The Takeovers Panel in Australia is expected to report this week on the response by Goodman Fielder, the country’s largest domestic food producer, to a bid by yeast group Burns Philp.

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more


Goodman Fielder has rejected the A$1.85 (US$1.09) a share offer saying the bid is opportunistic, taking advantage of poor trading conditions caused by the drought in Australia.


Burns Philp is hoping for some good news from the Takeovers Panel as the bid has becoming increasingly messy.


Goodman Fielder, which is running adverts encouraging shareholders to reject the bid, is seeking other suitors and is offering to sell individual divisions like Uncle Tobys bread or Meadow Lea margarine. Analysts believe Goodman’s shareholders including Maple-Brown Abbott, which owns 12.8%, and Perpetual, which owns 10%, will not accept an offer below $2 a share.


Burns Philp is also in danger of falling foul of regulatory laws and has pushed back the date of acceptance for the deal from 4 to 18 February in order to assess these further.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

Just Food Excellence Awards - The Benefits of Entering

Gain the recognition you deserve! The Just Food Excellence Awards celebrate innovation, leadership, and impact. By entering, you showcase your achievements, elevate your industry profile, and position yourself among top leaders driving food industry advancements. Don’t miss your chance to stand out—submit your entry today!

Nominate Now