SAO PAULO, July 14 (Reuters) - Brazilian pension fund

Previ said on Monday it sold its minority stake in Brazilian

meat processor BRF for 1.9 billion reais ($340.31

million), ending a 31-year investment in the group, according to

a statement on its website.

Previ, which represents workers from state-run lender Banco

do Brasil, said the move aims to avoid potential

negative impacts from the ongoing merger between BRF and Marfrig

. The pension fund added it will use the resources to

buy long-term local bonds from the Brazilian government.

($1 = 5.5832 reais)