October
Rich Listers to turn Ferrero nut orchards into olive groves
goFARM, which is half owned by Costa Asset Management, has paid about $60 million for the former hazelnut orchards near Narrandera.
- Larry Schlesinger
May
Costa family-backed GO.FARM seeks $300m for new agricultural fund
Stressed assets – either from receivership or family dynamics – is where the firm has harvested nearly a third of its 100-plus deals since its founding in 2013.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
April
Super growers take on Woolies, Coles with private equity cash
Giant pension funds from Canada, Singapore and US private equity are behind super producers who account for half the $9.1 billion fruit and vegetable market. Bigger is better, and Australia is mirroring a global trend.
- Simon Evans and Carrie LaFrenz
February
Commonwealth Bank lines up $650m debt for Costa Group take-private
The debt facility is expected to print on Monday evening, just as the scheme is implemented.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
More staff expected back in office: Lendlease, Seek, SBS chairmen
Senior directors are predicting an increase in office attendance the coming months as benefits of spending time in the workplace increase for workers.
- Sally Patten and Patrick Durkin
- Exclusive
- BOSS
‘Cuts to follow hiring freeze’: directors warn on job market shake-out
Leading company directors are predicting a shake-out in the job market this year as wages and price pressures bite and business looks to make cost savings.
- Patrick Durkin and Sally Patten
January
Shareholders vote in favour of $1.5b ‘lowball’ bid for Costa Group
Shareholders in the mushrooms, berries and avocado giant gave the green light to a takeover bid, with Costa Group to disappear from the ASX on February 8.
- Updated
- Simon Evans
September 2023
Paine Schwartz wins over Costa board with cut-price $1.5b offer
The chairman of Australia’s largest fruit and vegetable group says the certainty of cash in an uncertain environment outweighed other issues.
- Simon Evans
Berry nice! Costa board set to sign Paine Schwartz’s lowered $3.20 bid
Costa’s board is set to bless Paine Schwartz Partners’ $3.20-a-share offer.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Craigs invites bidders to taste test $200m-a-year Kiwi Costa
It exports into more than 30 markets, with North America and Asia (including Japan) making up more than 75 per cent of the revenue.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Paine Schwartz slices more than $100m from Costa Group bid
Shares in the country’s largest fruit and vegetable processor slipped after the New York private equity group had a rethink on price.
- Simon Evans
August 2023
Costa delays dividend call with takeover offer up in the air
Australia’s biggest horticultural company says it will update the market on a $1.6 billion takeover offer in September.
- Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- Investing
This asset class has outperformed shares and property
Agricultural land is the quiet achiever, outperforming equities and housing over the longer term.
- Sam Tamblyn
Costa profit warning casts doubt over takeover deal
Shares in Australia’s biggest horticultural company plunged almost 12 per cent in early trading after it released unaudited financial results.
- Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- Agriculture
How to invest in agriculture without buying a farm
The portfolio thesis for investing in agriculture is compelling – this is how to gain exposure.
- James Wright
July 2023
What Robert Costa thinks of $1.6b takeover offer
The co-founder of Costa Group sees spinning off part of Australia’s biggest horticulture business as a smart option, amid a $1.6 billion private equity approach.
- Brad Thompson
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Costa Group went hard, ran out of puff as PE returns
Costa today is much bigger than what listed in 2015. It invested heavily during its time on the ASX, but investors never really got the returns they were after.
- Anthony Macdonald
Costa shares surge on back of $1.6b takeover offer
Costa Group confirmed a takeover offer from New York private equity firm Paine Schwartz Partners.
- Updated
- Brad Thompson
Crop that! Costa in final takeover talks with private equity investor
It was unlikely the firm, which specialises in agribusiness investments, would stay on the sidelines.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
May 2023
Costa rallies on China, Morocco bounty
Cost pressures are slowly easing, and there has been an influx of backpackers returning to Australia.
- Carrie LaFrenz