES), NET .................................................................................................................................................77 

STATEMENT OF INCOME BY NATURE ...................................................................................................................................................78 

RELATED PARTIES ..........................................................................................................................................................................................78 

GOVERNMENT GRANTS ................................................................................................................................................................................79 

COMMITMENTS ................................................................................................................................................................................................80 

INSURANCE COVERAGE - CONSOLIDATED .........................................................................................................................................80 

TRANSACTIONS THAT DO NOT INVOLVE CASH ...............................................................................................................................80 

EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD ..........................................................................................................................................81 

APPROVAL OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS .............................................................................................82 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(in thousands of Brazilian reais) 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 

ASSETS

CURRENT  ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

Marketable securities

Trade and other receivables

Inventories

Biological assets

Recoverable taxes

Recoverable income tax and social contribution

Derivative financial instruments

Restricted cash

Assets held for sale 

Other current assets

Total current assets

NON-CURRENT  ASSETS

LONG -TERM  RECEIVALBLES

Marketable securities

Trade and other receivables

Recoverable taxes

Recoverable income tax and social contribution

Deferred income taxes

Judicial deposits

Biological assets

Derivative financial instruments

Restricted cash

Other non-current assets

Total long-term receivables

Investments

Property, plant and equipment, net

Intangible assets

Total non-current assets

TOTAL  ASSETS

Note

12.31.19

12.31.18

LIABILITIES

Note

12.31.19

12.31.18

4

5

6

7

8

9

9

25

12

5

6

9

9

10

11

8

25

13

14

15

4,237,785

418,182

3,090,691

3,887,916

1,603,039

473,732

152,486

195,324

296,294

99,245

590,733

CURRENT  LIABILITIES

4,869,562

Loans and borrowings

507,035

Trade accounts payable

2,720,041

3,877,294

1,513,133

560,389

506,483

182,339

277,321

Supply chain finance

Lease liability

Payroll, related charges and employee profit sharing

Tax payable

Derivative financial instruments

Provision for tax, civil and labor risks

Employee benefits

3,326,305

Liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale

690,998

Other current liabilities

15,045,427

19,030,900

Total current liabilities

307,352

71,029

5,169,547

269,263

1,915,370

575,750

1,081,025

49,991

-

85,537

9,524,864

NON-CURRENT  LIABILITIES

290,625

96,922

Loans and borrowings

Trade accounts payable

Lease liability

3,142,547

Tax payable 

7,246

Provision for tax, civil and labor risks

1,519,652

Deferred income tax

669,098

Employee benefits

1,061,314

Derivative financial instruments

-

Other non-current liabilities

584,300

177,372

7,549,076

Total non-current liabilities

EQUITY

Capital

Capital reserves

14,880

12,276,889

4,908,079

86,005

Accumulated losses

10,696,998

Treasury shares

5,019,398

Other comprehensive loss

26,724,712

23,351,477

Total equity

Attributable to controlling shareholders

Non-controlling interests

16

17

18

19

25

22

21

12

16

17

19

22

10

21

25

23

3,132,029

5,784,419

842,037

376,628

825,254

517,208

153,612

1,084,308

95,919

-

717,027

13,528,441

4,547,389

5,487,205

875,300

75,712

618,669

402,971

235,035

495,584

94,728

1,131,529

524,518

14,488,640

15,488,250

17,618,055

12,347

2,054,552

190,257

710,061

85,310

593,555

3

12,803

167,041

162,239

854,667

65,774

373,423

-

1,093,942

1,107,958

20,228,277

20,361,960

12,460,471

12,460,471

192,845

115,354

(4,131,913)

(4,279,003)

(38,239)

(722,469)

7,760,695

252,726

8,013,421

(56,676)

(1,275,519)

6,964,627

567,150

7,531,777

41,770,139

42,382,377

TOTAL  LIABILITIES  AND  EQUITY

41,770,139

42,382,377

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                   
 
   
         
        
         
        
             
          
         
        
         
        
             
          
         
        
             
            
         
        
             
          
             
          
             
          
             
          
             
          
             
          
         
          
             
          
               
            
               
        
                       
        
             
          
             
          
     
      
     
      
     
      
             
          
               
            
               
            
         
          
         
        
             
          
             
             
             
          
         
        
               
            
             
          
             
          
         
        
                             
                
               
                
         
        
                       
          
               
          
         
        
     
      
     
      
             
          
               
            
       
       
     
      
             
           
         
        
           
       
         
        
             
          
     
      
         
        
     
      
     
      
(in thousands of Brazilian reais, except share and per share) 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME (LOSS)  

CONTINUED  OPERATIONS

NET  SALES

Cost of sales

G ROSS  PROFIT

OPERATING   INCOME  (EXPENSES)

Selling expenses

General and administrative expenses

Impairment loss on trade and other receivables

Other operating income (expenses), net

Income (loss) from associates and joint ventures

INCOME  (LOSS)  BEFORE  FINANCIAL  RESULTS  AND  INCOME  TAXES

Financial expenses

Financial income

INCOME  (LOSS)  BEFORE  TAXES  FROM  CONTINUING  OPERATIONS

Income taxes

Note

12.31.19

12.31.18

Restated 
12.31.17

27

30

30

30

30

28

13

29

29

10

33,446,980

30,188,421

28,314,160

(25,370,042)

(25,320,753)

(22,601,215)

8,076,938

4,867,668

5,712,945

(4,911,666)

(4,513,594)

(4,208,683)

(615,683)

(23,899)

224,384

(1,737)

(551,165)

(46,269)

19,311

17,715

2,748,337

(206,334)

(462,523)

(67,471)

(333,467)

22,383

663,184

(3,613,051)

(3,891,106)

(3,445,449)

1,747,652

1,649,632

1,563,691

882,938

195,395

(2,447,808)

(1,218,574)

333,302

251,809

INCOME  (LOSS)  FROM  CONTINUING  OPERATIONS

1,078,333

(2,114,506)

(966,765)

DISCONTINUED  OPERATIONS

LOSS  FROM  DISCONTINUED  OPERATIONS

12

(915,809)

(2,351,740)

(132,089)

INCOME  (LOSS)  FOR  THE  YEAR

162,524

(4,466,246)

(1,098,854)

Net  In c ome  (Loss)  from  Con tin u in g  Operation   Attribu table  to

Con trollin g  sh areh olders

Non -c on trollin g  in terest

Net  Loss  From  Disc on tin u ed  Operation   Attribu table  to

Con trollin g  sh areh olders

Non -c on trollin g  in terest

1,067,312

(2,114,968)

11,021

462

1,078,333

(2,114,506)

(984,245)

17,480

(966,765)

(904,628)

(2,333,093)

(141,327)

(11,181)

(18,647)

9,238

(915,809)

(2,351,740)

(132,089)

INCOME  (LOSSES)  PER  SHARE  FROM  CONTINUING   OPERATIONS

W eigh ted  average  sh ares  ou tstan din g  -  basic

811,539,167

811,294,251

803,559,763

In c ome  (losses)  per  sh are  -  basic

W eigh ted  average  sh ares  ou tstan din g  -  dilu ted

In c ome  (losses)  per  sh are  -  dilu ted

LOSSES  PER  SHARE  FROM  DISCONTINUED  OPERATIONS

W eigh ted  average  sh ares  ou tstan din g  -  basic

Losses  per  sh are  -  basic

W eigh ted  average  sh ares  ou tstan din g  -  dilu ted

Losses  per  sh are  -  dilu ted

24

24

24

24

1.32

(2.61)

(1.22)

813,867,119

811,294,251

803,559,763

1.31

(2.61)

(1.22)

811,539,167

811,294,251

803,559,763

(1.11)

(2.88)

(0.18)

811,539,167

811,294,251

803,559,763

(1.11)

(2.88)

(0.18)

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-5 

 
 
 
 
 
                   
 
    
       
    
    
     
   
   
           
      
      
         
     
     
             
       
       
               
         
         
               
          
       
                   
          
          
           
       
        
         
     
     
           
      
      
               
     
     
               
        
        
           
     
       
             
     
       
               
     
     
           
     
       
                 
             
          
           
     
       
             
     
       
               
         
           
             
     
       
     
   
   
                       
           
           
     
   
   
                       
           
           
     
   
   
                     
           
           
     
   
   
                     
           
           
(in thousands of Brazilian reais) 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)  

In c ome  (Loss)  for  th e  year

Oth er  c ompreh en sive  in c ome  (loss)

Gain on foreign currency translation adjustments

Unrealized gains on cash flow hedge

Taxes on unrealized gains on cash flow hegde

Net  oth er  c ompreh en sive  in c ome,    to  be  rec lassified  to  th e  statemen t  of  in c ome  in  
su bsequ en t  periods

Gains (Losses) on marketable securities at FVTOCI (1)

Taxes on unrealized gains (losses) on marketable securities at FVTOCI (1)

Actuarial gains (losses) on pension and post-employment plans

Taxes on realized gains (losses) on pension and post-employment plans

Net  oth er  c ompreh en sive  in c ome  (loss),  with   n o  impac t  in to  su bsequ en t  statemen t 
of  in c ome

Total  c ompreh en sive  in c ome  (loss),  n et  of  taxes

Attribu table  to

Con trollin g  sh areh olders

Non -c on trollin g  in terest 

(1) FVTOCI: Fair Value Through Other Comprehensive Income. 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

Note

12.31.19

12.31.18

Restated  
12.31.17

162,524

(4,466,246)

(1,098,854)

528,770

58,865

(19,421)

568,214

151,182

(48,277)

(218,462)

67,941

25

25

5

5

21

21

84,361

264,311

(88,324)

260,348

(126,951)

20,783

1,474

(1,147)

33,354

(49)

3,758

37,063

(41,732)

11,472

1,533

(19)

(47,616)

(105,841)

(28,746)

683,122

(4,311,739)

(1,090,537)

715,734

(4,363,771)

(1,223,733)

(32,612)

52,032

133,196

683,122

(4,311,739)

(1,090,537)

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
    
    
         
         
         
           
       
             
         
        
          
         
       
         
         
      
        
         
         
         
       
          
          
           
         
             
         
      
        
         
    
    
         
    
    
         
         
       
         
    
    
(in thousands of Brazilian reais) 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 

Attribu ted  to  of  c on trollin g  sh areh olders

In c ome  reserves

Oth er  c ompreh en sive  in c ome  (loss)

Paid-in  
c apital

Capital 
reserve

Treasu ry 
sh ares

Legal 
reserve

Reserve 
for 
c apital 
in c reases

Reserve 
for  tax 
in c en tives

Ac c u mu lated 
foreign  
c u rren c y 
tran slation  
adju stmen ts

Marketable 
sec u rities 
at  FVTOCI

Gain  
(losses) 
on   c ash  
flow 
h edge

Ac tu arial 
losses

Retain ed 
earn in gs 
(losses)

Total  equ ity

Non -
c on trollin g 
in terest

Total 
sh areh olders' 
equ ity
(c on solidated)

12,460,471

41,006

(721,856)

540,177

170,756

639,742

(693,835)

(25,998)

(575,861)

5,376

BALANCES  AT  DECEMBER  31,  2016

Compreh en sive  in c ome  (loss)  (1)

Loss on foreign currency translation adjustments

Unrealized loss in marketable securities at FVTOCI

Unrealized gains in cash flow hedge

Actuarial gains (losses) on pension and post-employment plans

Loss  for  th e  year
SUB-TOTAL  COMPREHENSIVE  INCOME  (LOSS)

Appropriation   of  in c ome  (loss)

Loss absorbing with legal reserve

Loss absorbing with future capital increase

Loss absorbing with reserve for tax incentives

Share-based payments

Acquisition of non-controlling interest

Treasury shares sold
Losses in treasury shares sold
BALANCES  AT  DECEMBER  31,  2017

Adoption of IFRS 9 

Restatement by hyperinflation 

Compreh en sive  in c ome  (loss)  (1)

Gains on foreign currency translation adjustments
Unrealized losses in marketable securities at FVTOCI (2)

Unrealized gains in cash flow hedge
Actuarial gains (losses) on pension and post-employment plans
Realized losses in marketable securities at FVTOCI (2)

Loss  for  th e  year

SUB-TOTAL  COMPREHENSIVE  INCOME  (LOSS)

Appropriation   of  in c ome  (loss)

Absorption of losses with income reserves

Share-based payments

Loss on participation changes
BALANCES  AT  DECEMBER  31,  2018

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

-

25,621

48,470

-
-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

-

650,373
-

-

-

-

-

-
-

(438,810)

-

-

-

-

-
-

12,460,471

115,097

(71,483)

101,367

-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

-

-

477

(220)

14,807

-

12,460,471

115,354

(56,676)

-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

-

(101,367)

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

(30,258)

-

-

-

-
(140,498)
-

-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

(639,742)

-

-

-
-
-

-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

-

-

-

-
-

(73,124)

-

-

-

-

(30,260)

-

-

-
(73,124)

-
(30,260)

-

-

3,709

-

-
3,709

-

-

-

(15,248)

-
(15,248)

-

-

-

-

16,762

11,839,978

379,375

12,219,353

(73,124)

(30,260)

3,709

1,514

106,478

-

-

-

33,354

(30,260)

3,709

1,514

(1,125,572)
(1,108,810)

(1,125,572)
(1,223,733)

26,718
133,196

(1,098,854)
(1,090,537)

-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

-

-
-

-

-

-

-

-

-
-

(766,959)

(56,258)

(572,152)

-

-

-

-

14,144
-

-
(42,193)

-

-

-
-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

175,987
-
-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-
-
(9,872)

-

-

-
-

-
(18,216)
-

438,810

30,258

639,742

-

-

-
-
-

(17,087)

130,210

-
-

-
18,543
(63,975)

-

-

-

25,621

48,470

650,373
(140,498)
11,200,211

(17,087)

130,210

14,144
(42,193)

175,987
327
(63,975)

-

-

-

-

-

-
-

512,571

2,547

-

70,217
-

-
-
-

-

-

-

25,621

48,470

650,373
(140,498)
11,712,782

(14,540)

130,210

84,361
(42,193)

175,987
327
(63,975)

-

(4,448,061)

(4,448,061)

(18,185)

(4,466,246)

14,144

(42,193)

175,987

(18,216)

(4,493,493)

(4,363,771)

52,032

(4,311,739)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

101,367

-

-

(752,815)

(98,451)

(396,165)

(28,088)

(4,279,003)

-

15,284

(220)
6,964,627

-

-

-

567,150

-

15,284

(220)
7,531,777

(1) All changes in other comprehensive income are presented net of taxes. 
(2) FVTOCI: Fair Value Through Other Comprehensive Income. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-7 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
       
     
 
       
                 
 
     
   
            
        
         
        
        
         
        
          
         
         
            
         
     
             
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
     
         
         
            
         
          
           
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
          
      
         
            
             
          
                 
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
          
         
    
        
             
          
                 
                   
           
             
           
           
             
                   
               
             
             
 
 
       
     
            
        
         
        
        
         
         
     
       
   
 
 
     
     
            
        
         
  
        
         
             
          
         
         
      
            
          
                     
            
        
         
        
   
             
          
         
         
        
            
          
                     
            
        
         
        
        
   
             
          
         
         
      
            
          
                     
            
    
         
        
        
         
             
          
         
         
            
           
          
             
            
    
         
        
        
         
             
          
         
         
            
           
          
             
            
        
    
        
        
         
             
          
         
         
            
       
          
           
            
        
         
        
 
         
             
          
         
         
            
     
               
         
 
 
   
 
           
             
       
     
 
     
                 
 
     
   
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
          
         
         
       
         
        
           
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
          
         
         
      
       
          
           
            
        
         
        
        
         
         
          
         
         
            
           
      
             
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
     
         
         
            
         
          
           
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
          
    
         
            
       
          
           
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
          
         
    
        
                 
          
                     
            
        
         
        
        
         
             
          
         
         
       
         
          
           
                   
           
             
           
           
             
                   
               
             
             
 
 
     
     
            
        
         
        
        
         
           
     
   
   
 
 
       
     
            
        
         
  
        
         
             
          
         
         
      
                   
               
                     
            
        
     
        
        
         
             
          
         
         
            
           
          
             
            
       
         
        
        
         
             
          
         
         
            
               
          
                   
 
 
   
           
           
             
       
     
 
   
 
   
     
       
(in thousands of Brazilian reais) 

BALANCES  AT  DECEMBER  31,  2018

Adoption of IFRS 16 
Compreh en sive  in c ome  (loss)  (1)

Gains on foreign currency translation adjustments
Unrealized gains on marketable securities at FVTOCI (2)
Unrealized gains in cash flow hedge
Actuarial gains (losses) on pension and post-employment plans

In c ome  (loss)  for  th e  year
SUB-TOTAL  COMPREHENSIVE  INCOME  (LOSS)

Realized loss in marketable securities at FVTOCI (2)
Employee benefits remeasurement - difined benefit
Appropriation   of  in c ome  (loss)

Dividends

Share-based payments
Acquisition (sale) of non-controlling interests
BALANCES  AT  DECEMBER  31,  2019

Attribu ted  to  of  c on trollin g  sh areh olders

Oth er  c ompreh en sive  in c ome  (loss)

Paid-in  
c apital

Capital 
reserve

Treasu ry 
sh ares

Ac c u mu lated 
foreign  
c u rren c y 
tran slation  
adju stmen ts

Marketable 
sec u rities 
at  FVTOCI

Gain  
(losses) 
on   c ash  
flow 
h edge

Ac tu arial 
losses

Retain ed 
earn in gs 
(losses)

Total  equ ity

Non -
c on trollin g 
in terest

Total 
sh areh olders' 
equ ity
(c on solidated)

12,460,471

115,354

(56,676)

(752,815)

(98,451)

(396,165)

(28,088)

(4,279,003)

6,964,627

567,150

7,531,777

-

-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-

-
-
-

12,460,471

-

-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-

-
(6,861)
84,352
192,845

-

-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-

-

18,437

-

-

559,436

-
-
-
-

-

-

102,905

-
-
-

559,436

102,905

-
-

-
-
-

-
-

-
-
-
4,454

6,287

6,287

-

-
-

39,444

-
-
39,444

-
-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

(148,735)

-

(148,735)

-
-

-
-
-

-
-
-
-

162,684
162,684

(52,493)
30,612

-
-
-

559,436
102,905
39,444
(148,735)
162,684
715,734

(52,493)
30,612

(30,666)

-
-
(1,786)
(160)
(32,612)

-
-

6,287

528,770
102,905
39,444
(150,521)
162,524
683,122

(52,493)
30,612

-
11,576
84,352
7,760,695

(4,988)
-

(276,824)
252,726

(4,988)
11,576
(192,472)
8,013,421

(38,239)

(193,379)

(356,721)

(176,823)

(4,131,913)

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
   
       
     
 
   
 
   
     
       
                   
           
             
                   
               
             
             
             
             
                 
                   
           
             
         
          
         
         
            
       
     
           
                   
           
             
                   
     
         
         
            
       
          
           
                   
           
             
                   
          
     
         
            
           
          
             
                   
           
             
                   
          
         
 
                 
     
       
         
                   
           
             
                   
               
             
             
       
       
             
           
            
        
         
         
     
     
 
       
       
     
           
            
        
         
             
          
         
         
       
         
          
           
            
        
         
             
          
         
         
         
           
          
             
            
        
         
             
          
         
         
            
                   
       
               
                   
   
     
                   
               
             
             
                 
           
               
             
                   
   
         
                   
               
             
             
                 
           
   
         
 
 
   
       
         
 
 
 
   
     
       
(in thousands of Brazilian reais) 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS  

OPERATING   ACTIVITIES
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Adju st men t s  for:

Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and depletion of biological assets
Result on disposals of property, plant and equipments
Provision for losses in inventories
Provision for tax, civil and labor risks
Tax Amnesty Program ("PERT")
Income from associates and joint ventures
Financial results, net
Gains in tax lawsuit
Deferred income tax
Employee profit sharing
Others (4)

Trade accounts receivable
Inventories
Biological assets - current
Trade accounts payable
Supply chain finance

Cash   gen erat ed  by  operat in g  ac t ivit ies
Investments in securities at FVTPL (2)
Redemptions of securities at FVTPL (2)
Interest received
Dividends and interest on shareholders' equity received
Payment of tax, civil and labor provisions
Payment of interest
Payment of income tax and social contribution
Other operating assets and liabilities

Net   c ash   provided  by  operat in g  ac t ivit ies

Net cash (applied) provided by operating activities from discontinued operations

Net   c ash   provided  by  operat in g  ac t ivit ies

INVESTING   ACTIVITIES

Investments in securities at amortized cost
Redemptions of securities at amortized cost
Investments in securities at FVTOCI (3)
Redemptions of securities at FVTOCI (3)
Redemption (Investments) in restricted cash
Additions to property, plant and equipment
Additions to biological assets - non-current
Proceeds from disposals of property, plant, equipment and investments
Additions to intangible assets
Business combination, net of cash
Sale (acquisition) of participation in joint ventures and associated entities

Net   c ash   u sed  in   in vest in g  ac t ivit ies

Net cash provided (used in) investing activities from discontinued operations

Net   c ash   provided  (u sed  in )  in vest in g  ac t ivit ies

FINANCING   ACTIVITIES

Proceeds from debt issuance
Repayment of debt
Treasury shares disposal
Acquisition of non-controlling interests
Lease

Net   c ash   provided  by  fin an c in g  ac t ivit ies

Net cash provided (used in) by financing activities from discontinued operations

Net   c ash   provided  by  fin an c in g  ac t ivit ies
EFFECT  OF  EXCHANG E  RATE  VARIATION  ON  CASH  AND  CASH  EQUIVALENTS
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
At the beginning of the year (1)
At the end of the year

(1)  The cash includes the amount of R$166,449 related to assets held for sale (note 12). 
(2)  FVTPL: Fair Value Through Profit and Loss. 
(3)  FVTOCI: Fair Value Through Other Comprehensive Income. 
(4)  Contemplates the effects of the class action (note 1.3). 

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.

12.31.19

12.31.18

Restated  
12.31.17

1,078,333

(2,114,506)

(966,765)

962,677
784,524
51,004
352,164
214,439

-
(17,715)
2,241,474

-

895,528
736,768
8,423
224,659
443,318
(449,822)
(22,383)
1,881,758

-

(340,144)

(210,582)

1,503,039
798,239
15,402
149,517
836,357

-
1,737
1,865,399
(1,218,993)
(290,094)
269,755
589,484
5,598,175
(182,126)
(130,646)
(94,087)
(392,533)
(31,760)
4,767,023
(92,911)
39,189
180,686
15,551
(891,359)
(1,290,853)
(98)
(96,764)
2,630,464
(109,234)
2,521,230

(15,362)
95,638
-

264,965
356,444
(417,165)
(837,930)
215,147
(64,320)
-
(3,005)
(405,588)
1,848,694
1,443,106

-

176,799
2,310,716
992,512
(226,046)
(50,093)
(1,051,368)
170,940
2,146,661
(273,678)
143,669
177,299
3,606
(355,605)
(1,147,351)
(737)
(265,480)
428,384
(132,699)
295,685

(213,697)
179,667
(5,194)
140,886
(249,366)
(578,037)
(845,311)
261,576
(20,535)
-
3,351
(1,326,660)
(89,219)
(1,415,879)

5,399,158
(9,481,138)

6,500,102
(6,223,963)

-

(183,672)
(553,017)
(4,818,669)
1,567
(4,817,102)
54,540
(798,226)
5,036,011
4,237,785

-
-

(102,397)
173,742
(99,818)
73,924
71,452
(974,818)
6,010,829
5,036,011

-

244,852
2,785,754
(682,100)
35,173
224,854
1,085,360
(621,242)
2,827,799
7,609
53,336
405,502
26,828
(509,285)
(1,323,275)
(37,177)
(781,530)
669,807
(20,451)
649,356

(97,552)
118,593

-

238,349
74,742
(681,184)
(681,681)
150,284
(51,056)
(1,119,651)
(1,208)
(2,050,364)
(84,149)
(2,134,513)

8,020,243
(7,332,523)
509,875

-

(149,924)
1,047,671
9,412
1,057,083
81,984
(346,090)
6,356,919
6,010,829

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
    
      
     
       
       
           
       
       
             
         
          
           
       
       
           
       
       
                     
             
      
               
        
        
     
     
     
   
             
             
         
      
      
           
             
             
           
       
       
     
     
     
         
       
      
         
      
         
           
        
       
         
    
     
           
       
      
     
     
     
           
      
          
             
       
         
           
       
       
             
          
         
         
      
      
   
    
    
                     
            
        
           
      
      
     
       
       
         
      
        
     
       
       
           
      
        
             
       
       
                     
         
             
           
       
       
           
      
         
         
      
      
         
      
      
           
       
       
           
        
        
                     
             
    
             
          
         
         
    
    
     
        
        
     
    
    
     
     
     
   
    
    
                     
             
       
         
             
             
         
      
      
   
       
     
               
        
          
   
         
     
             
         
         
         
      
      
     
     
     
     
     
     
1.  COMPANY

S OPERATIONS 

’

BRF S.A. (“BRF”) and its subsidiaries (collectively the “Company”) is a publicly traded company, listed 
on the segment Novo Mercado of Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (“B3”), under the ticker BRFS3, and listed on the 
New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), under the ticker BRFS. The Company’s registered office is at Rua 
Jorge Tzachel, nº 475, Bairro Fazenda, Itajaí - Santa Catarina and the main business office is in the city 
of São Paulo.   

BRF is a Brazilian multinational company, with global presence, which owns a comprehensive portfolio of 
products,  and  it is  one  of the  world’s  largest companies  of food products.  The  Company  operates  by 
raising, producing and slaughtering poultry and pork for processing, production and sale of fresh meat, 
processed products, pasta, margarine and others. 

The  Company  holds  as  main  brands  Sadia,  Perdigão,  Qualy,  Chester®,  Kidelli,  Perdix  and  Banvit, 
present mainly in Brazil, Turkey and Middle Eastern countries. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
1.1.  Equity interest 

En tity

BRF Energia S.A.
BRF GmbH

BRF Foods LLC
BRF France SARL
BRF Global Company Nigeria Ltd.
BRF Global Company South Africa Proprietary Ltd.

BRF Global Company Nigeria Ltd.

BRF Global GmbH
BRF Foods LLC
Qualy 5201 B.V.
Xamol Consultores Serviços Ltda.
SPE Khan GmbH

BRF Japan KK
BRF Korea LLC
BRF Shanghai Management Consulting Co. Ltd.
BRF Shanghai Trading Co. Ltd.
BRF Singapore Foods PTE Ltd.
BRF Germany GmbH
BRF Holland B.V.

Campo Austral S.A.
Eclipse Holding Cöoperatief U.A.
BRF B.V.
ProudFood Lda
BRF Hungary LLC
BRF Iberia Alimentos SL
BRF Invicta Ltd.

Invicta Food Products Ltd.
BRF Wrexham Ltd.
Invicta Food Group Ltd.
Invicta Foods Ltd.
Invicta Foodservice Ltd.

Universal Meats (UK) Ltd.

BRF Italia SPA
Compañía Paraguaya Comercial S.A.
Campo Austral S.A.

Itega S.A.

Eclipse Holding Cöoperatief U.A.
Buenos Aires Fortune S.A.
Campo Austral S.A.
Eclipse Latam Holdings

Buenos Aires Fortune S.A.
Campo Austral S.A.

Campo Austral S.A.
Itega S.A.

Golden Foods Poultry Limited

Golden Poultry Siam Limited

Golden Poultry Siam Limited
BRF Thailand Limited
BRF Feed Thailand Limited

Golden Foods Sales (Europe) Limited
Golden Quality Foods Europe BV

Golden Quality Foods Netherlands BV

Golden Foods Siam Europe Limited
Golden Quality Poultry (UK) Ltd

Perdigão Europe Lda.
Perdigão International Ltd.
BFF International Ltd.
Highline International
Sadia Overseas Ltd.

ProudFood Lda
Sadia Chile S.A.
SATS BRF Food PTE Ltd.
BRF Global Namíbia

Wellax Food Logistics C.P.A.S.U. Lda.

BRF Luxembourg Sarl 
BRF Austria GmbH

One Foods Holdings Ltd

Al-Wafi Food Products Factory LLC
Badi Ltd.

Al-Wafi Al-Takamol International for Foods Products

BRF Al Yasra Food K.S.C.C. ("BRF AFC")
BRF Foods GmbH

Al Khan Foodstuff LLC ("AKF")
FFM Further Processing Sdn. Bhd.
FFQ GmbH
TBQ Foods GmbH

Banvit Bandirma Vitaminli

Banvit Enerji ve Elektrik Üretim  Ltd. Sti.
Banvit Foods SRL
Nutrinvestments BV
Banvit ME FZE
Banvit Foods SRL

One Foods Malaysia SDN. BHD.
Federal Foods LLC

Federal Foods Qatar

BRF Hong Kong LLC

Main   ac tivity

Cou n try

12.31.19 12.31.18

%   equ ity  in terest

Commercialization of eletric energy
Holding
Import, industrialization and commercialization of products
Marketing and logistics services
Marketing and logistics services
Administrative, marketing and logistics services
Marketing and logistics services
Holding and trading
Import, industrialization and commercialization of products
Import, commercialization of products and holding
Import and commercialization of products

(n)

(b)

(b) (m)

(n)
(j) (n) Holding and trading

Marketing and logistics services, import, export, industrialization and 
commercialization of products

Marketing and logistics services
Provision of consultancy and marketing services
Import, export and commercialization of products
Administrative, marketing and logistics services
Import and commercialization of products
Import and commercialization of products
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Holding
Industrialization, import and commercialization of products
Import and commercialization of products
Import and commercialization of products
Import and commercialization of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import and commercialization of products
Industrialization, import and commercialization of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products

Import, Industrialization, commercialization and distribution of products
Import and commercialization of products
Import and commercialization of products
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Holding
Holding
Holding
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Holding
Holding
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Holding
Holding
Holding
Holding
Import, Industrialization, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, Industrialization, commercialization and distribution of products
Holding and trading
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, export of products and administrative services

Import and export of products
Financial fundraising
Financial fundraising
Financial fundraising
Import and commercialization of products
Import, export and commercialization of products
Import, industrialization, commercialization and distribution of products
Import and commercialization of products

Import, commercialization of products and administrative services

Holding
Holding
Holding
Import, export, industrialization and commercialization of products
Holding
Import and commercialization of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Industrialization, import and commercialization of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Industrialization, import and commercialization of products
Industrialization, import and commercialization of products
Holding
Import, industrialization and commercialization of products
Generation and commercialization of electric energy
Industrialization of grains and animal feed
Holding
Marketing and logistics services
Industrialization of grains and animal feed
Marketing and logistics services
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products
Import, commercialization and distribution of products

(n)

(n)

(f)

(e)

(n)

(n)

(m) (n)

(n)

(n)

(b) (m)

(n)

(n)

(b) (m)

(n)

(a)

(i)

(h)

(f) (i)

(i)

(i)

(h)

(n)

(n)

(n)

(n)

(n)

(n)

(n)

(n)

(b) (m)

(n)

(a)

(a) (s)

(p)

(a)

(q)

(r)

(a)

(a)

Brazil
Austria
Russia
France
Nigeria
South Africa
Nigeria
Austria
Russia
The Netherlands
Portugal
Austria

Japan
Korea
China
China
Singapore
Germany
The Netherlands
Argentina
The Netherlands
The Netherlands
Angola
Hungary
Spain
England
England
England
England
England
England
England
Italy
Paraguay
Argentina
Argentina
The Netherlands
Argentina
Argentina
Spain
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand
Thailand
England
The Netherlands
The Netherlands
England
England
Portugal
Cayman Island
Cayman Island
Cayman Island
Cayman Island
Angola
Chile
Singapore
Namibia

Portugal
Luxemburgo
Austria
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Kuwait
Austria
Oman
Malaysia
Austria
Austria
Turkey
Turkey
Romania
The Netherlands
United Arab Emirates
Romania
Malaysia
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Hong Kong

100.00
100.00
99.90
-
99.00
100.00
1.00
100.00
0.10
-
-
-

100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
-
-
-
-
-
10.00
100.00
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
99.00
-
-
99.99
5.00
-
100.00
95.00
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
90.00
40.00
-
100.00

100.00
-
100.00
100.00
49.00
100.00
75.00
49.00
100.00
70.00
70.00
100.00
60.00
91.71
100.00
0.01
100.00
100.00
99.99
100.00
49.00
49.00
100.00

100.00
100.00
99.90
100.00
99.00
100.00
1.00
100.00
0.10
100.00
100.00
-

100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
2.66
0.01
100.00
10.00
100.00
100.00
69.16
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
67.00
99.00
50.48
96.00
99.99
5.00
8.44
100.00
95.00
6.53
31.89
4.00
48.52
51.84
48.16
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
98.00
90.00
40.00
49.00
100.00

100.00
100.00
100.00
100.00
49.00
100.00
75.00
49.00
100.00
70.00
70.00
100.00
60.00
91.71
100.00
0.01
100.00
100.00
99.99
100.00
49.00
49.00
100.00

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
     
   
         
  
     
   
 
  
       
     
 
  
       
     
         
  
         
  
         
      
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
         
  
         
  
         
     
         
     
         
  
     
   
 
  
         
  
         
   
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
   
     
   
         
   
         
   
     
   
       
     
         
     
 
  
     
   
         
     
         
   
         
     
         
   
         
   
         
   
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
         
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
   
     
   
     
   
         
   
 
  
 
  
         
  
 
  
 
  
     
   
 
  
     
   
     
   
 
  
     
   
     
   
 
  
     
   
     
   
 
  
       
     
 
  
 
  
     
   
 
  
     
   
     
   
 
  
En tity

Main   ac tivity

Eclipse Holding Cöoperatief U.A.
Establecimiento Levino Zaccardi y Cia. S.A.

BRF Pet S.A.

PP-BIO Administração de bem próprio S.A.
PR-SAD Administração de bem próprio S.A.
PSA Laboratório Veterinário Ltda.
Sino dos Alpes Alimentos Ltda.

Quickfood S.A.
Sadia Alimentos S.A.

Avex S.A.

Sadia International Ltd.
Sadia Chile S.A.
Sadia Uruguay S.A.

Avex S.A.
Compañía Paraguaya Comercial S.A.
Sadia Alimentos S.A.

Sadia Overseas Ltd.
Sadia Uruguay S.A.
UP Alimentos Ltda.
Vip S.A. Empreendimentos e Participações Imobiliárias

Establecimiento Levino Zaccardi y Cia. S.A.
PSA Laboratório Veterinário Ltda.
Sino dos Alpes Alimentos Ltda.

(e)

(a)

(k)

(o)

(a)

(c)

(d) (g)

(d) (g)

(a)

(a) (s)

(l)

(a)

(a)

Holding
Industrialization and commercialization of dairy products
Industrialization, commercialization and distribution of feed and nutrients for 
animals
Management of assets
Management of assets
Veterinary activities
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Holding
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Import and commercialization of products
Import, export and marketing of products
Import and commercialization of products
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Import and commercialization of products
Holding
Financial fundraising
Import and commercialization of products
Industrialization and commercialization of products
Commercialization of owned real state
Industrialization and commercialization of dairy products
Veterinary activities
Industrialization and commercialization of products

(a)  Dormant subsidiaries. The Company is evaluating the liquidation of these subsidiaries. 

%  equ ity  in terest

Cou n try

12.31.19 12.31.18

The Netherlands
Argentina

0.01
99.94

-
99.94

Brazil

100.00

100.00

Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Brazil
Argentina
Argentina
Argentina
Cayman Island
Chile
Uruguay
Argentina
Paraguay
Argentina
Cayman Island
Uruguay
Brazil
Brazil
Argentina
Brazil
Brazil

33.33
33.33
99.99
99.99
-
43.10
-
100.00
60.00
5.10
-
1.00
56.90
-
94.90
-
100.00
0.06
0.01
0.01

66.66
-
99.99
99.99
91.21
43.10
33.98
100.00
60.00
5.10
66.02
1.00
56.90
2.00
94.90
50.00
100.00
0.06
0.01
0.01

(b)  The wholly owned subsidiary BRF Global GmbH operates as a trading for the International market and owned until June 02, 
2019, 62 direct subsidiaries in Madeira Island, Portugal, with an investment of R$4,133 (R$4,913 as of December 31, 2018) 
and a direct subsidiary in Den Bosch, The Netherlands, denominated Qualy 20 with an investment of R$7,299 (R$7,360 as of 
December  31,  2018).  The  wholly  owned  subsidiary  Qualy  5201  B.V.  owned  133  subsidiaries  in  The  Netherlands  being  the 
amount of this investment until disposal date of R$19,467 (R$20,725 as of December 31, 2018). The indirect subsidiary Invicta 
Food  Group  Ltd.  owned  120  direct  subsidiaries  in  Ashford,  England,  with  an  investment  until  disposal  date  of  R$44,837 
(R$44,805 as of December 31, 2018). The indirect subsidiary Universal Meats (UK) Ltd owned 99 direct subsidiaries in Ashford, 
England  with  an  investment  until  disposal  date  of  R$41,112  (R$45,052  as  of  December  31,  2018).  The  indirect  subsidiary 
Golden  Foods  Siam  Europe  Ltd  (GFE)  owned  32  subsidiaries  in  Ashford,  England  with  an  investment  until  disposal  date  of 
R$(157) (R$44 as of December 31, 2018). The purpose of these subsidiaries was to operate in the European market to increase 
the Company’s share in this market, which is regulated by a system of poultry and turkey meat import quotas. 

    On March 15, 2019, mergers were realized in the direct subsidiaries of BRF Global GmbH in Madeira Island, and the 101 existing 
subsidiaries were merged into 62 companies. On the same date, mergers were realized in the Qualy 5201 B.V. subsidiaries in 
Den Bosch, and the 212 existing subsidiaries were merged into 133 companies. 

(c)  On January 02, 2019, the Company sold its equity stake in Quickfood S.A. 
(d)  On January 03, 2019, Sadia Alimentos S.A. sold all held shares of Avex S.A. to BRF S.A. and Sadia Uruguay sold 61.02% of 

Avex S.A. to BRF S.A., holding a 5% interest. 

(e)  On January 14, 2019, BRF Holland B.V. sold its equity stake in Eclipse Holding Cöoperatief U.A. to BRF S.A. 
(f)  On January 14, 2019, BRF Holland B.V sold its equity stake in Campo Austral S.A. to Eclipse Holding Cöoperatief U.A. 
(g)  On February 04, 2019, BRF S.A. and Sadia Uruguay S.A. sold all their equity stake in Avex S.A. 
(h)  On March 11, 2019, Eclipse Latam Holdings sold its equity stake in Itega S.A. 
(i)  On March 11, 2019, BRF GmbH, Eclipse Latam Holdings, Eclipse Holding Cöoperatief U.A. and Buenos Aires Fortune S.A. sold 

all their equity stake in Campo Austral S.A. 

(j)  On April 1st, 2019, SPE Khan Gmbh was incorporated with the purpose of contributing the assets and liabilities from BRF Global 

GMBH to be later sold to Tyson International Holding Co. 

(k)  On April 1st, 2019, 33.33% of equity stake in PP-Bio Administração de Bem Próprio S.A. was sold. 
(l)  On April 03, 2019, UP Alimentos was liquidated. 
(m)  On  May  31,  2019,  BRF Gmbh  acquired  the  minority  stake in  BRF  Invicta  Ltd.  equivalent  to  R$  217,393  (GBP  43,716).  The 
goodwill arising from this transaction was recorded as capital reserve, in the amount equivalent to R$99,327 (GBP 19,974). 
(n)  On June 03, 2019, the companies were sold to Tyson International Holding Co. as part of Europe and Thailand operations (note 

12). 

(o)  On August 1st, 2019, 33.33% of equity stake in PR-SAD Administração de Bem Próprio S.A. was acquired. 
(p)  On September 05, 2019, all the equity stake in SATS BRF Food PTE Ltd. was sold. 
(q)  On December 04, 2019, BRF Luxembourg SARL was liquidated. 
(r)  As from December 04, 2019, BRF S.A. holds 100% of BRF Austria GMBH. 
(s)  As from December 20, 2019, Perdigão International holds 100% of Sadia Overseas Ltd. 

Except for  the  associates  PP-BIO  and  PR-SAD  in which  the  Company  records  the  investments  by the 
equity method (for December 31, 2018 or until the period that the participation was sold  in 2019, the 
joint  ventures  SATS  and  UP  Alimentos  were  recognized  by  the  equity  method),  all  other  subsidiaries 
shown in the table were consolidated. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

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1.2.  Investigations involving BRF 

The Company has been subject to two external investigations, denominated “Carne Fraca Operation” in 
2017 and “Trapaça Operation” in 2018, as detailed below. The Company’s Audit and Integrity Committee 
conducted independent investigations, along with the Independent Investigation Committee, composed 
of external members and with external legal advisors in Brazil and abroad with respect to the allegations 
involving BRF employees and former employees in the scope of the aforementioned operations and other 
ongoing investigations. 

For  the  year  ended  on  December  31,  2019,  the  main  impacts  observed  as  result  of  the  referred 
investigations were recorded in other operating expenses in the amount of R$79,937 (R$78,889 in the 
same  period  of  the  previous  year),  mostly  related  to  expenditures  with  lawyers,  legal  advisors  and 
consultants. 

In  addition  to  the  impacts  already  registered,  there  are  uncertainties  about  the  outcome  of  these 
operations  which  may  result  in  penalties,  fines  and  normative  sanctions,  right  restrictions  and  other 
forms of liabilities, for which the Company is not able to make a reliable estimate of the potential losses. 

The  outcomes  may  result  in  payments  of  substantial  amounts,  which  may  cause  a  material  adverse 
effect on the Company’s financial position, results and cash flows in the future. 

1.2.1.  Carne Fraca Operation 

On  March  17,  2017,  BRF  became  aware  of a decision  issued by a judge  of  the  14th  Federal  Court of 
Curitiba - Paraná, authorizing the search and seizure of information and documents, and the detention 
of certain individuals in the context of the  Carne Fraca Operation. Two BRF employees were detained 
and subsequently released, as well as three others were identified for questioning. 

In April 2017, the Brazilian Federal Police and the Brazilian federal prosecutors filed charges against BRF 
employees, which were accepted by the judge responsible for the process, and its main allegations in 
this phase involved misconduct related to improper offers and/or promises to government inspectors. 

On June 04, 2018, the Company was informed about the establishment of a responsibility administrative 
process (“PAR”) by the Office of the Comptroller General (“CGU”), under the Law Nº 12,846/2013 (“Anti-
corruption Law”), which aims to verify eventual administrative responsibilities related to the facts object 
of the criminal lawsuit Nº 5016879-04.2017.4.04.7000, (“Criminal Lawsuit”) in progress under the 14th 
Federal Court of the subsection of Curitiba/PR, as a consequence of the Carne Fraca Operation. 

BRF  has  informed  certain  regulators  and  governmental  entities,  including  the  U.S.  Securities  and 
Exchange  Commission  (“SEC”)  and  the  U.S.  Department  of  Justice  (“DOJ”)  about  the  Carne  Fraca 
Operation and is cooperating with such authorities, which are conducting their own investigations.  

On September 28, 2018, the sentence of the Criminal Lawsuit in first instance was published, discharging 
one  of  the  BRF  employees  and  convicting  a  former  employee  for  six  months  of  detention  with  the 
possibility  of  substitution  for  a  right-restricting  penalty.  The  Brazilian  federal  prosecutors  presented 
appeal to the first instance decision. The appeal is being analyzed by the Federal Regional Court of the 
4th region. 

1.2.2.  Trapaça Operation 

On  March  5,  2018,  the  Company  learned  of a decision  issued  by a judge  of the  1st Federal  Court of 
Ponta Grossa/PR, authorizing the search and seizure of information and documents due to allegations 
involving misconduct relating to quality violations, improper use of feed components and falsification of 
tests  at  certain  BRF  manufacturing  plants  and  accredited  labs.  Such  operation  was  denominated  as 
Trapaça Operation. On March 5, 2018, BRF received notice from the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock 
and  Food  Supply  (“MAPA”)  immediately  suspending  exports  from  its  Rio  Verde/GO,  Carambeí/PR  and 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mineiros/GO  plants  to  12  countries  that  require  specific  sanitary  requirements  for  the  control  of  the 
bacteria group Salmonella spp and Salmonella pullorum.  

On  May  14,  2018,  the  Company  received  the  formal  notice  that  twelve  plants  located  in  Brazil  were 
removed from the list that permits imports of animal origin products by the European Union’s countries. 
The measure came into force as of May 16, 2018 and affects only the plants located in Brazil and which 
have  export  licenses  to  the  European  Union,  not  affecting  the  supply  to  other  markets  or  other  BRF 
plants located outside Brazil and that export to the European market. 

On October 15, 2018, the Federal Police Department submitted to the 1st Federal Criminal Court of the 
Judicial  Branch  of Ponta Grossa  –  PR  the  final  report of its  investigation  in  connection  to  the  Trapaça 
Operation. The police inquiry indicted 43 people, including former key executives of the Company. 

On December 04, 2019, the Public Prosecution filed charges against eleven people related to allegations 
about Premix (compound of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids for the inclusion of micro ingredients 
in the feed for the ideal nutrition of the animals) as outcome of the Trapaça Operation. No administration 
member, director or executive in current management position has been identified. Of the employees 
who  were  identified,  only  one  person  still  remained  active  in  his  function  and  has  preventively  been 
removed after the filing of the charges, according to the current policy of the Company, which provides 
removal until the resolution of the case. 

BRF  informed  certain  regulators  and  government  entities,  including  SEC  and  DOJ  about  the  Trapaça 
Operation and has been cooperating with such authorities, which are conducting their own investigations. 

1.2.3.  Governance enhancement 

The Company is cooperating with the investigations and collaborates to the clarification of the facts. The 
Company has been taking actions to strengthen the compliance with its policies, procedures and internal 
controls.  In  this  sense,  the  Company  has  decided  to  move away,  independently  of the results of the 
investigations, all employees mentioned in the Federal Police’s final report of the Trapaça Operation until 
all facts are clarified. 

The Company believes that its efforts strengthen and consolidate its governance to ensure the highest 
levels of safety standards, integrity and quality. 

Among the actions implemented, are: (i) strengthening in the risk management, specially compliance, 
(ii) continuous strengthening of the  Compliance, Internal Audit and Internal Controls departments, (iii) 
review and issuance of new policies and procedures specifically related to applicable anticorruption laws, 
(iv)  review  and  enhancement  of  the  procedures  for  reputational  verification  of  business  partners,  (v) 
review and enhancement of the processes of internal investigation, (vi) expansion of the independent 
reporting  channel,  (vii)  review  of  transactional  controls,  and  (viii)  review  and  issuance  of  new 
consequence policy for misconduct. 

1.3.  U.S. Class Action 

On March 12, 2018, a shareholder class action lawsuit was filed against us, some of our former managers 
and a current officer of ours in the U.S. Federal District Court in the Southern District of New York. On 
July 2, 2018, the Court appointed the City of Birmingham Retirement and Relief System lead plaintiff in 
the action (the “Lead Plaintiff”). On December 5,  2018, the  Lead Plaintiff filed an amended complaint 
that sought to represent all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired BRF ADRs during 
the period from April 4, 2013, through and including March 2, 2018. The class action alleges, among 
other things, that BRF and certain of its officers and/or directors engaged in securities fraud or other 
unlawful business practices related to the regulatory issues in connection with the Carne Fraca Operation 
and Trapaça Operation. On December 13, 2019, we and the other defendants filed a motion to dismiss. 
On January 21, 2020, the Lead Plaintiff filed an opposition motion and, on February 11, 2020, we and 
the other defendants filed our response. While a decision on the motion to dismiss was still pending, on 
March 27, 2020 the parties reached an agreement to settle this class action for an amount equivalent to 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
R$204,436, subject to documentation and court approval. This is an event which evidences an existing 
condition at the end of the reporting period, therefore requires adjustment to the financial statements 
as disclosed in note 36.1. 

1.4. Plant in Saudi Arabia 

On  October  29,  2019,  the  Company  announced  to  the  market  that  it  has  executed  a  non-binding 
memorandum of understanding  with the Saudi Arabian General Investment  Authority (“SAGIA”), with 
respect to the construction and operation, by BRF, of a chicken processing plant in Saudi Arabia. 

The Company estimates  the investment to be around R$634,044  (USD120,000, translated to Reais at 
the exchange rate of 5.2837 as of April 20, 2020), which will allow BRF to expand and consolidate its 
presence in the Saudi market. 

The plant will produce breaded and marinated products, hamburgers, among others, and will be destined 
primarily for the Saudi market. 

1.5. Seasonality 

During the months of November and December of each year, the Company is impacted by seasonality 
in the Brazil operating segment due to Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations. The products that are 
relevant contributors are: turkey, Chester®, ham and pork cuts (hind leg/pork loin). 

In the International operating segment, seasonality is due to Ramadan, which is the holy month of the 
Muslim calendar. The beginning of Ramadan depends on the beginning of the moon cycle and therefore 
can vary each year. 

2.  BASIS OF PREPARATION AND PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

The consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with the IFRS - International Financial 
Reporting Standards, issued by the IASB  - International Accounting Standards Board. All  the relevant 
information applicable to the consolidated financial statements, and only them, are being evidenced and 
correspond to those used by administration in its management. 

The  consolidated  financial  statements  are  expressed  in  thousands  of  Brazilian  Reais  (“R$”)  and  the 
disclosures of amounts in other currencies, when applicable, were also expressed in thousands, unless 
otherwise stated. 

The  preparation  of the  financial  statements  requires  Management  to  make  judgments,  use  estimates 
and adopt assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities, 
as  well  as  the  disclosures  of  contingent  liabilities.  The  uncertainty  inherent  to  these  judgments, 
assumptions and estimates could result in material adjustments to the carrying amount of certain assets 
and liabilities in future periods. 

Any judgments, estimates and assumptions are reviewed at each reporting period. 

The consolidated financial statements were prepared based on the recoverable historical cost, except for 
the following material items recognized in the statements of financial position: 

(i) 

derivative financial instruments and non-derivative financial instruments measured at fair value; 

(ii) 

share-based payments and employee benefits measured at fair value; 

(iii) 

biological assets measured at fair value; and 

(iv) 

assets held for sale in the cases the fair value is lower than historical cost. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The accounting policies adopted by the Company are described in note 3, which includes those adopted 
during the year, which are: IFRIC 23 - Uncertainty over income tax treatments (note 3.8) and IFRS 16 
- Leases (note 3.14). For the policies adopted during the year, the adoption has been made prospectively, 
as such the prior year is not comparative. 

The Company prepared the consolidated financial statements under the going concern assumption and 
disclosed  all  relevant  information  in  its  explanatory  notes,  in  order  to  clarify  and  complement  the 
accounting basis adopted. 

During the year of 2019, the Company continued with the operational and financial restructuring started 
in  2018  and  restructured  its  operating  segments  (note  26)  and,  thus,  2018  presentation  of  segment 
information was adjusted and consequently restated for all periods presented. 

3.  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 
3.1. Consolidation 

The consolidated financial statements include BRF and the subsidiaries (note 1.1) where BRF has direct 
or indirect control, obtained when the Company is exposed to  or has right to variable returns in such 
subsidiaries and has the power to influence these returns.  

The financial information of the subsidiaries was prepared using the same accounting policies of Parent 
Company. 

All transactions and balances between BRF and its subsidiaries have been eliminated upon consolidation, 
as well as the unrealized profits or losses arising from these transactions, net of taxes. Non-controlling 
interests are presented separately. 

3.2.  Accounting judgments, estimates and assumptions 

The Management made the following judgments which have a material impact on the amounts recognized 
in the consolidated financial statements: 

Main judgments: 

»  control, significant influence and consolidation (note 1.1); 
»  share-based payment transactions (note 20); 
» 
» 

transfer of control for revenue recognition (note 27); 
the  probability  that  will  exercise  renewal  option  or  anticipated  termination  of the  lease 
agreements (note 19). 

Main estimates: 

fair value of financial instruments (note 25); 

» 
»  annual analyses of impairment of non-financial assets (note 15); 
»  expected credit losses (note 6); 
»  net realizable value provision for inventories (note 7); 
» 
»  annual analyses of recoverability of taxes (note 9 and 10); 
» 
»  useful lives of property, plant, equipment and intangible with definite useful life (note 14 

fair value of assets held for sale (note 12); 

fair value of biological assets (note 8); 

and 15); 

»  employee benefits (note 21); 
»  provision for tax, civil and labor risks (note 22); 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  reviews  the  estimates  and  underlying  assumptions  used  in  its  accounting  estimates  in 
each  reporting  period.  Revisions  to  accounting  estimates  are  recognized  in  the  period  in  which  the 
estimates are revised. 

3.3. Functional currency and foreign currency transactions 

The financial statements of each subsidiary included in consolidation are prepared using the currency of 
the main economic environment where it operates.  

The  financial  statements  of  foreign  subsidiaries  with  functional  currency  different  from  Reais  are 
translated into Brazilian Reais, under the following criteria: 

»  Assets and liabilities are translated at the closing exchange rate; 
» 
»  The  cumulative  effects  of  gains  or  losses  upon  translation  are  recognized  in  other 

Income and expenses are translated at the monthly average rate; 

comprehensive income. 

Goodwill arising from business combinations with foreign entities is expressed in the functional currency 
of that entity and translated by the closing exchange rate for the reporting currency of the acquirer, with 
the exchange variation effects recognized in other comprehensive income. 

The transactions in foreign currency follow the criteria below: 

»  Non-monetary assets and liabilities, as well as incomes and expenses, are translated at 

the historical rate of the transaction; 

»  Monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the closing exchange rate; 
»  The  cumulative  effects  of  gains  or  losses  upon  translation  of  monetary  assets  and 

liabilities are recognized in the statements of income (loss). 

3.4. Hyperinflationary economies 

The Company has subsidiaries in Argentina, which is considered a hyperinflationary economy. For these 
subsidiaries the accounting policies below are adopted:   

Non-monetary  items,  as  well  as  incomes  and  expenses,  are  adjusted  by  the  changes  in  the  inflation 
index between  the  initial  recognition  and  the  closing  date,  so  that  the  balances  are  stated  at  current 
value. 

As only the subsidiaries located in Argentina are subject to hyperinflation, and the parent company is 
not in a hyperinflationary economy, the Company did not restate prior balances. The monetary correction 
(measured by the General Consumer Price Index from Argentina – “IPC”) was recorded in the result of 
discontinued operations for the subsidiaries sold during the year, and recorded in the result of continued 
operations for the subsidiaries  in which the Company maintains an equity participation (note 1.1). 

The  translation  of  the  balances  of  the  subsidiaries  with  a  hyperinflationary  economy  to  the  reporting 
currency were made at the closing rate of the reporting period for both  financial position and income 
statement balances. 

The inflation rates used in 2018 and 2019 are demonstrated in the table below: 

Period

2018
2019

Ac c umulated 
inflation  rates

48.01%
53.46%

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
3.5.  Business combination 

Are registered according to the acquisition method, which determines that the cost of an acquisition is 
measured  by  the  sum  of  the  consideration  transferred,  assessed  based  on  the  fair  value  on  the 
acquisition date, and the value of any non-controlling interest in the acquired company. The Company 
measures the non-controlling interest based on its participation in the net assets identified in the acquired 
company. Costs directly attributable to the acquisition are recorded as expense when incurred.  

Business  combinations  with  related  parties  are  recognized  using  the  acquisition  method  when  the 
agreements have a substance and at cost when no substance is observed in the transaction. 

In the acquisition of a business, Management assesses the acquired assets and  liabilities assumed  in 
order to classify and allocate them in accordance with the contractual terms, economic circumstances 
and relevant conditions on the acquisition date. 

Initially, goodwill is measured as the excess of the consideration transferred in relation to the fair value 
of the net assets acquired (identifiable assets and liabilities assumed, net). 

After the initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. For 
purposes of testing the recoverable amount, goodwill is allocated to each of the cash-generating units 
that will benefit from the acquisition. 

3.6.  Inventories 

Inventories are measured at the lower of the average cost of acquisition or cost of production of finished 
products and the net realizable value. The cost of finished products includes purchased raw materials, 
labor, production costs, transportation and storage, which are related to all the processes necessary for 
bringing  the  products  to  sales  conditions.  Provisions  for  obsolescence,  adjustments  to  net  realizable 
value,  impaired  items  and  slow-moving  inventories  are  recorded  when  necessary.  Normal  production 
losses are included in the production cost for the respective month, while abnormal losses, if any, are 
expensed in Cost of Products Sold when incurred. 

3.7. Biological assets 

The consumable and production biological assets (live animals) and forests are measured at their fair 
value,  using  the  cost  approach  technique  to  live  animals  and  the  revenue  approach  for  forests.  In 
determining  the  fair  value  of  live  animals,  all  losses  inherent  to  the  breeding  process  are  already 
computed. 

3.8. Income taxes 

In Brazil, it comprises income tax (“IRPJ“) and social contribution on profit (“CSLL“), which are calculated 
monthly based on taxable profit, after offsetting tax losses and negative social contribution base, limited 
to 30% of the taxable income, applying the rate of 15% plus an additional 10% for the IRPJ and 9% for 
the CSLL.  

The results obtained from foreign subsidiaries are subject to taxation by the countries where they are 
based, according to applicable rates and legislation. In Brazil, these results suffer the effects of taxation 
on universal basis established by the Law No. 12,973 / 14. The Company analyzes the results of each 
subsidiary  for  the  application  of its  Income  Tax  legislation,  in  order  to  respect  the  treaties  signed  by 
Brazil and avoid double taxation. 

Deferred  taxes  represent  credits  and  debits  on  IRPJ  tax  losses  and  negative  CSLL  bases,  as  well  as 
temporary differences between the tax and accounting bases. Deferred tax and social contribution assets 
and liabilities are classified as non-current. When the Company’s internal studies indicate that the future 
use of these credits over a 10-year horizon is not probable, the asset is derecognized (note 10.3). 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

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Deferred tax assets and liabilities are presented net if there is an enforceable legal right to be offset, 
and if they are under the responsibility of the same tax authority and under the same taxable entity.  

Deferred tax assets and liabilities must be measured at the rates applicable in the period in which the 
asset is realized or the liability is settled, based on the rates (and tax legislation) that are in force on 
the financial position date. 

On January 01, 2019, the interpretation IFRIC 23 became effective, which deals with the recognition and 
measurement requirements when there is uncertainty about the treatments of tax on profit. 

The Company analyzed relevant tax decisions of higher courts and whether they conflict in any way with 
the  positions  adopted  by  the  Company.  Regarding  the  known  uncertain  tax  positions,  the  Company 
reviewed the corresponding legal opinions and jurisprudence and did not identify impacts to be recorded, 
since it concluded that the tax authorities are not likely to reject the positions adopted. 

The Company will periodically evaluate the positions assumed in which there are uncertainties about the 
adopted tax treatment and will set up a provision when applicable. 

3.9.  Assets held for sale and discontinued operations 

Are measured at the lower of the book value and the fair value less selling costs and are not depreciated 
or amortized. Such items are only classified under this item when its sale is highly probable and they 
are available for immediate sale in their current conditions. 

Losses due to impairment are recorded under Other Operational Expenses. 

Discontinued operations for all periods have been presented in a like-captioned line item in the statement 
of  income  and  cash  flows.  Prior  periods  were  restated  for  comparative  purposes.  The  statement  of 
financial position remains as disclosed in prior periods. 

3.10. Investments 

Investments  classified  in  this  group:  i)  in  associated  companies,  that  are  entities  over  which  the 
Company  has  significant  influence,  which  is  the  power  to  participate  in  decisions  on  the  investee’s 
financial and operational policies, but without individual or joint control of these policies, and; ii) in joint 
ventures, in which the control of the business is  shared through contractual agreement and decisions 
about the relevant activities require the unanimous consent of the parties. 

Investments are initially recognized at cost and subsequently adjusted using the equity method. 

3.11. Property, plant and equipment 

Measured  by  the  cost  of  acquisition,  formation,  construction  or  dismantling,  less  accumulated 
depreciation. Loan and financing costs are recorded as part of the costs of property, plant and equipment 
in progress, considering the weighted average rate of loans and financing effective on the capitalization 
date. 

Depreciation is recognized based on the estimated economic useful life of each asset using the straight-
line method. The estimated useful life, residual values and depreciation methods are reviewed annually 
and the effects of any changes in estimates are accounted for prospectively. Land is not depreciated. 

The Company annually performs an impairment analysis for its cash-generating units, which include the 
balances of property, plant and equipment (note 15). 

Gains and losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing the sale 
value with the residual book value and are recognized in the statement of income on the date of sale 
under Other Operational Income (Expenses). 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.12. Intangible assets 

Acquired intangible assets are measured at cost at the time of their initial recognition, while those arising 
from a business combination are recognized at fair value on the acquisition date. After initial recognition, 
it is presented at cost less accumulated amortization and impairment losses, when applicable. Intangible 
assets  generated  internally,  excluding  development  costs,  are  not  capitalized  and  the  expense  is 
recognized in the income statement when incurred. 

Intangible  assets  with  definite  useful  lives  are  amortized  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  their  economic 
useful lives. The amortization period and method for an intangible asset with definite life are reviewed 
at  least  at  the  end  of  each  fiscal  year,  and  any  changes  observed  are  applied  prospectively.  The 
amortization of intangible assets with finite lives is recognized in the income statement in the expense 
category related to their use. 

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives are not amortized, but are tested annually for impairment, 
being allocated to the cash-generating units (note 15). The Company records in this subgroup mainly 
goodwill for expected future profitability and the Company’s brands, which are expected to contribute 
indefinitely to its cash flows. 

3.13. Contingent assets 

Are  possible  assets  whose  existence  needs  to  be confirmed  by the occurrence  or  not of one  or  more 
uncertain future events. The Company does not record contingent assets, however when the inflow of 
economic benefits is more likely than not to occur, the contingent assets are disclosed. 

3.14. Leasing 
3.14.1.  Accounting practice applied until December 31, 2018 

Leasing operations whose risks and benefits inherent to ownership are substantially transferred to the 
Company,  are  classified  as  finance  leases.  If there  is  no  significant transfer  of the  risks  and  benefits 
inherent to the property, the operations are classified as operating leases. 

Financial leasing contracts are recognized in property, plant and equipment or intangible assets, against 
liabilities, at the lower of the present value of the minimum mandatory installments of the contract and 
the fair value of the asset, plus, when applicable, the initial direct costs incurred in the transaction. The 
amounts  recorded  in  property,  plant  and  equipment  and  intangible  are  depreciated  and  the  interests 
implicit in the liability are recognized on the income statement according to the duration of the contract. 

Operating lease agreements are recognized as an expense over the lease period. 

Gains or losses arising from the Company’s sale-leaseback transactions, classified after the sale of the 
assets as an operating lease, are recognized as follows: 

- Immediately in the income for the year when the transaction is measured at fair value; 

- If the transaction price is established below or above the fair value, the profit or loss is immediately 
recognized in the result, except if the result is offset by future lease payments below the market value. 

3.14.2.  Accounting practice applied from January 01, 2019 

On January 01, 2019, the Company adopted IFRS 16 and opted for the modified retrospective approach 
without restating comparative periods. Accordingly, all balances related to the year ended on December 
31,  2018  (note  19.1)  are  presented  in  accordance  with  the  standards  previously  in  force  IAS  17,  as 
disclosed above. 

In  the  transition  process,  the  Company  chose  not  to  use  the  practical  expedient  that  allows  not  to 
reassess whether a contract is or contains a lease. Consequently, the new lease definitions contained in 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IFRS 16 were applied to all contracts in force on the transition date. A contract is, or contains a lease, 
if the contract transfers the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period in exchange for 
consideration, for which it is necessary to assess whether: 

» 

» 

» 

the contract involves the use of an identified asset, which may be explicit or implicit, and 
may be physically distinct or represent substantially the entire capacity of a physically 
distinct asset. If the supplier has a substantial right to replace the asset, then the asset 
is not identified; 
the Company has the right to obtain substantially all the economic benefits from using 
the asset during the contract period; and 
the Company has the right to direct the use of the asset. The Company has the right to 
decide to change how and for what purpose the asset is used, if: 

o  has the right to operate the asset, or  
o  designed the asset, in a way that predetermines how and for what purpose it will 

be used. 

At the beginning of the contract, the Company recognizes a right-of-use asset and a lease liability that 
represents the obligation to make payments related to the underlying asset of the lease.  

The right-to-use asset is initially measured at cost and comprises the initial amount of the lease liability 
adjusted for any payment made on or before the contract start date, plus any direct initial costs incurred 
and estimated disassembly, removal costs, restoration of the asset in the place where it is located, less 
any incentive received. 

The right-to-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the start date to 
the end of the useful life of the right to use or the end of the lease term. The options for extending the 
term or early termination of contracts are analyzed individually considering the type of asset involved 
as well as its relevance in the Company’s production process. The estimated useful life of the right-of-
use asset is determined on the same basis as the assets owned by the Company. Additionally, the right-
to-use asset is periodically reduced to recoverable value in accordance with IAS 36, when applicable, 
and readjusted by remeasurement of the lease liability. 

The  lease  liability  is  initially  measured  at  the  present  value  of  the  payments  not  made,  less  the 
incremental loan rate. 

The lease liability is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. It is remeasured 
when there is a change (i) in future payments resulting from a change in index or rate (ii) in the estimate 
of the expected amount to be paid in the guaranteed residual value or (iii) in the assessment of whether 
the Company will exercise the purchase option, extension or termination. 

When the lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding adjustment amount is recorded in the book 
value of the right-of-use asset or in the profit and loss statement, if the book value of the right-of-use 
asset has been reduced to zero. 

As a result of the adoption of IFRS 16, on January 01, 2019, there was recognition of a right-of-use asset 
of R$2,397,743, a lease liability of R$2,391,456, and the difference between the balances in the amount 
of  R$6,287,  which  was  caused  by  provisions  for  operating  leases  already  recorded  on  December  31, 
2018, in Shareholders’ Equity. Such contracts were previously disclosed as an operating lease, according 
to the annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 (note 23.1). 

The Company used the following practical steps to transition to the new lease accounting requirements: 

»  chose not to recognize assets with right to use and lease liabilities with a contract term 
of  less  than  12  months,  and  with  no  purchase  option  and  of  low  value.  Payments 
associated with such contracts are recognized as an expense in the income statement on 
a straight-line basis over the lease period; 

»  use  of  a  single  discount  rate  for  each  lease  portfolio  with  reasonably  similar 
characteristics. In this sense, the incremental loan rate was obtained, as of January 01, 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
2019, applicable to each  of the leased asset portfolios. Through this methodology, the 
Company obtained a weighted average rate of 7.92%. 

Additionally, contracts with an indefinite term with no fixed payment are expensed as incurred. 

3.15. Share based payments 

The Company offers to its executives stock option plans and restricted stock plans of its own issuance. 
The Company recognizes as an expense the fair value of the options or shares, measured at the grant 
date,  on  a straight-line  basis  during  the  period  of  service  required  by the plan, with  a corresponding 
entry to: the shareholders’ equity for plans exercisable in shares; and to liabilities for cash exercisable 
plans. The accumulated expense recognized reflects the vesting period and the Company’s best estimate 
of the number of shares to be delivered. 

The  expense  of  the  plans  is  recognized  in  the  income  statement  in  accordance  with  the  function 
performed by the beneficiary. The expense is reversed when vesting conditions are not met. 

The  outstanding  stock  options  are  considered  as  an  additional  dilution  in  the  calculation  of  diluted 
earnings per share when the exercise price is lower than the current share price. 

3.16. Pension and other post-employment plans 

The Company sponsors supplementary defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, as well 
as  other  post-employment  benefits  for  which  an  actuarial  appraisal  is  annually  prepared  by  an 
independent  actuary  and  is  reviewed  by  Management.  The  cost  of  defined  benefits  is  established 
separately for each plan using the projected unit credit method. 

The measurements comprise the actuarial gains and losses, the effect of the limit on contributions and 
returns  on  the  plan  assets  and  are  recognized  in  the  financial  position  against  other  comprehensive 
income  when  incurred,  except  Award  for  Length  of  Service,  which  its  recognition  occurs  against 
statement of income. These measurements are not reclassified to statement of income in subsequent 
periods. 

The Company recognizes the net defined benefit asset when: 

»  controls the resource and has the ability to use the surplus to generate future benefits; 
» 
» 

the control is the result of past events; 
future  economic  benefits  are  available  for  the  Company  in  the  form  of  a  reduction  in 
future contributions or cash refunds, either directly to the sponsor or indirectly to another 
loss-making fund. The effect of the asset limit (irrecoverable surplus) is the present value 
of these future benefits. 

Past service costs are recognized in income for the year on the following dates, whichever comes first: 

» 
» 

the date of changing the plan or significantly reducing the expected length of service; 
the date in which the Company recognizes the costs related to restructuring. 

The cost of services and net interest on the value of the defined benefit liability or asset are recognized 
in the expense categories related to the function the beneficiary performs  and to the financial result, 
respectively. 

3.17. Employee and management profit sharing 

Employees  are  entitled  to  profit  sharing  based  on  certain  targets  agreed  upon  on  an  annual  basis, 
whereas directors are entitled to profit sharing based on the provisions of the bylaws, proposed by the 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Board of Directors  and  approved  by the  shareholders. The  profit-sharing amount is recognized in the 
statement of income when the targets are achieved. 

3.18. Provision for tax, civil and labor risks and contingent liabilities 

The provisions are recognized when the Company has a present obligation, formalized or not, as a result 
of a past event, the outflow of resources to settle the obligation is likely to occur and a reliable estimate 
can be made. 

The Company is involved in several legal and administrative procedures, mainly in Brazil. Assessments 
of the likelihood of loss in these lawsuits include an analysis of the available evidences, the hierarchy of 
laws, the available jurisprudence, the most recent court decisions and their relevance in the legal system, 
as well as the assessment of outside lawyers. Provisions are reviewed and adjusted to reflect changes in 
circumstances,  such  as  the  applicable  limitation  period,  conclusions  of  tax  inspections  or  additional 
exposures identified based on new matters or court decisions. 

In cases where there are a large number of lawsuits and the amounts are not individually relevant, the 
Company use historical studies to determine the probability and amounts of losses. 

Contingent liabilities from business combinations are recognized if they arise from a present obligation 
that arose from past events and if their fair value can be measured reliably. 

3.19. Financial instruments 

Are contracts that give rise to a financial asset for one entity and a financial liability or equity instrument 
for another. Their presentation in the statement of financial position and explanatory notes takes place 
according to the characteristics of each contract. 

3.19.1.  Financial Assets 

Are  recognized  when  the  entity  becomes  party  to  the  contractual  provisions  of  the  instrument  and 
classified based on the  characteristics of its cash flows and on the management model for the asset. 
The table below shows how to classify and measure financial assets: 

Category

Amortized Cost

In itial  Measu remen t
Accounts receivable from Clients and 
other receivables: billed amount 
adjusted to present value and, when 
applicable, reduced by expected credit 
losses

For other assets: Fair value less costs 
directly attributable to its issuance

Su bsequ en t  Measu remen t

Interest, changes in amortized cost and 
expected credit losses recognized in the 
income statement.

Fair Value through Profit and Loss 
(“FVTPL”)

Fair Value

Variation on the fair value recognized in 
the income statement.

Fair Value through Other 
Comprehensive Income (“FVTOCI”).

Fair value less costs directly 
attributable to its issuance.

Changes in fair value recognized in other 
comprehensive income. Upon settlement 
or transfer, accumulated gains or losses 
are directly reclassified to Retained 
earnings or accumulated losses.
For debt instruments, expected credit 
losses are recognized directly in the 
statement of income.

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The  Company  evaluates  expected  credit  losses  in  each  reporting  period  for  instruments  measured  at 
amortized cost and for debt instruments measured at Fair Value through Other Comprehensive Income. 
Losses and reversals of losses are recorded in the income statement. 

A financial asset is only derecognized when contractual rights expire or are effectively transferred. 

Cash and cash equivalents: comprises the balances of cash, banks and securities of immediate liquidity 
whose maturities, at the time of acquisition, are equal to or less than 90 days, readily convertible into 
a known  amount of cash  and  which  are  subject  to  an  insignificant risk  of change  in  value.  Securities 
classified in this group, by their very nature, are measured at fair value through profit or loss. 

Expected  credit  losses  in  Accounts  receivable  from  customers  and  other  receivables:  the  Company 
regularly  assesses  the  historical  losses  on  the  customer  portfolios  it  has  in  each  region,  taking  in 
consideration the dynamics of the markets in which it operates and instruments it has for reducing credit 
risks, such as: letters of credit, insurance and collateral, as well as identifying specific customers whose 
risks are significantly different than the portfolio, which are treated according to individual expectations. 

Based on these assessments, estimated loss factors are generated by portfolio and aging class, which, 
applied  to  the  amounts  of accounts  receivable,  generate  the  expected  credit losses.  Additionally,  the 
Company evaluates macroeconomic factors that may influence these losses and, if necessary, adjusts 
the calculation model. 

Securities receivable with legal proceedings in place are reclassified to noncurrent as well as the related 
estimated credit losses. The securities are written off against the estimated loss when the Management 
considers that they are no longer recoverable after taking all appropriate actions to collect them.  

3.19.2.  Financial Liabilities 

Are recognized when the entity becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. The initial 
measurement is at fair value and subsequently at amortized cost using the effective interest rate method. 

A financial liability is only derecognized when the contractual obligation expires, is settled or canceled. 

3.19.3.  Adjustment to present value 

The Company measures the adjustment to present value on short and long-term balances of accounts 
receivable, suppliers and other obligations, being recognized as a deduction in the asset accounts against 
the  financial  result.  The  Company  adopts  the  weighted  average  cost  of  capital  to  determine  the 
adjustment  to  present  value  of  the  mentioned  assets  and  liabilities,  which  corresponds  to  11.3%  per 
year on December 31, 2019 (10.4% p.a. on December 31, 2018). 

3.19.4.  Hedge accounting 

The Company has chosen to apply the requirements of IFRS 9 in relation to hedge accounting. 

Cash flow hedge: the effective portion of the gain or loss on the hedge instrument is recognized under 
Other Comprehensive Income and the ineffective portion in the Financial result. Accumulated gains and 
losses are reclassified to the Income statement or statement of financial position when the hedge object 
is recognized, adjusting the item in which the hedge object was accounted for. 

When the instrument is designated in a cash flow hedge relationship, changes in the fair value of the 
future element of the forward contracts and the time value of the options are recognized under Other 
Comprehensive Income. When the instrument is settled, these hedge costs are reclassified to the income 
statement together with the intrinsic value of the instruments. 

Fair value hedge: the effective portion of the hedge instrument’s gain or loss is recognized in the Income 
Statement or statement of financial position, adjusting the item under which the hedge object is or will 
be recognized. The hedge object, when designated in this relationship, is also measured at fair value. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net investment hedge accounting: as of August 31, 2019, the Company adopted this practice. In this 
relation,  the  effective  result  of  the  exchange  variation  of  the  instrument  is  recorded  under  Other 
Comprehensive  Income,  in  the  same  item  in  which  the  accumulated  translation  adjustments  of  the 
investments  (hedge  objects)  are  recognized.  Only  when  the  hedged  investments  are  sold,  the 
accumulated amount is reclassified to the income statement, adjusting the gain or loss on the sale. 

3.20. Segment information 

An  operating  segment  is  a  component  of  the  Company  that  develops  business  activities  to  obtain 
revenues  and  incur  expenses.  The  operating  segments  reflect  the  way  in  which  the  Company’s 
management  reviews  the  financial  information  for  decision  making.  The  Company’s  management 
identified the operating segments, which meet the quantitative and qualitative parameters of disclosure, 
pursuant its current management model (note 26). 

3.21. Revenue from contracts with customers 

Sales  revenues  comprise  the  fair  value  of  the  consideration  received  or  receivable  for  the  sale  of 
products, net of applicable taxes, returns, rebates and discounts. 

Sales revenues are recognized in accordance with the accrual basis of accounting, when the sales value 
is reliably measurable and the Company no longer has control over the product sold or any other liability 
related to its ownership and, it is likely that the economic benefits will be received by the Company. 

The sales process begins with sales orders and formal agreements, in general signed with large retail 
and wholesale chains. The discounts and rebates may be negotiated on a spot basis or may have its 
conditions formally defined in the agreements. In all cases, the performance condition is satisfied when 
the control of the goods is transferred to the client. 

The Company has sales with cash and installment payments, which are adjusted to present value for 
recognition of the financial component (note 3.19.5). 

3.22. Government grants 

Government grants are recognized at fair value when there is reasonable assurance that the conditions 
established will be met and the benefit will be received. The amounts appropriated as revenue in the 
income statement, when used to reduce income taxes, are transferred from retained earnings to the tax 
incentive reserve in the years the Company presents profit higher than the reclassification. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 

Average  rate  (p.a.)

12.31.19

12.31.18

Cash   an d  ban k  ac c ou n ts

U.S. Dollar
Brazilian Reais
Euro
Other currencies

Cash   equ ivalen ts
In Brazilian Reais

Investment funds
Savings account
Bank deposit certificates

In U.S. Dollar
Term deposit
Overnight

Other currencies
Term deposit

-
-
-
-

1.77%
-
4.40%

3.34%
2.32%

2.44%

1,356,128
167,051
71,626
694,982
2,289,787

3,507
-
879,758
883,265

270,714
689,874

104,145
1,064,733
4,237,785

118,895
97,376
52,779
453,788
722,838

3,721
49
3,720,708
3,724,478

-
401,096

21,150
422,246
4,869,562

5.  MARKETABLE SECURITIES 

W ATM  (1) Cu rren c y

Average  in terest 
rate  (p.a.)

12.31.19

12.31.18

Fair  valu e  th rou gh   oth er 
c ompreh en sive  in c ome

Credit linked note
Stocks

3.40
-

USD
R$ and HKD

Fair  valu e  th rou gh   profit  an d  loss

Financial treasury bills
Investment funds - FIDC BRF
Investment funds

3.40
3.96
0.17

R$
R$
ARS

3.85%

4.40%

-

-
-

Amortiz ed  c ost

Sovereign bonds and others (2)

3.33

AOA

3.82%

Current
Non-current (3)

19,285
26,678
45,963

396,994
14,891
1,903
413,788

265,783
725,534

418,182
307,352

16,398
139,469
155,867

295,699
14,699
-
310,398

331,395
797,660

507,035
290,625

(1)  Weighted average maturity in years. 
(2)  On December 31, 2019 it’s comprised of Financial Treasury Bills (“LFT”) remunerated at the rate of the Special System 

for Settlement and Custody (“SELIC”) and securities of the Angola Government denominated in Kwanzas. 

(3)  Maturity is September 01, 2025. 

The  unrealized  gain  on  marketable  securities  measured  at  fair  value  through  other  comprehensive 
income, corresponds to the accumulated value of R$ 4,454, which is net of tax effects of R$ 4,509 (loss 
of R$ 98,451 net of tax effects of R$ 43,767 on  December 31, 2018). The balance of expected credit 
losses on marketable securities measured at amortized cost on December 31, 2019 is R$ 1,983 (R$ 9,014 
on December 31, 2018). 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
   
 
 
     
     
       
       
       
     
     
 
     
           
        
                     
            
     
   
     
   
     
              
     
     
     
       
 
     
 
   
   
    
        
                  
   
   
   
   
 
   
                  
   
    
                  
     
           
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
Additionally, at December 31, 2019, the amount of R$ 100,435 (R$ 288,010 on December 31, 2018) was 
pledged as guarantee, with no use restrictions, for USD denominated future contracts, traded on B3 S.A. 
- Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão (“B3“). 

6.  TRADE ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 

Trade  ac c ou n t s  rec eivable

Domestic customers
Domestic related parties
Foreign customers
Foreign related parties

( - ) Adjustment to present value
( - ) Expected credit losses

Current
Non-current

Ot h er  rec eivables

( - ) Adjustment to present value
( - ) Expected credit losses

Current
Non-current (1)

(1)  Weighted average maturity of 2.72 years. 

12.31.19

12.31.18

1,336,762
-
2,215,050
-
3,551,812
(10,121)
(503,848)

1,098,750
-
1,973,981
59,284
3,132,015
(10,276)
(508,848)

3,037,843

2,612,891

3,031,046
6,797

2,604,928
7,963

153,799
(1,936)
(27,986)

123,877

59,645
64,232

235,376
(344)
(30,960)

204,072

115,113
88,959

The  Company  performs  credit  assignments  with  no  right  of  return  to  the  BRF  Clients’  Credit  Rights 
Investment Fund (“FIDC BRF“), whose sole purpose is to acquire credit rights arising from commercial 
transactions carried out between the Company and its clients in Brazil. On December 31, 2019, FIDC 
BRF had an outstanding balance of R$730,251 (R$643,675 on December 31, 2018) related to such credit 
rights, which are no longer recorded in the Company’s statement of financial position. 

On December 31, 2019, Other receivables are mainly represented by receivables from the sale of farms 
and various properties, with a balance of R$109,419 (R$189,132 on December 31, 2018). 

The rollforward of the expected credit losses are shown below: 

Begin n in g  balan c e

Initial adoption IFRS 9
Incorporation of companies

Transfer - held for sale
Provision
Write-offs
Exchange rate variation

En din g  balan c e

12.31.19
(508,848)
-
-

-
(23,899)
44,039
(15,140)
(503,848)

12.31.18
(467,555)
(12,612)
-

8,991
(46,357)
49,445
(40,760)
(508,848)

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
    
                     
              
 
    
                     
       
 
    
       
      
     
     
 
    
 
    
           
         
       
      
         
          
       
      
       
      
         
      
         
       
     
      
                       
       
                       
               
                       
          
         
       
           
        
         
       
     
      
The aging of trade accounts receivable is as follows: 

Not overdue
Overdu e

 01 to 60 days
 61 to 90 days
 91 to 120 days
 121 to 180 days
 181 to 360 days
More than 360 days

( - ) Adjustment to present value
( - ) Expected credit losses

7. 

INVENTORIES 

Finished goods
Work in progress
Raw materials
Packaging materials
Secondary materials
Supplies
Imports in transit
Other
(-) Adjustment to present value

12.31.19
2,820,308

12.31.18
2,451,597

143,303
19,409
3,723
3,934
20,748
540,387
(10,121)
(503,848)
3,037,843

133,002
25,435
10,575
27,029
36,783
447,594
(10,276)
(508,848)
2,612,891

12.31.19
2,257,119
149,470
803,520
60,715
375,744
205,399
61,021
19,266
(44,338)

12.31.18
2,200,763
140,466
847,494
73,755
337,969
196,228
103,954
9,979
(33,314)

3,887,916

3,877,294

The additions and reversals of provisions for losses on inventories, which were recorded under the item 
Cost of Goods Sold, are shown in the table below: 

Begin n in g  balan c e

Additions
Reversals
Write-offs
Restatement by Hyperinflation
Transfer - held for sale
Exchange rate variation

En din g  balan c e

Adju stmen t  to  realiz able 
valu e
12.31.18
(253,720)
(317,039)
143,406
342,813
(4,924)
23,898
76
(65,490)

12.31.19
(65,490)
(81,988)
95,881
41,156
-
-
(271)
(10,712)

Provision   for  deterioration
12.31.18
(66,394)
(153,245)
-
152,823
(526)
7,214
(458)
(60,586)

12.31.19
(60,586)
(153,881)
-
171,637
-
-
304
(42,526)

Provision   for 
obsolesc en c e
12.31.18
(6,914)
(25,286)
-
19,940
-
326
(95)
(12,029)

12.31.19
(12,029)
(9,529)
-
6,360
-
-
279
(14,919)

12.31.19
(138,105)
(245,398)
95,881
219,153
-
-
312
(68,157)

Total
12.31.18
(327,028)
(495,570)
143,406
515,576
(5,450)
31,438
(477)
(138,105)

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
    
     
 
    
       
      
         
       
           
       
           
       
         
       
       
      
       
      
     
     
 
    
 
   
     
     
     
     
       
       
     
     
     
     
       
     
       
        
     
      
 
   
       
     
       
       
       
        
     
     
       
     
     
     
        
       
     
     
        
      
               
               
               
               
         
      
        
      
      
      
         
        
       
      
               
        
               
           
               
               
                       
        
               
        
               
         
               
            
                       
        
           
             
            
           
            
            
                 
           
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
     
8.  BIOLOGICAL ASSETS 

The live animals are represented by poultry and pork and segregated into consumables and animals for production. The rollforward of the biological assets 
are shown below:  

Begin n in g  balan c e
Additions/Transfer
Changes in fair value (1)
Harvest
Write-off
Transfer between current  and non-current
Transfer between held for sale
Transfer to inventories
Exchange variation
Restatement by Hyperinflation

En din g  balan c e

Pou ltry

Live  an imals

Pork

12.31.19
582,853
3,456,921
1,564,807
-
-
49,250
-
(5,033,965)
(4,181)

-
615,685

12.31.18
699,947
415,422
966,951
-
-
65,131
(6,443)
(1,539,499)
(18,656)
-
582,853

12.31.19
930,280
3,545,494
209,084
-
-
77,155
-
(3,774,659)
-
-
987,354

12.31.18
810,533
1,819,960
228,149
-
-
71,445
(12,803)
(1,980,490)
(6,514)
-
930,280

Cu rren t

Live  an imals

Non -c u rren t

Total

Pou ltry

Pork

Forests

Total

12.31.19
1,513,133
7,002,415
1,773,891
-
-
126,405
-
(8,808,624)
(4,181)
-
1,603,039

12.31.18
1,510,480
2,235,382
1,195,100
-
-
136,576
(19,246)
(3,519,989)
(25,170)
-
1,513,133

12.31.19
381,236
94,055
(6,516)
-
-
(49,250)
-
-
(4,857)
-
414,668

12.31.18
325,821
246,247
(95,926)
-
(6,197)
(65,131)
(20,122)
-
(3,542)
86
381,236

12.31.19
317,185
272,677
(174,903)
-
-
(77,155)
-
-
-
-
337,804

12.31.18
313,978
233,607
(144,704)
-
-
(71,445)
(11,586)
-
(5,747)
3,082
317,185

12.31.19
362,893
56,134
(28,119)
(48,890)
(11,810)
-
(1,655)
-
-
-
328,553

12.31.18
263,855
31,909
106,956
(36,565)
(8,133)
-
4,871
-
-
-
362,893

12.31.19
1,061,314
422,866
(209,538)
(48,890)
(11,810)
(126,405)
(1,655)
-
(4,857)
-
1,081,025

12.31.18
903,654
511,763
(133,674)
(36,565)
(14,330)
(136,576)
(26,837)
-
(9,289)
3,168
1,061,314

(1)  The change in the fair value of biological assets includes depreciation of breeders and depletion of forests in the amount of R$ 798.239 (R $ 811,772 on December 31, 2018). 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
   
    
   
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
  
    
  
  
   
  
     
  
   
  
     
   
       
   
  
    
    
    
   
  
     
  
  
 
    
 
     
  
             
             
             
             
                         
             
           
          
           
          
    
  
       
    
             
             
             
             
                         
             
           
    
           
          
    
   
       
    
      
      
      
      
         
    
    
  
    
  
           
         
     
  
             
      
             
     
                         
     
           
  
           
  
     
    
         
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
           
          
           
          
           
         
                     
            
      
     
             
      
           
     
     
    
           
    
           
         
         
     
                   
             
             
             
                         
             
           
         
           
     
                 
         
                     
      
   
    
   
    
   
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
The quantities and balances per live animal assets are set forth below: 

Con su mable  biologic al  assets

Immature poultry
Immature pork

Total  c u rren t

Produ c tion   biologic al  assets

Immature poultry
Mature poultry
Immature pork
Mature pork

Total  n on -c u rren t

(th ou san d  of 
h eads)

Valu e

Quantity
(thousand of heads)

12.31.19

189,602
4,098
193,700

7,042
11,554
211
455
19,262
212,962

615,685
987,354
1,603,039

160,415
254,253
77,027
260,777
752,472
2,355,511

188,248
4,011
192,259

6,538
11,958
203
439
19,138
211,397

12.31.18

Value

582,853
930,280
1,513,133

134,425
246,811
74,071
243,114
698,421
2,211,554

The Company has forests pledged as collateral for financing and tax/civil contingencies in the amount of 
R$ 62,408 (R$ 66,345 at December 31, 2018). 

8.1.  Table of sensitivity analysis 

The fair value of animals and forests is determined through the use of unobservable inputs, using the 
best practices available in the valuation circumstances, therefore it is classified in the Level 3 of the fair 
value hierarchy.  

Below  are  presented  the main  assumptions  used  in  the  measurement of the  fair  value  of forests  and 
their impact on measurement. 

Asset

Valu ation  
meth odology

Forests

Income approach

Th e  estimated  fair  valu e  c an   c h an ge  if:

Non   observable    sign ific an t  in pu ts

In c rease

Dec rease

Estimated price of standing wood

Increase in the price of wood

Decrease in the price of wood

Productivity per hectare estimated
Harvest and transport cost
Discount rate

Increase in yield per hectare 
Decrease of harvest cost 
Descrease in discount rate 

Decrease in yield per hectare 
Increase of harvest cost 
Increase in discount rate 

The prices used in the valuation are those practiced in the regions where the Company is located and 
were obtained through market research. The discount rate corresponds to the average cost of capital 
and other economic assumptions for a market participant. 

The weighted average price used in the valuation of biological assets (forests) on  December 31, 2019 
was equivalent to R$32.99 (thirty-two and ninety-nine Reais) per stere (R$32.81 per stere on December 
31, 2018). 

The real discount rate used in the valuation of the biological asset (forests) on December 31, 2019 was 
7.07% (7.01% on December 31, 2018). 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
                     
                     
               
               
                         
                     
                 
               
                     
               
               
            
                         
                     
                 
               
                       
                     
                
               
                               
                       
                    
                
                               
                     
                    
               
                       
                     
                
               
                     
               
               
            
9.  RECOVERABLE TAXES 

Rec overable  taxes
ICMS ("State VAT")
PIS and COFINS ("Federal Taxes to Social Fund Programs")
IPI ("Federal VAT")
INSS ("Brazilian Social Security")
Other
(-) Provision for losses

Current
Non-current

Rec overable  in c ome  tax  an d  soc ial  c on tribu tion

Income and social contribution tax (IR/CS)
(-) Provision for losses

Current
Non-current

12.31.19

12.31.18

1,635,664
2,990,313
848,865
255,967
80,144
(167,674)
5,643,279

473,732
5,169,547

1,632,110
946,399
836,676
307,897
155,779
(175,925)
3,702,936

560,389
3,142,547

430,778
(9,029)
421,749
152,486
269,263

522,758
(9,029)
513,729
506,483
7,246

The rollforward of the provision for realization of recoverable taxes are set forth below: 

Begin n in g  balan c e

Additions
Write-offs
Exchange rate variation

ICMS  ("State  VAT")

12.31.19
(140,970)
(45,079)
44,856
-

12.31.18
(122,892)
(80,004)
61,926
-

PIS  an d  COFINS 
("Federal  Taxes  to 
12.31.19
(17,418)
(496)
992
-

12.31.18
(19,717)
-
2,299
-

In c ome  an d  soc ial 
c on tribu tion   tax
12.31.19
(9,029)
-
-
-

12.31.18
(9,029)
-
-
-

IPI  ("Federal  VAT")
12.31.19
(13,562)

12.31.18
(13,562)
-
-
-

Oth er

Total

12.31.19
(3,975)
(1,780)
2
12

12.31.18
(4,332)
(3,687)
513
1527

12.31.19
(184,954)
(47,355)
55,594
12

12.31.18
(169,532)
(83,691)
64,738
1,527

-
9,744
-

Transfer - held for sale

En din g  balan c e

-

(141,193)

-
(140,970)

-

(16,922)

-
(17,418)

-
(9,029)

-
(9,029)

-
(3,818)

-
(13,562)

-
(5,741)

2,004
(3,975)

-
(176,703)

2,004
(184,954)

9.1. State VAT (

ICMS

) 

As a result of (i) export activity; (ii) tax benefits; (iii) sales in the domestic market subject to reduced 
rates; and (iv) acquisition of property, plant and equipment, the Company generates credits that are 
offset against debits arising from sales in the domestic market or transferred to third parties. 

”

“

The Company has ICMS credit balances in the States of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Mato Grosso do Sul 
and  Amazonas,  which  will  be  realized  in  the  short  and  long  term,  based  on  a  recoverability  study 
approved by the Management. 

9.2. PIS and COFINS  

The  accumulated  tax  credits  for  PIS  and  COFINS  basically  arise  from  credits  on  purchases  of  raw 
materials used in the production of exported products or products whose sale is taxed at zero rate, such 
as fresh meat and margarine. 

On June 06, 2019, there was a final judicial decision to a BRF S.A. process, originally filed by its merged 
company Perdigão Agroindustrial S.A. and on  August 20, 2019 there  was a final judicial  decision to a 
Sadia S.A. process. Through these decisions, the Company’s right to exclude ICMS from the PIS and 
COFINS calculation basis was recognized. The amount of R$ 2,078,610 relating to PIS and COFINS credits 
was  recognized  under  Recoverable  Taxes,  the  principal  of  R$  1,185,386  being  recorded  in  Other 
Operating Income and interest and monetary restatement of R$ 893,224 recorded in Financial Income. 

The realization of these credits normally occurs through offsetting with sales of taxed products in the 
domestic market, with other federal taxes, and more recently with social security contributions, or even, 
if  necessary,  through  refund  or  reimbursement  requests.  Specifically,  for  credits  generated  based  on 
unappealable lawsuits that determined the exclusion of ICMS from the PIS and COFINS calculation basis, 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
   
 
     
     
     
     
     
       
     
   
    
 
   
     
     
 
   
     
     
         
       
     
     
     
     
     
        
   
   
   
  
     
   
   
  
     
   
   
   
      
    
        
          
        
       
         
       
     
   
       
    
       
     
         
     
        
       
       
       
           
      
         
     
           
         
         
       
        
       
         
       
          
                   
      
           
         
         
       
        
       
         
       
        
    
                     
      
   
   
   
  
     
   
       
  
     
   
   
   
the  Company  will  begin  the  respective  execution  of  the  sentence,  seeking  the  reimbursement  of  the 
amounts through precatory. 

9.3. Income and social contribution taxes 

The  accumulated  IRPJ  and  CSLL  credits  arise  from  withholding  taxes  on  securities,  interest  and 
prepayments on the payment of income tax and social contribution. The realization occurs by offsetting 
with federal taxes and contributions. 

10.  INCOME AND SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION TAXES 
10.1  Deferred income and social contribution taxes  

Assets

Tax loss carryforwards (corporate income tax)
Negative calculation basis (social contribution tax)

Temporary  differen c es  -  Assets

Provisions for tax, civil and labor risks
Suspended collection taxes
Expected credit losses
Provision for property, plant and equipment losses
Provision for losses on tax credits
Provision for other obligations
Employees' profit sharing
Provision for inventory losses
Employees' benefits plan
Difference on tax x accounting basic for leases 
Unrealized losses on derivatives
Business combination - Sadia (1)
Other temporary differences

Temporary  differen c es  -  Liabilities

Unrealized fair value gains
Difference on tax x accounting basis for goodwill amortization
Difference on tax x accounting basis for depreciation (useful life)
Business combination - Sadia (1)
Other - exchange rate variation
Other temporary differences

Total  deferred  tax

Total  Assets
Total  Liabilities

12.31.19

12.31.18

1,785,027
682,175

1,723,991
652,418

477,538
31,069
135,374
-
60,771
93,619
66,166
18,718
202,228
37,492
-
-
116,931
3,707,108

322,987
22,945
133,486
37,110
62,670
106,869
-
39,508
137,484
4,743
30,494
84,587
133,463
3,492,755

(11,998)
(319,592)
(802,844)
(640,318)
(69,142)
(33,154)
(1,877,048)

(101,400)
(318,454)
(754,094)
(724,015)
(100,325)
(40,589)
(2,038,877)

1,830,060

1,453,878

1,915,370
(85,310)
1,830,060

1,519,652
(65,774)
1,453,878

(1)  The deferred tax asset on the Sadia business combination was recorded on the amortization difference between the accounting 
and tax goodwill calculated on the purchase price allocation date. The deferred tax liability on the Sadia business combination 
is substantially represented by the allocation of goodwill to property, plant and equipment, brands and contingent liabilities. 

The roll-forward of deferred tax assets is set forth below: 

Begin n in g  balan c e
Deferred income and social contribution recognized in the statement of income
Deferred income and social contribution recognized in other comprehensive income
Deferred income and social contribution related to discontinued operations
Other
En din g  balan c e

12.31.19

12.31.18

1,453,878
290,094
60
116,883
(30,855)
1,830,060

1,214,063
340,144
(68,688)
(35,414)
3,773
1,453,878

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
    
 
     
      
           
         
           
         
             
          
           
         
                           
          
             
          
             
         
             
                 
             
          
           
         
             
           
                           
          
                           
          
           
         
     
      
           
        
         
        
         
        
         
        
           
        
           
         
   
     
     
      
     
      
           
         
     
      
 
   
     
      
                   
      
     
      
       
         
 
   
10.2  Estimated period of realization 

Deferred tax assets arising from temporary differences will be realized as they are settled or realized. 
The period of settlement or realization of such differences is imprecise and is linked to several factors 
that are not under the control of Management. 

In  estimating  the  realization  of  deferred  tax  credits  recorded  on  tax  losses  and  negative  social 
contribution  basis,  Management  considers  its  budget  and  strategic  plans,  adjusted  based  on  the 
estimates of the main tax additions and exclusions, which were approved by the Board of Directors and 
by the Company’s Fiscal Council. Based on this estimate, Management believes that it is probable that 
these deferred tax credits will be realized, as shown below: 

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 to 2027
2028 onwards

53,685
100,037
159,307
267,209
291,568
945,298
650,098
2,467,202

The deferred tax credits on tax losses and negative social contribution basis do not expire. 

10.3  Income and social contribution taxes reconciliation 

Income (loss) before income and social contribution - continued operations

Nominal tax rate
Credit  (expen se)  at  n omin al  rate

Reconciling items

Income from associates and joint ventures
Difference of tax rates on results of foreign subsidiaries
Deferred tax assets not recognized (1)
Results from foreign subsidiaries
Share-based payment
Transfer price
Penalties
Investment grant
Write-off of non-realizable tax assets - SHB incorporation
Reversal (recognition) of provision with no deferred tax constituted
Other permanent differences

Current income tax
Deferred income tax

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

882,938

34%
(300,199)

(2,447,808)
34%
832,255

(1,218,574)
34%
414,315

73,995
(792)
(38,464)
-
(14,172)
(16,966)
(48,633)
64,127
-
481,356
(4,857)
195,395

(94,699)
290,094

6,023
389,467
(347,116)
-
(5,842)
(79,043)
(1,626)
59,236
(268,701)
(244,591)
(6,760)
333,302

(6,842)
340,144

7,610
(205,128)
-
-
(7,312)
(15,826)
(6,844)
49,083
-
-
15,911
251,809

41,227
210,582

(1)  Amount related to the non-recognition of deferred tax on tax losses and negative basis in the amount of R$ 113,129, due to 

limiting the ability of realization (note 10.2). 

The  Company’s  management  determined  that  the  total  profits  recorded  by  the  holdings  of  its  wholly 
owned subsidiaries abroad will not be redistributed. Such funds will be used for investments in wholly 
owned subsidiaries. The total retained earnings not distributed corresponds to R$2,560,052 on December 
31, 2019 (R$3,401,418 on December 31, 2018). 

Income tax returns in Brazil are subject to review by the tax authorities for a period of five years from 
the  date  of  their  delivery.  The  Company  may  be  subject  to  additional  collection  of  taxes,  fines  and 
interest  as  a  result  of  these  reviews.  The  results  obtained  by  wholly  owned  subsidiaries  abroad  are 
subject to taxation in accordance with the tax laws of each country.  

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
   
 
 
 
               
             
             
             
             
             
             
         
       
   
   
     
       
       
           
          
          
               
       
      
         
      
               
                       
               
               
         
         
         
         
       
       
         
         
         
           
        
        
                       
      
               
       
      
               
           
         
        
       
       
       
         
         
        
       
       
       
11.  JUDICIAL DEPOSITS 

The rollforward of the judicial deposits is set forth below: 

Begin n in g  balan c e

Additions
Transfer - held for sale
Reversals
Write-offs
Interest
Exchange rate variation

En din g  balan c e

Tax

Labor

Civil,  c ommerc ial  an d 
oth er

Total

12.31.19
288,377
79,702
-
(9,440)
(123,371)
9,709
-
244,977

12.31.18
292,543
19,056
(66)
(5,304)
(31,948)
14,142
(47)
288,376

12.31.19
351,648
176,406
-
(36,461)
(198,821)
9,056
(20)

301,808

12.31.18
360,033
181,688
(6,826)
(47,153)
(146,221)
14,555
(4,425)
351,651

12.31.19
29,073
4,373
-
(382)
(4,825)
726
-
28,965

12.31.18
36,364
2,874
-
(2,971)
(8,612)
1,416
-
29,071

12.31.19
669,098
260,481
-
(46,283)
(327,017)
19,491
(20)
575,750

12.31.18
688,940
203,618
(6,892)
(55,428)
(186,781)
30,113
(4,472)
669,098

12.  ASSETS  AND  LIABILITIES  HELD  FOR  SALE  AND  DISCONTINUED 

OPERATIONS 

Following the finance and operating restructuring plan disclosed in the consolidated financial statements 
of 2018, during the year of 2019 the sale of the operations in Argentina, Europe and Thailand, as well 
as the plant in Várzea Grande-MT were concluded. The details of the operations are described below: 

On January 02,  2019,  the sale of the shares representing 91.89% of the former subsidiary Quickfood 
S.A. was completed. On this date, Marfrig Global Foods S.A. (“Marfrig“) paid the amount equivalent to 
R$211,835 (USD54,891) to BRF S.A. During the third quarter of 2019, the parties agreed to adjust the 
price by working capital, net debt and other contractual items, which reduced the price in the amount 
equivalent to R$20,544 (USD4,954). 

On  January  23,  2019,  the  sale  of  the  properties  and  equipment  in  Várzea  Grande-MT  to  Marfrig  was 
concluded  for  R$100,000,  from  which  R$81,500  were  collected,  net  of  associated  costs.  On  April  01, 
2019, all the precedent conditions were overcome and the acquirer started to fully operate the plant. 

On  February  4,  2019,  the  sale  of  Avex  S.A.  was  completed  and  the  amount  equivalent  to  R$82,736 
(USD22,500) were received in cash and the amount equivalent to R$86,990 (USD22,324) to be settled 
by the payment of liabilities of Avex S.A. with BRF during 2019. 

On February 28, 2019, the former subsidiary Campo Austral S.A. concluded the sale of its plant located 
in  the  city  of  Florencio  Varela,  in  Argentina,  and  all  the  related  assets  and  liabilities,  including  the 
“Bocatti“ and “Calchaquí“ trademarks to BOGS S.A. for an amount equivalent to R$95,036 (USD26,753), 
collected on March 2019. 

On March 11, 2019, the Company concluded the sale of 100% of the shares issued by Campo Austral 
S.A., including the plants in San Andrés de Giles and Pilar, and the trademark “Campo Austral“ to the 
Argentinian company La Piamontesa de Averaldo Giacosa y Compañía S.A. for the amount equivalent to 
R$29,359 (USD7,619), from which USD3,619 were paid in cash and USD4,000 to be paid in installments. 

On June 03, 2019, the Company concluded the sale of 100% of the shares held in certain companies 
located  in  Europe  and  Thailand  to  Tyson  International  Holding  Co.  for  the  amount  equivalent  to 
R$1,466,950 (USD377,043), fully received in the same date. During the third quarter of 2019, the parties 
agreed  to  adjust  the  price  by  working  capital  and  net  debt,  which  increased  the  price  in  the  amount 
equivalent to R$21,083 (USD5,063). 

On September 05, 2019 the Company sold the participation in the joint venture SATS BRF Food PTE Ltd. 
(“SATS”), to SATS Food Services PTE Ltd. for the amount equivalent to R$51,197 (SGD17,000).  

Over the last quarter of 2019 the Company has progressed in the negotiations to sell the participation 
in  the  controlled  entity FFM  Further  Processing  Sdn.  Bhd.,  so  its  balances were  reclassified  to  Assets 
Held for Sale. When reclassifying to Assets Held for Sale, the net assets began to be measured at the 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
     
     
     
       
      
     
     
      
      
     
     
        
        
     
     
             
          
             
       
             
             
                   
       
       
       
     
     
         
       
     
     
    
     
    
    
       
       
   
    
        
      
        
      
          
        
       
      
             
          
          
       
             
             
               
       
     
     
     
     
       
      
     
     
lower of the book value previously recorded and the fair value net of selling expenses. This measurement 
led  to  an  impairment  of  the  investment  in  the  amount  of  R$7,346  recorded  under  Other  Operating 
Expenses, in continued operations. The negotiations are still ongoing. 

The  balances  of  the  assets  reclassified  to  Assets  Held  for  Sale  and  liabilities  directly  associated  with 
assets held for sale are described below.  

Statement of Financial Position  - Discontinued Operations 

12.31.19

Oth ers

Operations 
from 
Argentina

Operations 
from Europe 
and Thailand

Others

Total

12.31.18

ASSETS
CURRENT  ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Trade and other receivables
Inventories
Biological assets
Recoverable taxes
Assets held for sale
Other current assets

Total current assets

NON-CURRENT  ASSETS

LONG-TERM  RECEIVALBLES
Trade and other receivables
Deferred income tax and social contribution
Biological assets
Recoverable taxes
Other non-current assets

Total long-term receivables

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
-

Investments in subsidiaries and join ventures
Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets
Total non-current assets

-
99,245
-
99,245

31,683
68,686
244,654
254,142
19,246
59,721
4
18,087
696,223

571
-
11,586
4,788
7,299
24,244

20
329,590
318,706
672,560

134,766
-
333,187
645,241
-
48,738
401
6,264
1,168,597

-
7,967
20,122
-
473
28,562

-
327,224
263,341
619,127

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
-

166,449
68,686
577,841
899,383
19,246
108,459
405
24,351
1,864,820

571
7,967
31,708
4,788
7,772
52,806

-
169,798
-
169,798

20
826,612
582,047
1,461,485

TOTAL  ASSETS

99,245

1,368,783

1,787,724

169,798

3,326,305

LIABILITIES
CURRENT  LIABILITIES

Short-term debt
Trade accounts payable
Payroll, related charges and employee profit sharing
Liabilities with related parties
Tax payable
Other current liabilities
Total  c u rren t  liabilities

NON-CURRENT  LIABILITIES

Long-term debt
Deferred income tax and social contribution
Provision for tax, civil and labor risks
Other non-current liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

TOTAL  LIABILITIES  AND  EQUITY

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-

-

88,395
270,796
45,125
197
13,600
51,125
469,238

67,378
142,013
70,571
22
279,984

-
155,068
45,667
-
24,831
95,219
320,785

-
26,161
366
34,995
61,522

749,222

382,307

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-

-

88,395
425,864
90,792
197
38,431
146,344
790,023

67,378
168,174
70,937
35,017
341,506

1,131,529

Net  assets  an d  liabilities  h eld  for  sale

99,245

619,561

1,405,417

169,798

2,194,776

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
           
      
      
        
     
           
      
            
        
       
           
    
      
        
     
           
    
      
        
     
           
      
            
        
       
           
      
        
        
     
           
            
            
        
          
           
      
         
        
       
           
    
    
        
   
           
          
            
        
          
           
          
         
        
        
           
      
        
        
       
           
       
            
        
        
           
       
            
        
        
           
      
        
        
       
           
           
            
        
            
   
    
      
  
     
           
    
      
        
     
   
    
      
  
   
   
  
    
  
   
           
      
            
        
       
           
    
      
        
     
           
      
        
        
       
           
          
            
        
          
           
      
        
        
       
           
      
        
        
     
           
    
      
        
     
           
      
            
        
       
           
    
        
        
     
           
      
            
        
       
           
           
        
        
       
           
    
        
        
     
           
    
      
        
   
   
    
    
  
   
For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company incurred losses related to the sale of the Argentina 
operations  in  the  amount  of  R$905,339  and  gain  related  to  the  sales  of  Europe  and  Thailand  in  the 
amount of R$66,754, recorded in discontinued operations, mainly due to the write-off of the cumulative 
translation adjustments of the investments. 

On September 30, 2019 the Company signed a private instrument of settlement with Lactalis do Brasil 
–  Comércio,  Importação  e  Exportação  de  Laticínios  Ltda.  (“Lactalis”)  in  reference  to  the  sale  and 
purchase  agreement  signed  between  the  parties  on  December  05,  2014,  by which  BRF  sold  the  dairy 
operations  to  Lactalis.  This  term  settled  open  matters  regarding  the  agreement  until  that  date  and 
determined, in October 2019, the release of the total balance of R$342,051 in Escrow account, of which 
R$100,000 was delivered to Lactalis and remaining amount to BRF, generating an expense of R$92,552 
recorded in discontinued operations. 

In the year ended December 31, 2019, the Argentina, Europe and Thailand operations while pending, as 
well as the effects of the transaction with Lactalis, were kept classified as discontinued operations. The 
statement of income (loss) and statement of cash flow of these operations are as follows:

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Statement of Income (Loss) - Discontinued Operations  

Operation s  from  Argen tin a

Operation s  from  Eu rope  an d  Th ailan d

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

Dairy  (2)

12.31.19

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

Total

80,843

1,737,435

2,024,932

1,090,409

2,603,152

3,130,260

(1,691,123)

(1,845,924)

(978,318)

(2,331,270)

(2,602,265)

46,312

179,008

112,091

271,882

527,995

1,171,252

4,340,587

5,155,192

(1,073,541)

(4,022,393)

(4,448,189)

97,711

318,194

707,003

NET  SALES

Cost of sales

GROSS  PROFIT  (1)

OPERATING  INCOME  (EXPENSES)

Selling expenses

General and administrative expenses

Impairment loss on trade and other receivables

Other operating income (expenses), net

Income from associates and joint ventures

INCOME  (LOSS)  BEFORE  FINANCIAL  RESULTS  AND  INCOME  TAXES

Financial expenses

Financial income

INCOME  (LOSS)  BEFORE  TAXES 

Income taxes

NET  INCOME  (LOSS)

(95,223)

(14,380)

(11,389)

(5,106)

-

(27,397)

-

(58,272)

(20,982)

8,284

(70,970)

100,380

29,410

(175,910)

(36,130)

(4,664)

2,703

-

(167,689)

261,521

88,250

182,082

(113,300)

(221,467)

(39,746)

(1,052)

(50,573)

-

(133,830)

(342,860)

71,625

(405,065)

2,719

68,782

(402,346)

Gain (loss) on sale of investments and realization of other comprehensive 
income

Impairment loss on the remeasuarement at fair value less cost to sell
INCOME  (LOSS)  FROM  DISCONTINUED  OPERATIONS

(905,339)

-

-

    (875,929)

(1,060,039)

(991,257)

Net  In c ome  (Loss)  From  Disc on tin u ed  Operation   Attribu table  to

-

-

(38,321)

(33,883)

(4,129)

(39,608)

(21)

(3,871)

(8,800)

(10,134)

(22,805)

12,657

(10,148)

66,754

-

(220,408)

(83,585)

4,576

(36,380)

-

(63,915)

132,182

1,779

70,046

(14,415)

55,631

-

(1,416,114)
   (1,360,483)

-

-

-

-

-

-

(238,047)

(72,377)

(6,799)

(4,048)

-

(49,710)

(38,989)

(4,129)

(396,318)

(119,715)

(88)

(96,486)

(163,490)

(33,677)

-

(21)

-

(459,514)

(112,123)

(7,851)

(54,621)

-

206,724

(96,486)

(158,628)

(231,604)

72,894

65,637

5,778

-

-

(29,782)

(1,850)

278,139

(96,486)

(190,260)

(7,882)

-

270,257

(96,486)

113,037

(77,223)

393,703

90,029

252,128

(127,715)

124,413

(277,223)

77,403

(126,926)

(5,163)

(132,089)

(402,346)

            56,606 

      270,257 

        (96,486)

          (915,809)

-

-

-

-

(838,586)

-

-

(2,476,153)
   (2,351,740)

-

-

     (132,089)

Con trollin g  sh areh olders

Non -c on trollin g  in terest

(875,929)

(995,135)

-

3,878

(389,480)

(12,866)

67,787

(1,337,958)

(11,181)

(22,525)

248,153

22,104

(96,486)

(904,628)

(2,333,093)

(141,327)

-

(11,181)

(18,647)

9,238

(1)  The positive effect on cost refers to allocations of results to products sold in the markets of the discontinued operations. 
(2)  There was no movement in the comparative period. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-37 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
       
   
    
   
    
    
                 
     
    
    
     
  
   
       
   
   
                 
   
   
   
     
       
      
         
       
      
                 
             
      
      
     
     
     
         
      
     
                 
           
     
     
         
      
      
         
       
      
                 
           
     
     
               
        
        
           
         
        
                 
             
            
        
     
         
      
         
       
        
       
         
      
      
               
           
           
                   
            
           
                 
                     
           
           
     
     
     
           
       
      
       
         
     
       
     
      
     
           
       
       
                 
           
      
     
           
       
       
         
         
         
                 
             
       
       
     
      
     
         
        
      
       
         
      
     
     
     
         
           
       
        
                 
           
     
        
       
       
     
         
        
      
       
           
      
     
   
                 
                 
           
                 
                 
                 
         
           
           
               
  
           
                   
   
           
                 
                     
   
           
     
     
   
     
     
           
   
      
       
         
   
     
               
         
      
         
       
       
                 
           
      
         
 Statement of Cash Flows - Discontinued Operations 

OPERATING  ACTIVITIES  FROM  DISCONTINUED  OPERATIONS

Loss of discontinued operations

Adju stmen ts  for:

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and depletion of biological assets

Loss on disposals of property, plant and equipments

Provision for tax, civil and labor risks

Income from associates and joint ventures

Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations

Provision for losses in inventories

Impairment

Financial results, net

Deferred income tax

Restatement by hyperinflation 

Others

Trade accounts receivable

Inventories

Biological assets - current

Trade accounts payable

Supply chain finance

Cash   gen erated  by  operatin g  ac tivities

Investments in securities at FVTPL (1)

Redemptions of securities at FVTPL (1)

Payment of interests

Other operating assets and liabilities

INVESTING   ACTIVITIES  FROM  DISCONTINUED  OPERATIONS

Additions to property, plant and equipment

Additions to biological assets - non-current

Additions to intangible assets

Proceeds from disposals of property, plant, equipment and investments

Net  c ash   u sed  in   in vestin g  ac tivities  from  disc on tin u ed  operation s

FINANCING  ACTIVITIES  FROM  DISCONTINUING  OPERATIONS

Proceeds from debt issuance

Repayment of debt

Net  c ash   (u sed  in )  provided  by  fin an c in g  ac tivities  from  disc on tin u ed 
operation s

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(1)  FVTPL: Fair Value Through Profit and Loss. 

13.  INVESTMENTS  

13.1 

Investments breakdown 

Investment in associates and affiliates
Goodwill SATS BRF

Other investments

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

(915,809)

(2,351,740)

(132,089)

3,776

9,700

5,598

(493)

21

757,256

(7,294)

81,329

31,631

(116,883)

-

32,821

(118,347)

(133,233)

59,135

55

228,789

27,248

8,629

263,820

21,900

8,629

(66,968)

134,226

-

-

-

2,476,152

(483,802)

104,750

(426,535)

(17,388)

(500,865)

37,892

71,670

3,024

-

-

-

-

199,820

(19,434)

-

(45,271)

431,601

(104,595)

(319,712)

4,922

50,947

(269,404)

(161,057)

(28)

(374)

318

(141,471)

(658,057)

(148,523)

(403,242)

(321,487)

(6,472)

29,097

-

9,612

(14,350)

(11,911)

-

1,874,955

1,848,694

340,696

(29,815)

617,719

(57,280)

(31,840)

(99)

-

322,100

(45,700)

173,159

(20,451)

(52,467)

(31,548)

(134)

-

(89,219)

(84,149)

10,122

(8,555)

821,674

1,678,121

(921,492)

(1,668,709)

1,567

1,741,027

(99,818)

(321,736)

9,412

(95,188)

12.31.19

12.31.18

7,204
-
7,204
7,676
14,880

70,546
7,059
77,605
8,400
86,005

Net  c ash   (u sed  in )  provided  by  operatin g  ac tivities  from  disc on tin u ed  operation s

(109,234)

(132,699)

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-38 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
       
    
     
             
       
      
             
         
        
             
          
         
                 
        
      
                     
                
              
         
                
              
           
                
              
           
     
              
           
      
      
       
       
       
                         
      
              
           
        
       
       
      
      
       
         
     
           
         
     
                     
          
         
           
      
     
                   
            
           
       
      
     
           
      
     
           
       
      
                         
        
       
             
       
      
       
      
       
         
        
       
         
        
       
                         
             
          
   
                
              
   
        
       
           
       
    
           
      
   
             
        
         
   
      
       
           
       
                     
        
           
       
           
        
         
       
14.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET 

The rollforward of property, plant and equipment is set forth below:  

Cost

Land
Buildings, facilities and improvements
Machinery and equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Vehicles
Construction in progress
Advances to suppliers

Deprec iation

Land (2)
Buildings, facilities and improvements
Machinery and equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Vehicles

W eigh ted  average 
deprec iation   rate 
(p.a.)

12.31.18

In itial 
adoption  
IFRS  16

Addition s

Disposals

Tran sfers 
(1)

Exc h an ge 
rate 
variation

536,878
7,590,545
8,272,920
159,902
17,402
409,696
13,425

23,453
2,278,982
1,182
-
94,065
-
-

1,986
219,145
45,682
2,834
119,520
367,148
898

(5,879)
(149,866)
(212,637)
(25,264)
(9,959)
-
(1,173)

50,980
196,829
83,812
3,515
(10,502)
(427,737)
(16,959)

(3,939)
13,163
(13,912)
(548)
2,673
(200)
4,337

12.31.19

603,479
10,148,798
8,177,047
140,439
213,199
348,907
528

17,000,768

2,397,682

757,213

(404,778)

(120,062)

1,574

19,632,397

22.31%
5.83%
6.57%
6.67%
32.37%

-
(2,602,188)
(3,620,421)
(71,062)
(10,099)

(6,303,770)

-
-
-
-
-

-

(5,134)
(667,622)
(527,007)
(10,908)
(59,348)

27
26,616
183,168
6,331
1,718

-
(15,167)
18,481
2,665
3,579

21
(5,440)
(4,471)
1,195
(442)

(5,086)
(3,263,801)
(3,950,250)
(71,779)
(64,592)

(1,270,019)

217,860

9,558

(9,137)

(7,355,508)

10,696,998

2,397,682

(512,806)

(186,918)

(110,504)

(7,563)

12,276,889

(1)  Refers to the transfer of R$52,507 for intangible assets, R$ 34,465 for assets held for sale and R$ 23,531 for biological assets. 
(2)  Land depreciation refers to right-of-use assets. The amount of R$ 4,285 of depreciation was recognized in the cost of formation of forests and will be realized in the result when it is exhausted 

(note 19.1) 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
        
          
          
      
       
     
         
      
       
       
   
     
     
   
      
            
         
   
       
    
     
        
                 
          
     
        
       
         
         
          
       
      
      
      
         
        
                 
       
             
    
       
         
         
                 
             
      
      
      
                   
   
       
         
 
   
       
   
                
                 
         
           
             
          
             
     
                 
      
      
      
     
   
     
                 
      
    
       
     
   
        
                 
        
       
        
      
           
        
                 
        
       
        
       
           
   
                           
 
   
           
     
   
   
       
       
 
   
     
   
Cost

Land
Buildings and improvements
Machinery and equipment
Facilities
Furniture and fixtures
Vehicles
Construction in progress
Advances to suppliers

Depreciation

Buildings and improvements
Machinery and equipment
Facilities
Furniture and fixtures
Vehicles

Weighted average 
depreciation rate 
(p.a.)

12.31.17

Additions

Disposals

706,218
6,102,831
8,881,223
2,175,032
171,482
28,508
453,946
13,643

95
4,775
64,342
727
25,255
3,087
585,386
444

(25,700)
(113,433)
(234,503)
(21,053)
(5,598)
(729)
-
-

Restatement by 
Hyperinflation

Exchange 
rate 
variation

32,747
205,324
346,825
256
9,472
2,826
15,451
-

(17,201)
(4,336)
(77,797)
8,861
1,604
210
(25,205)
1,214

Transfers

12.31.18

(159,281)
1,251,069
(707,170)
(2,019,508)
(42,313)
(16,500)
(619,882)
(1,876)

536,878
7,446,230
8,272,920
144,315
159,902
17,402
409,696
13,425

18,532,883

684,111

(401,016)

612,901

(112,650)

(2,315,461)

17,000,768

3.00%
5.95%
4.49%
8.09%
19.91%

(1,872,565)
(3,656,477)
(724,477)
(77,745)
(11,036)

(188,064)
(562,721)
(93,786)
(17,033)
(2,074)

28,923
136,085
12,981
3,162
465

(6,342,300)

(863,678)

181,616

(63,456)
(192,710)
(151)
(7,023)
(2,644)

(265,984)

(12,515)
(218)
3,472
(746)
875

(9,132)

(471,255)
655,620
778,705
28,323
4,315

(2,578,932)
(3,620,421)
(23,256)
(71,062)
(10,099)

995,708

(6,303,770)

12,190,583

(179,567)

(219,400)

346,917

(121,782)

(1,319,753)

10,696,998

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
     
         
  
               
  
     
     
  
     
 
              
    
    
  
  
   
 
              
  
     
  
  
       
  
                   
     
   
     
     
   
    
                
     
      
     
      
     
      
                
       
      
      
     
  
          
               
  
     
     
      
       
          
                      
     
        
      
 
  
 
              
 
   
 
 
 
   
              
  
     
 
 
 
  
             
      
      
 
    
  
   
                  
     
      
     
     
  
     
               
      
       
     
     
    
       
               
       
         
     
 
 
  
             
    
      
 
 
 
 
              
 
   
 
The amount of capitalized borrowing costs during the year ended December 31, 2019 was of R$ 19,207 
(R$  19,612  on  December  31,  2018).  The  weighted  average  rate  used  to  determine  the  amount  of 
borrowing costs subject to capitalization was 6.60% p.a. (3.27% p.a. on December 31, 2018).  

The  property,  plant  and  equipment  items  that  are  pledged  as  collateral  for  transactions  of  different 
natures are set forth below: 

Type  of  c ollateral

12.31.19

12.31.18

Land
Buildings, facilities and improvements
Machinery and equipment
Furniture and fixtures
Vehicles

Financial/Tax
Financial/Tax
Financial/Labor/Tax/Civil
Financial/Tax
Financial/Tax

221,727
1,499,808
1,488,889
14,090
369
3,224,883

239,039
1,800,115
1,877,369
18,624
550
3,935,697

15.  INTANGIBLE ASSETS 

The intangible assets rollforward is set forth below:   

Cost

Non-compete agreement
Goodwill for future profitability
Outgrowers relationship

Trademarks
Patents
Customer relationship
Software
Intangible in progress

Amortiz ation

Non-compete agreement
Outgrowers relationship
Patents
Customer relationship
Software

Cost

Non-compete agreement
Goodwill for future profitability
Import quotas
Outgrowers relationship

Trademarks
Patents
Customer relationship
Supplier relationship
Software

Amortization

Non-compete agreement
Import quotas
Outgrowers relationship
Patents
Customer relationship
Supplier relationship
Software

W eigh ted  average 
amortiz ation   rate 
(p.a.)

33.67%
13.02%
19.05%
7.31%
23.18%

12.31.18

90,012
2,694,967
15,022

1,336,162
6,066
896,039
491,830
-
5,530,098

(45,802)
(11,552)
(5,149)
(172,450)
(275,747)
(510,700)
5,019,398

In itial 
adoption  
IFRS  16

Addition s Disposals Tran sfers

-
-
-

-
-
-
61
-
61

-
-
-
-
-
-
61

8,105
-
-

-
-
-
38,259
47,422
93,786

(27,811)
(1,546)
(470)
(67,137)
(141,925)
(238,889)
(145,103)

-
-
(418)

-
-
-
(95,275)
-
(95,693)

-
354
-
-
77,027
77,381
(18,312)

-
-
-

-
235
-
87,576
(35,294)
52,517

-
-
-
-
(10)
(10)
52,507

Exc h an ge 
rate 
variation

1,112
18,635
-

(13,900)
4
(3,281)
1,164
23
3,757

(577)
-
(7)
(2,676)
(969)
(4,229)
(472)

12.31.19

99,229
2,713,602
14,604

1,322,262
6,305
892,758
523,615
12,151
5,584,526

(74,190)
(12,744)
(5,626)
(242,263)
(341,624)
(676,447)
4,908,079

Weighted average 
amortization rate (p.a.)

12.31.17

Additions

Disposals

Transfers

Restatement by 
Hyperinflation

Exchange 
rate 
variation

Transfer - held 
for sale

12.31.18

62,043
4,192,228
111,731
15,022

1,649,910
6,867
1,220,801
2,049
516,308
7,776,959

(23,501)
(93,139)
(9,590)
(4,886)
(154,530)
(102)
(293,575)
(579,323)
7,197,636

33,748
-
-
-

-
16
-
-
2,040
35,804

(26,794)
(14,365)
(1,963)
(840)
(99,700)
(115)
(127,449)
(271,226)
(235,422)

-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
(121,929)
(121,929)

-
-
-
-
-
-
121,929
121,929
-

-
-
-
-

-
(68)
-
-
121,828
121,760

-
-
-
-
-
-
253
253
122,013

9,057
323,904
-
-

250,731
-
149,089
-
30,460
763,241

(5,786)
-
-
(892)
(55,599)
-
(26,967)
(89,244)
673,997

(130)
116,746
12,251
-

(140,196)
(199)
19,281
369
(2,374)
5,748

920
(11,325)
-
202
(11,751)
(25)
3,624
(18,355)
(12,607)

(14,706)
(1,937,911)
(123,982)
-

(424,283)
(550)
(493,132)
(2,418)
(54,503)
(3,051,485)

90,012
2,694,967
-
15,022

1,336,162
6,066
896,039
-
491,830
5,530,098

9,359
118,829
-
1,267
149,130
242
46,439
325,266
(2,726,219)

(45,802)
-
(11,553)
(5,149)
(172,450)
-
(275,746)
(510,700)
5,019,398

32.70%
89.94%
13.24%
19.98%
9.50%
5.00%
19.68%

During the year ended December 31, 2019, Management did not identify any event that could indicate 
an impairment of such assets. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
  
       
 
    
             
          
       
       
       
       
               
           
                       
               
       
       
       
                 
       
           
           
      
         
   
                 
            
           
           
    
 
       
                 
            
       
           
           
         
   
                 
            
           
           
   
 
        
                 
            
           
        
           
           
      
                 
            
           
           
     
     
      
                
     
   
    
      
     
              
                 
     
           
   
         
         
 
                       
     
 
   
       
 
      
                 
    
           
           
       
       
      
                 
      
        
           
           
       
       
                 
        
           
           
          
         
     
                 
    
           
           
     
   
     
                 
   
    
         
       
   
   
                           
 
   
           
     
   
 
                       
 
 
   
         
 
     
     
           
           
             
        
        
     
 
           
           
           
           
   
     
 
   
           
           
           
                   
     
       
           
     
           
           
           
                   
            
                
     
 
           
           
           
           
  
       
 
      
          
           
         
                   
        
            
      
 
           
           
           
           
     
       
   
      
           
           
           
                   
         
          
           
   
      
  
   
            
     
        
   
 
     
  
   
           
      
     
 
    
    
           
           
            
         
           
    
    
    
           
           
                   
    
        
           
     
     
           
           
                   
            
                
    
     
       
           
           
               
         
           
     
  
    
           
           
           
    
        
  
       
       
           
           
                   
         
             
           
  
  
   
        
           
      
         
  
  
  
   
        
           
    
        
  
 
  
           
   
           
    
     
 
15.1 

Impairment Test 

The impairment test of assets is carried out annually based on the discounted cash flow method, which 
is prepared in order to determine the value in use of the Company’s cash-generating units (“CGU”). In 
2019,  the  Company  used  its  budget,  strategic  and  financial  planning,  which  demonstrated  growth 
projections until 2024 and average perpetuity of the cash generating units of 3.5% p.a., based on the 
history of recent years, as well as the economic and financial projections of each market in which the 
Company operates, in addition to official information from independent and governmental institutions. 

The discount rate used by Management to prepare discounted cash flows varied from  10.75% p.a. to 
12.91% p.a. according to the CGU. The assumptions presented in the table below were also adopted: 

Inflation Brazil

Inflation - United States

Exchange rate - BRL / USD

2020

3.80%

2.02%

3.80

2021

3.75%

2.20%

3.80

2022

3.75%

2.20%

3.85

2023

3.38%

2.20%

3.90

2024

3.38%

2.20%

3.95

The rates presented above don’t consider the effects of taxes. 

Based on Management’s analysis carried out in 2019, no impairment adjustments were identified. 

In addition to the analysis mentioned above, Management prepared a deterministic sensitivity analysis 
considering the variations in the Earnings Before Interest and Tax (“EBIT”) margin and in the nominal 
discount rate as shown below: 

Apreciation (devaluation)
BRAZIL  CGU 

Discount rate

Ebit Margin

INTERNATIONAL  CGU´s 

Discount rate
Ebit Margin

1.0%

13.91%

11.27%

11.75%
12.07%

Variation s
0.0%

12.91%

10.27%

10.75%
11.07%

(1.0%)

11.91%

9.27%

9.75%
10.07%

The  Company,  in  its  sensitivity  analysis,  did  not  identify  any  scenarios  in  which  an  impairment  was 
necessary. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
      
   
 
16.  LOANS AND FINANCING 

Ch arges  (p.a.)

W eigh ted  average
in terest  rate  (p.a.)

W AMT 
(1)

12.31.18

Borrowin g

Amortiz ation

In terest 
paid

In terest 
ac c ru ed

Exc h an ge 
rate 
variation

12.31.19

Loc al  c u rren c y

Working capital

 Pre-fixed / CDI 

Certificate of agribusiness receivables (2)

 CDI / IPCA 

Development bank credit lines

 Pre-fixed / Selic / TJLP 

 6.07%
(7.78% on 12.31.18) 

 6.73%
(6.08% on 12.31.18) 

 5.09%
(6.16% on 12.31.18) 

Debentures

 CDI / IPCA 

 7.90% 

Export credit facility

Special program asset restructuring

Fiscal incentives

Foreign   c u rren c y

Bonds

 CDI 

 IGPM 

 Pre-fixed 

 5.83%
(9.02% on 12.31.18) 

 12.22%
(12.45% on 12.31.18) 

 2.40%
(2.40% on 12.31.18) 

 Pre-Fixed + e.r. USD and 
EUR 

 4.36%
(4.07% on 12.31.18) 

Export credit facility

 LIBOR + e.r. USD 

 5.54% (2.47% on 12.31.18) 

Advances for foreign exchange rate contracts

 Pre-Fixed + e.r. USD 

 (4.67% on 12.31.18) 

Working capital

 Pre-Fixed + e.r. TRY 

 16.56% (21.91% on 
12.31.18) 

Current
Non-current

1.2

5,863,023

1,193,616

(3,745,967)

(421,600)

423,567

2.5

2,597,502

264,545

0.3

6.2

-

-

(999,905)

(139,633)

139,483

(223,077)

(7,005)

11,053

-

742,250

(15)

(16,372)

29,897

8.7

1,625,327

(22,403)

(31,700)

(108,845)

149,986

0.2

273,426

-

-

(8,554)

19,436

-

3,317

70,203

(67,805)

(570)

575

10,627,140

1,983,666

(5,068,469)

(702,579)

773,997

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3,312,639

1,597,447

45,516

755,760

1,612,365

284,308

5,720

7,613,755

6.0

3.2

-

1.1

9,746,446
-

1,383,192
-
214,192
-

3,082,040

(2,906,635)

(504,774)

648,991

341,416

10,407,484

-

92,750

(948,646)

(327,469)

(31,277)

(10,249)

28,937

12,831

(24,931)

407,275

17,945

-

194,474

240,702

(229,919)

(41,974)

42,237

(13,755)

191,765

3,415,492
5,399,158

(4,412,669)
(9,481,138)

(588,274)
(1,290,853)

732,996
1,506,993

320,675
320,675

11,538,304
22,165,444

4,547,389
17,618,055

11,006,524
18,620,279

3,132,029
15,488,250

(1)  Weighted average maturity is demonstrated in years. 
(2)  The Certificate of Agribusiness Receivable (“CRA”) issued by the Company are backed by receivables of BRF S.A. from certain subsidiaries abroad. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
   
     
 
 
        
  
    
    
      
       
               
     
        
  
              
       
      
       
               
     
        
     
              
       
         
        
               
             
        
             
      
             
       
        
               
         
        
  
       
        
      
       
               
     
        
     
              
                
         
        
               
         
           
        
        
        
           
            
               
               
 
 
   
     
       
                       
     
        
  
    
    
      
       
      
   
             
        
  
              
       
       
        
       
         
             
           
     
        
       
       
        
        
                         
             
        
     
      
       
       
        
       
         
 
 
   
     
       
       
   
 
 
   
 
   
       
   
  
     
 
   
Charges (p.a.)

Weighted average
interest rate (p.a.)

WAMT

12.31.17

Captured

Transfer - held 
for sale

Amortization

Interest 
paid

Interest 
accrued

Exchange 
rate 
variation

12.31.18

Loc al  c u rren c y

Working capital

 'Fixed rate / 118% of CDI
(7.79% on 12.31.17) 

 7.78%
(7.79% on 12.31.17) 

1.7

2,555,363

4,431,145

Certificate of agribusiness receivables 

Development bank credit lines

 96.40% of CDI / IPCA + 5,90%
(96.51% of CDI / IPCA + 5,90% on 
12.31.17) 

 Fixed rate / Selic / TJLP + 1.25%
(Fixed rate / Selic / TJLP + 1.48% on 
12.31.17) 

 6.08%
(7.41% on 12.31.17) 

 6.16%
(6.78% on 12.31.17) 

1.6

3,571,652

1.1

570,082

Bonds

 (7.75% on 12.31.17) 

 (7.75% on 12.31.17) 

-

503,802

-

-

-

Export credit facility

 109.45% of CDI
(100.35% on 12.31.17) 

 9.02%
(6.91% on 12.31.17) 

3.2

1,889,198

1,621,124

 Fixed rate / IGPM + 4.90%
(Fixed rate / IGPM + 4.90% on 
12.31.17) 

 2.40%
(2.40% on 12.31.17) 

 12.45%
(4.36% on 12.31.17) 

 2.40%
(2.40% on 12.31.17) 

1.4

0.5

249,366

-

3,566

57,246

9,343,029

6,109,515

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(1,235,896)

(149,702)

262,113

(996,985)

(223,143)

245,978

(315,119)

(20,346)

29,928

(500,000)

(19,375)

15,573

(1,850,000)

(188,743)

153,748

-

(8,101)

32,161

(57,500)

(445)

450

(4,955,500)

(609,855)

739,951

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

5,863,023

2,597,502

264,545

-

1,625,327

273,426

3,317

10,627,140

Special program asset restructuring

Fiscal incentives

Foreign   c u rren c y

Bonds

Export credit facility

 4.07%
(4.08% on 12.31.17) + e.r. US$ and 
EUR 

 4.07%
(4.08% on 12.31.17) + e.r. US$ 
and EUR 

 LIBOR + 0.25%
(LIBOR + 1.85% on 12.31.17)
+ e.r. US$ 

 2.47%
(3.35% on 12.31.17) + e.r. US$ 

Advances for foreign exchange rate contracts

 4.67% + e.r. US$  

 4.67% + e.r. US$  

Development bank credit lines

Working capital

Working capital

Current
Non-current

 (UMBNDES + 1.73% on 12.31.17)
+ e.r. US$ and other currencies 
 46.84%
(23.10% on 12.31.17) + e.r. ARS / + 
e.r US$  

 (6.22% on 12.31.17)
+ e.r. US$ and other currencies 
 46.84%
(23.10% on 12.31.17) + e.r. ARS 
/ + e.r US$  

 21.91% (15.95% on 12.31.17) + e.r 
TRY 

 21.91% (15.95% on 12.31.17) + 
e.r TRY 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

4.8

8,529,921

-

(87,113)

(14,791)

(466,552)

506,484

1,278,497

9,746,446

2,150,728

8,395

-

208,474

3,572

-

-

-

-

0.8

0.8

-

-

167,888

813,279

(68,660)

(898,283)

(3,632)

46,025

(56,617)

(3,851)

(192)

471

-

-

-

(1,067,367)

(75,878)

67,621

299,693

1,383,192

-

-

1,077

4,641

214,192

0.7

249,240

193,058

-

(216,610)

(21,057)

35,934

(46,091)

194,474

11,101,349
20,444,378

1,223,206
7,332,721

(155,773)
(155,773)

(2,200,902)
(7,156,402)

(567,311)
(1,177,166)

657,612
1,397,563

1,480,123
1,480,123

11,538,304
22,165,444

5,031,351
15,413,027

4,547,389
17,618,055

F-44 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
        
  
 
                 
  
   
    
            
  
        
  
            
                 
     
   
    
            
  
        
     
            
                 
     
     
      
            
     
           
     
            
                 
     
     
      
            
             
        
  
 
                 
  
   
    
            
  
        
     
            
                 
              
      
      
            
     
        
        
     
                 
      
         
          
            
        
  
 
                 
  
   
    
            
 
        
  
            
         
      
   
    
 
  
        
  
      
                 
  
     
      
   
  
        
             
   
                 
              
             
       
      
     
           
        
            
                 
       
         
          
            
             
           
     
   
         
     
      
      
    
             
        
     
   
                 
     
     
      
    
     
 
 
       
  
   
    
 
 
 
 
       
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
On December 31, 2019, the Company did not have any financial covenants clauses related to its loan 
agreements. 

16.1  Debentures 

On April 30, 2019, 750,000 Debentures were subscribed with a par value of R$1,000.00 (one thousand 
Reais), totaling the amount of R$750,000 in 3 series, as set forth below. The Debentures are simple, 
non-convertible and unsecured, with restricted effort placement. The public offering was closed on June 
28, 2019, when the total amount was received by the Company. Costs of R$4,868 were incurred for the 
issuance, which will be recognized in statement of income over the term of the operations, based on the 
effective interest rate method. 

Operation

Series

Issu e  date

Matu rity

Rate

Notion al

Updated  Valu e

Debenture - 1st Issue
Debenture - 1st Issue
Debenture - 1st Issue

1st Series
3rd Series
4th Series

06.27.19
06.27.19
06.27.19

04.30.22
04.30.26
04.30.26

100% CDI + 0.80%
IPCA + 5.50%
100% CDI + 1.45%

70,000
411,732
268,268
750,000

70,286
416,029
269,445
755,760

12.31.19

16.2  Senior Unsecured notes issuance and tender offer 

On September 24, 2019 the Company issued senior notes in the amount of  USD750,000, maturing on 
January 24, 2030 and with an interest rate of 4.875% p.a. (yield to maturity of 5.00%) paid on a half-
yearly  basis.  Costs  of  R$46,540  were  incurred  to  issue  the  notes,  which  will  be  recognized  on  the 
statement of income over the term of the debt according to the effective interest rate method. 

The Company substantially used the proceedings to settle and renegotiate other debts of shorter term, 
making a tender offer for the following senior notes: 

Operation

Sadia Overseas BRFSBZ7
BRF AS BRFSBZ2
BRF AS BRFSBZ5
BRF AS BRFSBZ3
BRF AS BRFSBZ4

Matu rity

Notion al 
repu rc h ased

12.31.19
Ou tstan din g 
n otion al  amou n t

2020
2022
2022
2023
2024

363,686
795,932
38,937
641,363
961,797

-

1,471,420
437,936
1,394,578
2,092,107

The  premium  paid  on  the  repurchase  was  of  R$92,053  and  was  recognized  as  Financial  Expenses. 
Additionally, R$25,575 of costs that had been deferred were written-off, in proportion to the repurchased 
debts, recognized also as Financial Expenses. 

The Company reserves the right to anticipate the repurchase of other liabilities by tender offer and open 
market transactions, following with its liability management strategy. 

16.3  Revolving Credit Facility 

With  the  purpose  of maintaining  a prudential  and  sustainable  short-term  liquidity  position,  continuing 
with the strategy of extending its average debt maturity and reducing the cost of debt, on December 
27,  2019,  the  Company  retained  from  Banco  do  Brasil  a  revolving  credit  facility  up  to  the  limit  of 
R$1,500,000 for a period of three years. The referenced credit facility can be disbursed totally or partially, 
at  the  Company’s  will,  whenever  necessary.  On  December  31,  2019  the  facility  was  available,  but 
unused. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
          
                           
         
                       
         
                       
         
                       
         
                                 
         
                 
          
                     
         
                 
         
                 
16.4  Loans and financing maturity schedule 

The maturity schedule of the loans and financing is as follows: 

Cu rren t
Non -c u rren t

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 onwards

16.5  Guarantees 

Total  of  loan s  an d  fin an c in g

Mortgage  gu aran tees

Related to FINEM-BNDES
Related to tax incentives and other

12.31.19

3,132,028
15,488,251
1,906,989
2,123,475
2,421,966
2,340,742
6,695,079
18,620,279

12.31.19

12.31.18

18,620,279

22,165,444

51,237
45,516
5,721

267,862
217,620
50,242

On December 31, 2019, the amount of bank guarantees contracted by the Company was of R$666,335 
(R$783,952 as of December 31, 2018) which were offered mainly in litigations involving the Company´
s use of tax credits. These guarantees have an average cost of 1.77% p.a. (1.57% p.a. as of December 
31, 2018). 

17.  TRADE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 

Domestic   su ppliers

Third parties
Related parties

Foreign   su ppliers

Third parties
Related parties

(-) Adjustment to present value

Current
Non-current

12.31.19

4,930,424
-
4,930,424

915,611
-
915,611

(49,269)
5,796,766

5,784,419
12,347

Restated (1)
12.31.18

4,458,077
-
4,458,077

1,079,438
-
1,079,438

(37,507)
5,500,008

5,487,205
12,803

(1)  The restatement refers to the adoption of IFRS 16, in which the lease liabilities were reclassified from Trade Accounts Payable 

to a specific line (note 19). 

On  the  trade  accounts  payable  balance  as  of  December  31,  2019,  R$1,435,025  (R$1,301,304  as  of 
December 31, 2018) corresponds to supply chain finance transactions in which there were no changes 
in the payment terms and prices negotiated with the suppliers. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
   
 
 
   
 
         
       
        
        
        
        
        
       
 
   
           
       
           
       
             
        
           
         
                               
                    
           
         
               
         
                               
                    
               
         
                 
            
           
         
           
         
                   
             
18.  SUPPLY CHAIN FINANCE 

Supply chain finance - Domestic suppliers
Supply chain finance - Foreign suppliers

(-) Adjustment to present value

12.31.19
671,869
182,126
853,995

(11,958)
842,037

Restated (1)
12.31.18
715,335
170,448
885,783

(10,483)
875,300

(1)  The restatement refers to the split of the adjustment to present value. 

The Company has partnerships with several financial institutions that allow the suppliers to anticipate 
their receivables. The suppliers may choose whether to participate and if so, with which institution. The 
anticipation  allows  the  suppliers  to  better  manage  their  cash  flow  needs.  This  flexibility  allows  the 
Company  to  intensify  its  commercial  relations  with  the  network  of  suppliers  by  potentially  leveraging 
benefits such as preference for supply in case of restricted supply, better price conditions and/or more 
flexible payment terms, among others, has not identified any material change in the existing commercial 
conditions with its suppliers. These operations are presented in the cash flow of operating activities. 

On  December  31,  2019,  the  discount  rates  applied  to  the  supply  chain  finance  transactions  agreed 
between our suppliers and the financial institutions in the domestic market were set between 0.38% to 
0.67% p.m. (0.52% to 0.75% p.m. on December 31, 2018).  

On  December  31,  2019,  the  discount  rates  applied  to  the  supply  chain  finance  transactions  agreed 
between our suppliers and the financial institutions in the external market were set between 0.32% to 
0.46% p.m. (0.31% to 0.50% p.m. on December 31, 2018). 

19.  LEASES 

The  Company  is  lessee  in  several  lease  agreements  for  forest  lands,  offices,  distribution  centers, 
integrated producers, vehicles, among others. Some contracts have a renewal option for an additional 
period  at  the  end  of  the  contract,  established  by  contractual  amendments.  Automatic  renewals  or 
renewals for undetermined periods are not allowed. 

The  contract  clauses  mentioned,  with  respect  to  renewal,  readjustment  and  purchase  option,  are 
contracted according to market practices. In addition, there are no clauses of contingent payments  or 
restrictions on dividends distribution, payments of interest on shareholders’ equity or obtaining debt. 

19.1  Right-of-use assets 

The right-of-use assets as set forth below are in balances of property, plant and equipment and intangible 
assets (notes 14 and 15). 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-47 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
               
           
               
           
               
            
                 
            
               
            
Cost

Land
Buildings
Machinery and equipment
Facilities
Vehicles
Software

Deprec iation

Land
Buildings
Machinery and equipment
Facilities
Vehicles
Software

W eigh ted  average 
deprec iation   rate 
(p.a.)

In itial 
adoption   IFRS 
16

Addition s

Disposals

Exc h an ge 
rate 
variation

Tran sfers

12.31.19

23,453
2,278,982
1,182
-
94,065
61

-
216,514
4,110
-
119,422
(6,998)

(421)
(119,540)
(13,321)
-
(8,751)
(50,160)

(42)
4,650
28
-
2,707
-

(200)
21,106
(6,415)
(14,492)
-
44,378

22,790
2,615,883
115,173
-
207,443
55,705

12.31.18

-
214,171
129,589
14,492
-
68,424

426,676

2,397,743

333,048

(192,193)

7,343

44,377

3,016,994

22.31%
17.79%
36.32%
-
34.32%
67.81%

-
(74,527)
(75,422)
(1,725)
-
(57,486)

(209,160)

217,516

-
-
-
-
-
-

-

(5,134)
(429,600)
(39,361)
-
(58,325)
(37,489)

27
1,948
9,545
-
1,502
50,160

(569,909)

63,182

2,397,743

(236,861)

(129,011)

21
(644)
(8)
-
(534)
-

(1,165)

6,178

-
(10,013)
8,288
1,725
-
-

-

(5,086)
(512,836)
(96,958)
-
(57,357)
(44,815)

(717,052)

44,377

2,299,942

19.2  Lease liabilities 

W AMT 
(1)

12.31.18

In itial  adoption  
IFRS  16

Addition s

Paymen ts

In terest 
paid

In terest 
ac c ru ed

Disposals

Exc h an ge 
rate  variation

12.31.19

Land

Buildings

Machinery and equipment

Vehicles

Software

Current
Non-current

5.5

4.3

1.3

2.0

1.3

-

17,166

6,287

(4,505)

167,012

66,534

-

8,263

2,278,982

216,514

(410,466)

1,182

94,065

61

4,110

119,422

37,379

(42,216)

(51,263)

(44,567)

(762)

(85,940)

(17,756)

(11,359)

(85)

2,909

(421)

(319)

20,355

167,165

(111,134)

4,369

2,226,502

17,757

11,359

86

(3,898)

(7,438)

-

(26)

25,687

2,189

156,975

-

1,137

241,809

2,391,456

383,712

(553,017)

(115,902)

199,276

(122,891)

6,213

2,430,656

75,293
166,516

376,209
2,054,447

(1)  Weighted average maturity, demonstrated in years. 

19.3  Lease liabilities maturity schedule 

The minimum future payments required for these finance leases are segregated as follows, and were 
recorded in current and non-current liabilities: 

Cu rren t
Non -c u rren t

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 onwards

12.31.19
521,581
1,909,075
428,243
357,652
292,562
235,664
594,954
2,430,656

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
     
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
           
             
         
            
             
         
    
       
    
   
         
          
 
    
             
       
     
             
          
       
      
                  
             
             
               
         
                     
             
           
    
      
         
                 
       
      
                
      
     
               
          
         
   
       
   
 
             
             
 
             
                  
      
           
             
                 
         
     
                  
   
       
           
         
     
     
                  
     
       
             
           
       
      
                  
             
             
               
           
                     
             
                  
     
       
           
                 
       
     
                  
     
      
               
                 
       
 
                             
 
       
           
                         
     
   
       
 
 
             
             
 
        
            
            
          
        
           
          
           
             
         
        
    
        
        
      
       
       
     
            
 
        
     
             
          
       
       
        
        
               
         
        
            
            
        
       
       
        
        
            
       
        
       
                 
         
       
             
             
               
                 
           
   
         
         
     
     
       
     
                 
 
     
       
   
 
               
         
           
           
           
           
           
         
19.4 

Incremental rates 

The  Company  uses  nominal  incremental  rates  to  measure  its  lease  liabilities.  The  nominal  and  real 
interest rates are presented below.  

Con trac t  Terms

Nomin al  rate%   p.a.

Ac tu al  rate%   p.a.

1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
6 years
8 years
9 years
10 years
11 years
13 years
14 years
15 years
18 years
20 years

8.46%
9.49%
10.60%
11.43%
11.84%
12.13%
12.43%
12.51%
12.61%
12.68%
12.81%
12.86%
12.90%
13.01%
13.12%

4.97%
5.37%
6.28%
7.01%
7.28%
7.48%
7.67%
7.78%
7.84%
7.86%
7.93%
7.96%
7.97%
8.03%
8.12%

19.5  Amounts recognized in the statement of income 

Below  are  the  amounts  directly  recognized  in  the  statement  of  income  related  to  items  exempt  of 
recognition: low-value assets, short-term leases and leases with variable payments. 

Variable payments not included in the lease liabilities
Expenses related to short-term assets
Expenses related to low-value assets

19.6  Sale-leaseback transactions 

12.31.19
222,096
226,010
4,890
452,996

In the prior years the Company has carried out Sale-leaseback transactions, that were disclosed in the 
consolidated financial statements in each applicable year. In all cases, the respective rental expenses 
were  recognized  monthly  in  the  statement  of  income.  With  the  adoption  of  IFRS  16,  the  right-of-use 
assets were recognized as of January 01, 2019, as well as the lease liability related to each contract.  

In the year ended December 31, 2019, two additional Sale-leaseback transactions were formalized: i) 
the  transshipment  set  point  (“TSP”)  located  in  the  municipality  of  Bauru  and,  ii)  TSP  located  in  the 
municipality of Guarulhos; were analyzed within the scope of IFRS 16 and the right-of-use assets were 
recognized, as well as the lease liability related to the leases not yet due. 

20  SHARE-BASED PAYMENT 

The company grants to its eligible employees by the Board of Directors, stock options and restricted shares, 
ruled  by  plans  approved  at  the  General  Shareholder’s  Meeting,  with  the  purpose  of:  (i)  stimulating  the 
expansion,  success  and  achievement  of  the  Company’s  social  objectives;  (ii)  aligning  the  interests  of  the 
Company’s  shareholders  with  those  of  the  eligible  employees;  and  (iii)  enabling  the  Company  and  its 
subsidiaries to attract and retain the employees. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
               
               
                     
               
20.1  Stock options 

The quantity of granted options is determined by the Board of Directors annually, and the exercise price 
is equivalent to the average closing price of the share in B3 at the last twenty trading sessions, prior to 
the grant date. The exercise price is adjusted monthly by the variation of the Amplified Consumer Price 
Index (“IPCA”)  between  the  grant  date  and  the  month  prior  to  the notification  of the  exercise  by the 
beneficiary. 

The vesting period, when the employee cannot exercise the purchase of the shares is from 1 to 4 years. 
The  beneficiary  acquires  the  right  to  exercise  the  option  in  each  year,  proportionally  to  the  vesting 
period. 

The Company may grant stock options up until the limit of 2% of the total shares. In order to comply 
with the exercise of the options, the Company may issue new shares or use treasury shares. 

The breakdown of the outstanding granted stock options is set forth as follows: 

Date

Qu an tity

Gran t  (1)

Strike  pric e  (1)

Gran t 
date

Beggin in g  of 
exerc ise

En d  of  th e 
exerc ise

Option s 
gran ted

Ou tstan din g 
option s

Fair  valu e  of 
th e  option

Gran tin g 
date

Updated 
IPCA

04.26.16

05.31.16

04.30.17

05.31.17

12.30.22

12.30.22

8,724,733

3,351,220

1,325,000

1,168,500

9.21

10.97

56.00

46.68

66.33

54.87

12,075,953

2,493,500

(1)  Amounts expressed in Brazilian Reais. 

20.2  Restricted shares 

Annually, or whenever it deems appropriate, the Board of Directors approves the granting of restricted 
shares,  electing  the  beneficiaries  in  favor  of  which  the  Company  will  transfer  the  restricted  shares, 
establishing the terms, quantities and conditions of acquisition of rights related to restricted shares. 

The  vesting  is  conditional  to  the:  (i)  continuity  of the  employment relationship  with  the  Company  for 
three years after the grant date; (ii) achievement of a minimum shareholder return defined by the Board 
of Directors in the granting agreements and measured at the end of the vesting period; or (iii) any other 
conditions determined by the Board of Directors in each grant made. 

The total amount of restricted shares that may be granted under shall not exceed 0.5% of the registered 
common book-entry shares, with no par value, representatives of the Company’s total share capital. 

Gran t

06.14.18

10.01.18

09.01.19

Date

Qu an tity

Gran t  (1)

Vestin g  period

Sh ares  gran ted

Ou tstan din g 
sh ares

Fair  valu e  of  th e 
sh ares

06.14.20

10.01.20

09.01.21

270,000

2,311,394

68,605
2,649,999

172,125

2,087,222

68,605
2,327,952

20.00

21.44

30.61

(1)  Amounts expressed in Brazilian Reais.  

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-50 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
    
       
       
     
    
       
       
 
   
              
              
                 
            
            
                 
               
               
                 
               
               
20.3  Rollforward of the stock options and restricted share plans 

The rollforward of the  granted options and shares in year ended December 31, 2019, is presented as 
follows: 

Ou tstan din g  option s/ sh ares  as  of  dec ember  31,  2018

Issu ed  -  gran t  of  2019

September 2019

Tran sfer

Transfer on September 2018 (Restricted shares plan)
Transfer on June 2018 (Restricted shares plan)
Transfer on October 2018 (Restricted shares plan)

Forfeitu re:

Grant of 2018 (Restricted shares)
Grant of 2017 (Restricted shares)
Grant of 2017
Grant of 2016
Grant of 2014
Grant of 2014

Ou tstan din g  option s/ sh ares  as  of  dec ember  31,  2019

9,048,405

68,605

(54,193)
(97,875)
(191,710)

(91,685)
(196,141)
(193,045)
(1,208,600)
(1,854,753)
(407,556)

4,821,452

The weighted average exercise price of the outstanding options conditioned to services is R$60.96 (sixty 
Brazilian  Reais  and  ninety-six  cents)  (R$63.05  in  December  31,  2018),  and  the  weighted  average 
remaining vesting term is 37 months (35 months in December 31, 2018). 

The Company has registered as capital reserve, under shareholders’ equity, the fair value of the options 
in the amount of R$255,445 (R$262,306 as of December 31, 2018). In the statement of income for the 
year ended December 31, 2019 the amount recognized as expense was R$6,861 (R$470 as of December 
31, 2018). 

20.4  Fair Value Measurement 

The weighted average fair value of the outstanding options as of December 31, 2019 was R$10.03 (ten 
Brazilian Reais and three cents) (R$10.11 as of December 31, 2018). The fair value of the stock options 
was measured using the Black-Scholes pricing model, based on the following assumptions: 

Assu mption s

Valu e

Desc ription

Expected period

Exercise in the 1st year - 3.5 years
Exercise in the 2nd year - 4.0 years
Exercise in the 3rd year - 4.5 years
Exercise in the 4th year - 5.0 years

Risk-free interest rate

6.29% p.a.

Volatility

Expected dividends

27.08%

2.40%

Expected inflation rate

3.82% p.a.

The beneficiaries will execise their options at the limit of the exercise 
period.

National Treasury Bond (“NTN-B”) available on the date of calculation 
and with maturity equivalent to the terms of the option.
Took into account the weighting of the trading history of the 
Company's shares.
Is based on the average payment of dividends per share in relation to 
the market value of the shares for the past four years.
Is based on estimated IPCA by Central Bank of Brazil, considering the 
remaining average terms of the option.

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
         
            
           
           
          
           
          
          
       
       
          
         
21  EMPLOYEES BENEFITS PLANS 
21.1  Supplementary pension plans 

The Company is the sponsor of the following pension plans for its employees and executives: i) Plan II 
–  Variable  Contribution    with  Defined  Benefit  option  –  closed  for  admissions;  ii)  Plan  III  –  Defined 
Contribution – open for admissions; and iii) FAF Plan – Defined Benefit - closed for admissions. 

These plans are managed by BRF Previdência, a closed supplementary pension entity, of non-economic 
and non-profit nature. Through its Deliberative Board, is responsible for defining pension objectives and 
policies, as well as establishing fundamentals guidelines and organization, operation and management 
rules. The Deliberative Board is composed of representatives from the sponsor and participants, in the 
proportion of 2/3 and 1/3 respectively. 

a. 

Defined benefit plans 

The  Plan  II  is  a  variable  contribution  plan  structured  as  defined  benefit  during  the  accumulation  of 
mathematic  provisions  and  at  the  benefit  grant  date  the  beneficiary  may  choose  to  convert  the 
accumulated balance in a lifetime monthly income. The main related actuarial risks are (i) survival rates 
above the mortality tables and (ii) actual return on equity below the actual discount rate. 

The Plan FAF (Fundação Attílio Francisco Xavier Fontana) aims to complement the benefit paid by the 
Brazilian Social Security (“INSS – Instituto Nacional de Seguridade Social”). The complementary benefit 
is calculated based on the income of the participant and the amounts vary according to the type of the 
retirement, the length of the service and other criteria defined by the plan. The main related actuarial 
risks  are:  (i)  survival  rates  above  the  mortality  tables,  (ii)  turnover  lower  than  expected,  (iii)  salary 
growth higher than expected, (iv) actual return on equity below the actual discount rate, (v) changes to 
the  rules  of  social  security,  and  (vi)  actual  family  composition  of  the  retired  employee  or  executive 
different than the established assumption. 

The actuarial calculations of the plans managed by BRF Previdência are made annually by independent 
specialists, according to the rules in force. 

In the case of a deficit in the plans results, the sponsor, the participants and the beneficiaries, must 
support the plan according to the proportion of their contributions. 

The economic benefit presented as an asset considers only the portion of the surplus that is actually 
recoverable. The recovery of the surplus on the plans is through reductions in future contributions.  

b. 

Defined contribution plan  

The Plan III is a defined contribution plan, in which the contributions are known and the benefit depends 
directly on the contributions made by participants and sponsors, on the contribution time and on the 
result obtained through the investment of the contributions. The contributions made by the Company in 
the  years  ended  December  31,  2019  and  December  31,  2018  amounted  R$21,100  and  R$18,708 
respectively.  On  December  31,  2019,  the  plan  has  37,637  participants  (34,975  participants  as  of 
December 31, 2018). 

When the participants of the plans II and III terminate the employment relationship with the sponsor, 
the unused balance of the contributions made by the sponsor forms a surplus fund that may be used to 
compensate future contributions of the sponsor.  

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-52 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
c. 

Rollforward of defined benefit and variable contribution 

The  assets  and  actuarial liabilities,  as  well  as  the movement of the  related  rights  and  obligations  are 
presented below: 

FAF

Plan   II

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.19

12.31.18

Composition   of  ac tu arial  assets  an d  liabilities

Present value of actuarial liabilities
Fair value of assets
(Surplus) Deficit
Irrecoverable surplus - (asset ceiling)

Net  ac tu arial  (assets)  liabilities

Rollforward  of  irrec overable  su rplu s

Beginning balance of irrecoverable surplus
Interest on irrecoverable surplus
Changes in irrecoverable surplus during the year

En din g  balan c e  of  irrec overable  su rplu s

Rollforward  of  presen t  valu e  of  ac tu arial  liabilities

Beginning balance of the present value of liabilities
Interest on actuarial obligations
Current service cost
Benefit paid
Actuarial losses - experience
Actuarial losses - hypothesis

En din g  balan c e  of  ac tu arial  liabilities

Rollforward  of  fair  valu e  assets

Beginning balance of the fair value of plan assets
Interest income on assets plan
Benefit paid
Return on assets higher (lower) than projection

En din g  balan c e  of  fair  valu e  assets

Rollforward  of  c ompreh en sive  in c ome

Beginning balance
Reversion to statement of income
Actuarial gains (losses)
Return on assets higher (lower) than projection
Changes on irrecoverable surplus

En din g  balan c e  of  c ompreh en sive  in c ome

Costs  rec ogn iz ed  in   statemen t  of  in c ome

Current service costs
Interest on actuarial obligations
Projected return on assets
Interest on irrecoverable surplus

Costs  rec ogn iz ed  in   statemen t  of  in c ome

Estimated  c osts  for  th e  n ext  year

Costs of defined benefit

Estimated  c osts  for  th e  n ext  year

3,412,120
(3,771,792)
(359,672)
359,672
-

2,498,564
(3,193,931)
(695,367)
695,367
-

695,367
64,113
(399,808)
359,672

2,498,564
223,848
28,172
(142,390)
85,002
718,924
3,412,120

801,530
78,069
(184,232)
695,367

2,275,862
215,403
27,972
(129,057)
35,950
72,434
2,498,564

(3,193,931)
(287,961)
142,390
(432,290)
(3,771,792)

(3,077,392)
(293,472)
129,057
47,876
(3,193,931)

27,972
(27,972)
(803,925)
432,289
399,808
28,172

(28,172)
(223,848)
287,961
(64,113)
(28,172)

26,812
(26,812)
(108,384)
(47,876)
184,232
27,972

(27,972)
(215,403)
293,472
(78,069)
(27,972)

19,550
(29,580)
(10,030)
6,777
(3,253)

8,502
782
(2,507)
6,777

17,447
1,544
-
(1,353)
(1,176)
3,088
19,550

(27,819)
(2,497)
1,353
(617)
(29,580)

(567)
567
(1,911)
617
2,507
1,213

-
(1,544)
2,497
(782)
171

(42,106)
(42,106)

(28,172)
(28,172)

228
228

17,447
(27,819)
(10,372)
8,502
(1,870)

8,452
821
(771)
8,502

16,009
1,497
-
(1,276)
782
435
17,447

(26,682)
(2,534)
1,276
121
(27,819)

(1,284)
1,284
(1,217)
(121)
771
(567)

-
(1,497)
2,534
(821)
216

171
171

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-53 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
       
      
             
          
     
     
           
         
         
        
           
         
           
         
                 
            
                           
                 
               
           
           
         
                 
            
             
          
                     
              
         
        
               
             
           
         
                 
            
       
      
             
          
           
         
                 
            
             
          
                           
                 
         
        
               
           
             
          
               
              
           
          
                 
              
       
      
             
          
     
     
           
         
         
        
               
           
           
         
                 
            
         
          
                   
              
     
     
           
         
             
          
                   
           
           
         
                     
            
         
        
               
           
           
         
                     
             
           
         
                 
              
             
          
                 
             
           
         
                           
                 
         
        
               
           
           
         
                 
            
           
         
                   
             
           
         
                     
              
           
         
                     
              
           
         
                     
              
d. 

Actuarial assumptions and demographic data 

The main actuarial assumptions and demographic data used in the actuarial calculations are presented 
below: 

Ac tu arial  assu mption s
Ec on omic   h ypoth esis

Discount rate
Inflation rate
Wage growth rate

Demograph ic   h ypoth esis

Schedule of mortality
Schedule of disabled mortality

FAF

Plan   II

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.19

12.31.18

7.28%
3.80%
4.47%

9.22%
4.00%
4.68%

7.02%
3.80%
N/ A

9.19%
4.00%
N/A

AT-2000
RRB-1983

AT-2000
RRB-1983

AT-2000
RRB-1983

AT-2000
RRB-1983

Demograph ic   data
   Number of active participants
   Number of participants in direct proportional benefit
   Number of assisted beneficiary participants

6,796
-
6,834

7,137
30
6,498

-
-

51

-
-

51

e. 

The composition of the investment portfolios 

The composition of the investment portfolios is presented below: 

Composition   of  th e  fu n d's  portfolio

Fixed income
Variable income
Real estate
Structured investments
Transactions with participants

FAF

12.31.19

2,542,188
524,279
369,636
313,059
22,630
3,771,792

67.4%
13.9%
9.8%
8.3%
0.6%
100.0%

2,306,657
362,511
271,165
233,476
20,122
3,193,931

12.31.18

72.2%
11.3%
8.5%
7.3%
0.7%
100.0%

Plan s  II

12.31.19

28,396
444
-
740
-
29,580

96.0%
1.5%

-

2.5%

-
100.0%

%  of  n omin al  retu rn   on   assets

7.28%

9.36%

7.02%

12.31.18

86.4%
8.1%
-
5.3%
0.2%
100.0%

24,021
2,260
-
1,472
66
27,819

7.50%

f. 

Forecast and average term of payments of obligations 

The  following  amounts  represent  the  expected  benefit  payments  for  future  periods  and  the  average 
duration of the plan’s obligations: 

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 onwards

Weighted average duration - in years

FAF

Plan s  II

155,399
165,605
176,477
187,207
199,126
1,183,961

14.24

1,378
1,417
1,454
1,490
1,525
8,047

10.04

g. 

Sensitivity analysis of the defined benefit plan - FAF 

The quantitative sensitivity analysis regarding the relevant assumptions of defined benefit plan – FAF on 
December 31, 2019 is presented below: 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
                     
              
                     
              
 
    
         
       
       
      
                 
         
       
      
                 
                 
           
           
       
      
                 
         
         
       
                 
                 
             
 
    
         
       
      
         
      
         
      
         
      
         
      
         
    
         
         
         
Relevan t  assu mption s

Ben efit  plan   -  FAF
Discount rate
Wage growth rate

Assu mption s 
u tiliz ed

Average  rate

Ac tu arial 
liabilities 

Average  rate

Ac tu arial 
liabilities 

Variation   of  (+1%)

Variation   of  (-1%)

7.28%
4.47%

8.28%
5.47%

2,991,566
3,559,945

6.28%
3.47%

3,938,373
3,317,437

21.2  Employee  benefits:  description  and  characteristics  of  benefits  and 

associated risks 

Medical assistance
F.G.T.S. Penalty (1)
Award for length of service
Other

Current
Non-current

Liabilities

12.31.19
187,274
247,485
103,284
151,431
689,474

95,919
593,555

12.31.18
149,046
167,588
55,134
96,383
468,151

94,728
373,423

(1)  FGTS – Government Severance Indemnity Fund for Employees 

The Company has the policy to offer the following post-employment and other employee benefits plans 
in  addition  to  the  pension  plans,  which  are  measured  by  actuarial  calculation  and  recognized  in  the 
consolidated financial statement: 

a. 

F.G.T.S. retirement related penalty 

As  settled  by  the  Regional  Labor  Court  (“TRT”)  on  April  20,  2007,  retirement  does  not  affect  the 
employment contract between the Company and its employees. The benefit paid is equivalent to 40% 
of penalty on the F.G.T.S. balance. The  main related actuarial risks are:  (i) survival rates above the 
mortality tables, (ii) turnover lower than expected and (iii) salary growth higher than expected. 

b. 

Medical Plan 

The Company offers a medical plan with fixed contribution to the retired employees according to the Law 
No. 9,656/98. 

It  is  ensured  to  the retired  employee that  has  contributed  to  the  health  plan  during  the  employment 
relationship  for  at  least  10  years, the  right of maintenance  as  beneficiary,  on  the  same  conditions  of 
coverage existing when the employment contract was in force. The main related actuarial risks are (i) 
survival rates above the mortality tables, (ii) turnover lower than expected and (iii) medical costs growth 
higher than expected. 

c. 

Award for length of service 

The Company has the policy to reward active employees that attain at least 10 years of services rendered 
and subsequently every 5 years, with an additional remuneration. The main related actuarial risks rare 
(i)  survival  rates  above  the  mortality  tables,  (ii)  turnover  lower  than  expected  and  (iii)  salary  growth 
higher than expected. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-55 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        
        
        
        
       
       
       
       
       
        
       
        
       
       
           
        
       
       
d. 

Retirement compensation 

On retirement, employees with more than 10 years of services rendered to the Company are eligible for 
additional compensation. The main actuarial related risks are (i) survival rates above the mortality tables, 
(ii) turnover lower than expected and (iii) salary growth higher than expected. 

e. 

Life insurance 

The Company offers life insurance benefits to the employees who, at the time of their termination, are 
retired and during the employment contract opted for the insurance, with the period of benefit varying 
from 2 to 3 years. The main related actuarial risks are (i) survival rates above the mortality tables, (ii) 
turnover lower than expected and (iii) salary growth higher than expected. 

f. 

Rollforward of actuarial liabilities 

The rollforward of actuarial liabilities related to other benefits, which were prepared based on actuarial 
report reviewed by the Management, are as follows: 

Composition   of  ac tu arial  liabilities
Present value of actuarial liabilities

Net  ac tu arial  liabilities

Rollforward  of  presen t  valu e  of  ac tu arial  liabilities
Beginning balance of present value of actuarial liabilities
Interest on actuarial liabilities
Current service costs
Past service costs - plan change²
Benefits paid directly by the Company

Present value of actuarial liabilities calculated in 2018
Actuarial (gains) losses - experience
Actuarial (gains) losses - demographic hypothesis
Actuarial losses - economic hypothesis

En din g  balan c e  of  liabilities

Rollforward  of  fair  valu e  assets

Benefits paid directly by the Company
Contributions of the sponsor

En din g  balan c e  of  fair  valu e  of  assets

Rollforward  of  c ompreh en sive  in c ome

Beginning balance
Actuarial gains (losses)

En din g  balan c e  of  c ompreh en sive  in c ome

Costs  rec ogn iz ed  in   statemen t  of  in c ome

Interest on actuarial liabilities
Current service costs
Past service costs - plan change²
Immediate recognition of reduction

Cost  rec ogn iz ed  in   statemen t  of  in c ome

Estimated  c osts  for  th e  n ext  year

Current service costs
Interest on actuarial liabilities

Estimated  c osts  for  th e  n ext  year

Medic al  plan

12.31.19

12.31.18

F.G.T.S.  pen alty
12.31.19

12.31.18

Award  for  len gth   of 
servic e

Oth ers  (1)

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.19

12.31.18

187,274
187,274

149,046
149,046

247,485
247,485

167,588
167,588

103,284
103,284

55,134
55,134

151,431
151,431

96,383
96,383

149,046
13,503
-
-
(4,262)

-
(7,235)
-
36,222
187,274

132,845
12,705
207
-
(6,550)

-
5,449
-
4,390
149,046

167,588
11,840
6,471
(61,871)
(10,791)

-
7,897
84,158
42,193
247,485

161,342
12,239
6,514
-
(20,107)

-
10,698
(5,945)
2,847
167,588

55,134
4,366
2,574
-
(14,056)

-
11,142
34,950
9,174
103,284

4,262
(4,262)
-

6,550
(6,550)
-

10,791
(10,791)
-

20,107
(20,107)
-

14,055
(14,055)
-

49,328
4,033
2,096
-
(9,738)

-
9,578
(739)
576
55,134

9,738
(9,738)
-

96,384
4,260
22,237
-
(9,268)

-
10,462
14,066
13,290
151,431

9,268
(9,268)
-

84,770
2,545
751
-
(6,746)

10,214
4,940
(943)
852
96,383

6,746
(6,746)
-

(47,245)
(28,987)
(76,232)

(37,406)
(9,839)
(47,245)

(94,097)
(134,248)
(228,345)

(86,497)
(7,600)
(94,097)

-
-
-

-
-
-

(20,799)
(37,818)
(58,617)

(15,950)
(4,849)
(20,799)

(13,503)
-
-
-
(13,503)

(12,705)
(207)
-
-
(12,912)

(11,840)
(6,471)
61,871
-
43,560

(12,239)
(6,514)
-
-
(18,753)

(4,366)
(2,574)
-
(55,266)
(62,206)

(4,033)
(2,096)
-
(9,415)
(15,544)

(4,260)
(22,236)
-
-
(26,496)

(2,545)
(751)
-
-
(3,296)

-
(13,586)
(13,586)

-
(13,503)
(13,503)

(12,718)
(13,993)
(26,711)

(6,471)
(11,840)
(18,311)

(5,741)
(6,275)
(12,016)

(2,574)
(4,366)
(6,940)

(15,911)
(8,201)
(24,112)

(8,061)
(4,192)
(12,253)

(1)  Considers the sums of the retirement compensation and life insurance benefits. 
(2)  Refers to a change in the legislation, related F.G.T.S. penalty by the Law Nº 13,932, of December 11, 2019, was extinguished 

the social contribution of 10% due by the employer. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-56 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
    
   
    
   
      
   
      
   
    
   
    
   
      
   
      
   
    
   
    
       
      
       
      
       
      
       
      
         
       
         
       
                   
          
         
       
         
       
       
          
                   
             
     
             
                   
             
                   
             
       
      
     
     
     
      
       
      
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
      
       
       
         
      
       
       
       
       
                   
             
       
      
       
         
       
         
       
       
       
       
         
          
       
          
   
    
   
    
   
      
   
      
         
       
       
      
       
       
         
       
       
      
     
     
     
      
       
      
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
     
     
     
     
                   
             
     
     
     
      
 
      
                   
             
     
      
     
     
 
     
                   
             
     
     
     
     
     
     
       
      
       
      
                   
         
       
      
       
      
     
         
                   
             
       
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
                   
             
     
      
                   
             
     
     
       
     
     
     
     
      
                   
             
     
      
       
      
     
      
     
     
     
     
       
      
       
      
     
     
     
     
     
      
     
     
g. 

Actuarial assumptions and demographic data 

The  main  actuarial  assumptions  and  demographic  data  used  in  the  actuarial  calculations  are  summarized 
below: 

Ac tu arial  assu mption s

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.19

12.31.18

Medic al  plan

F.G.T.S.  pen alty

Oth ers  (1)

Ec on omic   h ypoth esis

Discount rate
Inflation rate
Medical inflation
Wage growth rate
F.G.T.S. balance growth
Demograph ic   h ypoth esis

Schedule of mortality
Schedule of disabled

 Schedule of turnover - BRF's historical 
Demoraph ic   data
   Number of active participants
   Number of assisted beneficiary participants

7.39%
3.80%
6.91%
N/ A
N/ A

AT-2000
N/ A
2,019

1,115
572

9.26%
4.00%
7.12%
N/A
N/A

AT-2000
N/A
2,018

1,141
609

6.07%
3.80%
N/ A
4.02%
3.80%

AT-2000
RRB-44
2,019

86,849
-

8.76%
4.00%
N/A
5.18%
4.00%

AT-2000
RRB-44
2,018

83,966
-

(1)  Includes retirement compensation and life insurance benefits. 

h. 

Forecast and average duration of payments of obligations 

6.07%
3.80%
N/ A
4.02%
N/ A

8.76%
4.00%
N/A
5.18%
N/A

The following amounts represent the expected benefit payments for future years (10 years), from the 
obligation of benefits granted and the average duration of the plan obligations: 

Paymen ts

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 to 2029

Medic al  plan

F.G.T.S.  pen alty

6,867
7,458
8,077
8,766
9,536
60,542

59,366
15,211
14,876
18,688
19,018
116,882

Award  for 
len gth   of 
servic e

11,287
10,675
8,500
10,489
13,298
61,852

Weighted average duration - in year

14.00

7.17

6.89

Oth ers

Total

18,558
10,873
11,165
11,267
11,466
69,207

8.94

96,078
44,217
42,618
49,210
53,318
308,483

8.67

i. 

Sensitivity analysis of post-employment plans 

The  Company  calculated  the  sensitivity  analysis  regarding  the  relevant  assumptions  of  the  plans  on 
December 31, 2019, as presented below: 

Relevan t  assu mption s

Assu mption s 
u tiliz ed

Average  (%)Ac tu arial  liabilities  Average  (%) Ac tu arial  liabilities 

(+)  Variation

(-)  Variation

Medic al  plan

Discount rate
Medical inflation

F.G.T.S.  pen alty

Discount rate
Wage growth rate
Turnover

7.39%
6.91%

6.07%
4.02%
Historical

8.39%
7.91%

7.07%
5.02%
+3%

164,033
214,935

6.39%
5.91%

231,869
251,275
200,715

5.07%
3.02%
-3%

215,928
164,386

265,473
244,042
318,893

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-57 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
             
          
             
          
             
          
           
         
                   
            
                   
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
22  PROVISION FOR TAX, CIVIL, LABOR AND OTHER RISKS 

The Company and its subsidiaries are involved in certain legal matters arising in the normal course of 
business, which include civil, tax, social security, labor, commercial and other processes. 

Company’s  Management  believes  that,  based  on  the  elements  existing  at  the  base  date  of  these 
consolidated  financial  statements,  the  provision  for  tax,  civil,  labor,  commercial  and  other,  risks  is 
sufficient to cover eventual losses with administrative and legal proceedings, as set forth below. 

22.1  Contingencies with probable losses 

The rollforward of the provisions for tax, labor, civil, commercial and other risks classified as probable 
loss, and contingent liabilities is presented below: 

Tax

Labor

12.31.19
230,149
451,190
(83,098)
(457,349)
442,622
(50)
-
583,464

12.31.18
303,388
42,280
(128,945)
(4,972)
39,415
(8,452)
(12,565)
230,149

12.31.19
468,513
633,623
(268,043)
(413,727)
182,749
(41)
-
603,074

12.31.18
691,724
390,877
(325,790)
(324,643)
120,476
(37,894)
(46,237)
468,513

Civil,  c ommerc ial  an d 
oth er

Con tin gen t  liabilities 
(Bu sin ess  c ombin ation )

Total

12.31.19
281,958
48,576
(34,774)
(20,283)
32,058
(358)
-
307,177

12.31.18
407,451
58,100
(169,025)
(25,991)
32,337
(8,921)
(11,993)
281,958

12.31.19
369,631
124
(69,070)
-
-
(31)
-
300,654

12.31.18
370,642
-
(769)
-
-
(100)
(142)
369,631

12.31.19
1,350,251
1,133,513
(454,985)
(891,359)
657,429
(480)
-
1,794,369

12.31.18
1,773,205
491,257
(624,529)
(355,606)
192,228
(55,367)
(70,937)
1,350,251

1,084,308
710,061

495,584
854,667

Begin n in g  balan c e

Additions
Reversals
Payments
Interest
Exchange rate variation
Transfer - held for sale

En din g  balan c e

Current
Non-current

22.1.1 Tax 

The tax contingencies consolidated and classified as probable losses relate to the following main legal 
proceedings: 

ICMS:  The  Company  is  involved  in  a  number  of  disputes  related  to  the  ICMS  tax,  such  as:  the 
maintenance of ICMS tax credits on the acquisition of staple foods that compose the basic food basket 
(cesta  básica)  with  a  reduced  tax  burden;  maintenance  of  credits  on  the  acquisition  of  goods  for 
consumption, fixed assets, communication services, energy and presumed credit; alleged underpayment 
of tax rate differential; tax substitution; compensation with government debts; isolated fines and others, 
in the amount of R$418,963 (R$100,731 as of December 31, 2018). 

In the second quarter of 2019, the judgment of the embargoes of the General Repercussion in the Federal 
Supreme  Court  (“STF”)  that  discusses  the  ICMS  credit  on  staple  foods  that  compose  the  basic  food 
basket (cesta básica) was finalized. In face of an unfavorable decision of STF, the Company recognized 
a liability of R$749,177. A part of these debts has been paid-off and the outstanding balance is R$333,698. 

PIS and COFINS: The Company discusses administratively and judicially the use of certain tax credits 
arising  from  the  acquisition  of  raw  materials  to  offset  federal  taxes,  in  the  amount  of  R$139,711 
(R$125,123 as of December 31, 2018). 

Other tax contingencies: The Company recognizes other provisions for tax claims related to the payment 
of social security contributions, occupational accident insurance, INCRA, FUNRURAL, education salary, 
contributions due to joint liability for services provided by third parties, debts included in the government 
regularization program (REFIS) with the deposits awaiting conversion, in addition to debts arising from 
differences in supplementary fiscal obligations, import taxes, industrialized products taxes, and others. 

22.1.2  Labor 

The Company is defendant in several labor claims either filed by individuals or by the Public Prosecutors 
Office, mainly related to overtime, thermal rest, unhealthy environment, occupational accidents, among 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-58 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
     
     
     
     
     
     
         
        
 
   
     
       
     
     
       
       
             
                
 
     
      
    
    
    
      
    
        
            
   
    
    
       
    
    
      
      
                
                
   
    
     
       
     
     
       
       
                
                
     
     
           
       
           
      
         
       
             
            
             
      
             
      
             
      
             
      
                
            
                     
      
     
     
     
     
     
     
         
        
 
   
 
     
     
     
others. None of these labor claims is individually significant. The Company recorded a provision based 
on past history of payments and on prognosis of loss. 

22.1.3  Civil, commercial and others 

Civil,  commercial  and  other  contingencies  are  mainly  related  to  litigations  containing  allegations  of 
contractual breaches and noncompliance of legal obligations of several natures as intellectual property, 
regulatory issues, environmental, traffic accidents, consumer relations, among others. The claims are 
mostly for compensation of losses and damages and application of penalties. 

Investigation by the Turkish Competition Board  

The  Turkish  Competition  Board  (“TCB”)  has  performed  an  investigation  and  concluded  that  certain 
industries of chicken meat production, including the indirect subsidiary Banvit, violated the competition 
laws by controlling domestic price levels and volumes in the domestic market and controlling the supply 
in the Aegean region during the period before Banvit’s acquisition by BRF. 

On  September  17,  2019,  TCB  announced  the  final  decision  on  this  investigation,  and  imposed  an 
administrative fine equivalent to R$22,507 (TRY 30,518). Banvit anticipated the payment of the fine to 
benefit from a 25% discount, under the terms of the Turkish law. 

The Company has the right of reimbursement of the fine paid and costs associated through an insurance 
policy and through contractual provisions for losses related to the period prior to the acquisition of Banvit 
by BRF, as per the purchase agreement signed with the owners. 

22.2  Contingencies with possible losses 

The  Company  is  involved  in  contingencies  for  which  losses  have  been  assessed  as  possible  by 
Management with support from legal advisors. On December 31, 2019, the total amount of contingencies 
classified as possible was R$13,299,190 (R$13,965,789 as of December 31, 2018), of which R$300,561 
(R$369,631 as of December 31, 2018) were recorded at fair value as a result of the business combination 
with Sadia. 

22.2.1  Tax 

Tax contingencies with possible risk of losses amounted to R$11,811,690 (R$12,336,852 as of December 
31, 2018). 

The most relevant cases are set forth below: 

Profits  earned  abroad:  The  Company  was  assessed  by  the  Brazilian  Federal  Revenue  for  alleged 
underpayment of income tax and social contribution on profits earned by its subsidiaries located abroad, 
in a total amount of R$534,819 (R$524,521 as of December 31, 2018). The Company’s legal defense is 
based on the facts that the subsidiaries located abroad are subject exclusively to the full taxation in the 
countries in which they are based as a result of the treaties signed to avoid double taxation. 

Income  Tax  and  Social  Contribution  (IRPJ  and  CSLL):  The  Company  discusses  administratively  and 
judicially several  proceedings  related  to  refunds  and  compensation  of negative income  tax  and  social 
contribution  balances  These  proceedings  include  credits  arising  from  the  Plano  Verão,  legal  disputes 
requiring IRPJ and CSLL payment, compensation of tax loss carryforwards above the limit of 30% due 
to incorporation of entities. The contingencies related to these taxes totaled R$1,238,564 (R$1,311,087 
as of December 31, 2018). 

ICMS: The Company disputes the following associated to this tax: (i) non-acceptance of ICMS credits 
from fiscal benefits in interstate sales, when the benefit was unilaterally granted without the approval of 
the  National  Finance  Policy  Council  (“CONFAZ”),  the  so-called  “guerra  fiscal”,  in  a  total  amount  of 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-59 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
R$1,457,867 (R$1,724,760 as of December 31, 2018); (ii) lack  of evidence of exports in the amount of 
R$261,880  (R$396,209  as  of  December  31,  2018);(iii)  infraction  notices  from  State  of  Rio  de  Janeiro, 
received on October 01, 2019 and February 11, 2020, referring to the period of 2014 and 2018, related 
to the supposed non-compliance of Agreement Terms (“TARE”), regarding tax benefit in Rio de Janeiro, 
in the amount of R$536,799 and (iv) R$2,291,608 (R$2,061,830 on December 31, 2018) related to other 
claims.  

IPI:  The  Company  disputes  administratively  and  judicially  the  denial  of  compensation  of  IPI  credits 
resulting from purchases of duty-free goods, sales to Manaus Free Zone and purchases of supplies with 
PIS and COFINS from non-taxpayers. Such discussed cases totaled the amount of R$291,723 (R$445,147 
as of December 31, 2018).   

PIS and COFINS: The Company disputes administratively and judicially cases as the non-acceptance of 
PIS and COFINS credits arising from the non-cumulative system due to divergence on the concept of 
input and of the use in the productive process, the requirement of taxation revenues related to presumed 
ICMS credits, disputes on the fiscal classification of seasoned meats, Decrees-Law 2.445/88 and 2.449/88 
(“semestralidade”) and others, in the amount of R$4,915,293 (R$4,363,107 as of December 31, 2018). 

Social Security Taxes: The Company disputes cases related to the charges of social security on payroll, 
management  and  employees  profit  sharing,  as  well  as  joint  responsibility  in  civil  construction  service 
and others in a total amount of R$274,278 (R$244,537 as of December 31, 2018). 

Other Relevant Contingencies: The Company disputes cases related to the requirement of 50% fine on 
the  compensations  of  PIS/COFINS  and  IRPJ  not  approved  awaiting  final  decision  of  the  processes, 
calculation basis of social contribution, tax on services and others of several natures, fees, property tax, 
import tax and IOF, totaling R$493,104 (R$449,282 as of December 31, 2018). 

22.2.2  Labor 

On December 31, 2019 the labor contingencies assessed as possible loss totaled R$84,039 (R$125,505 
as of December 31, 2018). 

22.2.3  Civil, commercial and others 

Civil, commercial and other contingencies for which losses were assessed as possible totaled R$1,403,461 
(R$1,503,432 as of December 31, 2018) and are mainly related to litigations containing allegations of 
contractual breaches and noncompliance of legal obligations of several natures as intellectual property, 
regulatory issues, environmental, traffic accidents, consumer relations, among others. The claims are 
mostly for compensation of losses and damages and application of penalties. 

22.2.4  Others 

The Company has been subject to investigations conducted by public authorities denominated  “Carne 
Fraca Operation” in 2017 and “Trapaça Operation” in 2018, as well as a shareholder’s class action also 
in 2018. The development of these processes and the already incurred effects are described in the notes 
1.2 and 1.3. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-60 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23  SHAREHOLDERS
23.1 

Capital stock 

 EQUITY 

’

On December 31, 2019,  the subscribed and paid capital of the  Company  was R$12,553,418,  which is 
composed of 812,473,246 common book-entry shares with no par value. The value of the capital stock 
is net of the public offering expenses of R$92,947, made on July 22, 2009.  

The Company is authorized to increase the capital stock, irrespective of amendment to the bylaws, up 
to the limit of 1,000,000,000 common book-entry shares with no par value. 

23.1.1  Breakdown of capital stock by nature 

Common shares

Treasury shares
Outstanding  shares

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

812,473,246

812,473,246

812,473,246

(713,446)
811,759,800

(1,057,224)
811,416,022

(1,333,701)
811,139,545

23.1.2  Breakdown of the capital by owner    

The shareholding position of shareholders holding more than 5% of the voting capital, management and 
members of the Board of Directors is presented below: 

Sh areh olders
Major  sh areh olders

Qu an tity

12.31.19
%

Quantity

12.31.18
%

Fundação Petrobras de Seguridade Social - Petros (1)
Caixa de Previd. dos Func. do Banco do Brasil (1)

92,716,266
76,974,752

11.41
9.47

93,226,766
86,506,952

11.47
10.65

Man agemen t

Board of Directors
Executives

Treasury shares
Other

6,474,420
236,338
713,446
635,358,024
812,473,246

0.80
0.03
0.09
78.20
100.00

6,376,083
31,662
1,057,224
625,274,559
812,473,246

0.78
0.00
0.13
76.97
100.00

(1) 

 The pension funds are controlled by employees that participate in the respective entities.  

The Company is bound to arbitration in the Market Arbitration Chamber, as established by the arbitration 
clause in its bylaws. 

23.1.3  Rollforward of outstanding shares   

Sh ares  at  th e  begin n in g  of  th e  year

Sale of treasury shares
Transfer of restricted shares

Sh ares  at  th e  en d  of  th e  year

Qu an tity  of  ou tstan din g  of  sh ares

12.31.19
811,416,022

-

343,778
811,759,800

12.31.18
811,139,545

-
276,477
811,416,022

12.31.17
799,005,245
12,134,300

-

811,139,545

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-61 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
 
  
 
 
   
 
 
     
      
      
             
       
       
     
      
      
   
     
   
     
     
      
           
          
           
      
 
   
 
   
   
     
     
                       
               
      
             
          
               
   
     
     
23.2  Capital reserve 

Result on sale and exchange of shares
Shares based payment
Acquisition of non-controlling interest
Capital transactions with subsidiaries

12.31.19
125,532
223,011
(155,478)
(220)
192,845

12.31.18
125,532
229,872
(239,830)
(220)
115,354

12.31.17
125,532
229,395
(239,830)
-
115,097

23.3  Absorption of accumulated losses 

The earnings for the year of R$297.612 were fully used to offset accumulated losses. 

23.4  Treasury shares 

The  Company  has  713,446  shares  in  treasury,  with  an  average  cost  of  R$53.60  (fifty-three  Brazilian 
Reais and sixty cents) per share, and market value corresponding to R$25,113. 

During the year of 2019, the Company used 343.778 treasury shares for fulfilling the obligations related 
to share-based payments as disclosed (note 23.3). 

24  EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE 

The basic earnings (losses) per share are calculated by dividing the earnings (losses) attributable to the 
owners  of  ordinary  shares,  by  the  weighted  average  quantity  of  available  ordinary  shares  during  the 
year. 

The diluted earnings (losses) per share are calculated by dividing the earnings (losses) attributable to 
the owners of ordinary shares by the weighted average quantity of available ordinary shares during the 
year  summed  to  the  weighted  average  quantity  of  ordinary  shares  that  would  be  available  on  the 
conversion of all potential dilutive ordinary shares (stock options and restricted shares). Since the share 
price on December 31, 2019 is lower than the strike price, the options do not have a dilutive effect.   

Con tin u ed  operation s

Basic   n u merator

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

Net earnings (loss) for the exercise attributable to controlling shareholders

1,067,312

(2,114,968)

(984,245)

Basic   den omin ator
Common shares
Weighted average number of outstanding shares - basic
(except treasury shares)

Net  earn in gs  (loss)  per  sh are  basic   -  R$

812,473,246

812,473,246

812,473,246

811,539,167
1.32

811,294,251
(2.61)

803,559,763
(1.22)

Dilu ted  n u merator

Net earnings (loss) for the exercise attributable to controlling shareholders

1,067,312

(2,114,968)

(984,245)

Dilu ted  den omin ator

Weighted average number of outstanding shares - basic
(except treasury shares)

Number of potential shares (restricted shares)

811,539,167

811,294,251

803,559,763

2,327,952

-

-

Weighted average number of outstanding shares - diluted

813,867,119

811,294,251

803,559,763

Net  earn in gs  (loss)  per  sh are  dilu ted  -  R$

1.31

(2.61)

(1.22)

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-62 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
         
       
       
         
       
       
       
      
      
                 
            
                
         
       
       
       
      
        
 
    
    
 
    
    
                   
            
            
       
      
        
 
    
    
       
                 
                 
 
    
    
                   
            
            
Disc on tin u ed  operation s

Basic   n u merator

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

Net (loss) for the exercise attributable to controlling shareholders

(904,628)

(2,333,093)

(141,327)

Basic   den omin ator
Common shares
Weighted average number of outstanding shares - basic
(except treasury shares)

Net  (loss)  per  sh are  basic   -  R$

812,473,246

812,473,246

812,473,246

811,539,167
(1.11)

811,294,251
(2.88)

803,559,763
(0.18)

Dilu ted  n u merator

Net (loss) for the exercise attributable to controlling shareholders

(904,628)

(2,333,093)

(141,327)

Dilu ted  den omin ator

Weighted average number of outstanding shares - basic
(except treasury shares)

Weighted average number of outstanding shares - diluted

811,539,167

811,539,167

811,294,251

811,294,251

803,559,763

803,559,763

Net  (loss)  per  sh are  dilu ted  -  R$

(1.11)

(2.88)

(0.18)

Con tin u ed  an d  disc on tin u ed  operation s

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

Basic   n u merator

Net earnings (loss) for the exercise attributable to controlling shareholders

162,684

(4,448,061)

(1,125,572)

Basic   den omin ator
Common shares
Weighted average number of outstanding shares - basic
(except treasury shares)

Net  earn in gs  (loss)  per  sh are  basic   -  R$

812,473,246

812,473,246

812,473,246

811,539,167
0.20

811,294,251
(5.48)

803,559,763
(1.40)

Dilu ted  n u merator

Net earnings (loss) for the exercise attributable to controlling shareholders

162,684

(4,448,061)

(1,125,572)

Dilu ted  den omin ator

Weighted average number of outstanding shares - basic
(except treasury shares)

Number of potential shares (restricted shares)

811,539,167

811,294,251

803,559,763

2,327,952

-

-

Weighted average number of outstanding shares - diluted

813,867,119

811,294,251

803,559,763

Net  earn in gs  (loss)  per  sh are  dilu ted  -  R$

0.20

(5.48)

(1.40)

25  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RISKS MANAGEMENT 
25.1  Overview 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company is exposed to credit, liquidity and market risks, which 
are actively managed in compliance with the Financial Risk Management Policy (“Risk Policy”) and internal 
guidelines and strategic documents subject to such policy. The Risk Policy was approved by the Board 
of Directors on December 19, 2019, is valid for one year and is available at the Company’s website. 

The Company’s risk management strategy, guided by the Risk Policy, has as main objectives: 

»  To  protect  operating  and  financial  results  of Company,  as  well  its  shareholders’  equity 
from adverse changes in the prices market, specially commodities, foreign exchange and 
interests; 

»  To protect the Company against the counterparty risks in existing financial operations, 
as  well  as  establish  guidelines  for  liquidity  support  necessary  to  the  Company  fulfil  its 
financial undertakings; 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-63 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
           
      
         
   
    
    
   
    
    
                   
             
             
           
      
         
   
    
    
   
    
    
                   
             
             
           
      
      
 
    
    
 
    
    
                   
            
            
           
      
      
 
    
    
       
                 
                 
 
    
    
                   
            
            
»  To  protect  the  cash  of  Company  against  prices  volatilities,  adverse  conditions  in  the 
markets in which the Company acts and adverse conditions in its production chain. 

The Risk Policy defines the governance of the bodies responsible for the execution, tracking and approval 
of the risk management strategies, as well as the limits and instruments can be used. 

25.2  Credit risk management 

The  Company  is  exposed  to  the  credit  risk  related  to  the  financial  assets  held:  trade  and  non-trade 
accounts receivable, marketable securities, derivative instruments and cash and equivalents. 

i. 

Credit risk in accounts receivable 

The credit risk associated with trade accounts receivable is actively managed through specific systems 
and  is  supported  by  internal  policies  for  credit  analysis.  The  significant  level  of  diversification  and 
geographical dispersion of the customer portfolio significantly reduces the risk. However, the Company 
chooses to complement the risk management by contracting insurance policies for specific markets. The 
impairment of these financial assets is carried out based on expected credit losses. 

ii. 

Counterparty credit risk 

The  credit  risk  associated  with  marketable  securities,  cash  and  cash  equivalents  and  derivative 
instruments in general is directed to counterparties with Investment Grade ratings. The maintenance of 
assets  with  counterparty  risk  is  constantly  assessed  according  to  credit  ratings  and  the  Company’s 
portfolio concentration, aligned with the applicable impairment requisites. 

On December 31, 2019, the Company held financial investments over R$100,000 at the following financial 
institutions:  Banco  Bradesco,  Banco  BIC,  Banco  BNP  Paribas,  Banco  do  Brasil,  Banco  Itaú,  Banco 
Santander, Citibank, HSBC and J.P. Morgan Chase Bank. 

The  Company  also  held  derivative  contracts  with  the  following  financial  institutions:  Banco  Bradesco, 
Banco  Itaú,  Banco  Santander,  Banco  Votorantim,  Bank  of  America  Merrill  Lynch,  Citibank,  Deutsche 
Bank, ING Bank, Morgan Stanley and Rabobank. 

25.3  Capital management and liquidity risk 

The Company is exposed to liquidity risk as far as it needs cash or other financial assets to settle its 
obligations in the respective terms. The Company’s cash and liquidity strategy takes into consideration 
historical  volatility  scenarios  of  results  as  well  as  simulations  of  sectorial  and  systemic  crisis.  It  is 
grounded on allowing resilience in scenarios of capital restriction. 

The  ideal  capital  structure  definition  at  BRF  is  essentially  associated  to:  (i)  strong  cash  position  as  a 
tolerance factor to liquidity shocks, which includes minimum cash analysis; (ii) net indebtedness; (iii) 
maximization of the capital opportunity cost.   

As guideline, the gross debt must be concentrated in the long term. On December 31, 2019, the long 
term consolidated gross debt represented 82.5% (78.7% as of December 31, 2018) of the total gross 
indebtedness, which has an average term higher than four years. 

The Company monitors the gross debt and net debt as set forth below: 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-64 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency debt

Local currency debt

Derivative financial liabilities 

Gross  debt

12.31.19

12.31.18

Cu rren t

Non -c u rren t

Total

Total

(296,850)

(10,709,674)

(11,006,524)

(11,538,304)

(2,835,179)

(4,778,576)

(7,613,755)

(10,627,140)

(153,612)

-

(153,612)

(235,035)

(3,285,641)

(15,488,250)

(18,773,891)

(22,400,479)

Marketable securities and cash and cash equivalents

Derivative financial assets

Restricted cash

Net  debt

4,655,967

195,324

296,294

307,352

49,991

-

4,963,319

5,667,222

245,315

296,294

182,339

861,621

1,861,944

(15,130,907)

(13,268,963)

(15,689,297)

The table below summarizes the significant commitments and contractual obligations that may impact 
the Company’s liquidity: 

Non   derivative  fin an c ial  liabilities

Loans and financing
Bonds
Trade accounts payable
Supply chain finance
Lease payables

Book 
valu e

Con trac tu al 
c ash   flow

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

8,212,795
10,407,484
5,796,766
842,037
2,430,656

9,766,282
13,392,884
5,846,035
853,995
3,192,956

3,284,296
430,835
5,833,689
853,995
562,890

2,230,020
455,397
6,897
-
498,763

518,647
2,354,479
2,854
-
449,538

1,365,454
1,756,083
2,595
-
396,849

391,036
2,371,831
-
-
344,987

Derivative  fin an c ial  liabilities

Fin an c ial  in stru men ts  design ated  as  c ash   flow  h edge

Currency derivatives (NDF)
Commodities derivatives - Corn (NDF)
Commodities derivatives - Soybean meal (NDF)
Commodities derivatives - Soybean oil (Options)
Commodities derivatives - Soybean (NDF)
Currency derivatives (options)
Commodities derivatives - Corn (Options)
Commodities derivatives - Soybean meal (Options)
Commodities derivatives (Future)

Fin an c ial  in stru men ts  n ot  design ated  as  c ash   flow  h edge

Currency derivatives (NDF)
Currency derivatives (Future)
Commodities derivatives (Options)

8,507
42,920
1,275
6
3,056
64,910
53
999
520

23,803
4,854
2,712

8,262
42,920
1,275
(216)
3,056
(131,009)
(73)
(1,132)
520

28,252
4,854
(1,879)

8,262
42,917
1,275
(216)
3,056
(131,009)
(73)
(1,132)
520

28,252
4,854
(1,879)

-
3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-

12.31.19

2025 
on wards

1,976,829
6,024,259
-
-
939,929

-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company does not expect that the cash outflows to fulfill 
the obligations shown above will be significantly anticipated or substantially modified outside the normal 
course of business. 

25.4  Market risk management 
a. 

Interest rate risk 

The interest rate risk may cause economic losses to the Company resulting from volatility in interest 
rates that affect its assets and liabilities. 

The Company’s Risk Policy does not restrict exposure to different interest rates, neither establishes limits 
for fixed or floating rates. However, the Company continually monitors the market interest rates in order 
to evaluate any need to enter into hedging transactions to protect from the fluctuation of such rates and 
manage the mismatch between its financial investments and debts. 

The  indebtedness  is  essentially  linked  to  the  fixed  coupon  (R$,  USD  and  EUR),  Interbank  Deposit 
Certificate (“CDI”), Broad Consumer Price Index (“IPCA”) and London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). 
In situations of adverse market changes that result in an increase in these rates, the cost of floating-
rate debt rises and on the other hand, the cost of fixed-rate debt decreases in relative terms. 

Regarding the marketable securities, the Company holds, mainly, instruments indexed by the CDI for 
investments in Brazil and fixed coupon in USD for investments in the foreign market.  

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-65 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
   
 
           
     
       
    
       
       
         
    
           
                             
               
        
       
     
       
    
         
               
           
       
             
                 
                 
         
             
                             
                 
         
         
     
       
    
     
      
  
        
    
  
    
  
   
     
    
          
  
  
  
  
     
      
  
             
       
       
            
            
       
         
    
                  
            
            
            
            
     
      
    
          
    
    
    
    
          
            
       
                  
            
            
            
            
         
          
     
                  
            
            
            
            
          
            
       
                  
            
            
            
            
               
             
        
                  
            
            
            
            
          
            
       
                  
            
            
            
            
         
        
   
                  
            
            
            
            
              
              
          
                  
            
            
            
            
            
           
      
                  
            
            
            
            
            
              
         
                  
            
            
            
            
         
          
     
                  
            
            
            
            
          
            
       
                  
            
            
            
            
          
           
      
                  
            
            
            
            
The Company’s exposure to interest rates can be assessed in notes 5 and 16. 

b. 

Foreign exchange risk 

Foreign  exchange  risk  is  the  one  that  may  cause  unexpected  losses  to  the  Company  resulting  from 
volatility  of  the  FX  rates,  reducing  its  assets  and  revenues  or  increasing  its  liabilities  and  costs.  The 
Company’s exposure is managed in three dimensions: statement of financial position exposure, operating 
income exposure and investments exposure. 

i. 

Statement of financial position exposure 

The Risk Policy regarding statement of financial position exposure has the objective to balance assets 
and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, hedging the Company’s statement of financial position 
by using natural hedges, over-the-counter derivatives and exchange traded futures. 

Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency for which the exchange variations are recognized 
in the statement of income are as follows, summarized in Brazilian Reais: 

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade accounts receivable
Trade accounts payable
Loans and financing
Derivative financial instruments (hedge)
Investments, net
Other assets and liabilities, net
Exposu re  in   resu lt

12.31.19

12.31.18

329,630
32,353
(2,057,053)
(7,862,992)
1,734,517
7,424,196
146
(399,203)

127,266
65,820
(861,341)
(7,347,953)
5,209,168
2,571,870
376
(234,794)

The  investments,  net  line  item  is  comprised  of  natural  hedges  derived  from  assets  and  liabilities  of 
foreign subsidiaries with Brazilian Reais as functional currency.  

The net P&L exposure is mainly composed of the following currencies: 

Net  P&L  Exposu re

Argentinian Peso (ARS)
Euros (EUR)
Pound Sterling (GBP)
Yen (JPY)
Rubles (RUB)
Turkish Liras (TRY)
U.S. Dollars (USD)
Total

12.31.19

(13,236)
23,624
6,949
(17,285)
2,780
(418,576)
16,541
(399,203)

12.31.18

186,538
(389,412)
(71,314)
4,041
91,720
(348,639)
292,272
(234,794)

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-66 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
       
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
           
        
             
          
   
       
   
     
     
      
     
      
                     
              
         
       
                   
            
                     
           
                       
            
                   
               
                       
             
               
           
                     
            
               
           
The derivative financial instruments hired to hedge the foreign currency statement of financial position 
exposure on December 31, 2019 are not designated as hedge accounting and are set forth below: 

Derivative  in stru men ts 
n ot  design ated

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Collar

Futures - B3

Currency swap

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Collar

Total

Average 
Rate

12.31.19
Fair  valu e 
(R$)

4.5653

4.0791

4.1495

4.0224

(5,069)

(17,965)

393

(4,854)

Asset

EUR

USD

BRL

Liability

Matu rity

Notion al

BRL

BRL

USD

1st Qtr. 2020

EUR

225,000

1st Qtr. 2020 USD

385,000

4th Qtr. 2020 USD

15,000

1st Qtr. 2020 USD

194,500

USD
 100.00% 
CDI+1,43% 

BRL
 USD+4.24% 
p.a. 

3rd Qtr. 2028

BRL

1,601,096

-

49,827

EUR

EUR

EUR

TRY

JPY

USD

RUB

USD

1st Qtr. 2020

1st Qtr. 2020

1st Qtr. 2020

EUR

EUR

EUR

1st Qtr. 2020 USD

20,487

35,000

21,092

50,000

122.0298

1.1209

71.1157

6.1805

9

758

(769)

(304)

22,026

ii. 

Operating income exposure 

The  Risk  Policy  regarding  operating  income  exposure  has  the  objective  to  hedge  revenues  and  costs 
denominated  in  foreign  currencies.  The  Company  is  supported  by  internal  models  to  measure  and 
monitor these risks, and uses financial instruments for hedging, designating the relations as cash flow 
hedges. 

The derivative and non-derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges for FX operating 
exposure on December 31, 2019 are set forth below: 

Cash   flow  h edge  -  Derivative 
in stru men ts

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Collar

Collar

Collar

Collar

Hedged  objec t

Asset

Liability

Matu rity

Notion al

Average  Rate

Fair  valu e

12.31.19

USD Exports

USD Exports

USD Exports

USD Exports

USD Exports

USD Exports

USD Exports

USD Exports

BRL

BRL

BRL

BRL

BRL

BRL

BRL

BRL

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

1st Qtr. 2020

2nd Qtr. 2020

3rd Qtr. 2020

4th Qtr. 2020

1st Qtr. 2020

2nd Qtr. 2020

3rd Qtr. 2020

4th Qtr. 2020

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

218,000

27,000

22,000

9,000

343,000

326,000

242,000

154,000

4.1141

4.1032

4.1485

4.1090

4.0711

4.0775

4.1973

4.2046

Cash   flow  h edge  -  Non -
derivative  in stru men ts

Bond BRF SA BRFSBZ5

Bond BRF SA BRFSBZ3

Hedged  objec t

Asset

Liability

Matu rity

Notion al

Average  Rate

USD Exports

USD Exports

-

-

USD

USD

2nd Qtr. 2022

2nd Qtr. 2023

USD

USD

109,312

150,000

2.0213

2.0387

(1)  Corresponds to the effective portion of the hedge result accumulated in Other Comprehensive Income. 

iii. 

Investments exposure 

The Company owns investments abroad in functional currencies different than the Brazilian Real, which 
generates  currency  exposure  that  affects  directly  the  Company’s  Shareholders’  Equity,  in  Other 
Comprehensive Income. 

On  August  1st,  2019  the  Company  started  to  use  the  net  investment  hedge  accounting  strategy  to 
reduce  this  exposure.  The  non-derivative  financial  instruments  designated  as  instruments  for  net 
investment hedge on December 31, 2019 are set forth below: 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-67 

19,009

1,631

1,893

308

9,114

8,987

22,299

12,923

76,164

12.31.19

Fair  valu e 
(1)

(278,077)

(298,800)

(576,877)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
    
 
 
   
       
     
   
       
    
     
       
        
   
       
     
 
              
     
     
    
           
     
       
        
     
      
       
     
       
       
     
 
         
        
   
         
         
   
         
         
    
         
            
 
         
         
 
         
         
 
         
        
 
         
        
         
 
         
     
 
         
     
     
Net  in vestmen t  h edge  - 
Non -derivative  in stru men ts

Protec tion  
(In vestmen t)

Asset

Liability

Matu rity

Notion al

Rate

Bond - BRF SA BRFSBZ4
Bond - BRF SA BRFSBZ4
Bond - BRF SA BRFSBZ4

Federal Foods LLC
BRF Al Yasra Food
Al Khan Foodstuff LLC

-
-
-

USD
USD
USD

3rd Qtr. 2026
3rd Qtr. 2026
3rd Qtr. 2026

USD 77,018
USD 107,918
USD 65,064

3.7649
3.7649
3.7649

12.31.19
Fair  valu e 
(1)

(20,467)
(29,126)
(17,225)

(66,818)

(1) Corresponds to the effective portion of the hedge result accumulated in Other Comprehensive Income. 

c. 

Commodities price risk 

In the ordinary course of business, the Company purchases commodities, mainly corn, soybean, soybean 
meal and soybean oil, individual components of the production costs. 

Corn  and  soy  prices  are  subject  to  volatility  resulting  from  weather  conditions,  harvest  productivity, 
transport  and  warehouse  costs,  government  agricultural  policies,  FX  rates  and  international  market 
prices, among other factors. 

The Risk Policy establishes coverage limits to the flow of purchases of corn and soy with the purpose of 
reducing the impact due to a price increase of these raw materials. The hedge may be reached using 
derivatives or by inventory management. 

The  financial  instruments  designated  as  cash  flow  hedges  and  fair  value  hedges  for  the  commodities 
price exposure on December 31, 2019 are set forth below: 

Cash   flow  h edge  -  Derivative 
in stru men ts

Hedged  objec t

In dex

Matu rity

Qu an tity

Average 
rate 
(USD/ Ton )

12.31.19

Fair  valu e

Non-deliverable forward - buy

Soybean meal purchase - floating price

Soybean meal - CBOT

1st Qtr. 2020

Non-deliverable forward - buy

Soybean meal purchase - floating price

Soybean meal - CBOT

2nd Qtr. 2020

Non-deliverable forward - buy

Soybean meal purchase - floating price

Soybean meal - CBOT

3rd Qtr. 2020

Collar - buy

Soybean meal purchase - floating price

Soybean meal - CBOT

2nd Qtr. 2020

27,950

87,915

54,985

29,937

Non-deliverable forward - buy

Corn purchase - floating price

Non-deliverable forward - buy

Corn purchase - floating price

Corn purchase - floating price

Corn - CBOT

Corn - CBOT

Corn - CBOT

1st Qtr. 2020

249,821

2nd Qtr. 2020

119,893

2nd Qtr. 2020

20,067

Soybean oil purchase - floating price

Soybean oil - CBOT

1st Qtr. 2020

Soybean oil purchase - floating price

Soybean oil - CBOT

2nd Qtr. 2020

Soybean oil purchase - floating price

Soybean oil - CBOT

3rd Qtr. 2020

Soybean oil purchase - floating price
Soybean oil purchase - floating price

Soybean oil - CBOT
Soybean oil - CBOT

4th Qtr. 2020
2nd Qtr. 2020

4,001

4,001

2,001

1,000
3,990

Collar - buy

Call - buy

Call - buy

Call - buy

Call - buy
Collar - buy

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton
ton

121.64

121.67

123.25

125.42

178.06

183.32

147.63

683.76

690.65

698.37

701.29
651.07

(532)

400

64

(339)

(25,584)

(13,290)

395

1,335

1,354

663

334
1,489

(33,711)

Fair  valu e  h edge  -  Derivative 
in stru men ts

Hedged  objec t

In dex

Matu rity

Qu an tity

Average 
rate 
(USD/ Ton )

12.31.19

Fair  valu e

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Soybean purchase - fixed price

Soybean - CBOT

1st Qtr. 2020

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Soybean purchase - fixed price

Soybean - CBOT

2nd Qtr. 2020

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Soybean purchase - fixed price

Soybean - CBOT

3rd Qtr. 2020

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Soybean purchase - fixed price

Soybean - CBOT

4th Qtr. 2020

2,000

1,994

18,486

12,492

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Non-deliverable forward - sell

Corn future - sell

Corn future - sell
Corn future - sell

Corn purchase - fixed price

Corn purchase - fixed price

Corn purchase - fixed price

Corn purchase - fixed price

Corn purchase - fixed price

Corn purchase - fixed price

Corn purchase - fixed price
Corn purchase - fixed price

Corn - CBOT

Corn - CBOT

Corn - CBOT

Corn - CBOT

Corn - CBOT

Corn - B3

Corn - B3
Corn - B3

2nd Qtr. 2020

624,044

3rd Qtr. 2020

273,456

4th Qtr. 2020

205,762

1st Qtr. 2021

6,515

1st Qtr. 2020

244,944

1st Qtr. 2020

2nd Qtr. 2020
3rd Qtr. 2020

23,193

24,543
15,822

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton

ton
ton

345.91

337.03

335.97

338.57

161.03

157.78

159.03

161.78

153.54

758.22

735.57
658.66

(42)

(184)

(1,770)

(1,060)

8,915

(98)

474

(3)

4,361

(224)

(225)
(71)

10,073

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-68 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
  
         
       
 
         
       
  
         
       
       
   
        
           
   
        
            
   
        
              
   
        
           
 
        
        
 
        
        
   
        
            
    
        
          
    
        
          
    
        
            
    
        
            
    
        
          
         
    
        
             
    
        
           
   
        
         
   
        
         
 
        
          
 
        
             
 
        
            
    
        
              
 
        
          
   
        
           
   
        
           
   
        
             
           
Fair  valu e  h edge  - 
Derivative  in stru men ts

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Non-deliverable forward

Protec tion   objec t

Assets

Liabilities

Matu rity

Notion al

Average  rate

Fair  valu e

12.31.19

Cost in USD

Cost in USD

Cost in USD

Cost in USD

Cost in USD

BRL

BRL

BRL

BRL

BRL

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD

USD1st Qtr. 2020

USD

38,300

USD2nd Qtr. 2020

USD 101,140

USD3rd Qtr. 2020

USD4th Qtr. 2020

USD1st Qtr. 2021

USD

USD

USD

49,362

36,951

1,054

4.0255

4.1265

4.1820

4.1840

4.2682

(25)

7,885

5,652

3,473

163

17,148

d. 

Stock price risk 

On August 16, 2017, the Company sold shares held in treasury and entered into a Total Return Swap 
instrument in equivalent amount, settled on February 05, 2019. By this instrument, the Company had 
the  right  to  receive  or  pay  the  variation  on  the  stock  price  (BRFS3)  in  exchange  for  the  payment  of 
interest indexed to CDI. On December 31, 2019, the only stock price risks existing in the Company are 
related to the investments in shares of Cofco (note 5). 

25.5  Hedge accounting 
25.5.1  Designated relations 

The Company applies hedge accounting rules for derivative and non-derivative financial instruments that 
qualify as cash flow hedge, fair value hedge and net investment hedge in accordance with the Risk Policy 
determinations.  The  hedge  index,  which  represents  the  proportion  of  the  object  hedged  by  the 
instrument, is determined for each relation according to the dynamic of the risks of the object and of 
the instrument. 

The  hedge  accounting  relationships  formally designated  on  December  31, 2019 as  well  its  effects  are 
demonstrated below: 

i. 

Cash flow hedge accounting – exports in foreign currencies 

The  future  exports  in  foreign  currencies  are  highly  probable  and  qualify  as  hedged  object  since  the 
Company  expects  to  keep  its  sales  in  foreign  currencies  for  future  periods,  based  on  sales  already 
committed and historical exports.  

The derivative and non-derivative financial instruments used for hedging (note 25.4.b.ii) have a direct 
economic  relation  with  the  objects  risk,  since  both  transactions  are  in  the  same  currency.  The  main 
source  of  ineffectiveness  in  this  relationship  is  the  possible  mismatch  between  maturity  of  the 
instruments and the dates of the sales. However, this mismatch is limited within the month of designation 
and it is not expected to compromise the hedge relationship. 

ii. 

Cash flow hedge – commodities 

The future commodities purchases are highly probable and qualify as hedge object as far as these inputs 
are essential for the productive process of the Company. The exposure consists of purchases already 
committed and of historical purchase volumes.  

The derivative instruments used as hedge (note 25.4.c) have a strong economic relation with the objects 
risk,  since  the  purchase  prices  negotiated  with  the  suppliers  are  indexed  to  the  same  prices  used  as 
coverage. The main source of ineffectiveness is the seasonality, which in atypical situations may delay 
or anticipate the orders. It is not expected that this ineffectiveness may compromise the hedge relation. 

iii. 

Fair value hedge – commodities 

The Company has agreements with suppliers for future purchases at fixed prices. These agreements are 
firm commitments, which the company designates as fair value hedge objects.  

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-69 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
  
                     
 
                  
  
                  
  
                  
    
                     
                         
The derivative instruments used as hedge (note 25.4.c) have a strong economic relation with the objects 
risk,  since  the  purchase  prices  negotiated  with  the  suppliers  are  indexed  to  the  same  prices  used  as 
coverage. There are no relevant sources of ineffectiveness that may compromise the hedge relation. 

25.5.2   Gains and losses with hedge accounting instruments 

The rollforward of fair value designated as hedge accounting is set forth below: 

In terest
Derivatives Derivatives Non-derivatives

Cash   flow  h edge
Foreign   exc h an ge

Fair  valu e 
h edge

Commodities Commodities

Derivatives

Derivatives

Net  in vestmen t 
h edge
Foreign   exc h an ge
Non-derivatives

12.31.19

Total

Fair  valu e  on   12.31.18  -  Restated

(82)

21,483

(662,732)

(9,144)

17,920

-

(632,555)

Settlement
Inventories
Other comprehensive income
Operating result - income
Operating result - cost
Financial result

Fair  valu e  on   12.31.19

-

-
-

34

3

45

-

35,758
-
53,349
(18,215)
-
(16,211)

123,962
-
23,328
-
-
(61,435)

37,930
2,839
(18,324)
-
(47,012)
-

(865)
(6,510)
-
-
16,676
-

-
-
(66,818)
-
-
-

196,819
(3,671)
(8,462)
(18,215)
(30,336)
(77,601)

76,164

(576,877)

(33,711)

27,221

(66,818)

(574,021)

25.6  Derivative Financial Instruments 

Summarized financial position of derivative financial instruments: 

Asset

Design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou n tin g

Currency derivatives

Commodities derivatives

Not  design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou n tin g

Currency derivatives

Current assets
Non-current assets

Liabilities

Design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou n tin g

Currency derivatives

Commodities derivatives

Not  design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou n tin g

Currency derivatives

Stock price derivatives

Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities

25.7  Sensitivity analysis 

12.31.19

12.31.18

166,729

25,191

53,395
245,315

195,324
49,991

118,191

22,761

41,387
182,339

182,339
-

(73,417)

(48,829)

(96,789)

(13,985)

(31,369)

-
(153,615)

(153,612)
(3)

(25,107)

(99,154)
(235,035)

(235,035)
-

The Management understands that the most relevant risks that may affect the Company’s results are 
the volatility of commodities prices and foreign exchange rates. Currently the fluctuation of the interest 
rates does not affect significantly the Company’s results since Management has chosen to keep at fixed 
rates a considerable portion of its debts. 

The scenarios below present the possible impacts of the financial instruments considering situations of 
increase  and  decrease  in  the  selected  risk  factors.  The  amounts  of  exports  used  correspond  to  the 
notional amount of the financial instruments designated for hedge accounting. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-70 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
   
 
             
   
       
           
         
                                   
 
          
   
       
        
          
                      
   
         
       
             
          
        
                      
       
           
   
         
       
            
                 
       
         
  
             
            
            
                      
   
         
       
             
       
        
                      
   
          
  
        
            
            
                      
   
                 
   
       
         
         
                         
 
   
    
       
      
       
      
   
    
   
    
       
             
     
     
     
     
     
     
                   
     
 
   
 
   
                 
             
The  information  used  in  the  preparation  of  the  analysis  is  based  on  the  position  as  of  December  31, 
2019, which has been described in the items above. The future results may diverge significantly of the 
estimated values if the reality presents different than the considered premises. Positive values indicate 
gains and negative values indicate losses. 

Parity  -  R$  x  USD

Tran sac tion / In stru men t
Design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou tin g

Non-deliverable forward 
Options - currencies
Bonds
Exports (object)
Cost (object)

Not  design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou tin g

NDF - Purchase
Options - currencies
Future purchase - B3

Net  effec t

Parity  -  R$  x  EUR

Tran sac tion / In stru men t
Not  design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou tin g

NDF - Purchase EUR x USD
NDF - Purchase EUR x RUB
NDF - Purchase

Net  effec t

Pric e  parity  CBOT  -    Corn   -  USD/ Ton

Tran sac tion / In stru men t
Design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou n tin g
Non-deliverable forward - Corn sale
Non-deliverable forward - Corn purchase
Put
Corn options
Cost (object)

Net  effec t

Risk

Devaluation of R$
Devaluation of R$
Devaluation of R$
Appreciation of R$
Appreciation of R$

Appreciation of R$
Devaluation of R$
Appreciation of R$

Risk

Appreciation of EUR
Appreciation of EUR
Appreciation of R$

4.0307

3.6276

3.0230

5.0384

6.0461

Cu rren t
Sc en ario

Sc en ario  I

Sc en ario  II

Sc en ario  III

Sc en ario  IV

10%   apprec iation 25%   apprec iation 25%   devalu ation 50%   devalu ation

46,325
52,954
(518,452)
442,051
(22,878)

(18,635)
-
1,605
(17,030)

248,991
428,644
(413,931)
(149,406)
(114,298)

(173,817)
5,886
(76,792)
(244,723)

552,991
1,072,548
(257,149)
(1,116,964)
(251,426)

(406,590)
14,955
(194,388)
(586,023)

(460,341)
(880,094)
(779,754)
1,914,520
205,669

369,319
(11,391)
197,598
555,526

(967,007)
(1,953,268)
(1,041,056)
3,527,114
434,217

757,274
(26,506)
393,591
1,124,359

4.5305

4.0775

3.3979

5.6631

6.7958

Cu rren t
Sc en ario

Sc en ario  I

Sc en ario  II

Sc en ario  III

Sc en ario  IV

10%   apprec iation 25%   apprec iation 25%   devalu ation 50%   devalu ation

442
(1,764)
(7,825)
(9,147)

(15,415)
(11,323)
(109,762)
(136,500)

(39,200)
(25,660)
(262,666)
(327,526)

40,083
22,132
247,015
309,230

79,725
46,028
501,856
627,609

Risk

Increase in the price of corn
Decrease in the price of corn
Increase in the price of corn
Decrease in the price of corn
Increase in the price of corn

156.76

141.08

117.57

195.95

235.14

Cu rren t
Sc en ario

Sc en ario  I
Dec rease  10%

Sc en ario  II
Dec rease  25%

Sc en ario  III
In c rease  25%

Sc en ario  IV
In c rease  50%

13,878
(34,285)
(875)
-
21,282
-

83,998
(57,645)
(15,946)
-
(10,407)
-

189,178
(92,685)
(38,552)
(1,718)
(56,223)
-

(161,423)
24,115
-
2,975
134,333
-

(336,723)
82,515
-
6,118
248,090
-

Pric e  parity  CBOT  -    Soybean   meal  -  USD/ Ton

Tran sac tion / In stru men t
Design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou n tin g

Risk

Non-deliverable forward - Soybeal meal purchase
Soybean meal options
Cost (object)

Decrease in the price of soybean meal
Decrease in the price of soybean meal
Increase in the price of soybean meal

Net  effec t

122.14

109.93

91.61

152.68

183.21

Cu rren t
Sc en ario

Sc en ario  I
Dec rease  10%

Sc en ario  II
Dec rease  25%

Sc en ario  III
In c rease  25%

Sc en ario  IV
In c rease  50%

(24)
-

24

-

(8,435)
(2,656)
11,091
-

(21,052)
(8,912)
29,964
-

21,004
7,573
(28,577)
-

42,032
18,000
(60,032)
-

Pric e  parity  CBOT  -    Soybean   -  USD/ Ton

Tran sac tion / In stru men t
Design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou n tin g

NDF - Soybean sale
Cost (object)

Net  effec t

Risk

Increase in the price of soybean
Increase in the price of soybean

359.21

323.29

269.41

449.01

538.81

Cu rren t
Sc en ario

Sc en ario  I
Dec rease  10%

Sc en ario  II
Dec rease  25%

Sc en ario  III
In c rease  25%

Sc en ario  IV
In c rease  50%

(3,056)
3,056
-

2,007
(2,007)
-

9,603
(9,603)
-

(15,715)
15,715
-

(28,373)
28,373
-

Pric e  parity  CBOT  -  Soybean   oil  -  USD/ Ton

Tran sac tion / In stru men t
Design ated  as  h edge  ac c ou n tin g

NDF - Soybean oil purchase
Soybean oil options
Cost (object)

Net  effec t

Risk

Decrease in the price of soybean oil
Decrease in the price of soybean oil
Increase in the price of soybean oil

773.62

696.26

580.22

967.03

1,160.43

Cu rren t
Sc en ario

Sc en ario  I
Dec rease  10%

Sc en ario  II
Dec rease  25%

Sc en ario  III
In c rease  25%

Sc en ario  IV
In c rease  50%

3,686
-
(3,686)
-

255
252
(507)
-

(4,892)
(745)
5,637
-

12,263
4,562
(16,825)
-

20,840
7,657
(28,497)
-

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-71 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
              
            
            
           
           
              
            
          
           
         
           
           
           
           
         
            
           
         
          
          
             
           
           
            
            
             
           
           
            
            
                  
               
              
             
             
               
             
           
            
            
                 
               
               
                 
           
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 
             
             
              
              
              
             
             
              
              
              
           
           
            
            
                   
               
               
                 
                 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
              
              
            
           
           
             
             
             
              
              
                
             
             
                  
                  
                  
                  
              
               
               
              
             
             
            
            
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                   
                   
                     
                   
                   
                  
              
             
              
              
                  
              
              
               
              
                   
              
              
             
             
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
              
               
               
             
             
               
              
              
              
              
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
                   
                   
                   
                   
               
               
                 
              
              
              
                  
                 
                
               
               
              
                
               
             
             
                           
                           
                           
                           
                           
25.8  Financial instruments by category 

Fair  valu e  th rou gh   oth er 
c ompreh en sive  in c ome

Amortiz ed 
c ost

Equ ity 
in stru men ts

Debt 
in stru men ts

Fair  valu e 
th rou gh   profit 
an d  loss

Assets

Cash and bank
Cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Trade accounts receivable
Other receivables
Derivatives not designated
Derivatives designated as hedge accounting (1)

Liabilities

Trade accounts payable
Supply chain finance
Loans and financing (2)
Derivatives not designated
Derivatives designated as hedge accounting (1)

2,289,787
-
265,783
296,294
2,811,902
123,877
-
-

(5,796,766)
(842,037)
(18,620,279)
-
-
(19,471,439)

-
-
26,678
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
26,678

-
-
19,285
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
19,285

12.31.19

Total

2,289,787
1,947,998
725,534
296,294
3,037,843
123,877
53,395
191,920

-
1,947,998
413,788
-
225,941
-
53,395
191,920

-
-
-
(31,369)
(122,246)
2,679,427

(5,796,766)
(842,037)
(18,620,279)
(31,369)
(122,246)
(16,746,049)

(1)  All derivatives are measured at fair value. Those designated as hedge accounting have their gains and losses also affecting other 

comprehensive income and inventories. 

(2)  All loans and financing are measured at amortized cost. Those designated as hedge accounting have their gains and losses also 

affecting shareholders’ equity. 

Assets

Cash and bank
Cash equivalents
Marketable securities
Restricted cash
Trade accounts receivable
Other receivables
Derivatives not designated
Derivatives designated as hedge accounting

Liabilities

Trade accounts payable - Restated
Supply chain finance
Loans and financing
Derivatives not designated
Derivatives designated as hedge accounting

Fair value through other 
comprehensive income
Equity 
Debt 
instruments
instruments

Fair value 
through profit 
and loss

Amortized cost

722,838
-
331,395
861,621
2,409,667
204,072
-
-

(5,500,008)
(875,300)
(22,165,444)
-
-
(24,011,159)

-
-
139,469
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
139,469

-
-
16,398
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
16,398

-
4,146,724
310,398
-
203,224
-
41,387
140,952

-
-
-
(124,261)
(110,774)
4,607,650

12.31.18

Total

722,838
4,146,724
797,660
861,621
2,612,891
204,072
41,387
140,952

(5,500,008)
(875,300)
(22,165,444)
(124,261)
(110,774)
(19,247,642)

25.9  Fair value of financial instruments 

The  fair  value  is  the  price  that  would  be  received  to  sell  an  asset or  paid  to  transfer  a liability  in  an 
orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. 

Depending on the inputs used for measurement, the financial instruments at fair value may be classified 
into 3 hierarchy levels: 

»  Level 1 – Uses prices quoted (unadjusted) for identical instruments in active markets. In 
this category are classified investments in stocks, credit linked notes, savings accounts, 
overnights, term deposits, Financial Treasury Bills (“LFT”) and investment funds; 

»  Level 2 – Uses prices quoted in active markets for similar instruments, prices quoted for 
identical or similar instruments in non-active markets and evaluation models for which 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-72 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
     
                             
                             
                             
       
                           
                             
                             
         
       
           
               
               
             
           
           
                             
                             
                             
           
     
                             
                             
             
       
           
                             
                             
                             
           
                           
                             
                             
               
               
                           
                             
                             
             
           
   
                             
                             
                             
     
         
                             
                             
                             
         
 
                             
                             
                             
   
                           
                             
                             
             
             
                           
                             
                             
           
         
 
               
               
         
   
         
                  
                  
                  
         
                 
                  
                  
        
       
         
          
           
          
         
         
                  
                  
                  
         
      
                  
                  
          
       
         
                  
                  
                  
         
                 
                  
                  
           
           
                 
                  
                  
          
         
     
                  
                  
                  
      
        
                  
                  
                  
        
    
                  
                  
                  
    
                 
                  
                  
         
        
                 
                  
                  
         
        
    
          
           
        
    
inputs  are  observable.  In  this  level  are  classified  the  investments  in  Bank  Deposit 
Certificates (“CDB”) and derivatives, which are measured by well-known pricing models: 
discounted cash flows and Black-Scholes. The observable inputs are interest rates and 
curves, volatility factors and foreign exchange rates; and 

»  Level 3 – Instruments whose significant inputs are non-observable. The Company does 

not have financial instruments in this classification. 

The  table  below  presents  the  overall  classification  of  financial  instruments  measured  at  fair  value  by 
measurement hierarchy. For the year ended on December 31, 2019, there were no changes between 
the 3 levels of hierarchy. 

Fin an c ial  Assets

Fair  valu e  th rou gh   oth er 
c ompreh en sive  in c ome

Credit linked notes
Stocks

Fair  valu e  th rou gh   profit  an d  loss

Savings account and overnight
Term deposits
Bank deposit certificates
Financial treasury bills
Investment funds
Trade accounts receivable
Derivatives

Fin an c ial  Liabilities

Fair  valu e  th rou gh   profit  an d  loss

Derivatives

Level  1

Level  2

12.31.19
Total

Level 1

Level 2

12.31.18
Total

19,285
26,678

689,874
374,859
-
396,994
20,301
-
-

-
-

-
-
879,758
-
-
225,941
245,315

19,285
26,678

689,874
374,859
879,758
396,994
20,301
225,941
245,315

16,398
139,469

401,145
21,150
-
295,699
3,721
-
-

-
-

16,398
139,469

-
-
3,720,708
-
-
203,224
182,339

401,145
21,150
3,720,708
295,699
3,721
203,224
182,339

-
1,527,991

(153,615)
1,197,399

(153,615)
2,725,390

-
877,582

(235,035)
3,871,236

(235,035)
4,748,818

Except for the items set forth below, the fair value of all other financial instruments is approximate to 
their book value. The fair value of the bonds set forth below is based in prices observed in active markets, 
level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, the debentures are based in level 2 and are measured by discounted 
cash flows. 

BRF bonds

BRF SA BRFSBZ5
BRF SA BRFSBZ4
BRF SA BRFSBZ3
BRF SA BRFSBZ2
BRF SA BRFSBZ4 7/8
Debentures
BFF bonds
Sadia Overseas BRFSBZ7

BRF GmbH bonds

BRF SA BRFSBZ4

2022
2024
2023
2022
2030
2030

2020

2026

Matu rity

Book 
valu e

12.31.19
Fair
valu e

(460,606)
(2,191,726)
(1,427,754)
(1,559,476)
(3,160,573)
(832,213)

Book 
value

(451,542)
(2,898,940)
(1,888,811)
(2,248,510)
-
-

12.31.18

Fair
value

(456,190)
(2,695,884)
(1,754,586)
(2,189,975)
-
-

(435,934)
(2,086,169)
(1,370,446)
(1,492,653)
(3,022,773)
(755,760)

-

-

(342,958)

(349,241)

(1,999,509)
(11,163,244)

(2,101,175)
(11,733,523)

(1,915,685)
(9,746,446)

(1,702,211)
(9,148,087)

26 

SEGMENT INFORMATION 

The operating segments are reported consistently with the  management reports provided to the main 
strategic and operational decision makers for assessing the performance of each segment and allocation 
of resources. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-73 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
       
                     
       
       
              
       
       
                     
       
     
              
     
     
                     
     
     
              
     
     
                     
     
       
              
       
                     
     
     
              
   
   
     
                     
     
     
              
     
       
                     
       
        
              
        
                     
     
     
              
     
     
                     
     
     
              
     
     
                     
   
   
              
    
    
 
 
 
     
   
   
         
         
        
        
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                 
                 
         
         
                 
                 
                           
                           
        
        
     
     
     
     
 
 
     
     
With the sale of the Argentina, Europe and Thailand Operations and changes in the management, the 
Company has modified its operating segments in relation to December 31, 2018 primarily observing the 
Company’s business regions, being: (i) Brazil; (ii) International, which concentrates all the Company’s 
operations abroad and has absorbed the Halal and International segments disclosed in the consolidated 
financial statements of December 31, 2018; and (iii) Other Segments.  

The operating segments include the sales of all distribution channels and are subdivided according to 
the nature of the products. Their characteristics are described below: 

»  Poultry: production and sale of whole poultry and in-natura cuts.  
»  Pork and other: production and sale of in-natura cuts. 
»  Processed: production and sale of processed food, frozen and processed products derived 

from poultry, pork and beef, margarine, vegetables and soybean-based products. 

»  Other sales: sale of flour for food service and others. 

Other  segments  are  divided  into  commercialization  and  development  of  animal  nutrition  ingredients, 
human  nutrition,  plant  nutrition  (fertilizers)  and  health  care  (health  and  wellness),  as  well  as 
commercialization of agricultural products. 

The net sales for each reportable operating segment is set forth below: 

Net  sales
Braz il

In-natura
Poultry
Pork and other

Processed
Other sales

In tern ation al
In-natura
Poultry
Pork and other

Processed
Other sales

Oth er  segmen ts

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

4,635,597
3,692,377
943,220
12,839,008
14,874
17,489,479

12,605,846
11,262,954
1,342,892
2,119,918
173,630
14,899,394

3,998,483
3,198,356
800,127
12,274,681
19,372
16,292,536

10,905,155
10,021,923
883,232
1,850,614
312,902
13,068,671

3,483,239
2,689,908
793,331
11,688,008
17,365
15,188,612

10,296,197
8,926,311
1,369,886
1,534,163
419,488
12,249,848

1,058,107
33,446,980

827,214
30,188,421

875,700
28,314,160

The operating income (loss) for each segment is set forth below: 

Brazil
International
Other segments

Su b  total
Corporate

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

1,818,813
1,275,285
109,138
3,203,236
(454,899)
2,748,337

590,416
23,778
89,311
703,505
(909,839)
(206,334)

987,163
19,991
79,016
1,086,170
(422,986)
663,184

The items presented above as Corporate refers to relevant events not attributable to the normal course 
of business neither to the operating segments. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the main events 
were: R$79,937 (R$78,889 in the same period of the previous year) of expenses related to investigations 
involving  the  Company  and,  R$48,251  (R$14,848  in  the  same  period  of  the  previous  year)  related  to 
demobilization expenses. 

No customer individually or in aggregate (economic group) accounted for more than 5% of net sales for 
the years ended December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-74 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
          
   
       
       
       
       
       
       
           
         
         
     
      
      
               
           
           
     
      
      
     
      
      
     
      
       
       
         
       
       
       
       
           
         
         
     
      
      
       
         
         
     
      
      
       
         
         
       
           
           
           
           
           
       
         
       
         
        
        
       
        
         
The  goodwill  arising  from  business  combinations  and  the  intangible  assets  with  indefinite  useful  life 
(trademarks) were  allocated  to  the  reportable operating  segments,  considering  the  economic benefits 
generated by such intangible assets. The allocation of these intangible assets is presented below: 

Brazil

International

Goodwill

Trademarks

Total

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.19

12.31.18

1,151,498

1,562,104

2,713,602

1,151,498

1,543,467

982,478

339,784

982,478

2,133,976

353,684

1,901,888

2,694,965

1,322,262

1,336,162

4,035,864

2,133,976

1,897,151

4,031,127

Information related to total assets by reportable segment is not disclosed, as it is not included in the set 
of information made available to the Company’s administration, which makes investment decisions and 
determine allocation of resources on a consolidated basis. 

27  NET SALES 

G ross  sales

Brazil

International

Other segments

Sales  dedu c tion s

Brazil

International

Other segments

Net  sales

Brazil

International

Other segments

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

21,645,253

16,191,795

1,167,463

20,659,378

14,012,629

941,360

19,350,033

13,233,323

952,506

39,004,511

35,613,367

33,535,862

(4,155,774)

(4,366,842)

(4,161,421)

(1,292,401)

(109,356)

(943,958)

(114,146)

(983,475)

(76,806)

(5,557,531)

(5,424,946)

(5,221,702)

17,489,479

14,899,394

1,058,107
33,446,980

16,292,536

13,068,671

827,214
30,188,421

15,188,612

12,249,848

875,700
28,314,160

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-75 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
           
   
 
 
 
     
     
       
 
    
 
     
     
       
 
    
 
     
 
     
 
    
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
       
       
 
   
   
 
    
    
 
      
      
     
      
       
 
    
    
 
   
   
 
   
   
   
       
       
 
   
   
28  OTHER OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSES), NET 

In c ome

Recovery of expenses (1)
Provision reversal
Scrap sales
Net gains on disposal of investments
Tax amnesty program ("PERT")
Other

Expen ses

Provision for civil and tax risks (2)
Employee participation and bonuses
Expenses with investigations and class action (3)
Demobilization expenses
Insurance claims costs
Net loss from the disposals of property, plant and equipment
Other employees benefits
Costs on business disposed 
Restructuring
Expected credit losses
Other

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

1,293,623
16,638
12,494
4,616
-
40,921
1,368,292

(395,389)
(269,755)
(284,373)
(48,251)
(19,830)
(15,402)
(13,500)
-
-
-
(97,408)
(1,143,908)
224,384

285,309
27,920
14,724
-
-
59,709
387,662

(18,013)
(47,025)
(78,889)
(14,848)
(9,436)
(59,633)
(25,037)
(27,848)
(17,781)
(2,664)
(67,177)
(368,351)
19,311

119,907
13,428
14,487
-
147,664
87,452
382,938

(180,773)
(101,500)
(78,347)
(44,663)
(25,058)
(21,178)
(33,224)
(36,718)
(14,933)
(13,646)
(166,365)
(716,405)
(333,467)

(1)  Includes the effects of the final decision related to the exclusion of ICMS from the PIS and COFINS calculation base (note 9). 
(2)  Includes the effects of the tax contingency on ICMS credit in the basic food basket products (note 22). 
(3)  Notes 1.2 and 1.3. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-76 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
 
 
 
 
 
     
        
        
             
         
         
             
         
         
               
                
                
                         
                
        
             
         
         
     
        
        
       
        
       
       
        
       
       
        
        
           
        
        
           
          
        
           
        
        
           
        
        
                         
        
        
                         
        
        
                         
          
        
           
        
       
   
       
       
         
         
       
29  FINANCIAL INCOME (EXPENSES), NET 

Fin an c ial  in c ome

Interest on assets (1)
Exchange rate variation on net assets of foreign subsidiaries
Exchange rate variation on other assets
Interest on cash and cash equivalents
Interests on financial assets classified as:

Amortized cost
Fair value throught profit and loss
Fair value throught other comprehensive income

Exchange rate variation on marketable securities
Impairment on marketable securities
Exchange rate variation on other liabilities
Tax amnesty program ("PERT")

Fin an c ial  expen ses

Interest on loans and financing (2)
Interest on liabilities (3)
Exchange rate variation on loans and financing
Adjustment to present value
Loss on derivative transactions, net
Loss on grains price variation
Exchange rate variation on other liabilities
Impairment on marketable securities
Exchange rate variation on other assets
Exchange rate variation on marketable securities
Others

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

1,048,527
215,822
194,634
140,530

93,433
21,065
631
27,857
5,153
-
-
1,747,652

(1,516,706)
(1,015,872)
(320,852)
(305,239)
(173,351)
(14,854)
(2,122)
-
-
-
(264,055)
(3,613,051)
(1,865,399)

596,374
330,523
404,579
159,316

98,649
14,544
651
44,996
-
-
-
1,649,632

(1,335,061)
(220,349)
(1,265,861)
(277,371)
(212,672)
(112,841)
(169,538)
(7,557)
-
-
(289,856)
(3,891,106)
(2,241,474)

302,494
213,460
-
267,781

61,661
19,825
8,209
-
-
388,117
302,144
1,563,691

(1,410,175)
(520,089)
(190,352)
(283,280)
(117,238)
(22,337)
-
-
(593,534)
(94,612)
(213,832)
(3,445,449)
(1,881,758)

(1)  Includes the financial effects of the final decision related to the exclusion of ICMS from the PIS and COFINS calculation base 

(note 9). 

(2)  Includes the premium paid effects of bonds repurchases and write-off of deferred costs (note 16.2). 
(3)  Includes the financial effects of the tax contingency on ICMS credit in the basic food basket products (note 22). 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-77 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
    
 
 
   
       
       
         
       
       
         
       
               
         
       
       
           
         
         
           
         
         
                   
            
          
           
         
               
             
               
               
                       
               
       
                       
               
       
   
     
     
 
    
    
 
      
      
       
    
      
       
      
      
       
      
      
         
      
        
           
      
               
                       
         
               
                       
               
      
                       
               
        
       
      
      
 
    
    
 
    
    
30 

STATEMENT OF INCOME BY NATURE 

The Company has chosen to disclose its statement of income by function and thus presents below the 
details by nature: 

Costs  of  sales

Raw materials and consumables (1)
Salaries and employees benefits
Depreciation
Amortization
Others

Sales  expen ses

Indirect and direct logistics expenses
Marketing
Salaries and employees benefits
Depreciation
Amortization
Others

Admin istrative  expen ses

Salaries and employees benefits
Fees
Depreciation
Amortization
Others

Impairmen t  Loss  on   Trade  an d  Oth er  Rec eivables

Impairment Loss on Trade and Other Receivables

Oth er  operatin g  expen ses  (2)

Depreciation
Others

12.31.19

12.31.18

12.31.17

17,665,346
3,618,779
1,787,506
126,953
2,171,458
25,370,042

2,133,894
558,043
1,369,277
196,143
87,423
566,886
4,911,666

298,368
50,349
26,064
26,485
214,417
615,683

23,899
23,899

50,704
1,093,204
1,143,908

17,790,900
3,637,727
1,381,226
78,627
2,432,273
25,320,753

2,260,379
507,979
1,190,189
69,525
65,575
419,947
4,513,594

260,604
28,621
21,453
78,713
161,774
551,165

46,269
46,269

52,082
316,269
368,351

15,024,871
3,679,921
1,304,955
91,225
2,500,243
22,601,215

2,034,641
462,090
1,210,708
64,128
65,478
371,638
4,208,683

215,297
30,907
28,108
38,285
149,926
462,523

67,471
67,471

40,117
676,288
716,405

(1)  Includes abnormal losses to production chain. 
(2)  The composition of other operating expenses is disclosed in note 28. 

The Company incurred in expenses of R$67,846 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (R$53,476  for 
the same period of the previous year) with internal research and development of new products. 

31  RELATED PARTIES  

In the normal course of business, rights and obligations arise between related parties, resulting  from 
transactions of sale and purchase of products, as well as from financial operations. 

The  Company  holds  a  Related  Parties  Transactions  Policy,  which  was  reviewed  and  approved  by  the 
Board of Executive Officers on June 28, 2019 and applies to all subsidiaries of the group. 

The  policy  mentioned  above  provides  the  conditions  that  must  be  observed  for  the  realization  of  a 
transaction between related parties, as well as establishes approval hierarchies according to the value 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-78 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
         
 
 
 
 
    
    
     
     
     
     
     
     
         
         
         
     
     
     
 
    
    
     
     
     
         
        
        
     
     
     
         
         
         
           
         
         
         
        
        
     
     
     
         
        
        
           
         
         
           
         
         
           
         
         
         
        
        
         
        
        
           
         
         
           
         
         
           
         
         
     
        
        
     
        
        
and nature of the transactions involved. The policy also foresees situations of conflict of interests and 
how they must be conducted. 

31.1  Transactions and balances 

The Company enters into loan agreements with its subsidiaries pursuant its cash management strategy. 
On December 31, 2019 the balances of these transactions were R$1,808,320 (R$3,499,516 on the same 
period of previous year) with a weighted average rate of 4.43% p.a. (3.23% p.a. as of December 31, 
2018). 

31.2  Other Related Parties 

The Company leased properties owned by BRF Previdência. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the 
total amount paid as rent was of R$18,200 (R$16,924 as of December 31, 2018). 

Due to the acquisition of biodigesters from Instituto Sadia de Sustentabilidade, the Company recorded 
a payable to this entity of R$3,053 on December 31, 2019 (R$4,666 as of December 31, 2018) included 
in Other Liabilities. 

31.3  Granted guarantees 

The Company recorded a liability in the amount of R$844 (R$1,290 as of December 31, 2018) related to 
the  fair  value  of  the  guarantees  offered  to  BNDES  concerning  a  loan  made  by  Instituto  Sadia  de 
Sustentabilidade. 

The Company is the guarantor of loans related to a special program that aims the local development 
and were obtained by outgrowers in the central region of Brazil. The proceeds of such loans are utilized 
by the outgrowers to improve farm conditions and will be paid by them in 10 years, taking as collateral 
the land and equipment acquired through this program. The value of these guarantees on December 31, 
2019 totaled R$12,949 (R$29,794 as of December 31, 2018). 

31.4   Management remuneration 

The total remuneration and benefits expense with board members, statutory directors and the head of 
internal audit are set forth below: 

Salary and profit sharing

Short term benefits (1)

Private pension

Post-employment benefits

Termination benefits

Share-based payment

12.31.19

59,589

257

893

125

16,275

12,052
89,191

12.31.18

40,082

47

564

132

10,070

5,621
56,516

12.31.17

32,796

406

568

246

5,825

17,010
56,851

(1)  Comprises: 9medical assistance, educational expenses and others. 

In  addition,  the  executive  officers  received  among  remuneration  and  benefits  the  total  amount  of 
R$30,375 for the year ended December 31, 2019 (R$38,413 for the same period of the previous year). 

32  GOVERNMENT GRANTS 

The Company has tax benefits related to ICMS for investments granted by the governments of states 
as follows: Programa de Desenvolvimento Industrial e Comercial de Mato Grosso (“PRODEIC”), Programa 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-79 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
           
         
         
                   
              
            
                   
            
            
                   
            
            
           
         
          
           
          
         
           
         
         
de  Desenvolvimento  do  Estado  de  Pernambuco  (“PRODEPE”)  and  Fundo  de  Participação  e  Fomento  à 
Industrialização  do  Estado  de  Goiás  (“FOMENTAR”).  Such  incentives  are  directly  associated  to  the 
manufacturing facilities operations, job generation and to the economic and social development. 

On December 31, 2019, this incentive totaled R$188,610 (R$174,223 as of December 31, 2018). 

33  COMMITMENTS 

In the normal course of the business, the Company enters into agreements with third parties for the 
purchase of raw material, mainly corn and soymeal. The agreed prices in these agreements can be fixed 
or  variable.  The  Company  also  enters  into  other  agreements,  such  as  electricity  supply,  packaging 
supplies,  construction  of  buildings  and  others  for  the  supply  of  its  manufacturing  activities.  The  firm 
commitments schedule is set forth below: 

Cu rren t
Non -c u rren t

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 onwards

12.31.19
4,306,217
1,689,755
537,487
275,083
199,302
192,780
485,103
5,995,972

34 

INSURANCE COVERAGE - CONSOLIDATED 

The Company´s policy for insurances considers the concentration and relevance of the risks identified 
in  its  risk  management  program.  Thus,  according  to  Managements  understanding,  the  contracted 
insurance coverage is adequate to the entity´s size and nature of activities being sufficient to cover 
eventual damages. The Company also takes into consideration orientations provided by its advisors. 

Assets  c overed

Operational risks

Coverage

Coverage against damage to buildings, facilities, inventory, machinery 
and equipment, loss of profits.

Carriage of goods

Coverage of goods in transit and in inventories.

Civil responsability

Third party complaints.

 Each legal entity has its own coverages, which are not complementary. 

12.31.19
Amou n t  of 
c overage

3,439,170

518,928

322,408

35  TRANSACTIONS THAT DO NOT INVOLVE CASH 

The following transactions did not involve cash or cash equivalents during the year ended December 31, 
2019: 

Capitalized loan interest: to the year ended December 31, 2019 amounted to R$19,207 (R$19,612 

(i) 
in the year ended December 31, 2018); and   

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

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Addition  of  lease  by  right-of-use  assets  and  respective  lease  liability:  for  the  year  ended 

(ii) 
December 31, 2019, amounted to R$ 2,775,168 (R$48,794 in the year ended December 31, 2018). 

36  EVENTS AFTER THE REPORTING PERIOD 
36.1  U.S. Class Action 

As disclosed in note 1.3, on March 27, 2020 the parties to the shareholder class action lawsuit that was 
filed against us, some of our former managers and a current officer of ours in the U.S. Federal District 
Court in the Southern District of New York in March 2018 reached an agreement to settle the class action 
for an amount equivalent to R$204,436. Since this event evidences an existing condition as of December 
31,  2019,  the  settlement  was  reflected  in  other  operating  expenses  (note  28),  with  a  corresponding 
increase in deferred income tax of R$69,508 (note 10). 

The Company is subject to the reporting requirements established by the Brazilian Corporation Law and 
the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários, 
or  “CVM”).  The  settlement  of  this  class  action  lawsuit  was  not  reflected  in  the  financial  statements 
required by the CVM, which were filed on March 3, 2020. 

The  main  differences  between  these  consolidated  financial  statements  and  those  filed  with  the  CVM, 
resulting from this subsequent event, are disclosed below. 

Statement of Income (Loss)

Other operating income (expenses), net
Income taxes
Net Income from continuing operations

Statement of Financial Position

Other current liabilities
Deferred income tax
Accumulated losses
Total assets and total liabilities and equity

36.2  Coronavirus (COVID-19) 

As filed with 
the CVM

Adjustment for 
class action 
settlement

As filed with 
the SEC

Corresponding 
notes

428,820
125,887
1,213,261

(204,436)
69,508
(134,928)

224,384
195,395
1,078,333

26 and 28
10
24

512,591
1,845,862
(3,996,985)
41,700,631

204,436
69,508
(134,928)
69,508

717,027
1,915,370
(4,131,913)
41,770,139

-
10
23.3
-

On January 31, 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the coronavirus (COVID-19) as a 
global  health  emergency  and  on  March  11,  2020  declared  it  a  global  pandemic.  The  outbreak  has 
triggered  significant  decisions  from  governments  and  private  sector  entities,  which  in  addition  to  the 
potential  impact,  increased  the  uncertainty  level  for  economic  agents  and  may  cause  effects  in  the 
amounts recognized in the financial statements. 

The  Company  continues  to  operate  its  plants,  distribution  centers,  logistics,  supply  chain  and 
administrative  offices,  even  if  temporarily  and  partially  under  a  remote  work  program  in  some  of  its 
corporate offices. Therefore, there has been no material change in its production plan, operation and/or 
commercialization.  Additionally,  management  has  developed  and  implemented  contingency  plans  to 
maintain the operations and monitors the effects of the pandemic through a permanent multidisciplinary 
monitoring committee, formed by executives, specialists in the public health area and consultants. 

Customers from certain regions and channels in which the Company runs businesses are being affected, 
mainly by the measures of social distancing imposed by authorities. The Company foresees an increase 
in the default rates during the second quarter of 2020 and a consequent increase in the expected credit 
losses.  Given  the  behavior  of  the  cycle  of  the  accounts  receivable  from  customers,  no  impacts  are 
expected  in  addition  to  those  already  registered  in  these  financial  statements,  however,  eventual 
additional deterioration in the credit cycle of the Company’s customers may impact the results and cash 
flows of the Company in the future. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

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Aiming to preventively strengthen its liquidity level during this period of high volatility, additionally to 
the strategies described in note 25 and to the active revolving credit facility (note 16.3), during March 
and  April  of  2020  the  Company  entered  into  credit  facilities  with  financial  institutions  in  Brazil  in  the 
aggregate  amount  of  approximately  R$1,400,000  and  maturity  of  one  year,  without  any  financial 
covenant clause. Considering the current liquidity level, the additional initiatives mentioned above and 
the perspectives for the short and medium term, management does not foresee significant impacts that 
could compromise the operating and financial capacity affecting the Company’s continuity. 

Due to the high volatility and uncertainty around the length of the impacts of the pandemic, the Company 
will continue monitoring the situation and evaluating the impacts on assumptions and estimates used in 
preparing our financial reporting. 

36.3  Temporary suspension of exports from Dois Vizinhos and Francisco Beltrão 

to Saudi Arabia 

On February 16, 2020, the Company became aware of an official note from the Saudi Food  and Drug 
Authority (“SFDA”), the Saudi Arabian sanitary authority, regarding a report suspending temporarily two 
of  the  Company's  plants  in  the  state  of  Paraná,  Dois  Vizinhos  and  Francisco  Beltrão,  from  exporting 
chicken  meat  to  the  Saudi  market.  The  Company  has  already  initiated  the  necessary adjustments  to 
redirect the production to its other plants, until the matter is duly clarified, considering that five plants 
maintain authorization to export to Saudi Arabia. 

The immediate impact of this measure for BRF is limited to the exports effected by the Dois Vizinhos 
plant, which was operating with an export volume of approximately 6 thousand tons per month to Saudi 
Arabia. The Francisco Beltrão plant had not been exporting any products to the Saudi market. 

The SFDA confirmed that the measure is temporary and requested from the Brazilian authorities, among 
other  measures,  more  details  about  the  investigations  carried  out  between  2014  and  2018  regarding 
alleged violations conducted by the Company in the production of feed and Premix. The Company has 
cooperated fully and continuously with Brazilian and international authorities in the clarification of the 
matter  and  does  not  tolerate  any  non-compliance  with  applicable  quality  or  integrity  standards  in  its 
production process. 

36.4  Purchase of remaining capital stock in Al Wafi Al Takamul 

On August 20, 2019, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary Badi Limited executed a Share Purchase 
Agreement with Al Takamul International Company for Commercial Investment Limited for the purchase 
of the remaining 25% of the capital stock that it did not own in Al Wafi Al Takamul International Company 
for Food Products Limited (“Wafi”), a company incorporated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia responsible 
for distributing BRF products in that country. The transaction closed on April  21, 2020 for an amount 
equivalent to R$100,390 thousand (USD19,000 thousand), at which point Wafi became a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Badi Limited. 
37  APPROVAL OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

The  consolidated  financial  statements  were  approved  and  their  issuance  authorized  by  the  Board  of 
Directors on April 23, 2020. 

BRF S.A. | 2019 AND 2018 CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

F-82