Applicant
Southern Pastures Limited Partnership
Case number(s)
201410097
Decision date
Type
Decision
DecisionConsent granted
Section 12(a) and 12(b) Overseas Investment Act 2005
Decision date4 December 2014
Investment

An overseas investment in sensitive land, being the Applicant's acquisition of:

  • a freehold interest in approximately 177ha of land located at Terrace Road, Bankside, Selwyn, Canterbury (Longmead Farm); and
  • a freehold interest in approximately 454ha of land located at Fyvie Road, Bankside, Selwyn, Canterbury (CPL & Redmond Farms); and
  • a freehold interest in approximately 393ha of land located at North Rakaia Road and Burns Road, Bankside, Selwyn, Canterbury (Kenburn Farm).

An overseas investment in sensitive land, being the Applicant's acquisition of rights or interests in 50% of the shares of Darrochs Grazing Limited which owns or controls a leasehold interest in approximately 406ha of land located at Darrochs Road, Bankside, Selwyn, Canterbury (Riverfields Farm).

Consideration$62,000,000
ApplicantSouthern Pastures Limited Partnership
Sweden (58.4%)
Luxembourg (22.2%)
Germany (16.8%)
New Zealand (2.6%)
Vendors

Longmead Farm Limited
New Zealand (100%)

Canterbury Pastoral Limited
New Zealand (100%)

Kenburn Farm Limited
New Zealand (100%)

Existing shareholders of Darrochs Grazing Limited
New Zealand (100%)

Background

The Applicant intends to operate the properties as part of its South Canterbury portfolio, and will increase performance by creating an additional dairy farm (to be converted from existing dairy support land), increasing cow numbers, improving irrigation infrastructures, installing in-shed feeding systems, increasing pasture renewal and building additional housing.

The overseas investment transaction has satisfied the criteria in section 16 of the Overseas Investment Act 2005. The 'substantial and identifiable benefit to New Zealand' criteria were satisfied by particular reference to the following factors:

Overseas Investment Act 2005
17(2)(a)(i) – Creation of Jobs
17(2)(a)(iii) – Increased export receipts
17(2)(a)(iv) – Greater productivity and efficiency
17(2)(a)(v) – Additional investment for development purposes
17(2)(a)(vi) – Increased processing of primary products
17(2)(b) – Indigenous vegetation/fauna
17(2)(d) – Historic heritage
17(2)(e) – Walking access
17(2)(f) – Offer to gift riverbed to the Crown

Overseas Investment Regulations 2005
28(a) – Consequential benefits
28(e) – Previous investments
28(f) – Advance significant Government policy or strategy
28(g) – Enhance the viability of other investments
28(i) – Economic interests
28(j) – Oversight and participation by New Zealanders

More informationChris Bougen
Chapman Tripp
PO Box 993
WELLINGTON 6140