A Cumbrian business has officially sold its 50 per cent stake in its agricultural joint venture as it looks to focus on driving more profitable growth in other areas.

The Carlisle-based engineering and agriculture group will exit Carr’s Billington Agriculture business by selling out to its partner, The Billington Group.

Since its origin in 1998, Carr’s Billington Agriculture Limited (CBAL) operated succseefuly as a joint venture with 50:50 ownership.

In August this year, Billington Group and Carr’s Group announced a deal had been agreed to sell Carr’s stake for up to £44.5million.

Now officially completed, Billington Group chief executive Gary Blake said: “Following our initial announcement in August we are delighted to have completed our agreement to become sole owners of CBAL.

“I would like to thank Carr’s Group for working closely with Billington’s for the past 20 years to grow the business to where it is today.

“As a fifth-generation, family-owned business we are committed to developing and investing in all areas of the business for the long term and we have already started working on how we improve our business for the long term.”

Carr’s Billington is the largest supplier of rural and farming solutions in the north of the country, offering a comprehensive range of feeds, machinery, animal health products, seeds, chemicals, fuels, tools, equipment, and clothing.

As part of the transition, Billington Group have appointed a new managing director, Richard Quinn who said: "We'd like to take this opportunity to first and foremost reassure our valued customers that this deal completion will not impact their more immediate interactions with Carr's Billington.

“Looking forward, however, we do have some exciting plans to improve our operational systems and processes in the background, with the specific aim of improving the reliability of service our customers expect to receive from us.

“The Carr's Billington business has evolved considerably in recent years, and we are looking forward to introducing the infrastructure and investment required to support the high-quality of personnel we have on the ground and in the field.”

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