Merger gets government go-ahead

The mega merger between New Zealand Dairy Group and Kiwi Co-operative Dairies has been given the all-clear by the New Zealand government.
Prime Minister Helen Clarke ruled that the regulatory package put forward does not compromise either the industry’s commercial aims or the government’s public policy objectives.
The merger is subject to a shareholder vote with trading due to start in the new season, which begins on 1 June. If approved, it will create the world’s 14th largest dairy, fully owned and controlled by New Zealand farmers. It will trade under the name Global Dairy Company.