This Month
ASX cancels trades after fumbling Namoi Cotton takeover bid
The exchange operator was forced to scrap more than $800,000 in trades which were allowed despite a new takeover offer not being put to the market.
- Joshua Peach
- Exclusive
- Managed funds
Ed Peter’s Duxton empire in pain as it cuts jobs, sells properties
The former bank executive has built a considerable asset management business with wealthy backers. But tough times have forced it to restructure – and shrink.
- Primrose Riordan and Simon Evans
September
Fonterra targets South-East Asia, keeps Aussie dairy arm for now
The burgeoning cafe and bakery scene across South-East Asia has boosted the milk giant’s appetite for the region.
- Elouise Fowler
Treasury sells Karadoc winery near Mildura to wool brokers
The Karadoc winery, which made brands like Wolf Blass and Yellowglen, has been sold to the managing director and chief financial officer of Quality Wool Group.
- Larry Schlesinger
Competition watchdog dissects Namoi takeover
Undertakings provided by Singapore’s Olam may be insufficient to approve a takeover of Namoi Cotton, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says. .
- Brad Thompson
Cheese and milk producer Beston goes bust as Japanese suitor walks
The company behind the Edwards Crossing Cheese Company and Mables brands has called in administrators, owing more than $55 million to National Australia Bank.
- Simon Evans
Yoghurt sales close on fresh milk amid health kick, helping Bega
The country’s largest producer added $700 million to its market capitalisation this year, as new high-protein and low-sugar products send sales soaring.
- Simon Evans
Farmer co-op shops $51m raising to energy players
Regen has raised $500,000 through crowdfunding efforts and $5 million in government and foundation grants, but this effort represents the group’s biggest push to date.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Why Rio Tinto has bought 3000 hectares of grazing land
The mining company will plant 750,000 pongamia trees on the property near Townsville as it attempts to create a renewable replacement for diesel.
- Peter Ker
Cotton power couple list $70m ‘carbon positive’ farm
David and Danielle Statham are selling their largest holding – St Ronans in Far North Queensland – as they focus on developing a large renewable energy project.
- Larry Schlesinger
Australian farmland an ‘unbelievable’ opportunity for super funds
Proterra’s Becs Willson says it’s not too late for super funds to invest in the agricultural sector, where land scarcity and food shortages are driving strong returns.
- Larry Schlesinger
August
John Wylie’s Tanarra takes softly-softly approach at NZ wool play
The business makes around $20 million in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation on revenue of circa $60 million.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Swedish pension fund looking to offload $50m of WA farms
Forsta AP-fonden, which manages $68 billion of assets, is downsizing its Australian farmland holdings by selling its WA cropping farms.
- Larry Schlesinger
Olam bid for Namoi Cotton doomed, says former competition boss
Former Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chairman Allan Fels sees no way Olam can get approval for a takeover of Namoi Cotton.
- Brad Thompson
Sydney investor Jacky Cheung adds prized Scone farm to $265m portfolio
Private Sydney investor Jacky Cheung has added one of the Upper Hunter region’s biggest farms, Balarang Station, paying $32.5m
- Larry Schlesinger
Welcome to the nature positive investing movement
Institutional investors see natural capital as the next force in corporate governance, with big implications for companies growing and selling food.
- James Eyers
Inghams director warns: Guzman y Gomez store will attract ‘riff-raff’
Behind the minor fracas is a bigger question about whether the country’s biggest poultry producer can continue to squeeze big profits from fast food chains.
- Jemima Whyte
Ex-QIC boss Damien Frawley sells organic cattle farm for $25.5m
The new owners of Gowan Station near Blackall are Chinchilla-based cattle breeders Shane and Helen Hutton.
- Larry Schlesinger
Elders makes biggest wool investment in 20 years with robot handlers
Boss Mark Allison is rolling out the robots as the agribusiness makes a high-tech return to wool handling 185 years after its founders started out in the game.
- Brad Thompson
July
Potash giant says life about to get harder for BHP
Global fertiliser giant Nutrien predicts big challenges ahead for BHP as it tries to make an expensive leap into potash production.
- Brad Thompson