All North Carolina operations of a chicken processor bought out of bankruptcy earlier this year are closing, leaving more than 1,000 people jobless.
The closure of the Townsends plants in Siler City and Mocksville also ends contracts with about 200 chicken farmers in four counties, the News & Observer of Raleigh reported Saturday.
Ukrainian billionaire Oleg Bakhmatyuk bought Townsends' North Carolina assets out of bankruptcy in February for $25 million. Officials for the U.S. shell corporation he created, Omtron, hoped to turn a profit through cost-cutting and exporting dark meat, which brings higher prices outside the United States. The company spent millions upgrading the North Carolina facilities.
But the 36-year-old billionaire decided this week to shut down operations and take his losses.
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