August
The beef baron, the waste magnate and the battle for Brisbane
A bustling weekend farmer’s market on the city’s fringes has emerged as a battleground in a stoush between two industry titans.
- James Hall
July
Like tequila? Try these three new Australian agave spirits
A growing number of enterprising Australian distillers are working to meet the demand for agave spirits.
- Max Allen
Spilt milk everywhere as Incitec pivots, again
We have another “deal yourself in, deal yourself out” situation. And it isn’t pretty.
- Anthony Macdonald
June
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
In Canadian giant PSP v Aware Super, who wins?
There are very different ways to make 10 per cent a year. We compare Canada and Australia’s third-biggest super funds, with a combined $470 billion in assets.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
Aware Super, Roc calls in bankers at $1b No.1 chicken farmer ProTen
ProTen is listed among Aware Super’s infrastructure portfolio disclosures with a valuation of between $500 million to $1 billion.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
May
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
How to build a cash war chest and get permission to spend it
Thursday’s two big profit results show what investors want from Australia’s big companies. And it doesn’t have to be just buybacks and special dividends.
- Anthony Macdonald
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Wesfarmers sprays growth bets, waiting for payoff
Wesfarmers’ hefty businesses proved their resilience in the pandemic. Now, with shares breaking $65 for the first time, Rob Scott needs us to think about growth.
- Updated
- Anthony Macdonald
March
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Soul Patts’ Millner rails against secretive new laws
Two words are frightening senior Australian executives; few are willing to say them publicly. The words are “nature positive”.
- Anthony Macdonald
November 2023
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
What investors want that GrainCorp doesn’t want to give
A few good years and a spin-off helped GrainCorp build a hefty war chest. Chief executive Robert Spurway wants to invest, but hasn’t forgotten about shareholders.
- Anthony Macdonald
Farmers are next in Labor’s emission-cutting plans
The Albanese government says the agriculture sector needs to set a more ambitious climate agenda or face a backlash from customers in Europe.
- Jacob Greber
September 2023
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Five ways big investors are betting on property
Blackstone, QIC, Macquarie and Charter Hall are looking outside the traditional property asset classes as they try to pick the next big things.
- James Thomson
August 2023
Global buyers sweet talk Bundaberg Sugar, owners start $600m auction
Belgium’s Finasucre, which has controlled the Queensland business for more than two decades has tapped Lazard Australia and Kidder Williams.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
No yolk! Navis Capital puts poultry business up for sale, taps adviser
When it does hit the auction block, Mainland is expected to draw a decent crowd of tyre kickers across trade buyers and financial sponsors.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
July 2023
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Incitec fertilisers sale has the ingredients of a FIRB hotpot
Incitec Pivot’s fertilisers business could be the Albanese government’s first big foreign investment test.
- Anthony Macdonald
May 2023
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Floods, fertiliser, gas: Why Incitec Pivot tanked on results day
Incitec Pivot is dealing with a lot of factors outside its control. Its board reckons a planned demerger should help simplify things.
- Anthony Macdonald
March 2023
United Malt in play as European suitor drops by; MacCap on defence
ASX-listed United Malt Group has joined the long-time takeover targets to get a bid, with the company expected to unveil as approach as early as Monday.
- Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood
Telstra CEO eyes agriculture in plan for next decade
Telstra boss Vicki Brady has named growth in services to agriculture and non-traditional telco markets as a key focus of her leadership of the company.
- Paul Smith
December 2022
This beef and wool farmer has turned climate change to advantage
Tim Wright was decades ahead of his time adopting holistic farming. Now multinationals such as McDonald’s are raising their standards and less altruistic farmers are having to follow suit.
- James Eyers
November 2022
PwC out to pluck Luv-A-Duck buyer, auction under way
There’s nothing like a few strong deals in the sector to draw out the sellers - and the sell-side mandates.
- Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood
October 2022
Delta Ag suitors put source of earnings to the test
Rural supplier Delta Ag’s primed for sale thanks to favourable seasonal conditions, but suitors are wondering if recent gains are sustainable.
- Anthony Macdonald, Sarah Thompson and Kanika Sood