MinterEllison acted for funds advised by long standing client, US fund manager Global Forest Partners LP, in their sale of the Green Triangle Forest Products (GTFP) plantation and forestry management business. The plantation comprises approximately 24,000 hectares of pine plantations in the 'Green Triangle' straddling the border region between south west Victoria and south-east South Australia.

An agreement to sell GTFP to AXA IM was executed following a competitive multi-stage sale process that involved some of the largest players in the global timber industry. When it closes, the deal will represent one of the largest investments in the Australian forestry market by value in over a decade.

MinterEllison, in conjunction with the US firm, Foley Hoag LLP, acted for Global Forest Partners LP and its advised funds on all legal aspects of the transaction, including extensive vendor diligence investigations, the preparation and negotiation of transaction documents and facilitating W&I insurance.

"We are delighted to support our long term client, Global Forest Partners LP, in another successful transaction – the largest timber transaction in Australia in terms of value in the last decade," said MinterEllison Partner Ben Liu.

"The transaction – and the global interest in the purchase – speaks to the strength of the Australian forestry sector and the long term opportunities it offers investors. We're pleased to have helped Global Forest Partners LP with this important matter," he added.

Ben Liu was supported by Special Counsel Andrew Wright, Senior Associate Esmond Prowse, Partner Clay Wohling and a multidisciplinary team from across MinterEllison.