News
FCL buys 17 Viterra retail outlets

Sept. 3, 2013, Saskatoon, SK - Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), on behalf of the Co-operative Retailing System (CRS), has entered into an agreement to purchase 17 fertilizer, seed and agriculture chemical supply centres from Viterra Inc. Pending completion of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, the transaction is expected to close by the end of September.

Included in the deal are eight sites in Saskatchewan (Canwood, Cupar, Leoville, Lloydminster, North Battleford, Prince Albert, Strasbourg, White Star), eight in Alberta (Barons, Claresholm, Crossfield, Grimshaw, High River, Manning, Stettler, Viking) and one in Manitoba (Roblin).

The purchase is a two-step transaction for FCL: first, to acquire the 17 sites from Viterra; and, second, to transfer ownership and operations to local retail Co-ops. FCL and local retail Co-ops are working together to finalize details of the ownership transfer and will announce details once the deal with Viterra is closed in September.

The employees at the 17 centres will be offered similar terms and conditions of employment within the CRS.

Once the sale is finalized, new customers will be contacted about the changes and informed about the benefits of buying their products from Co-op. They will be welcomed and encouraged to take out a Co-op membership, which gives them access to quality products and service at fair prices, an equity account and the opportunity for cash back on their overall purchases.

Retail Co-ops currently operate more than 140 ag centres in Western Canada.

September 3, 2013  By Federated Co-operatives Limited