The South Island's second-largest stock and station agency has been formed with the merger of Rural Livestock Otago and Rural Livestock Ltd.
Company director John Faulks said on Friday that the new company, to be known as Rural Livestock Ltd (RLL), would have 45 staff, with the merger formalising an existing common shareholding.
Christchurch-based Rural Livestock Ltd was formed 20 years ago by staff unhappy at the then merger between rural servicing companies Dalgety and Wrightson.
Rural Livestock Otago had a similar genesis following the merger of Pyne Gould Guinness and Wrightson nearly four years ago, with Rural Livestock Ltd taking a shareholding in Rural Livestock Otago.
Mr Faulks said this latest move combined the two companies into one entity with a management structure that provided agents throughout the island specialising in sheep, beef, dairy, deer and stud stock, along with contacts in the North Island.
"The amalgamation was a natural progression with no crossovers within both company's existing business, thus being totally complementary," Mr Faulks said.
The head office would be based in Christchurch, with all company clients having access to finance through Rural Livestock Finance.
The newly elected board is David Barker, Donald Cooke, Bob Davidson, Michael Dryden, John Faulks, Dennis Mullally and Mark Sheppard.
