Australia's biggest honey producer, Capilano Honey, is set to be taken over by a private equity group specialising in China-focused agricultural exports.
Partnering in the $190 million bid for the 65-year-old Australian company is private equity fund Wattle Hill, which was co-founded by Albert Tse, the husband of Jessica Rudd, daughter of former Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd.
Capilano shares jumped 25 per cent to a two-year high of $19.5 after the honey group's board endorsed an offer from a consortium composed of private equity fund Wattle Hill and investment manager Roc Partners.
Wattle Hill has offices in Sydney, Hong Kong and Beijing and is focused on Australian businesses that are set to capitalise on booming Chinese middle class demand.
Capilano Honey products Source: Capilano website
Former Packer family adviser Ashok Jacob is on Wattle Hill's investment committee.
Roc Partners was formed from a buyout of a Macquarie Group private markets business and has involvement in the Australian wagyu beef and oyster industries.
Capilano managing director Ben McKee said the consortium bid would give the company capacity to build up to a global-scale business.
"Wattle Hill's strong relationships in Asian markets provides an opportunity to unlock the potential of Capilano Group's premium and therapeutic brands," Dr McKee said.
The proposed scheme of arrangement offers Capilano shareholders either $20.06 a share in cash or a one-for-one share swap in the new owner.
Shareholders opting for the share option also have the right to participate in a further option to buy shares in the new company.
A meeting for shareholders to consider the offer will be held in November.
It will require 75 per cent of all votes cast, and the support of half of all voting Capilano shareholders, to pass.
