The New Zealand Commerce Commission granted clearance for Ingham’s to acquire the assets of the Cobb and Riverland businesses of Bromley Park Hatcheries (BPH).
The two companies had entered an agreement in February in which Ingham’s would acquire those assets for NZ$8.6 million (US$5.34 million), but that agreement was subject to approval from the Commerce Commission.
Bromley Park Hatcheries is a producer of day-old chicks. Its operations include breeder farms and a hatchery. Bromley Park Hatcheries has three business units, the Cobb Commercial business (which sells day-old chicks to poultry growers and processors), the Riverland business (which sells Cobb parent stock to the Pacific Islands) and the Shaver/SXB business (which produces day-old chicks for egg production only).
Meanwhile, Ingham’s, which is headquartered in Australia but also has operations in New Zealand, produces day-old chicks for its own needs but does not sell them to third parties.
“Our assessment of the proposed acquisition focused on the supply of day-old chicks to poultry growers and processors. After careful consideration of all of the relevant factors, the commission is satisfied that the proposed acquisition is unlikely to substantially lessen competition when compared to the situation if the proposed acquisition does not proceed,” said Dr. John Small, chairman of the commission.
The two companies had already had a working relationship, as Ingham’s has depended on BPH as a third-party supplier of day-old chicks (DOC).
The acquisition of BPH will give Ingham’s the opportunity to become self-sufficient in meeting its DOC requirements, and also reduce network risk, improve hatchery contingency and position it for further growth, the company stated.
Headquartered in Liverpool, Australia, Ingham’s operates more than 340 vertically integrated facilities across Australia and New Zealand. According to the WATTpoultry.com Top Poultry Companies survey, it slaughtered 222.5 million broilers in 2021. The company is also involved in turkey production and it produces feed for poultry, horses, dairy cattle and pigs.
