The acquisition of Australia’s second largest chicken producer - Bartter - by Baiada may yet be blocked by the competitive regulator, with the ACCC releasing a Statement of Issues highlighting concerns with the proposal. Bartter Enterprises, the owner of the Steggles brand and employer of over 4,500, is the second largest producer and marketer of chicken and turkey products in Australia. Inghams - with over 7,000 employees - is the largest, with Baiada the third largest producer of chicken... ...Read more »

George Weston Foods, the owner of Don KRC, and Primo Smallgoods have signalled their intentions to purchase Hans Smallgoods. Hans went into voluntary administration in November, with the business operating as normal until an appropriate buyer is found by the administrators - KordaMentha. “Hans is a great brand and has some world class facilities, so our first aim will be to offer the business to buyers with related interests so that some synergies may be achieved,” Mark Mentha, from KordaMentha,... ...Read more »

Food manufacturer Heinz formally took ownership of Golden Circle on 19 December, 2008, with the integration likely to be completed by around the middle of the year. “Following a review of the Golden Circle business which will commence in the New Year, it is expected that integration will take approximately 6 months,” a Heinz statement advised. “Heinz will provide further information as the Golden Circle business is integrated into the Heinz Australia business.” “In the... ...Read more »

Cadbury will sell their Schweppes Beverages business in Australia for approximately A$1.185b to Japanese-brewer Asahi. The deal is pending regulatory approval and subject to a right of negotiation granted to The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC) in 1999. Under this provision, TCCC has the right until March 2009 to negotiate with Cadbury regarding a potential acquisition of the Schweppes Australia business. TCCC was granted the provision after a takeover bid for Schweppes almost a decade ago failed to... ...Read more »

Cadbury announced overnight that it plans to sell their beverage division, Schweppes, in Australia. The official announcement was made as the company reconfirmed guidance of strong growth for their year. They noted, however, that Asia Pacific operations had performed well in spite of the “weaker trading in Australia” - which had been expected. Rumours of a sale have been circulating since May following the demerger of Cadbury-Schweppes in the US, which left Australia as the only country... ...Read more »

Coke bottler in Australia and New Zealand, Coca-Cola Amatil, has applied to the competitive watchdog in New Zealand for approval of a proposed takeover of cordial maker Baker Halls. Baker Halls, owned by the Old Fashioned Foods Group, is the number one selling fruit juice syrup in New Zealand and their owner has reportedly agreed to a sale of their hot-fill bottling production line, brands and associated business assets of cordial products, bearing the brands Baker Halls and Barker Halls Originals.... ...Read more »

Heinz will complete its takeover of Golden Circle before Christmas after receiving approval today from the Supreme Court of Queensland. An office copy of the Court’s orders will be lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission this afternoon at which time the scheme will become legally effective. Golden Circle Chairman Phil Cave welcomed the Court’s approval of the scheme of arrangement, which will usher in a new era for Golden Circle. “This heralds the beginning... ...Read more »

Golden Circle shareholders have revealed their overwhelming support for the takeover proposed by food manufacturer Heinz. The H.J. Heinz Company Australia Limited (Heinz) made a $288m bid for Golden Circle in October, which received unanimous support from the Golden Circle Board. Golden Circle, a 61 year-old Australian company renowned for their canned fruit and vegetables, fruit juice and jam, earlier this year listed on the National Stock Exchange after refusing a $1 a share bid from Coca-Cola... ...Read more »

The takeover of Dairy Farmers by Kirin subsidiary National Foods was officially completed on Tuesday, with the cheese joint venture between National Foods and Warrnambool Cheese and Butter (WCB) expected to begin operation early next year. Dairy Farmers Chairman Ian Langdon, who along with other directors will resign from the Dairy Farmers Board today, said the $910m acquisition of the business by National Foods stood to have a positive impact on Dairy Farmers’ shareholders as well as the... ...Read more »

Coca-Cola Amatil Chief Executive Terry Davis has told a business congress in Sydney this morning that he believes Lion Nathan will struggle to up the bid that CCA believes undervalues their worth. Last week CCA, Australia’s largest soft drink bottler, advised that they would fend off the $7.6b bid made by Lion Nathan - Australia’s second largest brewer. Mr Davis claimed the bid was flawed and “half-baked” and argued that the bid undervalues the company and could hurt CCA shareholders,... ...Read more »