Australia's Webster agrees $572 million buyout by Canadian pension fund

(Reuters) - Australian agribusiness company Webster Ltd <WBA.AX> said on Thursday it has signed a deal for a A$854 million ($572.52 million) takeover by shareholder PSP Investments, one of Canada's biggest pension funds.

The walnut, cotton and livestock producer said the A$2 per share offer - a 57.5% premium to Wednesday's ordinary shares closing price - offered immediate benefits to shareholders "without the inherent risks associated with agricultural enterprises."

The deal will close in early 2020, subject to shareholder approval.

PSP Investments, which currently holds a 19.1% stake in Webster, will acquire all the ordinary and preference shares in Webster that it does not already own via its subsidiaries PSP BidCo and Sooke Investments Inc.

Under the deal, Webster will then transfer some assets to a separate, newly formed PSP Investments group entity, to be called KoobaCo. Existing shareholders Belfort Investment Advisors Ltd and Verolot Ltd will be given the opportunity to purchase a 50.1% interest in that new company.

Given the intricacies of the deal, Webster formed an independent committee of two directors not associated with any of the funds to consider the proposal.

"PSP Investments has a proven track record in managing and investing in agricultural assets over the long term for sustainable value creation," Chief Executive Maurice Felizzi, one of the two non-conflicted directors, said in a statement.

Through its Natural Resources group, PSP Investments invests globally in agriculture, timberland and related opportunities via direct investments. In 2015, it took a major stake in Australia's Hewitt Cattle company.

Webster plans to hold a shareholder meeting to vote on the proposal in early 2020.

The company reiterated its forecast of breakeven financial results this year, due to continued drought conditions.

(Reporting by Rashmi Ashok in Bengaluru; Editing by Leslie Adler and Jane Wardell)