In a press release earlier this month, Australian Whisky Holdings Limited (AWY) has announced that under a convertible note, leading Barossa wine producer Seppeltsfield Estate Trust trading as Seppeltsfield Wines Pty Ltd has converted loans to equity, forming a strategic investment in Australian Whisky.
Seppeltsfield, one of Australia’s oldest wineries was founded in 1851 by Joseph Ernst Seppelt and is renowned for its signature wine, the 100-year-old Para Tawny.
Based in South Australia, Seppeltsfield has contracts in place for the distribution of its products into China, providing working synergies with Australian Whisky for its expansion plans into the Chinese market. Seppeltsfield and Australian Whisky will be exploring these synergies with the aim of expanding the Company’s international distribution channels. As an established supplier of a high quality aged sherry and port barrels to the whisky industry, further synergies are achieved between Australian Whisky and Seppeltsfield as these barrels are important to the production and ageing of single malt whisky.
Both the chairman of Seppeltsfield, Randolph Bowen, and the largest shareholder and Managing Director, Warren Randall, have a great interest in Australian Whisky Holdings and the development of the industry. Warren Randall commented: “Australian Whisky Holdings has a great product range across their brands and we are delighted to have a strategic investment in the Company. We look forward to exploring the working relationship between the two companies and assisting in expanding AWY’s international distribution channels”.
Australian Whisky’s CEO Chris Malcom said, “Seppeltsfield’s strategic investment into Australian Whisky not only signifies the strength of the AWY business, but importantly also provides working synergies between the two companies. We greatly appreciate the support and look forward working with Seppeltsfield to pursue new opportunities”.