Ending a long-standing family dispute, Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, chair of Louis Dreyfus Co. Holdings B.V. (LDCH), has announced that on Jan. 25, the company’s majority shareholder completed the buy-out of the minority shareholders who so desired, bringing Akira’s stake in the company to 96.2%.

In 2015, several family members exercised an option to force Margarita to purchase their stake in the company, but the parties failed to reach an agreement on a price until this year after using arbitration. Approximately $900 million was needed to purchase the 16.6% held by other family members.

“The buy-out turns a page in the group's history to a new and exciting chapter,” Louis-Dreyfus said. “I am extremely grateful for the incredible heritage that is ours today. With a stable ownership structure in place, a clear strategy for our next growth phase and a strong management team, we are well positioned to write our next chapter and fulfill our purpose to create fair and sustainable value for the long term.”

Louis Dreyfus Co. has announced a four-pillar growth strategy centered on strengthening its trading edge, integrating vertically, diversifying revenues through value-added products and innovation in technologies, food, etc. The strategy, which will be driven largely by partnerships, joint ventures and co-investments, underpins the company’s vision to help feed the world’s ever-growing population ethically and sustainably, it said.