Decision Summary - Middle Mount Forest Limited

Decision number 200620079
Application number 200620071
Date 14 December 2006
Offeror/applicant Middle Mount Forest Limited
Ultimate applicant beneficial ownership 100 percent - Switzerland, Henni (Heinrich Martin)
Beneficial overseas ownership  
- Asset current 0 percent
- Asset proposed 100 percent
- Share current N/A
- Share proposed N/A
Offeree(s)/seller(s) City Forests Limited 100 percent - New Zealand, Dunedin City Council
Business activities Agriculture - Scrub/Native Bush Forestry
Details of land involved 669.7289 hectares of freehold situated at Heenan Road, Opio, Southland being CT SL12A/221 (Southland Registry).
Regions involved Southland
Total consideration $3,238,000
Consent sought To acquire an interest in land which, either alone or together with any associated land of that type, is or includes non-urban land and exceeds 5 hectares in area.
Rationale The application has been approved as it met the criteria.

The Overseas Investment Office is satisfied that the individuals with control of the Applicant collectively have business experience and acumen relevant to the overseas investment, and that the Applicant has demonstrated financial commitment towards the overseas investment. The Overseas Investment Office is further satisfied that each individual that exercises control over the Applicant is of good character and is not an individual of the kind referred to in section 7(1) of the Immigration Act 1987.

Middle Mount Forest Limited (Middle Mount) proposes to acquire the subject property which has 516.9 hectares planted in radiata pine and 6.9 hectares planted in douglas fir between 1982 and 1985. Middle Mount has previously received consent in April 2006 to acquire 802.957 hectares of land for a forestry investment (refer D200610041).

Middle Mount advises that harvesting of the forest is scheduled to be undertaken between the years 2008 to 2012. Middle Mount advises that upon completion of harvesting it is likely that half of the property will be planted while half will be converted to farming use. Middle Mount advises that the acquisition is likely to provide economies of scale to Middle Mount's New Zealand forestry investments.

The proposal is likely to result in the following benefits:
  1. the creation of new employment opportunities;
  2. increased productivity; and
  3. the introduction of additional investment for development purposes
Contact Stephen Grant
Gallaway Cook Allan
PO Box 143
DUNEDIN

Download a printable version of this summary (pdf 20KB).