Villa Maria stays in Aotearoa as Indevin Completes deal

Indevin New Zealand is pleased to announce the recently completed purchase of 100% of the shares of Villa Maria Estate Limited. The transaction was settled on the 30th of September 2021. Indevin entered into a conditional agreement in early August 2021with Calibre Partners, the receivers of FFWL Ltd. The completion of this sale follows an extensive nine month process that was concluded by Calibre Partners and UBS after the parent company and sole shareholder of Villa Maria Estate Limited, FFWL Ltd was placed into receivership. Indevin, an established wine business is committed to showcasing New Zealand wines to consumers all over the world. The addition of the Villa Maria portfolio of brands to its stable is a logical next step for Indevin. Commenting on the purchase, Greg Tomlinson the Chairman of Indevin said, “The coming together of two successful New Zealand wine export businesses supports our vision to become the leading New Zealand global wine business, spearheaded by the Villa Maria brand. This collaboration will be significant for the New Zealand wine industry and we are delighted Villa Maria will remain in New Zealand ownership.”The sale includes Villa Maria’s Marlborough, Hawkes Bay and Auckland wineries, vineyards, supplier agreements, the flagship brand Villa Maria as well as Esk Valley, Vidal, Leftfield and Thornbury. “Villa Maria is an iconic kiwi brand and Indevin is an established participant in the New Zealand wine industry – together the two businesses are a powerful combination and there are many competitive advantages that both sides bring to the table. This is exciting for the future of one of New Zealand’s oldest and most admired wine brands”, said Malcom McDougall, Chairman Villa Maria Estate Ltd. Indevin identified some time ago that, in order to achieve its ambition of being a leading player in the New Zealand wine industry, acquiring a strong New Zealand wine brand would be a crucial step. “We had looked at a number of wine businesses with brands over the last few years, but none provided the strategic fit of Villa Maria. We are excited by the opportunities this collaboration offers”, said Greg Tomlinson.

“Indevin’s business is built around holding and building value for New Zealand vineyards and growers. Our strong supply chain coupled with the strength and heritage of the Villa Maria brand will create a sustainable business for the future and grow value for the New Zealand wine industry”, Tomlinson said. Receiver, Brendon Gibson, commented, “We are very pleased to conclude the sale. We see this is a good outcome that provides certainty for the business, staff, customers, suppliers and the communities in which Villa Maria operates.”

Greg Tomlinson also said, “The businesses have aligned visions and are both committed to showcasing world class New Zealand wines to consumers all over the world. We are excited to be a part of Villa Maria’s next chapter of growth – it is an exciting phase in the evolution of both companies.”