Recently in takeovers and mergers Category

First Milk has bought Manchester based sports nutrition company CNP Professional, which it describes as market leading and profitable. CNP was founded in 1998 and is official nutritional supplier to the British cycling team.

CNP operates in a rapidly growing market, says First Milk, which is not disclosing any financial details of the deal. “Last September we set up a joint venture with the New Zealand company Fonterra to produce premium whey proteins to go into functional food products for consumers across Europe,” said First Milk chairman Bill Mustoe.

“That experience and the growth projections on functional foods sharpened our interest. We were particularly attracted to the sports nutrition sector where the market in Britain has more than doubled in the last 5 years, with this strong growth predicted to be maintained over the next 5 years.

“With the acquisition of CNP Professional, we believe that we have invested in a strong company in a rapidly growing sector, and all of this will allow us to drive more cash for our farmer shareholders.”

 
 

Devon auctioneers Rendells and Sawdye & Harris will be joining forces under the name Newton Abbot Livestock Auctioneers to run Newton Abbot Livestock Market.

The market, which was built in 1938, was previously used by both firms to trade separately.

The arrangement will come into effect on 29 February and the first sale will be of cattle from TB restricted farms.

Frontier has bought Kent-based specialist agronomy business The Agronomy Partnership (TAP).

The UK’s largest crop input and marketing company has added several agronomy businesses to its stable over the last two years and this move will mean it now has 97 agronomists.

TAP will continue to be based in Wrotham, will keep the TAP name and operate as usual. Martin Dear, director, said this decision would secure funding for future growth and technology investment for customers.