The Elders $475 million acquisition of Delta Ag shares is moving ahead following a final nod from the ACCC albeit with the divestment of six rural stores
The proposed Elders acquisition of Delta Ag will move ahead quickly now, following the intervention and approval of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), which has asked for six stores to be removed from the transfer.
While the ACCC announced that it would not oppose the acquisition by Elders Limited (Elders) acquiring all of the shares in Delta Agribusiness Pty Limited (Delta), the deal is subject to an undertaking that six Delta branches in Western Australia will be divested.
See how one of the biggest rural store acquisitions in recent times unfolded on this link.
The Delta stores as part of the divestment are located in Dalwallinu, Kalannie, Albany, Manypeaks, Wellstead and Hyden WA.
Both Delta locations at Dalwallinu and Kalannie will be purchased by Independent Rural Pty Ltd, a family-owned business operating in the mid north-west of Western Australia that operates existing stores at Geraldton, Perenjori and Northampton WA.
While the four Delta stores at Albany, Manypeaks, Wellstead and Hyden WA will be purchased by EE Muir & Sons Pty Ltd, which already operates 42 stores in rural and regional Australia, including locations in Perth, Corrigan and Manjimup in Western Australia.
Following the ACCC undertaking request, the acquisition of Delta by Elders is now expected to be completed on 3 November 2025.
Elders Managing Director and CEO, Mark Allison has this to say, “We are pleased with the outcome of the ACCC’s deliberation and delighted to welcome Delta into the Elders Group.
“Elders has always maintained that the transaction with Delta will not lessen competition in rural merchandise markets in Australia and will ultimately benefit farmers. Our commitment is to maintain Delta’s independence and support its people to continue to deliver for clients.
“We are confident that our light-touch integration approach, combined with both companies’ deep local knowledge and community connections, will foster a robust and responsive agricultural service that ultimately supports customers to thrive in a competitive operating landscape.
“The acquisition of Delta will provide Elders with a range of benefits that aim to have a flow-on effect on affect to clients, including allowing greater access to an expanded product and services range, stronger supply partnerships, enhanced expertise, and greater collaborative innovation efforts,” Mark Allison expressed.
Delta Managing Director and Co-Founder Gerard Hines added, “This transaction is the culmination of a thorough two-year process to find the right long-term shareholder for Delta Ag. With Elders, we have found a partner that shares our values and our commitment to supporting farming families and regional communities.
Our staff, customers, and suppliers can be confident that it will be business as usual – only with the added strength and opportunities that come from being part of a larger national group,” Gerard Hines concluded.
