Buttery prize
OPINION: Westland Milk may have won the contract to supply butter to Costco NZ but Open Country Dairy is having the last laugh when it comes to cashing in on NZ grass-fed butter.
The High Court today gave the final consent for Yili to take over the co-op from farmer shareholders for $588m.
The Overseas Investment Office (OIO) gave its blessings to the deal earlier this week.
The High Court decision means Westland shareholders will receive an immediate payment of $3.41/share in the company.
Yili already has a presence in New Zealand, after it acquired Oceania Dairy Group in 2013.
It has since invested approximately $660 million in establishing milk powder, infant formula and UHT production lines for Oceania.
Westland shareholders voted overwhelmingly to accept the Yili offer two weeks ago.
