Fane Valley and Lakeland Dairies finalise Deal

Lakeland Dairies has acquired the County Down based Fane Valley Dairies business after reaching a final agreement on a deal structure from Monday, May 1. 

This simplified deal structure is considered to be a better option than the originally proposed strategic joint ventures, announced previously in August 2015, which would have involved both the dairy and agri-business interests ofthe respective businesses. 

Michael Hanley, chief executive of Lakeland Dairies, said the agreement 'represents a major step forward for the industry' and for Lakeland Dairies.

'The move will reinforce our continuing commitment to pay the highest possible milk price to all our milk producers through continuing innovation, efficiency and excellence in everything we do. We look forward to working with our colleagues in Fane Valley to progress the mutual success of our milk suppliers in the years ahead.

“The strategic rationale behind Lakeland Dairies and Fane Valley co-operating to advance the interests of their respective businesses is as strong today as it was in August 2015. It is extremely positive that the Boards of both co-operatives have had the foresight to recognise the limitations of the initially proposed Joint Venture arrangements and the courage to adapt and revise their approach.

“The current market environment is undoubtedly challenging both for producers and processors. However we have a strong ambition, in Lakeland, to further strengthen our position in global markets as a leading provider of high quality foodservice products and dairy food ingredients.'

Deliver

Trevor Lockhart, chief executive of the Banbridge based Fane Valley said: “Fane Valley and Lakeland Dairies are absolutely convinced that the interests of their respective milk suppliers will be better served in a combined business which can deliver greater economies of scale and enhanced market capability.

“The option to deliver this through a joint venture model has been the subject of an in depth assessment by both co-operatives working closely together for 8 months. In the end, it was evident that some of the complexities involved in establishing and operating a cross-border JV of this nature were going to detract from the key strategic purpose of the merger and the ability to fully realise all commercial synergies. Accordingly, Fane Valley has opted not to take up a shareholding in Lakeland Dairies Co-operative Society as was intended in the original JV proposal. 

“The principal goal of Fane Valley has been to create a dairy business which is better positioned to deliver maximum returns to milk suppliers in the years ahead. Recognising this, the Board has decided to focus its attention on supporting Lakeland to drive forward the expanded dairy business.

Referring further to the new way forward, Trevor Lockhart continued: “Our collective priority over the coming months will be to achieve the successful transition and integration of the Fane Valley dairy business within Lakeland Dairies. In view of the importance of this task we have decided that the proposed agribusiness Joint Venture would prove a distraction from the main goal, and that will not be advanced.

He added: “Fane Valley will continue to develop and invest in its wider agriculture and food related businesses.”