Agribusiness

Acting for the secured creditor (Rabobank) and receivers and managers (Ferrier Hodgson) seeking recovery of an exposure in excess of $120m, including litigation to pursue fraudulent dispositions of property.

Advised Wilmar Sugar in relation to whether the re-regulation of the Queensland Sugar industry breaches commitments under SAFTA.

MinterEllison and Minter Ellison Rudd Watts advised Tegel Group Holdings Limited on its initial public offering and associated listing on NZX and on ASX (as a foreign exempt listing).

Acted for Murray River Forests Pty Limited, an entity managed by Global Forest Partners LP, on the sale of approximately 5,500 plated hectares of freehold land and interests in 750 hectares of neighbouring plantations in southern New South Wales. Having advised on the entire lifecycle of the investment, our team brought significant expertise and experience to the transaction to maximise the outcome for the client.

Advised Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory Holdings Limited (WCB) in responding to competing takeover offers from Bega Cheese (hostile), Saputo (recommended) and Murray Goulburn (unsolicited). This was one of the most vigorous auctions for control in recent Australian Corporate history, with a total of 9 bids made by the three bidders. Saputo's winning bid valued Warrnambool at approximately A$530m.

Acted for global seafood company Maruha Nichiro Seafoods Inc in its purchase of 50% of West Australian company Austral Fisheries Pty Ltd, one of Australia's leading commercial fishing companies. Our role involved advising Maruha throughout the life cycle of the transaction, including conducting due diligence on the legal particulars of Australia's fishing industry and achieving completion with parties across various time zones in Japan, Spain, Australia and New Zealand. 

Advised Affinity Equity Partners on the acquisition of a majority shareholding in Primo Smallgoods, Australia's largest producer of ham, bacon and small goods, alongside the founding family.

Minter Ellison Rudd Watts advised Sumitomo Corporation on the acquisition of an 80% stake in Juice Products New Zealand Limited.

Advised Parmalat Australia Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Parmalat S.p.A., which is listed on the Italian stock exchange) and the Lactalis Group (majority shareholder in Parmalat S.p.A.) in relation to its acquisition of 100% of the Longwarry Food Park dairy business. We assisted Parmalat and Lactalis with legal due diligence, negotiations of the transaction documents (including W&I policy) and completion of the transaction. The acquisition further strengthens Parmalat's position in the Australian dairy market.

Advised Sucrogen, the Australian-based sugar subsidiary of Singapore-listed Wilmar International Limited, has entered into an agreement with the Administrators of Proserpine Sugar Mill to purchase the assets of Proserpine Co-operative Sugar Milling Association Limited (Proserpine).

Advised Suntory, Japan's fourth largest beverage company, on the Australian aspects of its A$740 million acquisition of Frucor Beverages Group Limited (NZ) from Danone Asia Pte Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe Danone, S.A.

Advised Beingmate Group, a leading Chinese infant food manufacturer, on its proposed alliance with New Zealand dairy co-operative Fonterra Co-operative Group, designed to help meet China’s growing demand for infant formula. The alliance is intended to create an integrated global supply chain from the farm gate direct to China’s consumers, using Fonterra’s milk pools and manufacturing sites.

Acted for one of the world's leading timber investment managers, Global Forest Partners LP on the acquisition of forestry assets from Elders Limited.

Advised the senior debt holders of Gunns Limited.

Acted as legal adviser to Primo Smallgoods Group, Affinity Equity Partners and the Lederer family on the A$1.45 billion sale to Brazil's JBS SA, the world's largest food processing company.

Advised Nippon Paper Group on its $700 million acquisition of Australian manufacturing business Australian Paper from PaperlinX Limited. PaperlinX is Australia's largest paper manufacturer and Nippon Paper is Japan's second-largest paper manufacturer. We advised on all aspects of the transaction including due diligence, acquisition documentation, Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) approvals and the restructuring of the Paperlinx business.

Acted for ANZ advising on its bilateral exposure to the Gunns group. Following the appointment of administrators, we acted for McGrath Nicol as receivers and managers of two related property trusts. The trusts leased land to the Gunns Group, which had been used for MIS purposes.

Acted for Wilmar in relation to the acquisition of Sucrogen Limited, CSR's sugar business from CSR for an enterprise value of $1.75 billion.

Acted for the secured creditor (CBA) and the receivers and managers (Korda Mentha) of the Environinvest Group, including as responsible entity for a number of managed investment schemes.

Acted for a syndicate of banks and the receivers and managers (McGrathNicol) of the Great Southern Group. We advised on all aspects of the receivership, including a restructuring of the MIS schemes, and a sale of approximately 269,000 hectares of land in the largest private forestry sale by area in Australia.

Acting for the receivers and managers (PPB) of the assets and shares in Burrup Fertilisers Pty Ltd, and certain shares held in the parent entity Burrup Holdings Limited. The secured creditor's exposure to the broader Oswal Group of Companies exceeded A$900 million.

Acted for the Elders Group in debt restructure negotiations with a syndicate of banks (and consequentially, in the sale of its agricultural services business and managing a staged exit of their forestry business).