NEWS 88 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE October 2022 Merck Animal Health to acquire Vence Atria aims to improve competitiveness of poultry business in Finland Merck Animal Health, known as MSD Animal Health outside of the United States and Canada, a division of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., USA, announced that it signed a definitive agreement under which Merck Animal Health will acquire Vence from its founders and shareholders. Vence is an innovator in virtual fencing for rotational grazing and livestock management. Vence, a privately held company, provides enhanced technology for producers and ranchers to track, monitor and manage the movement of cattle through a high-tech platform of virtual fencing solutions. Using a computer or smartphone, customers have the capability to manage cattle movement and facilitate rotational grazing. Vence’s virtual fencing technology can reduce the need for fencing to subdivide pastures and allows producers and ranchers to manage their cattle and grass inventory, while reducing costs of labor and fencing materials. Vence technology is currently available in the United States and parts of Australia. The acquisition is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2022, subject to customary closing conditions. Specific terms of the agreement were not disclosed. “The acquisition of Vence will broaden our portfolio with complementary products and technologies to advance animal health and well-being as well as outcomes for our customers,” said Rick DeLuca, President, Merck Animal Health. Atria PLC, one of the leading meat and food companies in Northern Europe, is planning some measures to improve the competitiveness of its poultry business in Finland. The company is launching a development programme to improve the competitiveness and profitability of its poultry business, which will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, Atria will start negotiations on changes in the poultry unit in Sahalahti in accordance with the collective redundancy law. The possible closure of the Sahalahti plant will be considered in the change negotiations. The change negotiations concern the entire workforce of the Sahalahti plant, approximately 130 people. Atria's other production sites are not affected by the change negotiations to be launched. With the planned measures, Atria is aiming at total annual savings of around EUR 5 million. The savings are expected to be realised from the end of 2024 onwards. In the second phase, negotiations will be launched in accordance with the collective redundancy law in the Nurmo poultry unit. The aim of these negotiations is to prepare for the commissioning of the new poultry plant and to prepare for the renewal of work tasks and working practices. Merck Animal Health will acquire Vence, an innovator in virtual fencing for rotational grazing and livestock management.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTUxNjkxNQ==