ForFarmers Group Works Council had already approved the deal. The transfer of shares will take place on 11 July, at which point BOCM Pauls will form part of the ForFarmers Group.

Through the acquisition of the activities of BOCM Pauls, ForFarmers will become the largest feed company in Europe with:

• 8.8 million of tonnes of feed, of which 6.5 million tonnes is compound feed and 2.3 million tonnes is straights and co-products.
• 2,500 employees
• Turnover of €6.6 billion.

Following the acquisition, Iain Gardner, currently BOCM Pauls’ Chief Operating Officer, will assume responsibility for the operational management of BOCM Pauls as Chief Executive.

Following the transfer of shares, Mr Gardner will also join the ForFarmers Group board. Bill Mayne and James Powell will remain with the business as Chairman and Finance Director and continue to contribute their knowledge and expertise as members of the Agricola board.

BOCM Pauls will continue to operate in the market in the same successful way as it has done in the past. With its “Total Feed Business” concept, the company is capable of supplying animal nutrition in whatever form required by its customers, with the focus on maximising farmer customer profitability.

By exploiting economies of scale, the ForFarmers Group aims to continue its ambition of maximising its contribution to farm yields and returns. The basis for this approach is a combination of maximum efficiency and the optimum use of knowledge and technical expertise.

ForFarmers aims to be one of the best and biggest customer-orientated suppliers of farm animal feed in Europe. This takeover fits in with its basic strategy of becoming better by growing.