Today
Greensill family whacks locals for waste fees
Once you make something free, it’s hard to wind that back. Even at bargain prices.
This Month
Margaret’s Pav and Heidi have a problem – a Sydney asset manager
Seafood quotas are becoming a serious business. And that’s putting investors and family-owned fishing fleets on a collision course.
Forrests’ Tattarang backs Bega Cheese bid for $4b Fonterra spin-off
The billionaire family’s investment vehicle says it supported the ASX-listed dairy company’s growth ambitions and interest in the NZ-based business.
April
Fonterra warns uncertainty over Bega brand ‘could kill’ $4b spin-off
The New Zealand co-operative has failed in its push to have the divestment of its consumer products division declared not to be a change of control transaction.
The surprising winners from Trump’s trade war? Almond farmers
Steep Chinese imposts have locked out California, which supplies the vast majority of the tree nut to the world, creating a big opportunity for local growers.
Major water rights fund investors consider turfing management
Ed Peter, the former head of Deutsche Asset Management in Asia, will also step down as chairman of the $290 million Duxton Water after the vote.
The McDonald’s effect: Why Aussie beef can ride out Trump’s tariffs
Farmers and exporters are more worried that the wider economic impact of the tariffs could diminish global appetites for beef.
March
Fresh produce suppliers copping downside of power imbalance: ACCC
The National Farmers’ Federation says claims by fresh food producers that Coles and Woolworths have the upper hand been validated by the competition regulator.
Count Financial keeps some private credit in the family
Count took the bold step of telling advisers to sell off holdings in some private credit funds this month. But Realm products are still in favour.
Specialist private lender FarmCap raising $100m
The $100 million fund is accompanied by a direct fund, which will hold an additional stake acquired in individual deals.
Adamantem Capital doubles down on questionable carbon offsets
Others may be examining the veracity of carbon farming methods, but these private equity vultures have no doubts.
Beef exporters and farmers count the cost of Alfred
Lucrative export markets were hampered by ex-cyclone Alfred as fruit and vegetable farmers in Queensland count the cost.
Brazilian JBS heir quietly quits his crippled salmon empire
Henry Batista came to Australia to run Huon aquaculture. Now he’s gone, and the company is in a crisis.
February
Parched Port Lincoln fears rescue plan risks million-dollar industry
Everyone agrees the SA fishing hub needs a desal plant but horrified locals believe saline water pumped from the facility could ruin the clean Spencer Gulf.
The Bangkok teacher who saved the Lukin tuna empire
When pioneering fisherman Dinko Lukin died in 2011, nobody thought his wife – 31 years his junior – could save the business he had left drowning in debt.
Cockfight! Roc battles rivals for Aware’s $1b-plus chicken farmer
The bidder mix suggests property-rich poultry players have been engulfed by the ever-expanding boundaries of “core-plus infrastructure” in Australian M&A.
Dairy business left behind in SPC remake goes bust
Administrators Aston Chace Group are trying to sell Nepean River Dairy and a 60-million-litre processing plant in Sydney’s Winston Hills.
January
How Australia became a test bed for the future of farming
Experimental fungi and “robotic bees” are among the agtech innovations being trialled in a country on the front line of climate change.
December 2024
Succession drama at Elders triggers huge protest vote again
A botched succession planning process where CEO Mark Allison was re-hired after the company signalled that he would be stepping down has enraged shareholders.
Bordeaux, Napa, Ningxia? Penfolds elevates China to prestige terroir
Treasury Wine Estates has bought a 75 per cent stake in Stone & Moon winery in a $27.5m bet that Chinese wine will one day rival prestige regions.
US issues order mandating bird flu testing of milk supply
The virus has infected more than 500 dairy herds in top milk state California, and more than 700 nationwide since March.
November 2024
Aussie VC Artesian, horticulture R&D group partner to launch $60m fund
The new fund, dubbed Hort Innovation Venture Fund, will target up to 30 local and international startups for pre-seed or early series A funding.
The muscle and clout behind Australia’s $750m acai boom
Australian businesses are scrambling to jump aboard the superfood trend as it attracts fitness buffs and social media users entranced by colourful desserts.
Nufarm entrepreneur Doug Rathbone a winner in $475m Elders buyout
The 79-year-old, who made his fortune via the crop chemicals business, will pocket a small windfall from the buyout of Delta Agribusiness by its larger rival.
Monday’s big deal shows domestic M&A is definitely not dead
For all the bluster we hear from bankers and lawyers about the ACCC, companies are still willing to take on the competition regulator.