Chinese dairy giant eyes takeover

Chinese dairy company Mengniu announced yesterday it had made a takeover offer for Australian infant formula producer Bellamy’s in a deal valued at around US$1 billion. Hong Kong-listed Mengniu has been eyeing global expansion in recent years, and said it was drawn by the Australian group’s local operations and supply chain, as well as its “leading organic brand position”.

“Our sales growth ambitions for Bellamy’s in Australia, and the broader Asia Pacific region, will see investment in the local dairy industry to ensure the required capacity is in place to achieve these plans,” Mengniu CEO Lu Minfang said in a statement to the Australian Stock Exchange yesterday.

Under the proposed deal, Mengniu would pay AUS$12.65 ($8.69) per share plus a shareholder dividend, marking a 59 percent premium on Bellamy’s Friday closing share price. Bellamy’s CEO Andrew Cohen said that Mengniu offered a “strong platform for distribution and success in China”, The board of directors at the Australian group have given their support to the takeover, which still needs to receive approval from the company’s shareholders and Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board.