LYNDEN, WASH., Feb. 16, 2015 – Whatcom Farmers Cooperative (WFC), a full-service ag cooperative based in Lynden, Wash., and CHS Inc., a leading farmer-owned cooperative, announced today the two co-ops have been in discussions about a potential merger transaction and now seek approval from the voting members of Whatcom Farmers Co-op and the CHS Board of Directors.
Integral to this effort is close examination of opportunities to enhance agronomy, energy and retail operations and services.
“We have been a successful company because we have always planned for future sustainability,” said Jeff Bedlington, president, WFC Board of Directors. “This decision is about looking ahead to what can help ensure we continue to stay financially strong and viable for the next generation and the one after that.”
“Both organizations are looking for growth and expansion opportunities while we protect member equity,” said Lynden Johnson, executive vice president, CHS Country Operations. “We are always interested in investments that support the CHS commitment to helping our farmer-owners grow their businesses.”
Founded in 1941 as Whatcom Grange, today Whatcom Farmers Cooperative (1982) provides the products, services and expert advice that farmers, agricultural businesses and homeowners need through our agronomy, energy and retail store operations. WFC has locations in the communities of Lynden, Bellingham, Fairhaven, Ferndale, Blaine and Nooksack which serve our customers throughtout Whatcom county.
CHS Inc. is a leading agribusiness owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States. Diversified in energy, grains and foods, CHS is committed to helping its customers, farmer-owners and other stakeholders grow their businesses through its domestic and global operations. It supplies energy, crop nutrients, grain marketing services, animal feed, food and food ingredients, along with business solutions including insurance, financial and risk management services. The company also operates petroleum refineries/pipelines and manufactures, markets and distributes Cenex® brand refined fuels, lubricants, propane and renewable energy products.
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company undertakes no obligations to publicly revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. For a discussion of additional factors that may materially affect management’s estimates and predictions, please view the CHS Inc. annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended Aug. 31, 2014, which can be found on the Securities and Exchange Commission web site (www.sec.gov) or on the CHS web site www.chsinc.com.