Green giants investigate joint venture

Landgard and Flora Holland Venlo are looking to combine their floriculture auctions. The German and Dutch marketing cooperatives for flowers and plants have signed a declaration of intent to form a joint venture based on further review. The aim is to create a single strong, internationally oriented marketplace in Herongen in the so-called Euregion. The plans for cooperation will only affect the “clock” operations, which achieve an annual auction turnover in excess of € 300 mio. A final decision is expected towards the end of the year, with the combined auction able to start to operate in the summer of 2010. Any decision will be subject to approval of the competition authorities.