TPG buys Inghams with $880m bid
After 94 years in the hands of the Ingham family, the chicken empire has been bought by the global equity firm whose other investments in Australia include energy group Alinta and Healthscope.
TPG outbid rivals including Blackstone, Affinity and Chinese agribusiness company New Hope.
Ingham patriarch Bob Ingham and his family will retain a sprawling property portfolio and a small racing business. Combined with Ingham Enterprises, the assets were estimated to be worth about $1 billion.
Mr Ingham, who was the sole shareholder in Ingham Enterprises, said in a statement that he was excited to "see the business embarking on its next stage of growth under the ownership of TPG".
TPG Capital's Asian boss, Ben Gray, said in a statement that the company was "privileged to be buying a great Australian business from a great Australian businessman".
Neither the intensely private Mr Ingham, nor Mr Gray, were available for an interview.
Ingham chief executive Kevin McBain will continue to have control over the day-to-day operations of the poultry company, whose assets include factories, farms and a distribution network.
Ingham was put up for sale in July and its advisers did consider floating the business before opting for a trade sale despite market conditions improving in recent months. Mr Ingham was understood to have wanted a quick outcome and certainty - something a float would not have entailed.
The chicken producer had annual revenue of $2.2 billion last year, employing more than 8000 staff in Australia and New Zealand.
Ingham Enterprises and its patriarch have managed to retain a low public profile for years despite the size of the business and its influence on food supply. Inghams and fellow supplier Baiada control more than 70 per cent of the Australian chicken market between them.
Despite its size, little financial data about Ingham has been available because an existing exemption from filing annual accounts was preserved when corporate reporting rules were changed in 1995.
Mr Ingham, 81, and his late brother Jack built the business started by their father Walter Ingham in 1918.
The sale deed was signed on Saturday but some conditions have to be settled before the deal is closed.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
TPG, the global private equity firm, bought Ingham Enterprises for about $880 million. The deal brings Australia's biggest poultry producer under private equity ownership.
Advisers did consider a float, but they opted for a trade sale because founder Bob Ingham wanted a quick outcome and certainty—something a flotation would not have guaranteed.
According to the article, Ingham chief executive Kevin McBain will continue to control day-to-day operations, so immediate operational continuity is expected under TPG ownership.
TPG outbid rivals including Blackstone, Affinity and Chinese agribusiness New Hope, so the sale attracted serious competition from major buyers.
Ingham had annual revenue of $2.2 billion last year and employed more than 8,000 staff across Australia and New Zealand. Together with fellow supplier Baiada, they control more than 70% of the Australian chicken market.
No — Ingham was privately owned, with Bob Ingham the sole shareholder. Little financial data has been publicly available because an exemption from filing annual accounts was preserved when reporting rules changed in 1995.
Bob Ingham and his family will retain a sprawling property portfolio and a small racing business. Combined with Ingham Enterprises, those assets were estimated to be worth about $1 billion.
The sale deed was signed on Saturday, but some conditions still have to be settled before the deal is formally closed. No final closing date was specified in the article.
Call 1300 880 160
Start a chat
Schedule a call
