Vegemite was poised and ready to be back in Australian hands until a global cyber attack stopped the spread.

Bega Cheese and US-owned Mondelez International were due overnight to finalise a $460 million deal that would see the dairy giant take ownership of the iconic brand.

But in a statement to the stock market last night, Bega Cheese said the handover had been delayed “as a result of the outage of (the) Mondelez global IT network”.

Mondelez was revealed to be among a host of global companies caught up in a cyber attack linked to the Petya virus that hit Europe earlier this week before spreading worldwide.

Production at the Spanish food company’s Cadbury factory halted in Hobart when computers stopped on Wednesday evening.

It is unclear as to why the virus has prevented the transaction from being finalised overnight.

“Bega Cheese and Mondelez IT teams are working together to ensure that the delay is minimised,” the statement read.

The deal, struck in January, will see Bega Cheese buying the quintessential Aussie foodstuff and a basket of other well-known grocery brands.

Bega Cheese and US-owned Mondelez International were to finalise a deal that would see the dairy giant take ownership of the Vegemite brand. (AAP) (AAP)

The deal was struck earlier this year. (AAP) (AAP)

“It is a big day for a boy from Bega to acquire a brand like Vegemite,” Bega chairman Barry Irvin said in January.

Mr Irvin said sales of the yeast spread had increased incrementally last year, only after softening sales of recent years as the breakfast habits - particularly of younger people - changed.

Bega's other new brands will include ZoOSh salad dressings, beef extract Bonox, and other products that use the Kraft brand under license.

Mr Irvin said dairy processing will remain Bega's core business, with acquisitions set to inject confidence into the company’s suppliers.

Bega expects the newly acquired business will generate between $40 million and $45 million in earnings in its first full year of operation, and to increase earnings per share.

Bega gets the Mondelez manufacturing site at Port Melbourne, which employs 200 people, all of whom will be retained at least until the new business is integrated.