Nichol is new PGW chair
A day after the ouster of PGG Wrightson’s chair and his deputy, the listed rural trader’s board has appointed John Nichol as the new independent chair.
PGW chief executive Stephen Guerin says the acquisition reinforces PGW’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing.
Rural supply business PGG Wrightson Ltd has bought animal health products manufacturer Nexan Group for $20 million.
The transaction will be settled later this month.
PGW's wholesale trading division, Agritrade, is the exclusive distributor of the Nexan animal health product range in New Zealand.
PGW chief executive Stephen Guerin says the acquisition reinforces PGW's commitment to supporting local manufacturing.
"Agritrade, the wholesale trading division of PGW, has maintained a strong relationship with Nexan for over a decade, playing a key role in building its Vetmed brand from the ground up to establish a track record of proven performance that is supported by a growing customer following," says Guerin.
Through Agritrade, PGW continues to distribute Nexan's full product range, which has expanded over the years to include additional brands such as Active+, Cervidae, Farma, and Centramax.
Current owners and directors of Nexan, Gary Harrison and Jon Petherick, say they are proud of Nexan's contribution to supporting New Zealand farmers through the manufacture and supply of locally made animal health remedies, including veterinary products and pharmaceuticals.
"Joining PGW marks an exciting new chapter for Nexan, one that will allow us to continue building on that legacy with even greater reach and capability, while staying committed to innovation and serving rural communities.
"There has been a strong and positive relationship between the Nexan and PGW teams for many years now and this seems to us like a natural progression of that relationship."
Guerin says the acquisition is the perfect fit for their business, and it ensures Nexan's trusted range of products will remain New Zealand made, backed by local expertise, and aligned with the needs of rural communities.
"By keeping the Nexan brand and operations within the country, we are safeguarding local jobs, R&D, knowledge and capability, while further strengthening our ability to support on-farm productivity," he says.
"This acquisition is not just about growth; it is about ensuring New Zealand farmers have access to locally developed and produced products that drive profitability and sustainability on-farm."
Guerin says the acquisition is a positive step forward in PGW's mission to champion local agribusiness and deliver genuine value to farmers.
BNZ says it is backing aspiring dairy farmers through an innovative new initiative that helps make the first step to farm ownership or sharemilking a little easier.
LIC chief executive David Chin says meeting the revised methane reduction targets will rely on practical science, smart technology, and genuine collaboration across the sector.
Lincoln University Dairy Farm will be tweaking some management practices after an animal welfare complaint laid in mid-August, despite the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) investigation into the complaint finding no cause for action.
A large slice of the $3.2 billion proposed capital return for Fonterra farmer shareholders could end up with the banks.
Opening a new $3 million methane research barn in Waikato this month, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay called on the dairy sector to “go as fast as you can and prove the concepts”.
New Zealand’s trade with the European Union has jumped $2 billion since a free trade deal entered into force in May last year.

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