French dairy group Lactalis today (23 May) opened its tender offer to acquire all the shares that it does not currently hold in Parmalat.

The company, which already holds a 29% stake in Parmalat, has offered EUR2.60 (US$3.64) a share for the Italian dairy company and the tender will run until 8 July, Lactalis indicated.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

However, in a note to shareholders on Friday, Parmalat’s board communicated the findings of an independent report by investment bank Goldman Sachs, which concluded that the Lactalis offer was “low”.

“We issued a document – the board of directors – saying that the advisor Goldman Sachs had decided that the price offer by Lactalis was too low,” a spokesperson for Parmalat indicated.

According to the spokesperson, Goldman Sachs evaluated the offer based on three criteria – earnings multiples, recent offers and “other data bases”.

“In two of the models, the offer was just above the minimum price range, with EUR3.17 per share as the maximum. In the third case, Lactalis’ offer wasn’t even above the minimum price,” the spokesperson said.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Lactalis declined to comment further on the takeover. Shares in Parmalat remained relatively flat in Milan trading today, rising 0.08% to EUR2.602 at 1.30pm (GMT).

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now