Dalgety and Company Limited was registered in London on 29 April 1884. The company was a joint-stock company incorporating firms which were actively managed by Frederick Gonnerman Dalgety in partnership with other trading individuals. Dalgety became the company's first chairman of directors and remained the largest shareholder until his death. Australian branches were opened in Perth (1889), Albany (1890), Rockhampton (1891), Brisbane (1894), Townsville (1896), Adelaide (1897), Albury (1908), Wagga (1923) and sub-branches in smaller centres. A Superintendent was appointed for New Zealand in 1908 and for Australia in 1914. From 1884 to the Second World War, the company operated as merchants in rural areas, wool brokers, stock and station and shipping agents in Australia and New Zealand. In 1927 Dalgety and Co Ltd acquired the business of W C Hunter in Kenya. On 22 November 1961 the company merged with the New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Agency Company Limited to form Dalgety & New Zealand Loan Limited.

In September 1961, Dalgety and Company Limited announced it proposed to merge with the New Zealand Loan & Mercantile Agency Company Limited. Dalgety and New Zealand Loan Limited was formed on 22 November 1961 after the name change was approved by the company's shareholders. The company's interests in its Kenyan and East African venture was sold in 1969. A new company name, Dalgety Limited, was adopted on 30 June 1970 and branch operations in Australia and New Zealand were transferred locally incorporated subsidiaries Dalgety Australia Limited and Dalgety New Zealand Limited.