Farm News
Multi million pound deal
promises new opportunities
H&H Group Plc Creates UK’s Biggest Livestock Mart Operation
»»In a multi mullion pound deal
that promises new opportunities for
Northern and Scottish farmers, two major
livestock auction companies H&H Group
PLC (H&H) and St Boswell’s based John
Swan & Sons P.L.C (John Swan) have
combined to create the UK’s largest marts
business, which will offer new opportunities
to farmers in Northern England and the
Scottish Borders.
The addition of the two John Swan
& Sons marts in Newtown St Boswells
in Roxburghshire, and Wooler in
Northumberland, to the portfolio of seven
operated by Harrison & Hetherington in
Cumbria, the Borders and County Durham,
creates the UK’s biggest livestock mart
based marketing operation.
This acquisition brings together two wellrespected livestock marketing businesses
that both have heritages stretching back
more than a century. The strength of the
Carlisle-based H&H Group, which owns
Harrison & Hetherington, will allow fresh
investment in the marts to best serve
farmers across Northern England and
Southern Scotland, and further increases
the group’s coverage into Northumberland.
The H&H Group has also acquired as part
of the deal, extensive property interests in
the Borders and Edinburgh, which it says
it is keen to develop in conjunction with
various partners in the future.
All John Swan staff will transfer to the
H&H Group, which is seeking to grow the
team further.
Brian Richardson (pictured), Chief
Executive of H&H Group, commented: “This
acquisition gives livestock farmers and
6 Oct/Nov 2015 www.farmers-mart.co.uk
the wider agricultural community greater
opportunities to market their animals and
produce.
Harrison & Hetherington is a leading
pedigree and commercial marts business and
the addition of the St Boswells and Wooler
markets will allow us to further build the
business for Northern and Scottish farmers.
“Both Harrison & Hetherington and John
Swan are known for their close relationships
with farmers, and we’re now seeking to
further develop the service to our customers.
In the short-term, our aim is to make the
amalgamation of the two businesses as
seamless as possible, retaining and focusing
on the farmers and looking at how we can
develop market share which is all about
delivering our customer’s needs.
“The Harrison & Hetherington business
has been built around a very strong
relationship with our customers and we
will build on this with the Swans business,
understanding their needs and working
as a partner to them in supporting their
businesses.
“In the medium to long term, we’ll be
making sure we can provide livestock
farmers with an effective market for their
livestock across the North of England and
further afield. We’ll be continuing to build on
our very strong relationships with the meat
industry at all levels as well as providing the
market for breeding stock which is a very
big part of both businesses.”
James Allen, Chairman of John Swan,
commenting said:
“The amalgamation of John Swan Limited
and Harrison and Hetherington Limited,
should ensure strong markets at both
Wooler and St Boswells going forward,
which will be good for Agriculture in North
Northumberland and the Scottish Borders.
In these uncertain times its essential that
farming has strong markets to ensure
customers get the best possible prices for
their stock. I look forward to exciting times
in the future as the business continues to
grow.”
In addition to the livestock auction
business, H&H will also be expanding its
land agency and insurance business to
John Swan customers in Northumberland
and the Borders. H&H Land and Property
offers expertise in every aspect of rural
property from its offices in Carlisle, Durham
and Middleton in Teesdale, working with
farmers, landowner and commercial leisure
and residential interests.
H&H Insurance Brokers have offices in
Carlisle, Durham, Ruthin and Middleton in
Teesdale offering expertise and a diverse
and comprehensive portfolio of insurance
products tailored to individual needs, from
equine to livestock, arable, commercial and
high net worth.
Founded originally as farmstock
auctioneers, the H&H Group is today an
unquoted plc with an excess of 1,000
shareholders and a heritage going back
over 140 years.
The group operates as a holding
company with its seven successful
operating companies encompassing
Livestock, Machinery and Vehicle
Auctioneers, Brokers and Valuers, Auction
Rooms, Commercial Printers, Chartered
Surveyors, Ins