USA: Archer Daniels Midland is the new owner of The International Malting Co. and its big plant north of Great Falls

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), which has owned 50 percent of IMC since it was formed in 1998, purchased the remainder of the company from the Lesaffre International Group, Great Falls Tribune posted October 07. No purchase price was disclosed.

It was unclear on October 06 whether the deal would lead to any changes at the IMC plant near Great Falls.

Officials at Archer Daniels Midland said no one could comment about the Great Falls operation until next week. "At this point in time, I don't think I can comment on any changes," said Gary McLoughlin, the plant manager. "I don't have any information."

McLoughlin said he shared the contents of a news release regarding the sale with the employees of the plant Friday.

The 24-hour operation has about 35 employees and is a significant player in the malt barley market in Montana and the surrounding region.

Lesaffre officials oversaw the construction of the $70 million plant and have been operating it since it began production last spring as part of a joint-venture agreement with ADM. IMC is now a wholly owned subsidiary of ADM.

IMC has malt plants in Minnesota and Wisconsin as well as in Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Lesaffre, based in Lille, France, is a leading international producer of baker's yeast and other yeast products.

Lesaffre and ADM will continue to jointly own the Red Star Yeast Co.

"Lesaffre's malt business has been an important part of our family and company tradition," said Patrick Lesaffre, vice chairman of the company's supervisory board, in a news release. "I am confident that ADM will maintain the quality and service that IMC is known for and continue its close association with the brewing industry around the world.

"ADM looks forward to making the transition as seamless as possible for both its customers and employees," added Steven Furcich, president of IMC.

ADM, while not a household name in northcentral Montana, is one of the world's largest agri-industrial companies. Based in Decatur, Ill., the company has more than 26,000 employees, more than 240 processing plants and net sales of $36.6 billion for the fiscal year that ended in June. Shares in the company are traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

ADM is one of the world's largest processors of soybeans, corn, wheat and cocoa. It's also a world leader in soybean oil, corn sweeteners and ethanol.

The Great Falls plant is the first constructed by IMC and one of the newest in the world, officials say. The plant buys high-quality barley from farmers and transforms it into malt used by brewers, distillers and food-product companies.

The plant produces about 13 rail cars of malt each day, much of which ends up in light beers produced by Anheuser Busch or Miller SAB, its two largest customers.

The plant gradually ramped up its operation this past winter and spring and is buying barley from Montana growers and others.

"Production has been going pretty well," McLoughlin said Friday. "We are up to full capacity."

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