Thursday, 19 November 2015 10:17

Fonterra exits US joint venture

Written by 

Fonterra will sell its 50% interest in DairiConcepts, the co-op's US joint venture with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA).

DFA will purchase Fonterra's 50% interest on 31 December 2015 for a price of approximately $196 million (subject to foreign exchange conversion adjustments and customary closing adjustments).

The DairiConcepts partnership was established in 2000 when Fonterra contributed its US dairy/cheese flavours business and DFA contributed a number of cheese and cheese-powder assets.

Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings says the transaction did not impact the longstanding relationship with DFA. Fonterra and DFA were both founding members of the Global Dairy Platform and had a shared interest in promoting the growth in global dairy consumption and the further development of cooperative dairy farming. Fonterra had decided to exit the partnership as it was considered to be a non-core component of its strategy.

"We still value our relationship with DFA, however, as the DairiConcepts business is almost completely stand-alone operationally, we have agreed that it would be simpler for one of the partners to buy the other out.

"The US remains a key part of our global multi-hub strategy and this divestment does not prevent Fonterra from exploring new growth opportunities for this milk pool.

"A long-term supply agreement we have reached as part of the sale, means our US milk pool will continue to meet value add customer demand through our NZMP brand."

More like this

Fonterra's Whareroa Wins Directors Award

Fonterra's Whareroa site took home the prestigious Directors Award at the co-op's 'Oscars of Manufacturing', while Clandeboye led the way with multiple wins at this year's Best Site Cup.

Smith V Fonterra

OPINION: To a chorus of crying greenies, and not a minute too soon, the Government has moved to put the courts back in their place through proposed amendments to the Climate Change Response Act 2002, intending to limit climate litigation claims such as Smith v Fonterra, in the interests of providing greater certainty for vital industry.

Featured

Pāmu Opens Farm Gates for Summer Open Farm Days

State farmer Pāmu is opening its farm gates this summer in an effort to give the rural sector the opportunity to see how large-scale, multi-system farming is delivering productivity and profitability across New Zealand.

DairyNZ: Waikato Farmers Need Certainty on PC1 Rules

DairyNZ says Waikato farmers need certainty on Plan Change 1, but they say that certainty must be matched with practical, workable rules and a clear transition that doesn't get ahead of the new resource management system currently under review.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

Milking It

Taking On Winnie

OPINION: No one messes around with Winston Peters, more so in a general election year.

Full of Surprises

OPINION: Staying on Federated Farmers, this week's annual general meeting in Auckland is shaping up to be an interesting one.

» Connect with Dairy News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter