The Australian citrus industry achieved outstanding export sales to the US market for almost three decades. New international competitors, the high Australian dollar (A$), changes to market structure and possibly the market entry strategy of Australia, were thought to be key drivers of major reductions in export volumes to the US in recent years.

The changing shape of agribusiness and challenging market expectations are forcing progressive producers to focus on how to improve their operational efficiency and adopt continuous improvement techniques.

A large family owned vegetable producer wished to divest due to a lack of family succession options. The assets included multiple titles and exceptionally well developed water assets.

The Australian game meat industry encompasses products including goat, kangaroo and wild pig meats, sold for both human consumption and pet food. The market for kangaroo and ‘wild boar’ meat into export markets for human consumption is substantial and Australia is the largest goat meat exporter in the world.

The second largest macadamia processor in Australia (and one of the largest in the world) signed contracts to sell the business to an international group. The transaction halted in late 2006. The industry was at a turning point, kernel prices had escalated to the point of buyer resistance, which led to an industry down cycle. The client wished to identify a new buyer for the business.

An outback pastoral group identified an opportunity to exploit the unique attributes of their expansive outback grazing environment for organic beef production and supply. The group required a globally competitive organic beef production, processing and supply system.

The Australian banana industry has been severely impacted by cyclones in recent years. The industry peak body and grower representatives needed to advocate for and support industry imperatives with supply chain partners, regulators, policy makers and communities.

A medium-sized family owned vegetable producer was under- capitalized, heavily geared and experiencing difficulties. The financier had set an onerous debt reduction schedule and imposed rigorous reporting requirements. The financier then withdrew support and advised the client to find an alternative financier within a defined timeframe or face foreclosure.

A consortium of large scale avocado growers wished to investigate establishing a major corporate packing house to pack and market fresh produce all-year-round, for export and domestic markets.

A Hong Kong based client was operating macadamia farms in Australia and required an assessment of options for expanding investment in macadamia production and potentially diversifying into processing on an international scale.