Hatting-KS Enters Co-Ownership with Danish Crown
On 2 January 2013, in Randers, Danish Agro, Vestjyllands Andel, and Danish Crown announced their decision to bolster Hatting-KS via a new shared ownership structure. Through their joint subsidiary, Vilomix Holding A/S, Danish Agro and Vestjyllands Andel will acquire 60% of the shares in Hatting-KS, Europe's largest boar semen supplier. Danish Crown will maintain a 40% stake in the company, while Tican has chosen to sell its 8% shareholding. Hatting-KS is a significant player in the boar semen market and also engages in the sale of veterinary and farm supply products. Christian Junker, CEO of Danish Agro and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vilomix Holding A/S, is excited about the collaboration with Danish Crown and the upcoming challenges. He believes that Hatting-KS has a strong position in the Danish market and a highly competent management team. He is eager to support the company's ongoing development by contributing to its increased internationalisation, which is already a strategic focus area. He also anticipates significant synergies in the veterinary and farm supply activities in terms of distribution and purchasing, with the primary goal of enhancing their competitive strength in relation to Danish farmers. Per Nyby Pedersen, CEO of Hatting-KS, is also enthusiastic about the new partnership. He believes that the new ownership structure will significantly benefit Hatting-KS. In 2012, the company invested in activities in Germany, and the new partnership will enable them to further develop this business segment and reach more farmers. The new ownership structure brings both experience and expertise that will ultimately benefit farmers. Hatting-KS is no longer a core part of Danish Crown’s business, making this a logical step towards divesting the activities. Kjeld Johannesen, CEO of Danish Crown, is confident that Danish Agro will be able to further enhance Hatting-KS's development both nationally and internationally. He believes that Hatting-KS has significant potential that will be best realised in collaboration with Danish Agro and Vestjyllands Andel. He is confident that the agreement will ensure the best possible terms, optimal service, and professional sparring for Danish farmers in the future. The new agreement is pending final approval from the Danish competition authorities. For more information, please contact: Christian Junker CEO, Danish Agro Chairman of the Board of Directors, Vilomix Holding A/S Phone: +45 2030 5101 Per Nyby Pedersen CEO, Hatting-KS Phone: +45 2169 9229 Kjeld Johannesen CEO, Danish Crown Phone: +45 8919 1401 Hatting-KS is a leading European producer, supplier, and distributor of boar semen. The company also engages in activities within veterinary medicine, insemination articles, farm supply, and multimedia. Hatting-KS prioritises professional service, advanced logistics, fast deliveries, and high quality. The company sells its products in Europe, employs 266 people, and reported revenue of DKK 373 million in 2012. Danish Crown is Europe's largest pig slaughterhouse business and the world's largest pork exporter. The group is also Europe's largest meat-processing company and a significant player in the European beef market. Danish Crown employs 23,500 people worldwide and reported revenue of DKK 56.5 billion in the 2011/12 financial year. The Danish Agro group comprises several agro-industrial companies in Denmark and abroad. The group primarily engages in sales of feed mixes, raw material and vitamin mixes, fertilisers, crop protection, seed grain and energy, as well as the purchase of agricultural crops. The Danish Agro group employs approximately 3,300 people and expects to report revenue of approximately DKK 25 billion in 2013. Vilomix Holding A/S primarily engages in the production of vitamin and mineral mixes for the agricultural, grain, and feed industries in Denmark and abroad, as well as the sale of medicines, packed goods, and disinfection. The group employs 550 people in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. In 2013, it expects to report revenue of approximately DKK 2.2 billion. Vestjyllands Andel is a grain and feed company based in Western Jutland with 17 departments. The company primarily engages in the sale of feed mixes, raw material and vitamin mixes, fertilisers, crop protection, seed grain and energy, as well as the purchase of crops from the farming sector. Vestjyllands Andel employs approximately 130 people and expects to report revenue of approximately DKK 2 billion for 2012.
