mmg.com.au

Major Goulburn Valley agronomy company I.K. Caldwell has announced a merger with NSW-based AGnVET Services.

The merger will take effect from March 1, and both companies are saying they expect operations to be business as usual.

I.K. Caldwell was established by Keith Caldwell in 1960, and Jack Pither joined him in 1962.

Mr Pither will sit on the new board.

AGnVET Services is a 97-year-old family-owned private company serving growers in central and southern NSW.

Both companies are members of the marketing company AgLink, which has 23 members supplying inputs and agronomic expertise to farmers around Australia. The merged entity will have about 50 branches and 300 staff, including 80 agronomists.

Jack Pither is pleased with the announcement and said the merger ticked all the boxes for him and his family.

‘‘The I.K. Caldwell name will remain trading. My staff, who are like family to me, are being looked after, customers won’t see any changes to the way we transact business with them, and my family will continue to have a significant shareholding in a growing successful rural supply company in AGnVET,’’ Mr Pither said.

‘‘My friendship and respect for Michael Walker and Mark Giffin will now extend into the boardroom, and I am very happy about that.

‘‘As I reduce my day-to-day involvement in managing the business I know that Mark and his team will do a great job in continuing to grow the business.

‘‘I am also very pleased that I K Caldwell can remain in independent hands.’’

AGnVET managing director Mark Giffin said Mr Pither had run his company with similar philosophies to theirs: ‘‘Namely — look after your staff and customers first, and if weather conditions are favourable then the sales will follow’’.