Arla's branded dairy portfolio is expected to get a cash injection if the recommended 71p-a-share take-over bid from its biggest shareholder goes through.
Danish-Swedish dairy co-op Arla amba already owns 51% of Arla Foods UK and has been in talks since October over the acquisition of the remaining 49%.
The offer, which values the company at about £434m, has been delayed since the autumn because of negotiations over Arla Foods' pension fund deficit.
One analyst in the City said Arla would be foolish to make big changes to Arla Foods because returns on liquid milk were looking up and its Cravendale, Lurpak and Anchor brands were also performing well. But in a statement, Arla amba boss Peter Tuborgh said it wanted to achieve leadership on speciality cheese, butters and spreads in the UK.
He promised more investment in NPD and relations with farmers, pointing out that as a private company it would no longer have to pay dividends.
Danish-Swedish dairy co-op Arla amba already owns 51% of Arla Foods UK and has been in talks since October over the acquisition of the remaining 49%.
The offer, which values the company at about £434m, has been delayed since the autumn because of negotiations over Arla Foods' pension fund deficit.
One analyst in the City said Arla would be foolish to make big changes to Arla Foods because returns on liquid milk were looking up and its Cravendale, Lurpak and Anchor brands were also performing well. But in a statement, Arla amba boss Peter Tuborgh said it wanted to achieve leadership on speciality cheese, butters and spreads in the UK.
He promised more investment in NPD and relations with farmers, pointing out that as a private company it would no longer have to pay dividends.
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