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by Staff Writers Sydney (AFP) July 02, 2014 Australian food manufacturer Goodman Fielder on Wednesday accepted a reduced Aus$1.34 billion (US$1.27 billion) offer from an Asian consortium as it prepares to write off up to Aus$400 million in "challenging conditions". Goodman Fielder chairman Steve Gregg said the offer of 67.5 cents a share from Singapore-based agribusiness Wilmar International and Hong Kong-based investment manager First Pacific Company was "an attractive value outcome from shareholders". "I believe it also represents a positive outcome for our employees, our customers and our consumers," Gregg said in a statement. "It provides an opportunity to further leverage our strong consumer food brands in Australia and New Zealand to grow our business across the Asian region." The Australian firm's board previously accepted a takeover offer of 70 cents a share from First Pacific and Wilmar in mid-May, which valued the company at Aus$1.37 billion. But after due diligence checks, the two Asian companies pushed for a lower price. Goodman Fielder, which owns food brands including Helga's, MeadowLea and Wonder White, added in its announcement that it was expected to record a write-down of between Aus$300 million and Aus$400 million for the 2014 financial year. The company said the non-cash impairments reflected the "challenging trading conditions and outlook in its core baking and grocery businesses". Struggling Goodman Fielder earlier this year brought forward plans to cut 300 jobs in a bid to reduce Aus$25 million in costs.
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