In a landmark deal for the Australian agriculture sector, Hamilton Locke advised Banyandah Pastoral Co. Pty Ltd — the merino farming enterprise operated by the Shippen Family — on its $300 million acquisition of F.S. Falkiner & Sons Pty Ltd. F.S. Falkiner & Sons owns approximately 120,000 hectares of high-profile agricultural real estate in Deniliquin, including the Boonoke and Wanganella merino studs and the Coonargo Feedlot.
Hamilton Locke advised the Shippen Family across every phase of this complex transaction, from initial legal due diligence through to tax and structuring advice, contract negotiation and transaction execution. Given the scale and nature of the assets involved, the due diligence process spanned land tenure, water rights, biosecurity and livestock considerations unique to a major pastoral and agricultural operation of this size.
The team also worked closely with the Shippen Family to structure the acquisition in a tax-efficient manner and to navigate the financing arrangements required to support a deal of this magnitude. Throughout, Hamilton Locke drew on a multidisciplinary team spanning real estate, energy, tax and indirect tax, finance and corporate, reflecting the breadth of expertise needed to bring a transaction of this complexity to completion.
Commenting on the transaction, Hamilton Locke Partner Peter Williams said: “We are delighted to have supported the Shippen Family on this significant transaction. It has been a pleasure to work so closely with one of Australia’s most influential agricultural families and to deliver a deal that drew on such strong cross-collaboration across Hamilton Locke.”
The Hamilton Locke team was led by Partner Peter Williams and supported by Partners Zina Edwards and Seema Sandhu, Senior Associates Julian Ilett, Sophie Kleinschmidt and Ho Yan Ko and Lawyers Georgia Mackenzie and Connor Weber.
