Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) has acquired a portfolio of Australian farms from the agribusiness investment arm of the Qatar Investment Authority.
91传媒在线 understands that MIRA is paying around AUD300m (鈧�184.9m) to buy the assets from Hassad Food Group.
The Hassad livestock and cropping properties are located across New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. They will add more than 100,000 hectares to MIRA鈥檚 existing platform.
The Qatari assets are to be merged with MIRA鈥檚 agriculture business in Australia.
Hassad will, in turn, invest in one of MIRA鈥檚 agricultural portfolios to maintain its long-term commitment to Australian primary production.
MIRA鈥檚 head of agriculture, Elizabeth O鈥橪eary, said: 鈥淭he farms are high-quality assets which will further our strategy of developing large-scale and diversified cropping and livestock production portfolios in Australia.鈥�
She said MIRA had extensive experience in Australian agriculture.
鈥淎s one of Australia鈥檚 largest diversified farmers, MIRA manages more than four million hectares of farmland, and has built and managed its agricultural platform over more than 10 years.鈥�
Hassad鈥檚 CEO, Mohamed bin Badr al-Sadah, said the investment (in the MIRA portfolio) would enable Hassad to maintain its long-term commitment to Australian primary production.
鈥淭his agreement will reinforce Hassad鈥檚 strategy aimed at supporting the country鈥檚 (Qatar鈥檚) food security efforts. Hassad will supply the local market with meat products in case of shortage or need,鈥� he added.
The transaction with MIRA is said to be in line with Hassad鈥檚 strategic review of its business and enables Hassad to reposition its Australian agricultural investment activities.
鈥淗assad will continue investing in this market in line with its new strategy to explore more downstream opportunities,鈥� a Qatari group statement said.
鈥淗assad sees MIRA as a long-term partner and hopes to do more business with them in the future.鈥�
