Kidman sale on track

EY Adelaide managing partner Don Manifold said between six and 12 parties had been shortlisted following the initial submissions of interest which closed in July.

"We certainly have a number of Australian and international parties interested," he said.

"There's a mixture of family interests and large corporations.

"The second stage process we're currently conducting will continue on probably through to October where we'll select a final party, and then we'd hope to complete the transaction by the end of this calendar year (December)."

The process is fairly stock standard, Mr Manifold said.

"They (interested parties) ask questions, we respond, give a management presentation and site tour and then negotiate."

The site visits being conducted by shortlisted parties were a "trip of a lifetime" for a tourist, he said.

"They're a fair visit; either a four night, five day, or a six night, seven day, trip that the parties go on to look at all of the properties, and someone from management accompanies them all the way.

"A lot of them are getting out to every property."

According to the information memorandum, S. Kidman & Co consists of 12 enterprises, including 10 cattle stations, a bull breeding stud farm and a feedlot, generating approximately 15,000t of beef annually.

Feedback thus far had been extremely positive.

"To the board and management's credit, this business has been conservatively run and well managed for generations," Mr Manifold said.

"The attention to detail, focus on sustainability, the data they have on their properties runs rings around, I would expect, most other cattle producers in Australia.

"It's a first class operation."

S. Kidman & Co is being offered in its entirety as a going concern, including stock, plant and property.

The Kidman family, which owns 98 per cent of the company, has a net worth of $364 million and is No. 37 on the BRW Rich List.