27 March 2012: Agricultural cooperatives
The Autorité de la concurrence clears - subject to commitments - the merger of the agricultural cooperative groups Champagne Céréales and Nouricia
Yesterday the Autorité de la concurrence issued a decision by which it clears – subject to commitments – the merger of the two cooperative groups Champagne Céréales and Nouricia which are active in the agricultural sector.
Through the merger with Nouricia, the second largest agricultural cooperative in the Champagne-Ardenne region, Champagne Céréales will significantly strengthen its position as the fifth largest agricultural cooperative in France in terms of turnover, and will bring together over 11,000 farmer members in the northeast quarter of France.
The Autorité de la concurrence considered that the transaction would not impede effective competition on the national and international markets bringing together cooperatives with third parties.
However, regarding local markets which bring together cooperatives and farmers, the Autorité seeks to ensure that farmers have a local choice of at least two suppliers of agricultural products (seeds, fertilizer, phytosanitary products). Similarly, farmers must retain a choice in terms of the collection of the crops they produce.
To this end, in view of the competitive situation in the agricultural crop supplies market in the département of Haute-Marne, the parties have agreed to review the terms of the cooperative relationships with their main competitor in this local market.
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