K&L Gates Assists Americold on Cold Store Acquisitions

Sydney – Global law firm K&L Gates has assisted Atlanta-based Americold on the completion of two recent acquisitions: the AU$1.7billion acquisition of Agro, including the Doboy business in Brisbane, and the AU$100million acquisition of Lago Cold Stores, also in Brisbane. 

Americold is a global leader in temperature-controlled infrastructure and supply chain solutions, and the purchases show strategic and significant growth in footprint for the company, including in Australia.

Americold Australian Managing Director Richard Winnall stated: "These acquisitions enhance our service offerings globally and in Australia. They both increase our capacity and customer base in Queensland and exhibit our commitment to building the business and servicing our customers in Queensland and Australia." 

The K&L Gates team that advised Americold was led by competition and consumer law partner Ayman Guirguis who secured the ACCC clearance, corporate partner Daniel Atkin and real estate partner Samuel Brown. 

They were supported by a large cross-practice team, including Mei Gong (competition), Roddy Johnson, and Celina Liang (corporate), Damiano Castelli (real estate), Adam Levine and Natasha Augustine-Fleming (FIRB/foreign investment clearance), Michaela Moloney, Stephen Hardy and John Rodney (labour, employment and workplace safety) and Matthew Cridland (tax). 

Guirguis said: "We are proud to have had the opportunity to assist Americold, both in Australia and in Atlanta, as it moves to further grow its footprint and offerings in Australia and the region."