Benchmark eyes another takeover

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Rob Fletcher

INVE, which is based in Belgium and has a production facility in Thailand and testing centres in Italy and Thailand, offers a wide range of products and services relevant to a broad selection of aquacultured species, but with a general focus on products for juvenile fish and shrimp.

The company’s range for juvenile fish includes nutrition (both dry and live feeds) and health products. Meanwhile, for the shrimp industry, they provide nutrition for larval and post-larval shrimp, disinfectants, probiotics and health boosters.

Benchmark has been one of the most aggressive players in the aquaculture industry in the last few years – acquiring a range of companies including SalmoBreed and Stofnfiskur in the last 12 months –  and made the decision to go public about the potential deal today having “become aware of recent press speculation”.

Because any successful deal would constitute a reverse takeover under the AIM rules, trading in the company's shares will be suspended until such time as an admission document is published in relation to the potential acquisition or the talks otherwise conclude. The company will update shareholders with further information in due course.