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Silver Fern Farms chairman Eoin Garden has asked shareholders of rival meat processor Alliance Group to support a merger of the co-operatives.
Silver Fern Farms has agreed to sell half of itself to listed rural services business PGG Wrightson for $220 million, for which 75 per cent shareholder support is needed at a meeting on September 8. Garden wrote to the shareholders: "This week we have written to your directors to formally request they re-enter meaningful discussions, in good faith, to merge Alliance Group and Silver Fern Farms.
"We would like to start this as soon as possible after Silver Fern Farms shareholder approval is gained for our partnership with PGG Wrightson.
"We encourage you to give your support . . and make your views known to your Alliance directors."
A merger could give farmers a 65 per cent holding of the new entity, with PGG Wrightson holding 35 per cent.
