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Seeka enters conditional sale and lease back of orchards

M&A19 May 2020SEKConsumer Staples

20 May 2020

Seeka enters into conditional sale and lease back of Australian Kiwifruit Orchards


Seeka Limited [NZX:SEK] advises that it has entered into a conditional sale and lease back of three of

its Australian owned kiwifruit orchards – Austral, Lakes and Hayward. The orchards with a total land

area of approximately 199 hectares has sold for AUD$26.5m subject to the approval of the Foreign

Investment Review Board and will be leased back for up to 30 years with two initial terms of 10 years

followed by two terms of 5 years. The sale price is for the orchards with a separate additional

component to fund and lease water shares.

The sale by Seeka follows its strategy to investigate selling the orchards and leasing back, with the

proceeds to be used to repay debt and accelerate further kiwifruit orchard developments in

Australia. The properties had been widely advertised publicly in Australia earlier in 2019.

Michael Franks, Seeka Chief Executive advised that Seeka was satisfied with the sale and the project

team has done a good job with the sale. The transaction introduces a new partner to the Company

and releases cash for debt reduction and to complete further developments. Seeka has not advised

the market of the earnings impact from the transaction as the implications of NZ IFRS 16 Leases is

still to be considered and would be advised to the market when the sale went unconditional –

expected in the second half of 2020.


Release ends:

For further information please contact:

Michael Franks Seeka Chief Executive 021 356 516

Stuart McKinstry Seeka Chief Financial Officer 021 221 5583

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