Merging of livestock broking firms described as ‘winwin’

LIVESTOCK broking firms Hazlett and Peter Walsh & Associates are combining.

Succession planning by Peter and Karen Walsh and the PW&A board identified Hazlett as the company closest in culture to it, a statement from the two companies said.

The new structure would continue to be familyowned.

Hazlett will acquire all of PW&A’s operations on July 1, except for Peter Walsh & Associates Finance (PWAF), which Peter Walsh will retain.

Hazlett chairman Graham Brown said his company and PW&A already knew each other well, having jointly developed and operated the

Coalgate Saleyards.

‘‘Peter has jokingly described us as ‘friendly competitors’, but I think our shared focus on people and a commitment to do the best for our clients makes this development more of a winwin than any sort of truce,’’ he said.

The company would operate throughout the South Island and into the North Island, providing insurance, agrisupplies, funding and procurement services, as well as livestock broking.

Peter Walsh & Associates was established in 2002 by Mr Walsh and Hamish Lane. It now has more than 30 livestock brokers, a regional manager and two sales coordinators.

Hazlett was launched in 2008 as a livestock broking service and, since then, has extended to provide insurance, agrisupplies and funding solutions to businesses of many types.

Mr and Mrs Walsh would continue to be involved in the business, the statement said.