Indevin signs conditional agreement to buy Villa Maria

Above: Villa Maria Marlborough Winery

The Receivers of FFWL, the parent company of Villa Maria Estate – Brendon Gibson and Neale Jackson of Calibre Partners – have announced that they have today signed a conditional agreement for the sale of 100% of the shares in Villa Maria Estate Limited.

The conditional sale follows an extensive nine month sale process that was concluded by Calibre Partners and UBS after the parent company and sole shareholder of Villa Maria Estate Limited, FFWL was placed into receivership. The business has been purchased by Indevin, a Marlborough based New Zealand owned wine company.

Indevin, which is a large player in the New Zealand wine industry, is committed to showcasing New Zealand wines to consumers all over the world and is excited at the prospect of adding a set of such iconic kiwi brands to its stable. Commenting on the conditional sale, Chairman of Indevin Greg Tomlinson says, “Our business model is all about producing quality wines, creating authentic brands while retaining and building value for New Zealand wine in international markets. Adding Villa Maria to our portfolio fits within our long-term growth strategy and will complement our existing business.”

If the sale is finalised, it will include Marlborough, Hawkes Bay and Auckland wineries, vineyards, Supplier agreements, the flagship brand Villa Maria as well as Esk Valley, Vidal and Leftfield. “Our whole business is built around holding and building value for New Zealand vineyards and growers. If the conditions of the sale are satisfied, we plan to drive focus and increased investment behind Villa Maria to further enhance its reputation for quality and protect its brand value.

This will be an important next step in the story of the brand.” concludes Greg Tomlinson. Chairman of the Villa Maria board, Malcolm McDougall says of the conditional sale; “It’s reassuring that Villa Maria’s new owner will be another Kiwi company. There is genuine compatibility between the businesses. Indevin is a successful operator, it brings a strong supply chain and has established key export markets with contracted long-term partnerships. Meanwhile Villa Maria brings a legacy and strong brands that command a premium.

Together that’s a powerful combination.” Receiver, Brendon Gibson, comments, “We are working closely with Villa Maria management and the purchaser to satisfy the sale conditions, which are typical for a transaction of this nature, with a view to settlement on 31 August 2021. We see this is a good outcome that provides certainty for the business, staff, customers, suppliers and the communities in which Villa Maria operates.” Calibre Partners also announces that FFWL has entered into a conditional contract to sell 34 hectares of light industrial land surrounding Villa Maria’s Auckland winery to Goodman Property Trust. The land sale is expected to settle later in 2021. Once updates become available they will be announced in due course.