The merger is effected by the issue of 44.2 million shares to Guinness Peat Group plc.

The new group will be operating on or before the 31st December 2002.

In a statement, the group's directors said they 'are very pleased at the strong vote in favour of the merger, in excess of 95 per cent, and are looking forward to the future with optimism'.

The merger is likely to see Enza marketing channels world-wide opened up to export a range of other NZ produce as Turners is one of the largest fresh produce distributors in New Zealand.