{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Infobox company | name = Ruralco | logo = | logo_size = | logo_alt = | logo_caption = | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | image_caption = | former_name = Ruralco Holdings Limited | industry = Agribusiness | founded = <!-- if known: {{start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} in city, country --> | founder = <!-- or: | founders = --> | key_people = Richard Lee (chairman) | hq_location_country = Sydney, Australia | area_served = Australia | products = | brands = | services = | revenue = AUD$1.36 billion | revenue_year = 2014<ref name="praysforrain">{{cite news|title=Ruralco doubles profit, prays for rain|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/profit-loss/ruralco-doubles-profit-prays-for-rain/story-fn91vch7-1227126757265|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=The Australian|date=18 November 2014}}</ref> | profit = AUD$10.565 million | profit_year = 2014<ref name="praysforrain"/> | owner = Nutrien | website = {{URL|www.ruralco.com.au}} }}
'''Ruralco''' is a diversified agricultural company that provides real estate, insurance, auctioneer services, agricultural equipment and other services to the Australian rural community. Ruralco became a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian company Nutrien in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20190930/pdf/44916plr5h86yh.pdf|title=Implementation of scheme of arrangement|date=30 September 2019|website=ASX|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>
==History== Ruralco was founded in 1970. By 2001 it had 384 rural supply stores under the brands CRT and Town & Country. In September of that year it merged with Grow Force Australia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Grow Force Australia and Ruralco undertake merger|url=http://www.stockjournal.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/grow-force-australia-and-ruralco-undertake-merger/4363.aspx|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=Stock Journal|date=12 October 2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150304201448/http://www.stockjournal.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/grow-force-australia-and-ruralco-undertake-merger/4363.aspx|archive-date=4 March 2015}}</ref>
In May 2006 it reverse merged with Australia's oldest publicly listed company, Tasmanian agricultural corporation Roberts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ruralco to take on agri-supply giants|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/ruralco-to-take-on-agrisupply-giants/2006/05/21/1148150124518.html|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=The Age|date=22 May 2006}}</ref>
It sold Monds and Affleck feed supplies to the Ridley Corporation in 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ridley to buy Ruralco feed business|url=http://www.farmonline.com.au/news/agriculture/cattle/general-news/ridley-to-buy-ruralco-feed-business/2387797.aspx|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=Farm Online|date=9 December 2011}}</ref>
In 2008 it was described as having quietly begun to rival the 'big two' of agricultural industry in Australia, Elders Limited and Landmark.<ref name="quietlyrival">{{cite news|title=Ruralco moves quietly to rival the big two|url=http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/ruralco-moves-quietly-to-rival-the-big-two/1352735.aspx|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=The Land Magazine|date=7 November 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110048/http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/ruralco-moves-quietly-to-rival-the-big-two/1352735.aspx|archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> By 2014 it owned 10.1% of Elders, unsuccessfully attempting to purchase the rural services section of Elders for 250 million in 2013. Following falling profits from Elders and the knockback of its purchase offer, it sold all 10.1% of the company.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ruralco sells Elders stake|url=http://www.theland.com.au/news/agriculture/agribusiness/general-news/ruralco-sells-elders-stake/2712951.aspx|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=The Land|date=22 September 2014}}</ref>
In February 2014 it acquired Total Eden, a water supplies company, from Anchorage Capital Partners for AUD$57.4 million.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ruralco to acquire Total Eden|url=http://www.businessspectator.com.au/news/2014/2/13/ruralco-acquire-total-eden|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=Business Spectator|date=13 February 2014}}</ref>
=== Takeover and delisting from ASX === In June 2019, Agrium Australia (formerly Landmark, now a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian company Nutrien) announced the proposed acquisition of Ruralco.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.asx.com.au/asxpdf/20190930/pdf/44916plr5h86yh.pdf|title=Ruralco scheme booklet|website=ASX|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>
Ruralco shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of the $469 million takeover<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.farmonline.com.au/story/6371813/ruralco-shareholders-vote-for-landmark-buyout/|title=Ruralco shareholders vote for $469 (sic) Nutrien takeover|date=6 September 2019|work=Farmonline National|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref> and Ruralco was delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange on 1 October 2019.
Under the new ownership, Ruralco's operations are to be rebranded Nutrien Ag Solutions.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2019-11-12/landmark-and-ruralco-merge-to-form-nutrien-ag-solutions/11693846|title=Landmark, Ruralco brands unite to form Nutrien Ag Solutions|date=12 November 2019|work=ABC Rural|access-date=4 December 2019}}</ref>
==Subsidiaries== Subsidiaries of Ruralco include;
* Combined Rural Traders * Grow Force Australia<ref name="quietlyrival"/> * CQ Agricultural Services<ref name="quietlyrival"/> * Total Eden<ref name="praysforrain"/> * Frontier International<ref name="praysforrain"/> * BGa AgriServices<ref name="quietlyrival"/> * Archards Irrigation * Dairy Livestock Services<ref name="mmg">{{cite news|title=Ruralco profit increase|url=http://www.mmg.com.au/local-news/country-news/ruralco-profit-increase-1.84337|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=McPherson Media Group|date=25 November 2014}}</ref> * Peter Dargan Livestock<ref name="mmg"/> * Territory Rural Mcpherson<ref name="stockandland">{{cite news|title=Homann, Bolton move up ladder|url=http://www.stockandland.com.au/news/agriculture/cattle/general-news/homann-bolton-move-up-ladder/1225799.aspx|access-date=28 February 2015|publisher=Farm Online|date=24 July 2008}}</ref> * BR and C Agents<ref name="stockandland"/> * Southern Australian Livestock<ref name="stockandland"/> * Rodwells<ref name="stockandland"/> * Rawlinson and Brown<ref name="stockandland"/> * Savage Barker & Backhouse<ref name="stockandland"/> * Primaries of WA<ref name="stockandland"/> * Davidson Cameron<ref name="stockandland"/> * The Farm Shop<ref name="quietlyrival"/>
===Joint ownership=== * AgFarm (with CHS Inc.) * Grant Daniel & Long<ref name="stockandland"/> (with Grant Daniel & Long)
===Other acquisitions=== * Murray River Wholesalers
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Business services companies established in 1970 Category:Companies based in Sydney Category:Companies formerly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange Category:Conglomerate companies established in 1970 Category:1970 establishments in Australia