SAO PAULO, May 13 (Reuters) - Global Eggs, a group

controlled by Brazilian entrepreneur Ricardo Faria, has

completed its $1.1 billion acquisition of U.S. egg producer

Hillandale Farms, just weeks after closing a new deal in Europe,

Faria told Reuters on Tuesday.

Last month, Global Eggs signed an agreement to acquire

Spanish company Granja Legaria, Faria said, adding that Legaria

has about 350,000 birds. He did not disclose the value of the

deal.

Global Eggs will now focus on ramping up its U.S. production

while pursuing further broadening its European presence, Faria

said, adding he is in talks with other egg producers in Europe.

Last November Global Eggs acquired Spain's Grupo Hevo.

"We are really happy with Europe and very upbeat with our

operation in the U.S.," he said.

Hillandale is among the top five egg producers in the U.S.

and currently raises about 20 million laying hens.

"Our commitment to the U.S. consumer is to increase the

flock by one million birds in a year," said Faria.

The United States is currently grappling with an egg

shortage following a bird flu outbreak that has killed nearly

170 million chickens, turkeys and other birds since 2022,

leading the U.S. to increase egg imports from Turkey, Brazil and

South Korea.