Latest company ownership news from www.ethical.org.au http://www.ethical.org.au/ 2010-03-01T00:00:00Z http://www.ethical.org.au/images/content/ShoppingCart.jpg http://www.ethical.org.au/ Woolworths' hospitality arm ALH Group has signed long-term leases and acquired the businesses and associated assets of 31 hotels and one detached bottleshop in NSW for $500 million from the Laundy, Waugh and De Angelis groups. The deal also strengthens Woolworths' position as the country's biggest owner-operator of poker machines, lifting the number of machines under its control to 13,480. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=212 2011-12-21T23:29:37+11:00 Foster’s shareholders voted on 1 Dec 2011, over 99% in favour, to end 100 years of Australian ownership when they approved the sale of the company the world's second largest brewer, SABMiller. Brewing operation are to remain in Australia. SABMiller will also acquire the remaining 50 per cent of Pacific Beverages owned by Coca-Cola Amatil. All of Australia’s major breweries except Coopers are now foreign owned. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=210 2011-12-01T14:52:01+11:00 On 30th November 2011 Manassen Foods Group was acquired by Bright Foods Group Holdings Pty Ltd, which is 75% owned by Bright Foods of China, one of China’s largest food companies. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=201 2011-11-30T11:26:29+11:00 Hong Kong-based private equity firm Affinity Equity Partners bought a 70% stake of Australia's Primo Smallgoods in Oct 2011, with Primo's founders, the Lederer family, holding the remaining 30%. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=217 2011-10-19T12:26:06+11:00 Hot on the heels of the purchases of the juice business of P&N Beverages, and New Zealand drinks maker Charlie's Group (maker of Phoenix soft drinks), Asahi has announced it is also acquiring NZ's largest maker of ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, Independent Liquor, for $1.2bn. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=202 2011-08-18T15:25:50+10:00 Japan's Asahi Group has agreed to buy the mineral water and juice business of P&N Beverages for $188 million, and has bought New Zealand drinks maker Charlie's Group (maker of Phoenix soft drinks). Asahi’s bid to buy all of P&N earlier this year was blocked by the ACCC. Asahi is Kirin’s main rival in Japan in the beer/beverages sector. The ACCC has approved the revised deal. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=195 2011-08-16T14:18:46+10:00 Envotec, which previously traded as Australian Envelopes, was Australia's largest envelope manufacturer until it ceased operations after being placed into administration on 30 June 2011. It was acquired by Japanese owned Australian Paper soon afterwards. The ACCC is reviewing the purchase. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=200 2011-08-09T10:40:40+10:00 French dairy giant Lactalis has acquired 83% of Italian owned Parmalat after a lengthy ownership battle. Lactalis claims the purchase makes it the world's biggest milk group. Parmalat is a major player in Australia's dairy industry. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=203 2011-07-14T15:37:46+10:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) US yoghurt makers Agro Farma has acquired Australia’s Bead Foods, maker of Gippsland Dairy and Rowena choc-tops. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=193 2011-07-01T22:47:46+10:00 The United Kingdom's SAB Miller plans to buyout Australia's largest brewer, the Foster's Group (formerly Carlton and United Breweries) for $A 12.22 billion. The deal would partly put the London-listed brewer in a strategic position to grab the market from Belgium-based Anheuser-Busch inBev. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=189 2011-06-23T21:07:41+10:00 SunRice shareholders have rejected a $610 million takeover bid from Spain's Ebro Foods, keeping the iconic Australian company in local grower ownership. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=135 2011-05-31T13:54:01+10:00 DuPont bought Danish food ingredients company Danisco for US$6.4 billion. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=185 2011-05-17T14:41:24+10:00 UK food producer Premier sold its meat-free foods division, including the Quorn and Cauldron brands, to UK firms Exponent Private Equity and Intermediate Capital Group in 2011. Quorn was introduced in Australia in 2010. Exponent is a private equity firm founded in 2004 that invests in UK headquartered businesses with an enterprise value of between £75m-£350m. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=153 2011-01-29T00:13:20+11:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) USA based Constellation Brands, the world's largest winemaker, has agreed to sell 80 per cent of its Australian and UK business to Australian private equity firm, CHAMP, for about $290 million. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=138 2010-12-27T14:36:54+11:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) Sara Lee, who has been selling off its non-food divisions, sold Australian brand White King to Pental Products in Dec 2010. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=182 2010-12-26T13:47:57+11:00 AGRIUM has reached a deal to sell a majority of the AWB's Australian commodity-management business to Cargill Inc. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=167 2010-12-16T14:54:38+11:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) The ACCC has given the all-clear to South Africa based Aspen Pharmacare to buy Australian company Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd's pharmaceutical division for $900 million. Brands include Herron and Goanna. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=139 2010-12-16T14:54:27+11:00 Nestle has bought the Australia/NZ franchise of Jenny Craig. Nestle bought the USA based Jenny Craig Inc in 2006 from private investment firms MidOcean Partners and ACI Capital and founders Jenny and Sid Craig. Founded in Australia in 1983, today they have 650 centres in US, Canada, UK, France, Australia, NZ and more. Jenny Craig is the world's second largest diet firm (after Weight Watchers). http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=137 2010-12-15T21:19:08+11:00 Shareholders of the Australian Wheat Board have agreed to a $1.2 billion takeover bid from Canadian-based Agrium, the largest agricultural retailer in North America. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=166 2010-11-16T14:53:40+11:00 Reckitt Benckiser acquired Durex condom maker SSL International in 2010 for US$3.9 billion. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=176 2010-10-26T19:14:08+11:00 Unilever is buying hair and skin care products maker Alberto Culver for US$3.7 billion. Brands include TRESemme, VO5 and St Ives. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=129 2010-09-27T18:15:34+10:00 The independent supermarket chain FoodWorks has been deeply wounded by its failed bid to take over 45 Coles stores, running up a loss of $26 million for the year. There is 'significant doubt' the group can continue as a going concern because liabilities exceed assets by $7.2 million. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=131 2010-09-14T13:09:07+10:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) Japanese brewing giant Asahi Breweries says it will buy Australian fruit juice maker P&N Beverages for $364 million. Asahi plans to combine P&N with Schweppes Australia, which it bought from Cadbury in 2009. P&N is currently 87% owned by founder Robert Peter Brooks, previously an executive with the Coca-Cola Company. The ACCC may block the deal. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=123 2010-08-26T22:51:42+10:00 Private equity controlled Heritage Brands (formerly Soda Brands) bought Creative Brands (owner of beauty brands Australis and Le Tan) in 2010. They also bought cosmetics company Innoxa in 2009. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=159 2010-08-06T23:32:09+10:00 Fosters demerger of its beer and its struggling wine division will be finalised in the first half of 2011. Its struggling wine division will be listed as a new entity called "Treasury Wine Estates". Japan's Asahi Breweries, Belgium's AB InBev, USA's SABMiller and Coca-Cola Amatil are all rumoured to be interested in buying Fosters beer division after the demerger. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=116 2010-08-03T11:38:42+10:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) Diversified conglomerate CSR Ltd has agreed to sell its sugar division, Sucrogen, to Singapore-based agribusiness Wilmar International Ltd for $1.75 billion. Wilmar is the world's largest palm oil trader. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=111 2010-07-06T22:31:48+10:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) South African owned supermarket chain Franklins has been acquired by its wholesale supplier, Metcash Trading Ltd for $215 million. The sale is still pending approval from the ACCC. Metcash will acquire 85 supermarkets (77 corporate outlets and supply to 8 franchises) with a view to selling them to independent IGA retailers. In the meantime, Metcash will operate the Franklins stores. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=110 2010-07-01T22:31:48+10:00 7-Eleven Australia has agreed to acquire the retail fuels business of Mobil Oil Australia, comprising 295 company owned or leased service stations, bringing the total number of outlets to more than 650. Most of the Mobil sites will be converted into 7-Eleven stores by the end of 2011 http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=98 2010-06-01T09:00:39+10:00 Kraft Foods (USA), the world's second largest food company, clinched a takeover deal for UK confectioner Cadbury, after winning support from shareholders representing 72 per cent of the chocolate company. In Jan 2010 the Cadbury board unanimously recommended that it's shareholders sell to Kraft after Kraft revised their offer. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=89 2010-02-03T00:00:00+11:00 The Cadbury board has unanimously recommended that it's shareholders sell to Kraft after Kraft revised their offer. Shareholders have until February 2 to accept the proposal. This has possible implications for Cadbury's plans to use Fairtrade cocoa in their Dairy Milk chocolate bars. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=19 2010-01-20T00:00:00+11:00 Lion Nathan and National Foods were officially merged into one entity on 21 October 2009. The merged entity, Lion Nathan National Foods, is wholly owned by Japanese drinks giant Kirin Holdings. Meanwhile the outcry continues from Tasmanian farmers, who are being paid less than 21c for every litre of milk by National Foods, well below the cost of production of about 39c a litre. A Senate inquiry has been called. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=20 2009-10-28T00:00:00+11:00 Pfizer Inc. acquired Wyeth in a US$68 billion deal. Wyeth is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company. Both companies are based in USA. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=21 2009-10-15T00:00:00+11:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) Japanese brewing giant Kirin bought the 54 per cent of Lion Nathan it didn't already own in a $3.4 billion deal. Lion Nathan is Australia's #2 brewer, after Fosters. Kirin recently bought National Foods and Dairy Farmers, and will combine them with Lion to create Lion Nathan National Foods Pty Ltd, which will be the largest supplier to Australian supermarkets. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=22 2009-09-18T00:00:00+10:00 The two Japanese alcohol giants, Kirin Holding and Suntory, are in talks for a multi-billion dollar merger. In Australia Kirin owns National Foods, Dairy Farmers and half (soon all) of Lion Nathan , while Suntory owns Frucor Beverages and distributes several alcohol brands. Also, rumours continue about another Japanese alcohol giant, Asahi, making an offer for aussie brewer, Fosters Group. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=23 2009-07-13T00:00:00+10:00 The ACCC rejected the deal in Feb 09, but now the proposed takeover of chicken processor Bartter has been approved after Baiada announced they would be prepared to divest all assets currently owned by Bartter in Victoria to La Ionica Poultry. Bartter Enterprises (Steggles) is the second largest producer and marketer of chicken and turkey products in Australia. Inghams is the largest, with Baiada the third largest. Together, the three companies hold around 65 per cent of the Australian market. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=24 2009-07-01T00:00:00+10:00 Supermarket giant Woolworths will expand its Thomas Dux premium grocery chain by acquiring Melbourne organic grocery chain Macro Wholefoods. All 8 Macro stores in Victoria and NSW will be rebranded Thomas Dux. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=31 2009-05-13T00:00:00+10:00 Drinks giant Asahi Breweries has bought Schweppes Australia for $1.2 billion, in the latest Japanese raid on an Australian food and drinks company. This is the fourth buy-out of an Australian company by a Japanese brewer in just over a year, following Kirin's acquisition of Dairy Farmers and National Foods, and Suntory's successful bid for Frucor. Australia was the last country where Cadbury maintained a drinks operation. US-based Coca-Cola Company relinquished its negotiation right regarding the takeover. Asahi Breweries will complete the deal by the end of April 2009 http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=26 2009-03-13T00:00:00+11:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) Australian paper company PaperlinX has sold it's subsidiary Australian Paper (including the Maryvale pulp mill in Gippsland), to Japan's Nippon Paper Group, Inc. for $700 million. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=25 2009-02-17T00:00:00+11:00 Lion Nathan's $7.3 billion takeover proposal for Coca-Cola Amatil, made in Nov 2008, has been rejected. Lion Nathan is 46% owned by Japanese beer giant Kirin Holdings, while Coca-Cola Amatil is 30% owned by The Coca-Cola Company (USA). TCCC wrote to Kirin Holdings rejecting the offer. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=27 2009-02-09T00:00:00+11:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) Golden Circle, a 61 year-old Australian company renowned for their canned fruit and vegetables, fruit juice and jam, was bought by US food giant Heinz in Dec 2008, for $288 million. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=28 2008-12-02T00:00:00+11:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) National Foods (owned by Japanese alcohol and pharmaceuticals giant Kirin) bought Australian Co-operative Foods, which trades as Dairy Farmers, for A$910 million in Nov 2008. Kirin bought National Foods last year, and already owns 46% of brewer Lion Nathan. National Foods owns the Pura Milk and Berri juice brands, while Dairy Farmers makes its own branded milk, Coon cheese and Ski yoghurt. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=29 2008-11-28T00:00:00+11:00 In Nov 2008, Belgium based brewing giant InBev bought USA brewing giant Anheuser-Busch for US$52 billion, creating the world's largest brewer with nearly 25% global market share and one of the world's top five consumer products companies. Brands include Budweiser, Stella Artois and Beck's. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=33 2008-11-18T00:00:00+11:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) Hans Smallgoods has been sold to Australian smallgoods company P&M Smallgoods, owners of the Primo brand. Hans was placed into receivership by it's previous owners Japan Tobacco. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=32 2008-11-02T00:00:00+11:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) In September 2008, Kellogg Australia bought Specialty Cereals, a privately-owned cereals manufacturer based in Sydney. Brands include Vogels, Wild Oats, and Cerevite. Kellogg Australia is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kellogg Company, USA's #1 cereal producer. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=34 2008-09-18T00:00:00+10:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) The French vaccine and pharmaceutical giant sanofi-aventis bought Australia's largest vitamins manufacturer, Symbion Consumer, for $560 million in 2008. Brands include Cenovis, Nature's Own and Faulding. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=128 2008-09-01T22:46:39+10:00 On May 7, Cadbury Scweppes plc split into 2 companies, UK based confectionery makers Cadbury plc, and American soft drink company Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=36 2008-05-07T00:00:00+10:00 Mars, backed by billionaire Warren Buffett, has agreed to buy Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. for $US23 billion to create the world's biggest candy maker. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=37 2008-04-29T00:00:00+10:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) A consortium of investors lead by The Real McCoy Snackfood Co purchased the snack foods business of Campbells/Arnotts in May 2008. The combined businesses was renamed ?Snack Brands Australia?. The deal brings several brands back to Australian ownership, including Kettle Chips, Thins, Cheezels, CCs, French Fries & Samboy. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=35 2008-04-28T00:00:00+10:00 The largest Australian-owned biscuit manufacturer, Paradise Food Industries also make the entire Dick Smith range of biscuits. Paradise was bought by Australia's largest food company, Goodman Fielder, for about $80 million in Mar 2008. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=38 2008-03-07T00:00:00+11:00 Japan's leading producer and distributor of alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, Suntory, bought Frucor (makers of V energy drinks) from French food and drinks giant, Danone, in Oct 2008 for NZ$1.3 billion. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=30 2008-02-13T00:00:00+11:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) British owned George Weston Foods Ltd bought 100 year old Castlemaine smallgoods company KR Castlemaine http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=39 2008-02-04T00:00:00+11:00 Australia's largest dairy company, National Foods, operates in the milk, dairy foods and juice production industries. It was taken over by San Miguel, Phillipino beer giant in 2005, and sold to the Japanese food and drinks giant Kirin Holdings for $2.8 billion in 2007. Kirin owns 46% of Australia's 2nd largest brewer, Lion Nathan. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=42 2007-11-08T00:00:00+11:00 Wesfarmers acquired Coles Group Ltd for $22 billion in November 2007.Wesfarmers now owns Coles, Bi-Lo, Bunnings, Officeworks, Target, Kmart, liquor retailers (1st Choice Liquor Superstore, Liquorland, Vintage Cellars), fuel & convenience outlets (Coles Express), online stores (Coles Online, Pharmacy Direct). Plus other divisions in the areas of coal mining, energy, insurance, chemicals &fertilisers, and industrial & safety products. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=41 2007-11-01T00:00:00+11:00 Kraft Foods was spun off from parent company Altria in March 2007, and is now an independent publicly held company. The Altria Group and subsidiaries had been subject to an international Boycott from 1993 due to another of their subsidiaries being Philip Morris, the largest tobacco company in the world. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=40 2007-03-30T00:00:00+10:00 Groupe Danone (France) bought baby formula makers, Royal Numico (the Netherlands) for US$16.8bn in 2007 http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=43 2007-01-01T00:00:00+11:00 In February 2007, shareholders approved the change of name from So Natural Foods Australia Ltd to Freedom Nutritional Products Ltd. The Perich Group (NSW's biggest dairy farmer) own 78% of the company. They acquired Norganic Foods in Oct 2007, Brunswick Seafoods in 2005, and Paramount Seafoods and Freedom Foods in 2003. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=44 2007-01-01T00:00:00+11:00 Goodman Fielder bought Hawlee Nominees, makers of bread brands Country Life Bakery, Flinders and Early Harvest http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=48 2006-07-13T00:00:00+10:00 Pfizer divested its Consumer Health Division to Johnson & Johnson for $22 billion in late 2006. Brands include Listerine, Sudafed, and Benadryl. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=46 2006-06-26T00:00:00+10:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) Food group Burns Philp and Company Ltd sold snack food business Uncle Tobys to Nestle Australia Ltd for $890 million. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=45 2006-05-26T00:00:00+10:00 In April 2006, CHAMP together with existing Manassen Foods Australia shareholders created a new company, Food Holdings Pty Ltd which acquired Manassen Foods Australia, Great Southern Foods, King Oscar and Hutchinsons New Zealand. The combined entities which will continue to trade as Manassen Foods were merged to form Australia?s leading specialty branded food supplier with over 350 employees and revenues in excess of A$250 million. Private equity company CHAMP owns 51%. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=49 2006-04-12T00:00:00+10:00 In a controversial move, Dame Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, sold the business to french cosmetics giant, L'Oreal, in March 2006. A boycott has since been called on The Body Shop. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=47 2006-03-17T00:00:00+11:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) Unilever sold retail brands of Miracle, Copha, Fairy and Kremelta to Australian owned company Peerless Holdings. In addition, Unilever brands such as Flora, Flora Proactiv, Olivio, Bertolli, and Becel are now manufactured by Peerless for Unilever under a long-term supply contract. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=58 2005-11-17T00:00:00+11:00 Ally, John West & Seakist brands of canned fish are now owned by Simplot Australia http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=57 2005-10-01T00:00:00+10:00 The Smith's Snackfood Company (owned by Pepsico) bought Sakata Rice Snacks Australia. Under the deal, Smith's has also acquired rights to manufacture, distribute and market Sakata products worldwide, apart from Japan. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=53 2005-08-09T00:00:00+10:00 In February 2005, Coca-Cola Amatil's acquisition of SPC Ardmona Pty Ltd was formallly completed. SPC Ardmona is Australia?s largest producer of packaged fruit and operates 6 principal brands across the processed fruit, vegetables, jams and sauces markets. These brands are SPC, Ardmona, Goulburn Valley, IXL, Southern Cross and Taylor?s. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=52 2005-02-25T00:00:00+11:00 Deal creates world?s largest consumer-products company http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=50 2005-01-01T00:00:00+11:00 Upon completion of the sale Boots Healthcare Australia Pty Ltd changed its name to Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=51 2005-01-01T00:00:00+11:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) Bonlac Foods becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of Fonterra (previously Fonterra owned 50%). Fonterra's three separate brands businesses - formerly known as Bonland, PB Foods and Murrumbidgee Dairy Products (MDP) - were brought under the same name, Fonterra Brands Australia, in 2005. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=54 2005-01-01T00:00:00+11:00 http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=55 2005-01-01T00:00:00+11:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=56 2005-01-01T00:00:00+11:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) Symex announced that Pental Products, which it wholly owns, had acquired the rights to toothpaste brands Aim and Close-Up, as well as fabric softener Huggie, from Unilever for an undisclosed amount. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=62 2004-08-11T00:00:00+10:00 Roche Consumer Health sold to Bayer for a price of 3.6 billion Swiss francs http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=61 2004-07-19T00:00:00+10:00 (AUST >> FOREIGN) In 2004 Campbell sold it's major laundry and detergent brands Hurricane, Love N Care, Fluffy, Moresoft and Castle to Colgate Palmolive Pty Ltd. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=60 2004-06-04T00:00:00+10:00 In May 2004, SCA acquired Carter Holt Harvey's (CHH) tissue business and the remaining 50% of the SCA/CCH joint venture, Sancella. These companies now operate as SCA Hygiene Australasia. Brands include, Sorbent, Tork, Hygenex, Purex, Handee, Deeko, Treasures, Libra and Tena. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=59 2004-03-25T00:00:00+11:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) Previously owned by Unilever, the two brands were sold to a smaller company, Pharmacare (Australian Owned), in 2003 as part of Unilever's strategy to pare down its product portfolio and focus only on a core range of global brands. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=63 2003-09-01T00:00:00+10:00 (FOREIGN >> AUST) Unilever Australia has sold the Rosella brand to Stuart Alexander, as a part of a decision to concentrate on its core brands. http://www.ethical.org.au/news/?id=64 2002-08-22T00:00:00+10:00 term http://www.ethical.org.au/guide/search/ Search the ECG Guide