Brazil food companies Marfrig and BRF to merge, says source

SAO PAULO, May 15 (Reuters) - Brazilian food companies Marfrig MRFG3.SA and BRF BRFS3.SA are expected to announce a merger involving a share swap this evening, a source briefed on the matter told Reuters on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been made public yet.

The companies are eyeing annual synergies over 800 million real ($140.80 million) from their tie-up. The name of the new company created by Marfrig and BRF will be MBRF, the person said.

($1 = 5.6817 reais)