ABB Grain

ABB Grain was Australia's largest agribusiness. Founded in 1939, the company was listed on the Australian Securities Exchange until its takeover by Viterra in 2009.[2] For most of its history, the company focused solely on grain accumulation and marketing, but it eventually expanded its focus to other activities, such as grain receival and storage, malting and fertilisers.ABB bought grain from all growing regions in Australia and traded in all grain commodities.

ABB Grain Limited
IndustryAgribusiness
Founded1939[1]
Defunct2009
HeadquartersAdelaide, Australia
Key people
Perry Gunner, Chairman
Michael Iwaniw, managing director
ProductsGrain, Malt, Wool, Fertiliser, Chemicals, Storage and Handling services
Number of employees
1,100

History

ABB traces its origins to the former Australian Barley Board, and due to the company's expanded operations into different areas, it demutualised to become ABB Grain on 1 July 1999.[3] In 2004, ABB merged with the South Australian storage and handling company AusBulk and the holding company United Grower Holdings. This brought the control of the two major grain handlers, along with several of AusBulk's divisions.[1][4][5]

Since its merger with AusBulk, ABB's supply chain has involved operations in storage and handling and logistics. This includes a significant network of silos and export shipping terminals in South Australia and the eastern states of Australia, incorporating joint ownership of Australian Bulk Alliance, or ABA, with Japanese trading company Sumitomo.

ABB's malting division, Joe White Maltings, is Australia's largest producer of malt with the capacity to produce 500,000 tonnes per annum.[6] The eight malting plants located across Australia include the largest malthouse in the southern hemisphere, situated in Perth, Western Australia.

The company also provides rural services including fertiliser and agrichemical supply and wool and livestock activities. The latter have been supported by the acquisitions of Adelaide Wool Company, Wardle Co and Stawool in 2007.

The company also has significant operations in New Zealand focused on the trading and distribution of grains and proteins. In 2007, ABB established a joint venture in Ukraine with French malting company Soufflet to accumulate grain, manage supply chain activities and market grain.[7]

On 19 May 2009 it was announced that ABB would be acquired by Viterra, the largest grain handler in Canada in September 2009, if voted ahead by the shareholders. The Head Office would be relocated to Regina, Saskatchewan, with the worldwide malting headquarters remaining in Adelaide. The two companies together were responsible for 37 percent of the world's exports of wheat, canola and barley.[8][9][10] Managing director Michael Iwaniw resigned on 28 July,[11] and shareholders approved the merger on 9 September.[12]

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References
  1. "Shareholders". National Growers Register. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 10 May 2008.
  2. "Who We Are". ABB Grain. Archived from the original on 30 December 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
  3. "Foreign Countries' Policies and Programs". Foreign Agricultural Service. 13 November 2003. Archived from the original on 4 September 2008. Retrieved 28 April 2008.
  4. "ABB Grain, AusBulk board named". The Age. 7 June 2004. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  5. "AusBulk/ ABB to merge". Bulk Materials International. May–June 2004. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  6. "The Company". Joe White Maltings. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  7. Daw, Michelle (21 August 2007). "ABB Grain expands to Ukraine". ABC Rural. Archived from the original on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  8. Johnstone, Bruce (19 May 2009). "Viterra announces $1.4B deal to acquire Australian company". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  9. Toevai, Sineva (20 May 2009). "Viterra to take over ABB Grain for $1.6bn". Lloyd's List DCN. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  10. "ABB Grain and Viterra Announce Agreement to Combine Operations" (PDF). (54.1 KiB) ABB Grain, 19 May 2009. Retrieved on 20 May 2009.
  11. "Managing Director to Retire". Retrieved 28 July 2009.
  12. Thompson, Paula (9 September 2009). "ABB merger with Viterra gets go ahead". Stock Journal. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 9 September 2009.
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