Thomson Geer has assisted South Africa-based seafood company, Sea Harvest Group Limited, on the acquisition of the Western Australia fishing assets of leading seafood company, MG Kailis.

The acquisition is part of Sea Harvest’s strategy to build its international presence and acquire businesses engaged in high value seafood species.

MG Kailis is a family-owned company with significant fishing operations in Exmouth, Western Australia, a live export Tropical Rock lobster business in Cairns, Queensland, and is a leading importer and exporter of seafood.

The acquisition includes vessels, licenses, and fishing rights for prawns in the Exmouth region and trawled fish in the Pilbara region in Western Australia, which provides Sea Harvest with further security of supply and diversification of product. It also complements Sea Harvest’s existing business operations in Australia.

Thomson Geer assisted Sea Harvest on all aspects of the deal, including securing a large number of approvals from a range of state and federal regulatory authorities such as the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, the Department of Transport, the Department of Home Affairs and the Foreign Investment Review Board, as well as assisting Sea Harvest with numerous property approvals, leases, sub-leases and licences.

“We’re pleased to have worked with Sea Harvest on the acquisition of this iconic business,” said Thomson Geer Partner Scott Gibson.

The Thomson Geer team was led by Scott Gibson and included Special Counsel Vi Ky Lam, Senior Associate Jessica Taylor, Lawyer Kajal Parmar and Graduate Lawyer Ariane Moir.

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