THE NETHERLANDS/SWEDEN/DENMARK – Arla Foods and Campina have put back their proposed merger.

It has emerged that before the merger can be presented to the companies’ boards, it will have to be referred to Danish authorities.

As a result, both companies have decided to postpone the merger vote, which was previously scheduled for 6 April. The proposal will now be put forward for the vote towards the end of April.

Arla chairman Knud Erik Jensen has admitted that they have simply run out of time. He said: “We had a tight timetable for the merger process. We cannot, however, provide the necessary clarification within the original time schedule.” He continued: “For such important matters we need time to have all unresolved issues addressed before we present the merger proposal.

This was backed up by Campina board chairman Kees Wantenaar, who said: “We set ourselves an exceptionally tight schedule and we’re now allowing ourselves a little more time.”