Israel-Bid for United States Kosher abattoir.

ISRAEL-SUITOR FOR WORLDS BIGGEST KOSHER ABATTOIR.

An Israeli food producer, Soglowek Nahariya Ltd., last week offered to pay $40 million cash for the assets of bankrupt kosher meatpacker Agriprocessors Inc., according to court documents filed over the weekend.

Joseph Sarachek, the bankruptcy trustee for Agriprocessors, filed a motion on Sunday asking the court to approve the "sale of substantially all of the assets, free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances, subject to higher and better offers."

According to the document, Soglowek made its offer on Jan. 21.

According to the Solon (Iowa)Gazette, at least 12 companies have been interested enough in buying Agriprocessors to sign confidentiality agreements with the trustee. If one of the other companies that have expressed interest ends up outbidding Solgowek in an auction, Soglowek would receive a $2 million breakup fee and reimbursement of up to $500,000 from the bankruptcy estate under an agreement proposed to the court.

With Soglowek’s bid on the books, the trustee is preparing to conduct an auction seeking a higher bid for Agriprocessors, the Postville, Iowa, plant that filed for bankruptcy in early November. Agents of Immigration and Customs Enforcement had raided the plant in May and arrested nearly one-third of its employee base; subsequently several executives, managers and employees of the company were arrested on various charges including fraud, harboring illegal immigrants and aiding and abetting identity theft.

Other bids for the company are due to the trustee by March 18. When all bids are received, the trustee will conduct an auction.

Soglowek is a 70-year-old company that is a large producer of a wide range of meat products, including pastramis, salamis, frankfurters, pizzas, frozen baked goods, meat substitutes and vegetarian products, according to the company’s Web site.