“This is a crucial time in agriculture, and Canadian farmers are facing ever-increasing pressures, including the continued drive to produce more with fewer resources,” says Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “Masterfeeds provides the on-farm support that is critical to Canada’s farmers and ranchers. This new opportunity will enable more efficient delivery of superior animal nutrition and tailored feeding programs, supported by robust scientific research.”

Masterfeeds further strengthens Alltech’s presence in Canada by creating one of the country’s largest animal nutrition offerings. Alltech, Masterfeeds and EMF Nutrition, another Alltech-owned Canadian company, employ approximately 700 Canadians, operating 25 feed manufacturing and premix facilities, nine retail locations and seven distribution centers in a business spanning the entire country.

Masterfeeds will continue to be headquartered in London, Ontario, and led by its current CEO, Rob Flack. In addition, Alltech’s own entity, Alltech Canada, remains headquartered in Guelph, Ontario, serving the entire Canadian feed industry.

“I am confident that Masterfeeds’ future is bright under the ownership of Alltech. Our growth strategies will continue to be supported, creating opportunities both in Canada and abroad for our family of employees,” says Flack.

The combined company will have a presence in 128 countries with more than 4,700 employees worldwide. Both parties expect the acquisition to result in significant new synergies over time.

Completion of the acquisition is expected by year-end and is subject to the execution of typical conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Alltech has more than tripled its sales in the last three years and is on target to achieve $4 billion USD in sales in the next few years. Since 2011, Alltech has completed 13 acquisitions successfully, with Masterfeeds becoming its 14th. This is the company’s second major acquisition in North America this year, following that of Ridley Inc. It is also Alltech’s second acquisition of a company headquartered in Canada, following the success in acquiring EMF Nutrition in 2013.  PD

—From Alltech and Masterfeeds Inc. news release