Independent Fisheries Ltd sale to Sealord Group Limited

Armillary proudly facilitated the sale of Independent Fisheries Limited to Sealord Group Limited, a joint venture between Aotearoa Fisheries Limited (100% iwi owned) and Nissui Corporation. This landmark transaction marks a significant moment in New Zealand's fishing industry and solidifies Sealord as the country's largest fishing company and one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

Financials:

Sale price remains undisclosed.

Armillary Team:

Led by Peter Bosworth and David Wallace, the Armillary team played a pivotal role in the success of this transaction, including Jono Sloan, and Jai Goradia. Armillary extends its congratulations to Sealord on the acquisition and wishes them all the best in their expansion endeavours.

Independent Fisheries, with a history of 63 years, originated as a fish and chip shop in Christchurch's Linwood suburb run by Howard Shadbolt. Since that time and under the management of the late Charles Shadbolt and Mark Allison it has evolved into one of New Zealand's largest privately owned fishing companies, exporting to major markets in China, Japan, South Africa, and Eastern Europe.

Armillary worked closely with highly regarded firms Grant Thornton (Paige Cuthbert, Don McKenzie, and Tai Daniel) and Chapman Tripp (Fiona Bennett, Nick Letham, Ryan Bridgeman Lucy Cooper and George Spittle), showcasing the strength of collaboration in achieving a seamless and successful transaction.

This strategic acquisition not only strengthens Sealord's position but also marks a testament to the expertise, collaboration, and industry insight brought together by Armillary, Grant Thornton, and Chapman Tripp.

Transaction Details:

The largest fishing transaction in New Zealand in nearly three decades.

Involved strategic approaches to both New Zealand and international fishing companies.

The transaction encompassed 46,000 tonnes of deep-sea quota, fishing vessels, and cold store assets.