August
Entrepreneur returns with buyout after five-year non-compete clause
Craig Silbery funded his first business on a credit card and 12 years later sold it for $690 million to a Chinese giant. He aims to repeat the growth with a probiotics business acquired after a forced five years out of the industry.
- Simon Evans
June
Vitamins group Homart brings in Ords, CLSA as it preps for ASX float
As it heads toward the bourse it is bulking up, acquiring New Zealand group Thompson’s Herbals and Thursday Plantation, a natural essential oils business.
- Simon Evans
April
Matt Comyn’s right-hand man pops up at Adara
Ex-Commonwealth Bank executive David Cohen is set to join the prestigious advisory group, bringing its membership to 16.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
New uni course gets executives match fit for net zero
The micro-credential course starting in May will fast track understanding of how to navigate carbon accounting, reporting and reduction strategies.
- Julie Hare
February
The best advice this boss was given: don’t let somebody else manage your career
Having a clear strategy around how you manage yourself, both in business and outside, is important, says Blackmores CEO Alastair Symington
- Cindy Yin and Sally Patten
November 2023
CEOs say climate-based reporting will leave nothing behind
The evolution of such disclosure took 15 years but it will broaden out in the next five years say the bosses of Blackmores, Woolworths and Wesfarmers.
- Simon Evans
Aussie brands still rule China’s downsized Single’s Day
Australian products from vitamins to infant formula are still hot sellers at the world’s biggest shopping event, which offered big discounts this year.
- Carrie LaFrenz
September 2023
Blackmores to expand from vitamins into health foods by 2025
The Japanese group Kirin acquired the ASX-listed company for $1.9 billion earlier this year, and told shareholders it has plans to launch the new range by 2025.
- Simon Evans
August 2023
Blackmore happy to be the Col Sanders of vitamins after $334m payday
The company’s largest shareholder says he’ll wait for six months before deploying the $334 million coming to him from the Kirin buyout.
- Simon Evans
June 2023
Blackmores $1.9b buyout price is ‘fair and reasonable’: expert
Independent expert Kroll has valued Blackmores at between $89 to $102 per share, and says Kirin’s takeover bid of $95 is near the middle of the range.
- Simon Evans
May 2023
Why Lion CEO says beer is still recession-proof
The boss of the beer business with brands including Tooheys, Furphy and XXXX Gold says some spirits drinkers will head back to beer.
- Simon Evans
April 2023
Chinese approval a ‘wild card’ in Blackmores deal, analysts say
But equities analysts do not expect a rival offer to Kirin’s $95 per share bid to emerge, nor for local regulators to intervene in the buyout.
- Simon Evans
Australia a ‘ripe hunting ground’ for activist investors
The co-founders of UK firm Snowcap Research say the dislocations of the energy transition mean a step-up in activism is on the way.
- Simon Evans
- Updated
- Mergers & acquisitions
‘Relieved’ Marcus Blackmore to walk away with $334m
The major shareholder in Australia’s largest vitamins company is selling his 18 per cent stake into a $1.9 billion bid by Japanese giant Kirin.
- Updated
- Simon Evans
- Opinion
- Chanticleer
Blackmores drama ends with Japanese slam dunk
Every year or two, a big Japanese conglomerate snaps up a well-known Australian company, and the deals are invariably clean, swift and at hefty premiums.
- Anthony Macdonald
Japan’s Kirin lobs $95-a-share bid for Blackmores
Japanese beer maker Kirin is understood to have lobbed an acquisition bid for Blackmores, in a proposal expected to be announced as soon as Thursday morning.
- Updated
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Swisse creeps up on Blackmores as comedians lure Millennials
Comedians The Inspired Unemployed have given extra grunt to Swisse, which aims to topple Blackmores as vitamins market leader.
- Simon Evans
Blackmores suitor revealed as Japanese giant; will another follow?
The discussions did not proceed partly because there were fears about relations with China and concerns about the high price needed to be paid for the company.
- Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
February 2023
- Exclusive
- Voice to parliament
Why Marcus Blackmore is voting no on the Voice
The vitamin mogul says he’s been convinced by Northern Territory senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and thinks Anthony Albanese needs a better salesman.
- Tom McIlroy
Blackmores boss says the ‘smart shopper’ is on the rise
The vitamins group’s shares slumped on flat profits as consumers hunted down the cheapest price amid tough cost pressures.
- Simon Evans
