BRF Brasil Foods has been placed second in the ranking of the Best Companies for Shareholders in the category of companies with a market value of more than 15 billion real (BRR) and obtained the highest mark – 10 – in Corporate Governance among those companies which received awards from the magazine Capital Aberto. Corporate governance was one of the five aspects assessed in the award, along with liquidity, value creation, return on equity and dividends, and sustainability.

This was the sixth edition of the award 'The Best Companies for Shareholders' created by Capital Aberto, which is an important specialised magazine in capital markets which has a partnership with Stern Stewart do Brasil. A total of nine companies were awarded in three categories related to the five aspects mentioned above. The winners presented the most outstanding results for their shareholders compared to many other companies that also registered good performances in the periods under consideration (2009, 2010 and part of 2011).

The information used to calculate the Corporate Governance score came from a research undertaken by FIPECAFI's Corporate Governance Studies Center, based on published documents sent to the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM) and investor relations sites. The research was coordinated by Professor Dr. Alexandre Di Miceli da Silveira of FEA-USP, a respected academic person in the areas of finance and corporate governance.

Three companies were chosen in each category: those with a market value of up to BRR5 billion (Odontoprev, Marcopolo and Brookfield); from BRR5 billion to BRR15 billion (Sulamérica, Duratex and Lojas Renner); and above BRR15 billion (Natura, BRF Brasil Foods and Bradesco).

BRF was also outstanding in the Sustainability area as it belongs to the Business Sustainability Index (ISE) of the São Paulo Stock Exchange (BM&FBOVESPA). Among the various initiatives promoted by the company are the following: management of water resources, with a permanent programme for the reuse of water, and energy efficiency.