Lactalis makes bid for 71% share in Parmalat

Parmalat’s share price rose on the Milan Stock Exchange by 11% on the release of the news. Unlised Lactalis, the biggest dairy group in Europe, is offering €2.60 a share for the 71% remaining shares, a 21% premium over Parmalat’s average share price over the past 12 months.

 

There is strong opposition in Italy to the takeover by Lactalis. The argument is that Parmalat is of strategic importance for the agro-food industry and must remain Italian.

 

In the last month several Italian companies have been taken over by French companies and there is raising concern in Rome that Italian industry is losing its champions to French multinationals.