DEAR EDITOR,

This is a letter of concern to give you an insight into a proposed takeover between Aurivo Co-op, which is headquartered in Sligo, and Dale Farm Co-op, which is headquartered in Belfast.

This proposed merger is currently being supported by both the Aurivo and Dale Farm boards and will very likely be put to shareholders to vote on in the coming months.

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Aurivo shareholders have serious concerns about the proposed Dale Farm/Aurivo takeover.

The proposal, under which Aurivo would hold a minority interest (30%), would mean the relocation of Aurivo headquarters in Sligo to Belfast and the transfer of ownership of hundreds of millions of property to a company outside the State.

This proposed takeover would result in a permanent loss of regional control of our co-op.

It would also lead to substantial job losses, material implications for long-term governance, regulatory oversight and potential milk supplier alignment, as there is a different model of milk production in Northern Ireland.

There is a long tradition of liquid milk production in the northwest of Ireland, with Aurivo Co-op paying one of the strongest milk prices in the Republic of Ireland, while NI dairy farmers receive substantially lower winter milk prices. The takeover proposal would mean that the Connacht Gold and Donegal Creameries brands would be headquartered in Belfast.

This would have negative long-term implications for these liquid milk brands and also for the production of liquid milk in the northwest of Ireland.

Aurivo, Connacht Gold and NCF co-ops have long been a voice for western farmers and a vehicle for investment and job creation.

Should the takeover go ahead, this would no longer be the case as the heart and soul of the co-op movement would be gone out of the west of Ireland.

Aurivo shareholders have always been in favour of efficient rationalisation and commercial co-operation when it delivers efficiencies and benefits the long-term position of our dairy, beef and sheep farmers.

This proposal however will lead to job losses, the demise of liquid milk production and reduced spend and footfall in small rural towns, as the merged corporate entity closes low margin marts and agri stores across the northwest.

We, as a group of concerned Aurivo shareholders, are looking for your support to help raise awareness of and debate this proposed takeover so that we can achieve the best possible outcome for farmers, Homeland stores, Nutrias mill, Aurivo Mart customers and communities in the northwest of Ireland.

Over €750m was traded in this region in 2025 from milk and mart cheques and agri stores. This deal in its current form would have severe implications and consequences for everyone involved.