HONG KONG, July 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Mason Financial Holdings Limited ("Mason Financial" or the "Company", stock code: 0273.HK) together with the ASX-listed whole of life nutrition company, Wattle Health Australia Limited ("Wattle Health", stock code: WHA.AS), today announced the signing of the agreement with the shareholders of Blend and Pack Pty Ltd ("Blend and Pack"), a leading infant formula and nutritional products manufacturer incorporated in Australia, to acquire an 80% stake in Blend and Pack for a total consideration of AUD 80 Million, equivalent to approximately HKD 480 Million. Upon completion, Mason Financial and Wattle Health will own 75% and 5% equity interest in Blend and Pack respectively, and the original shareholders of Blend and Pack will continue holding the balance of 20% stakes.
The investment in Blend and Pack and the strategic alliance with Wattle Health mark the Company's establishment of a vertically integrated supply and distribution value chain of exporting Australian high quality and premium dairy products to the fast growing Chinese market. Together with its investment in Aiyingdao, the largest mother-infant-children products retailer in Southern and Eastern China, the Company intends to take advantage of synergistic and complementary direct investment opportunities in the mother-infant-children sector and enhance the overall value of the Company.
"We are pleased to enter into this transaction with Mr. Grant and his outstanding management team," said Mr. Alex Ko, Joint Chairman and CEO of Mason Financial.
"Blend and Pack is one of the eight Australian infant formula manufacturers accredited by CNCA (Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China) to produce infant formula for export to the Chinese market and is one of the few independent infant formula manufacturers in Australia. We believe that the increasing demand for paediatric nutrition products from Mainland China market due to the recently announced two-child policy, will translate into immense growth opportunity for Blend and Pack. We look forward to working closely with Mr. Grant and his team in developing Blend and Pack into a premium dairy products manufacturer servicing demand from domestically and internationally, in particular in Asia."
"In addition, our strategic partnership with Wattle Health will not be only limited to infant formula, but will also extend to full range of high quality health care and mother-child care products," Mr. Joel Chang, Group COO of Mason Financial added.
"Wattle Health develops, sources and markets high quality Australia-made consumer food products focusing on infant formula and dried dairy products. We are confident that, together with Wattle Health's deep understanding of consumer needs and Blend and Pack's remarkable facility will deliver significant growth for the Company."
"The transaction further solidified the relationship amongst Wattle Health, Blend and Pack and Mason Financial which allows the parties to integrate the entire value chain from processing to distribution to branding, and expanding on a global landscape, which the consortium together will benefit as a whole," said Mr. Lazarus Karasavvids, Executive Chairman of Wattle Health.
"Mason Financial's geographic footprint significantly strengthens our position in developing markets," said Mr. Andrew Grant, Founder, Significant Shareholder and Managing Director of Blend and Pack.
"We have long-held ambitions to grow our Australian and international business and greater access to capital will assist with funding further opportunities. Mason Financial is a significant company with an outstanding international reputation. We collectively see significant opportunities in Australia and around the world to build on our strong foundation."
About Mason Financial
Mason (stock code: 0273.HK) is a health and wealth solutions service conglomerate. It principally provides comprehensive financial services in Hong Kong, including dealing in securities, commodities broking, bullion trading services, provision of securities margin financing, provision of investment and corporate finance advisory services, investment in securities trading, money lending and investment holding. The Company is also principally engaged in the health care and mother-child care related business. Capitalising on its existing financial services platform, the Company continues to develop its business into direct investment, provision of wealth management complimenting the securities and fund management business.
About Wattle Health
Wattle Health (stock code: WHA.AS) is an Australian company listed on ASX and its headquarter is in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is committed to developing, sourcing and marketing high-quality Australian made consumer food products. Wattle Health's objective is to be the brand of choice in the Australian domestic market and to expand its footprint internationally.
About Blend and Pack
Blend and Pack was established in 2007 and is a leading provider of blending, packaging and distribution services to customers in the infant formula and nutritional products market. Blend and Pack operates from a facility in Hallam, Victoria and has annual capacity of approximately 20 million cans of infant formula.
For inquiries, please contact Hill+Knowlton Strategies:
| Daphne Chan |
Sophie Liu |
| Tel: (852) 2894 6217 |
Tel: (852) 2894 6318 |
| Email: mason.hkg@hkstrategies.com |
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