New Zealand's Fonterra to sell stakes in two China farms for US$62 million
Fonterra Co-Operative Group said on Monday (Jun 28) it'll sell its stakes in two joint-venture farms in China's Shandong province to Singapore-based AustAsia Investment Holdings for NZ$88 million (US$62 million).
The sale comes amid a retreat by the world's greatest dairy exporter since 2019 from an ill-fated overseas expansion that drew sharp criticism from its 10,000-plus farmer-shareholders.
Fonterra, which owns 51 % of both farms, said the sale isn't at the mercy of any regulatory approvals and is unconditional.
AustAsia, 75 per cent owned by Singaporean agri-food company Japfa, will buy the farms outright for US$115.5 million, with the difference being paid to Fonterra's jv partner, the New Zealand co-operative said.
"Greater China is still one of our most significant strategic markets. We remain committed to our China business," CEO Miles Hurrell said in a statement.
The dairy giant in April sold two fully owned farms in China to Inner Mongolia Youran Dairy for NZ$552 million.
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
