Deal: Norton Rose Fulbright has acted for Hassad in the strategic repositioning of agricultural investments in transaction with Macquarie Group.

Value: Undisclosed

Area: M&A, Agriculture

Key players: NRF’s M&A partner Chris Mitchell led the deal, supported by real estate partners Peter Trevaskis and Justin Lucas. Partners Andrea Rezos and Andrew Spalding, and special counsel Deanne Ogilvie, Rebecca Hall, Malerie Durham, Matthew Farsworth and Adam Smith assisted, with senior associate Nicole Bury, associates Chanel Mercurio, Jonathan Pham, Jennifer Naulu and Jacqueline Dowling making up the team.

Deal significance: Hassad Food Group is the agricultural arm of Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund. Hassad is a global investor and developer within the agricultural sector. It operates a diversified portfolio in Australia, with pastoral and cropping enterprises across NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia.

The deal will allow Hassad to transfer over 100,000 hectares of its Australian pastoral and cropping properties to Macquarie’s farming portfolio.

In return, Hassad will broaden its agricultural investments across “a larger and more diversified Australian portfolio through a simultaneous investment into Macquarie’s farming portfolio,” a Norton Rose Fulbright statement said.

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Commenting on the transaction, NRF partner Chris Mitchell said “this is the largest agriculture deal seen in Australia this year.”

Hassad is an established and sophisticated global player with a long-standing commitment and strong links to Australia’s agriculture industry, Mr Mitchell said.

“We assisted Hassad with acquiring a number of assets within its portfolio and are delighted to be able to advise Hassad on this strategic repositioning of its investments in Australia.”

Echoing Mr Mitchell’s delight, chief commercial officer and company secretary of Hassad Australia Terrie Morgan said “it has been a pleasure to work with the professional team at Norton Rose Fulbright with a strong understanding of the industry.”