Malteries Soufflet (InVivo Group, France) → United Malt Group
completedMalteries Soufflet, the malting subsidiary of French agricultural cooperative group InVivo, entered a binding Scheme Implementation Deed to acquire 100% of ASX-listed United Malt Group for A$5.00 cash per share, valuing the deal at approximately A$1.5 billion. The United Malt board unanimously recommended the offer; the deal was announced 3 July 2023 and completed 15 November 2023, creating the world's largest maltster.
InVivo/Malteries Soufflet framed the acquisition as combining the world's second- and fourth-largest maltsters, lifting combined global annual malt production capacity by roughly 50% to 3.7 million tonnes and giving it a stronger footprint in the Asia-Pacific and North American craft/brewing markets.
The United Malt board accepted the offer after an initial non-binding approach in March 2023 was raised and firmed up; the A$5.00/share cash price represented a 45.3% premium to United Malt's last close of A$3.44 before the approach became public, which the board viewed as compelling certain value for shareholders versus standalone execution risk.
United Malt Group (ASX: UMG) shares jumped roughly 32% on the initial takeover approach in March 2023 and rose further (~9%) on confirmation of the binding scheme deed in July 2023, trading up toward the A$5.00 offer price.
Press coverage framed the deal as major consolidation in the global malting industry and a premium exit for United Malt shareholders after a period of operational underperformance and prior takeover speculation involving other suitors (including Malteurop).
Deal mechanics
Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE and Crédit Agricole CIB (financial) — advising Malteries Soufflet/InVivo
Macquarie Capital (financial); Allens (legal) — advising United Malt
All-cash acquisition of 100% of United Malt Group shares via an ASX/court-approved scheme of arrangement, at A$5.00 per share.
45.3% premium to last undisturbed closing share price of A$3.44 (24 March 2023)
Completed following regulatory clearances in Australia, the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Austria and Ukraine.
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Learn more
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- Creation of the world's largest maltster with the completion of the acquisition of United Malt Group by Malteries Soufflet
- Allens advises on $1.5b acquisition of United Malt Group
- United Malt share price rockets 32% on $1.5 billion takeover approach