Following merger approval by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), long-standing Burges Salmon client Yeo Valley has completed the disposal of Yeo Valley Dairies Limited to Arla Foods Limited.
The transaction gives the farmer-owned dairy cooperative the rights to use the Yeo Valley brand in milk, butter, spreadables and cheese under licence from Yeo Valley.
The Yeo Valley yogurt, ice cream, cream and desserts business will continue to be run independently through Yeo Valley Group, which remains under the ownership of the Mead family.
With one in four households now purchasing organic products, there is an opportunity for the dairy sector to convert more of its customers from standard to organic dairy. To fuel this growth and meet the growing needs of consumers requires investment in innovation and range, under both the Yeo Valley brand and Arla brand.
Tom Wright of Yeo Valley says: “This deal was first announced in February but completion of the transaction was not able to take place until we received merger approval from the CMA.
“That has now happened and we are delighted with the work the Burges Salmon team has done for us, right from the outset of the project, through to CMA clearance, and completion of the transaction, enabling us to progress our long-held ambition to grow the organic dairy sector in the UK.”
The Burges Salmon team was led by Nick Graves (Corporate) and Helen Scott-Lawler (IP and Commercial) with Chris Worrall leading on Competition and Ian Carnochan on Corporate Tax.