Vion N.V. (Son en Breugel) announces that it has reached an agreement in principle with Koninklijke Smilde B.V. on the takeover of Gebr. Smilde.
The proposed deal involves all Smilde business units - two sites in the Netherlands (Eindhoven and Harlingen), six sites in Germany (Bakum, Elsholz, Erolzheim, Gelsenkirchen, Kassel and Versmold-Bockhorst) and one site in Austria (Salzburg). The acquisition gives Vion a position on the market for animal fats for human consumption.
According to Dirk Kloosterboer, representing the Ingredients Division on the Executive Board at Vion, the acquisition of Gebr. Smilde fits in with Vions ambition to provide best quality in slaughter by-products on the market. Up to now, Vion has not had any active participation in the market for animal fats, which are suitable for human consumption.
Jasper Knoester, managing director of Koninklijke Smilde, said that the concern is now shifting its strategic focus towards fully or almost ready-made consumer products for various target groups, such as the professional processing, retail, food service and business-to-business sectors.
The proposed acquisition has been submitted to the German and Austrian competition authorities. The respective Works Councils at Vion and Gebr. Smilde have been asked to give their advice.
Vion with its divisions Ingredients, Fresh Meat and Convenience has an annual turnover of EUR 7.4 billion and provides employment to 15,150 employees worldwide.
Gebr. Smilde as part of the Royal Smilde Food Group employs a workforce of approx. 200 and processes animal fats into high-quality material for the human and animal food-processing industry.
The proposed deal involves all Smilde business units - two sites in the Netherlands (Eindhoven and Harlingen), six sites in Germany (Bakum, Elsholz, Erolzheim, Gelsenkirchen, Kassel and Versmold-Bockhorst) and one site in Austria (Salzburg). The acquisition gives Vion a position on the market for animal fats for human consumption.
According to Dirk Kloosterboer, representing the Ingredients Division on the Executive Board at Vion, the acquisition of Gebr. Smilde fits in with Vions ambition to provide best quality in slaughter by-products on the market. Up to now, Vion has not had any active participation in the market for animal fats, which are suitable for human consumption.
Jasper Knoester, managing director of Koninklijke Smilde, said that the concern is now shifting its strategic focus towards fully or almost ready-made consumer products for various target groups, such as the professional processing, retail, food service and business-to-business sectors.
The proposed acquisition has been submitted to the German and Austrian competition authorities. The respective Works Councils at Vion and Gebr. Smilde have been asked to give their advice.
Vion with its divisions Ingredients, Fresh Meat and Convenience has an annual turnover of EUR 7.4 billion and provides employment to 15,150 employees worldwide.
Gebr. Smilde as part of the Royal Smilde Food Group employs a workforce of approx. 200 and processes animal fats into high-quality material for the human and animal food-processing industry.
Source: Vion N.V.