The office of Fair Trading has given the go-ahead to James Finlay Ltd’s acquisition of Flamingo Holdings.

The decision now paves the way for the biggest takeover ever seen in the Kenyan vegetable and cut-flower sector.

The OFT took a month to examine the proposal, which could see global tea firm Finlays substantially strengthen its position in Kenya. The company already has some flower-growing interests in the East African country.

Flamingo Holdings is the UK-based parent company of Homegrown Ltd, which produces flowers and vegetables in Kenya for sale to the UK market through Flower Plus, Zwetsloots and Flamingo UK.

If the purchase goes through, it will make Finlays the largest agricultural enterprise in Kenya.

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