Australia

Macquarie-backed Viridis Ag has bulked up its national broadacre cropping portfolio, buying a 356-hectare property in Belubula Valley, amid a steady stream of blue-chip farming deals in Australia.

Japfa’s AustAsia operates seven farms in China with roughly 80,000 cows and is a major supplier of raw milk to Meiji’s dairy business.

The Australian fund has confirmed that it has completed an off-market deal to acquire Terrick Terrick, a 55,000-hectare property from long-time owners Russel Pearson and the Pearson family, for an undisclosed amount.

Large institutional investors are pouring capital into global agricultural markets, and Australia has been a key target.

Foreign buyers stepping into the rural property or agribusiness sector will have to negotiate new regulatory hurdles aimed at preventing a rush of opportunistic offshore-based takeovers during the coronavirus emergency.

The TH Group has settled a deal to buy three Top End cattle stations in Australia, covering 732,900 hectares and with 60,000 head of cattle, more than 12 months after a contract was signed.

The ANZ bank has agreed to provide a financial package to Cambodian families forcibly displaced by a sugar company the Australian bank loaned money to in 2011.

Daybreak Cropping, a partnership between Warakirri Asset Management and the Canadian Public Sector Pension Investment Board, paid $97 million for the 22,000 ha broadacre farm.

A company backed by one of South Africa’s richest men is setting itself up to be a major player in the Northern Territory’s beef sector after paying $70 million for two major cattle stations, Tanumbirini and Forrest Hill.

PSP Investments has been doubling down on capital commitments in Australia’s ag sector – and particularly in almonds and water recently.

A Canadian pension fund has bought a huge parcel of Australian permanent water rights for $490M to irrigate almond trees, in a move that puts the spotlight on foreign ownership of farms and water resources as drought ravages the country.

Olam a déclaré avoir signé un accord de partage des revenus avec Investissements PSP pour les vergers d'amandiers, les actifs associés et les droits d'utilisation de l'eau en Australie