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Fonterra agrees sale of Consumer and associated businesses

M&A21 August 2025FSFConsumer Staples

22 August 2025

Fonterra agrees sale of Consumer and associated businesses


• Fonterra has agreed to sell its Consumer and associated businesses to Lactalis for $3.845

billion NZD

• Sale is subject to certain conditions, including Fonterra farmer shareholder approval,

separation of the businesses and receipt of regulatory approvals

• Farmer shareholder vote to occur in late October or early November with Notice of Meeting

to be issued in October

• Fonterra targeting a tax free capital return of $2.00 dollars per share

• Sale includes long-term agreement for Fonterra to sell milk and ingredients to Lactalis

• Subject to the satisfaction of conditions, the sale is expected to complete in the first half of

2026

• Fonterra’s FY25 earnings guidance of 65-75 cents per share remains unchanged


Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd today announced it has agreed the sale of its global Consumer

and associated businesses to Lactalis for $3.845 billion, subject to certain customary financial

adjustments and conditions including approval by farmer shareholders, separating the businesses

being sold from Fonterra, and receipt of certain final regulatory approvals.


The sale comprises Fonterra’s global Consumer business (excluding Greater China) and

Consumer brands; the integrated Foodservice and Ingredients businesses in Oceania and Sri

Lanka; and the Middle East and Africa Foodservice business.


In addition to the base enterprise value of $3.845 billion, there is potential for a further $375 million

increase from the inclusion of the Bega licences held by Fonterra’s Australian business, which if

progressed would take the headline enterprise value of the transaction up to $4.220 billion.


The Co-op is targeting a tax free capital return of $2.00 dollars per share, which is approximately

$3.2 billion, following completion of the sale.


As part of the sale agreement, Fonterra will continue to supply milk and other products to the

divested businesses, meaning New Zealand farmers’ milk will still be found in iconic dairy brands

including Anchor and Mainland.


Fonterra Chairman Peter McBride says over the last 15 months, the Board has thoroughly tested

the terms and value of both a trade sale and initial public offering (IPO) as divestment options.


“Following a highly competitive sale process with multiple interested bidders, the Fonterra Board is

confident a sale to Lactalis is the highest value option for the Co-op, including over the long-term.


“Alongside a strong valuation for the businesses being divested, the sale allows for a full

divestment of the assets by Fonterra, and a faster return of capital to the Co-op’s owners, when

compared with an IPO.

Fonterra Co-operative Group
Page 2


“This, coupled with the firm belief we have in Fonterra’s long-term strategy, gives the Board the

confidence to unanimously recommend this divestment to shareholders for approval,” says Mr

McBride.


Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says the sale agreement represents a great outcome for the Co-op.

“As the world’s largest dairy company, Lactalis has the scale required to take these brands and

businesses to the next level. Fonterra farmers will continue to benefit from their success, with

Lactalis to become one of our most significant Ingredients customers.


“At the same time, a divestment of these businesses will allow Fonterra to deliver further value for

farmer shareholders and New Zealand by focusing on our world leading Ingredients and

Foodservice businesses, through which we sell innovative products to more than 100 countries

around the world, from our home base here in New Zealand,” says Mr Hurrell.


Lactalis CEO Emmanuel Besnier says “with this acquisition, we significantly strengthen our

strategy across Oceania, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Combining the Fonterra consumer

business operations and market leading brands with our existing footprint in Australia and Asia will

allow Lactalis to further grow its position in key markets. I'm delighted to become a key partner to

Fonterra over the long term as well as I'm looking forward to welcoming new teams to the Lactalis

family."


Terms of sale agreement


The divestment comprises the sale of shares in Mainland Group Holdings Limited, a New Zealand

incorporated holding company that is currently owned by Fonterra.


The inclusion of the Bega licences held by Fonterra’s Australian business would be confirmed

once a dispute with Bega Cheese Limited is resolved. If for some reason the Bega licences are not

included in the sale, Fonterra expects to receive a fair value payment from Bega for the licences

which would need to be determined at the time.


Under the terms relating to the sale, Fonterra will continue to supply raw milk, dairy ingredients and

products to the divested businesses under long-term supply agreements.


Alongside shareholder approval, the divestment is conditional on final regulatory approvals being

received from the Overseas Investment Office in New Zealand, the Foreign Investment Review

Board in Australia, as well as relevant competition regulators and foreign direct investment

regulators in certain countries including Kuwait, New Caledonia and Saudi Arabia.


In July 2025, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission announced it would not oppose

the proposed acquisition by Lactalis in Australia.


The divestment is also conditional on separation of the businesses from Fonterra and no material

adverse change arising before completion.


Subject to satisfaction of all conditions, the transaction is expected to complete in the first half of

the 2026 calendar year.


Shareholder vote and capital return process


Fonterra will now seek farmer shareholder approval to divest the businesses by ordinary resolution

at a Special Meeting to be held in late October or early November.


The Notice of Meeting will be issued in early October and will contain information on the impact of

the divestment on Fonterra’s financial shape as well as the proposed capital return.


Payment of the capital return would be subject to a separate shareholder vote following completion

of the sale and receipt of proceeds in New Zealand. The amount of the capital return would be

confirmed ahead of the capital return shareholder vote.

Fonterra Co-operative Group
Page 3



Fonterra’s outlook


Mr McBride says “the Board’s decision to pursue a divestment followed a strategic review, through

which we examined the context we operate in, our strengths, and how as a Co-op we create value

for farmers.

“By far, we do this best through our Ingredients and Foodservice businesses, which collectively

generate the majority of our returns to shareholders through both the Farmgate Milk Price and

dividends.”


Mr Hurrell says “the targets and policy settings Fonterra released alongside its strategy in

September 2024, including an average Return on Capital of 10-12%, remain achievable if the

divestment progresses.


“Fonterra’s previously announced FY25 earnings guidance of 65-75 cents per share remains

unchanged and our FY26 earnings guidance will be announced as part of the FY25 Annual

Results in September 2025.


“The Co-op expects its FY26 earnings per share to be presented on a continuing operations basis

and exclude the performance of the Consumer and associated businesses during the pre-

completion period.”


With the Special Meeting to occur in late October or early November, Fonterra has deferred its

Annual Meeting from November 2025 to December 2025. A date for the Annual Meeting will be

announced in due course.


Advisers


Fonterra received financial advice from Jarden, Craigs Investment Partners and JP Morgan; and

legal advice from Russell McVeagh and Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer.


ENDS



For further information contact:


Philippa Norman

Fonterra Communications

Phone: +64 21 507 072

---

Consumer divestment
information pack

August 2025

22
This presentation contains information on the past performance of certain business units and activities of Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (“Fonterra”) and its subsidiaries (the “Fonterra

Group”). This information has been extracted (for the purpose of indicating the scope and approximate financial performance of the businesses that have been assessed as in-scope for

potential divestment) by Fonterra from financial statements and internal analysis. The extraction reflects a number of assessments and assumptions. None of (1) the basis of those

assessments and assumptions; (2) the extraction methodology; nor (3) all of the resulting information, has been audited or externally reviewed.

This presentation may also contain forward-looking statements, financial targets, estimates and ambitions (“Forward Statements”), each of which is based on a range of assumptions. None of

the Forward Statements is intended as a forecast, estimate or projection of the outcome that will, or is likely to, eventuate. They should not be taken as forecasts or a guarantee of returns to

shareholders. The Forward Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that could cause the actual outcomes to be materially different

from the events or results expressed or implied by such Forward Statements. Those risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors are not all within the control of Fonterra or the

Fonterra Group and cannot be predicted by the Fonterra Group. The Forward Statements in this presentation reflect views held only at the date of this presentation.

While all reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of this presentation, none of Fonterra, the Fonterra Group, or any of their respective subsidiaries, affiliates and associated

companies (or any of their respective directors, employees, advisors or agents) (together “Relevant Persons”) makes any representation or gives any assurance or guarantee as to the accuracy

or completeness of any information in this presentation or the likelihood of fulfilment of any Forward Statement or any outcomes expressed or implied in any Forward Statement. Accordingly, to

the maximum extent permitted by law, none of the Relevant Persons accepts any liability whether direct or indirect, express or implied, contractual, tortious, statutory or otherwise, in respect of

any Forward Statements or for any loss, howsoever arising, from the use of this presentation.

Statements about past performance are not necessarily indicative of future performance.

Except to the extent (if any) as required by applicable law or any applicable Listing Rules, the Relevant Persons disclaim any obligation or undertaking to update any information in this

presentation.

This presentation does not constitute investment advice or opinions, or an inducement, recommendation or offer to buy or sell any securities in Fonterra or the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund..

Important Information and Disclaimer

Non-GAAP financial information

Fonterra uses several non-GAAP measures when discussing financial performance. Non-GAAP measures are not defined or specified by NZ IFRS.


Fonterra believes that these measures provide useful information as they provide valuable insight on the underlying performance of Fonterra Group. They may be used internally by Fonterra to

evaluate the underlying performance of business units and to analyse trends. These measures are not uniformly defined or utilised by all companies. Accordingly, these measures may not be

comparable with similarly titled measures used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation nor considered as a substitute for measures reported in

accordance with NZ IFRS.


Non-GAAP measures are not subject to audit unless they are included in Fonterra’s audited annual financial statements.

3
•Foodservice covers food that’s

consumed outside the home such

as in restaurants and cafes or via

takeaways. See an overview of

our Foodservice business here.

Foodservice

•Our Ingredients are sold through

digital portal MyNZMP and GDT

and as well as resellers and direct

to customers. See an overview of

our Ingredients business here.

Ingredients

Consumer

•Consumer covers products that

the Co-op makes, packages and

distributes to supermarket chains

and convenience chains plus

general and modern trade stores.

A recap on how Fonterra has created value to date

•Examples of customers: Foodstuffs,

Woolworths, Coles, Aldi, 7-Eleven, Fiji

Dairy, Cargills.

•Examples of products: Fresh milk,

cream, yoghurt, cheese, butter, milk

powder products.

•Examples of customers: Nestlé,

Mars, Premier Nutrition, Want Want.

•Examples of products: Whey

proteins, caseins, lactoferrin, butter,

cheese, WMP, SMP, AMF.

•Examples of customers: McDonald’s,

Yum!, bakeries, cafes and beverage

houses.

•Examples of products: Whipping

cream, IQF mozzarella, cream cheese,

butter sheets, slice on slice cheese.

•In FY24, our Ingredients channel

represented 78.3% of our New

Zealand milk solids sold and

contributed $15.1b in revenue, with a

return on capital of 10.2%

•In FY24, our Foodservice channel

represented 14.2% of our New

Zealand milk solids sold and

contributed $4.1b in revenue, with a

return on capital of 19.6%

•In FY24, our Consumer channel

represented 7.5% of our New

Zealand milk solids sold and

contributed $3.7b in revenue, with a

return on capital of 6.8%

Purchaser:
Key terms of sale agreement:

•Lactalis to purchase Fonterra’s global Consumer business

(excluding Greater China); integrated businesses in

Oceania and Sri Lanka; and Middle East & Africa

Foodservice business.

•Includes long term agreements for Fonterra to supply milk,

ingredients and other products to the divested business

•Potential for purchase price to increase up to $4.220 billion,

if Bega licences held by Fonterra Australia are included.

•If Bega licences are not included in the transaction, Fonterra

to receive a fair value payment from Bega determined at the

time.

•Sale subject to approval from Fonterra shareholders by

ordinary resolution, separation, and regulatory approvals

including OIO in New Zealand and FIRB in Australia.

$3.845 billion

Purchase Price:

Proposed Capital Return:

Date of shareholder vote:

Tax free $2.00

per share

Late October or

Early November

Lactalis

4

Divestment proposal

9.00%
16.30%

10.20%

5.50%

15.70%

19.60%

-0.40%

-3.90%

6.80%

5

•Fonterra’s Ingredients and Foodservice businesses

generate the Farmgate Milk Price and the majority of

the Co-op’s earnings.

•These high performing businesses both have an

average Return on Capital (ROC) above 10%.

•The Consumer business consistently delivers a ROC

below 10%.

•A divestment would allow Fonterra to focus on what it

does best – being a B2B provider of dairy to the world,

from our home base in New Zealand.

•A trade sale of this business is the highest value option

for the Co-op when compared with an IPO.

•Lactalis has the scale required to grow the Consumer

brands.

Channel performance

Why divest?

79.20%

80.40%

78.30%

13.10%13.10%

14.20%

7.70%

6.50%

7.50%

202220232024

IngredientsFoodserviceConsumer

Allocation of milk solids per channel

Return on Capital

Find more out about Lactalis here: https://www.lactalis.com/en/report2024
About Lactalis

Lactalis is a French family-owned dairy company founded in 1933 in Laval,Western France.

3 FLAGSHIP BRANDS

BREAKDOWN IN

REVENUES BY

GEOGRAPHY

2024

BREAKDOWN IN

REVENUES

BY CATEGORY 2024

22.8 BILLION

LITRES OF MILK COLLECTED

WORLDWIDE IN 2024

•They are the world’s largest dairy group with

operations in over 50 countriesin the

Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific.

•The company employs more than85,500

people with reported revenue of €30.3 billion

in 2024, placing it among the top agri-food

companies globally.

•The group operates nearly 270 production

sites worldwide, making a wide range of

products including cheese, milk, yoghurt,

butter and cream, dairy ingredients, and

nutrition products.

•In Australia, with 2500 employees and more

than 500 farmers, Lactalis offers products

under brands such as President, Galbani,

Pauls, Oak, Ice Break, Jalna, and Kraft.

•Lactalis has the scale required to take

these brands and businesses to the next

level.

6

Fonterra a more focused Co-op, still with global B2B reach
7

Fonterra has a clear plan to deliver outcomes for shareholders
8

Strategic targets hold even if Consumer is divested
9

•Farmer shareholder vote on whether to proceed
with sale to Lactalis isto occur at a Special Meeting

in late October or early November

•Notice of Meeting to be issued in October including

detail on the financial shape of Fonterra post-

divestment

•Fonterra’s Annual Meeting deferred from November

2025 to December 2025

•Subject to receipt of approvals, sale expected to

complete in first half of 2026.

•Capital Return shareholder vote to occur at later

date

•Fonterra’s FY25 earnings guidance unchanged at

65-75 cents per share

•Fonterra’s FY26 earnings guidance to be released

with annual results on 25 September 2025

Next steps

10

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