Home Insights & news ABL advises Propel Group on sale of iconic Australian brands to Gina Rinehart's Kidman Group

News Deals & matters

ABL advises Propel Group on sale of iconic Australian brands to Gina Rinehart's Kidman Group

5 December 2023

Corporate and M&A

iStock 689911172 min

Arnold Bloch Leibler has advised Australian fashion group, Propel, on the sale of two of its iconic Australian brands to Gina Rinehart's S. Kidman & Co.

Propel is the fashion group behind Driza-Bone and Rossi Boots, two heritage Australian rural brands, each with over 100 years of history. Following the purchase, S. Kidman & Co plans to expand the labels' ranges to increase its market overseas.

Corporate and M&A partner Christine Fleer, senior associate Vidushee Deora and lawyer Drew Hawkes advised on all aspects of the transaction.

Commenting on the sale, Christine said: "Congratulations to all involved in this strategic transaction, we enjoyed working with the team at Propel to achieve this outcome for two of Australia’s much-loved rural brands".

Read next

All insights & news

ATO expands its reach over foreign investors website new2

ATO expands its reach over foreign investors

Commissioned by Bloomberg to provide commentary for its international insights bulletin, tax partner Shaun Cartoon explains the implications of the Australian Government’s proposed changes to capital gains tax rules for foreign investors.

Brancourts Web

News Deals & matters

ABL advises Brancourts Dairy on sale to Arla Foods Mayer Australia

Arnold Bloch Leibler has advised Brancourts Dairy on its sale to the Arla Foods’ joint venture with Australian Mayers Fine Food, Arla Foods Mayer Australia, in a transaction that positions one of Australia’s best-known cottage cheese brands for its next phase of growth.

Rex Web

News Deals & matters

ABL successfully defends the Hon. John Sharp AM in civil penalty proceedings brought by ASIC in the NSW Supreme Court

On 30 June 2026, Justice Black rejected the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)’s case against the former non-executive director and deputy chairman of Regional Express Holdings Limited (Rex), the Hon. John Sharp AM, finding that ASIC had failed to establish that he had breached his statutory duty of care and diligence. ASIC’s claims against the other two non-executive directors were likewise not established.

AICD Jeremy Web (2)

Insights Article

Activist shareholders reshaping how Australian boards operate

In an article published by the Australian Institute of Company Directors magazine, corporate and M&A partner Jeremy Lanzer explains that while activism used to be an occasional challenge, arising from a hedge fund value play, an unpopular takeover, or where executive pay was not viewed as being aligned with performance, today it’s a continuous and systemic feature reshaping how Australian boards operate.

Blast from the past, or an uncertain future website

Insights Article

Blast from the past, or an uncertain future?

In last week's edition of TaxVine, published by The Tax Institute, partner Jonathan Ortner and lawyer Danielle Ou examined the Federal Government's proposed capital gains tax reforms, including the removal of the CGT discount, the reintroduction of indexation and the introduction of a new minimum tax on capital gains.

The article, Blast from the past, or an uncertain future?, explores the practical implications of these significant changes and the complexity they may create for taxpayers and their advisers. Read the full article below.

ABL’s expanding Private Equity practice recognised by the AFR website

ABL’s expanding Private Equity practice recognised by the AFR

The Australian Financial Review has recognised ABL’s expanding private equity practice, let by partner Jeremy Leibler and partner elect Ari Bendet.

ABL advises on landmark High Court victory website

News Deals & matters

ABL advises on landmark High Court victory

Arnold Bloch Leibler partner Paul Sokolowski is quoted in the Australian Financial Review and The Australian on the landmark decision this week in the High Court in favour of his client, Steven Bendel. The suburban accountant won his long-run tax avoidance case over the Australian Taxation Office, with judges ruling on Wednesday that Bendel and his company did not owe more than $1 million in additional taxes, penalties and interest.

short sellers website

Australian targets are sitting ducks for activist short sellers

In an opinion article published in today’s AFR, corporate and M&A partner Jeremy Lanzer explains how the conviction of prominent American short seller Andrew Left exposes serious gaps in Australia’s response to occurrences of “short-and-distort” activism.