S KIDMAN & CO SALE TIMELINE:
October 9 - Mining magnate Gina Rinehart has lodged a $365 million takeover bid for Australia's largest cattle station and private land holding S Kidman and Co, along with a Chinese partner. The new joint venture will be 67 per cent owned by Ms Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting and 33 per cent by Shanghai Cred Real Estate Stock Co Ltd.
May 3 - S Kidman and Co owners ask the federal government to clarify its preferred level of foreign ownership after the sale of the company to Chinese investors is blocked by the federal Treasurer for the second time. Family shareholders say they are against a break-up of the business, to sell properties separately, as it would result in a significant reduction in value.
May 3 - A consortium of China's Dakang Australia Holdings and ASX-listed Australian Rural Capital withdraw their $371 million bid for the S Kidman and Co pastoral properties after Treasurer Scott Morrison rejects the offer on national interest grounds.
Nov 19, 2015 - Treasurer Scott Morrison knocks back any foreign acquisition of S Kidman and Co Ltd, citing national interest grounds. All bidders elect to withdraw their Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) applications.
April 10, 2015 - The 120-year old S Kidman & Co, which owns pastoral leases covering 110,000 square kilometres in cental Australia and close to 200,000 cattle, is put up for sale amid strong overseas demand for local agriculture.
