No signs of bird flu outside first farm
Biosecurity New Zealand says continued testing and monitoring shows no signs of avian influenza outside of Mainland Poultry’s Hillgrove, Otago farm.
Mainland Poultry has confirmed new ownership of its vertically integrated agribusiness with Pacific Equity Partners Gateway (PEP Gateway) now joining current shareholders Navis.
PEP is Australasia’s largest private markets firm and an experienced poultry investor.
Chief executive of Mainland Poultry John McKay says the sale process has been underway for many months and has been successfully concluded this week, subject to Overseas Investment Office approval. He says while it will be business as usual it is an exciting development which supports the future development of the business.
“This new ownership provides a strong base for us to continue to grow New Zealand egg production and invest in new initiatives right across the business,” says McKay. “This marks a new chapter in the history of our business and one that will bring more growth and resilience.”
PEP Gateway Director, James Randall says they are delighted to partner with Navis to acquire Mainland Poultry, New Zealand’s largest supplier of eggs.
“Mainland has a strong market position, is vertically integrated with scale assets, and has a quality management team led by CEO John McKay. It is also well positioned for future growth following significant investments in its free range and barn capacity.”
This acquisition will see PEP Gateway achieve a key milestone in managing more than $1 billion in funds under management while further strengthening its leading global position in the single-asset continuation vehicle market, with approximately 50 single asset CV and co-investment transactions completed since 2022.
Navis Capital bought Mainland’s vertically integrated business in 2017 and under its stewardship has grown company earnings strongly.
Navis Capital Partner, William Whittle says, “It’s great to be able to partner with a very experienced local sponsor in PEP, deliver liquidity to our existing investors, and provide a runway for those continuing on the journey.”
The Mainland acquisition was led by William Whittle from Navis and James Randall from PEP Gateway. Advisors on the deal included Cameron Wilson at Luminis Partners, and legal advisors Mallesons in Australia and Bell Gully in New Zealand.
OPINION: David Seymour and James Meager's plan to make it easier for farmers and orchardists to operate drones can best be described a 'courageous' move.
New Zealand wool is reaching new heights as air filtration companies move away from synthetic products to biodegradable alternatives.
Opuha Dam's ability to protect South Canterbury communities from major flooding has taken a significant step forward, with Opuha Water Limited (OWL) successfully commissioning a new outlet valve capable of releasing record volumes of water from the dam ahead of a weather event.
There's been widespread support from the primary sector for the Government's announcement on changes to freshwater farm plans that come under the Natural Environment Bill, which is now set to replace the existing RMA.
A partnership between state-owned enterprise Pāmu (Landcorp Farming Limited) and charity Meet the Need is putting more than quality New Zealand beef into food bank parcels this year.
The Opportunity Party has faced criticism during the election campaign that its policies are too urban-focused and offer little for rural communities.

OPINION: The same mainstream media muppets that brought you Jacindamania in 2017 have been flat out pimping for the Opportunities…
OPINION: Your old mate reckons the atrocious way farmers in the UK are treated by their lords and masters in…