Dairy shake-up thickens.

Australasian Business Intelligence, June, 2002

Jun 05, 2002 (The Australian

ABIX via COMTEX) -- Paris-based dairy company Groupe Danone has become the second-largest shareholder in Australia's National Foods. The French company purchased 29.15 million National Foods shares at $A3.50 each on 5 June 2002. This is a 14 per cent premium to the stock's closing price on the day before the sale. This transaction gives Groupe Danone a 10.1 per cent share of National Foods. New Zealand's Fonterra has an 18 per cent share and Australia's largest dairy company, Dairy Farmers has a nine per cent interest. Groupe Danone's share purchase has surprised the dairy foods industry in Australasia and there will be much speculation about the future ownership of National Foods as rationalisation in the industry continues....

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