GBCORP · BUY-SELL BUSINESS · NEW ZEALAND
Buy or Sell a Business in New Zealand
GBCORP sells and buys New Zealand businesses in transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-run firms in Auckland to hospitality, tourism, agribusiness and service businesses in Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and the regions. We run each deal from valuation to settlement, with our local partner network of lawyers, accountants and business valuers.
Why New Zealand
New Zealand is one of the easiest places in the world to do business: stable, transparent and English-speaking, with strong export industries in food, agriculture, tourism and technology, and free trade agreements across Asia-Pacific, the UK and the EU.
Many owners who built their businesses over the past decades are planning their exit, and buyers from New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the UK and the US value businesses with loyal customers and strong brands.
Selling? Our guide on what makes a business sale close explains what buyers look for.
Selling your New Zealand business
For owners who want the right buyer, a defensible price and a smooth settlement.
Valuation you can defend
Normalised earnings and a market-tested price that holds through the buyer’s due diligence.
Australian and international buyers
Buyers from New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the UK and the US, screened before they see your name.
Hospitality and tourism
Cafés, restaurants, motels and tourism operators, valued with their leases, licences and seasonality in mind.
Confidential process
An anonymous profile first; full figures only under a signed NDA.
Buying a business in New Zealand
For entrepreneurs, investors and families looking for an established New Zealand business.
Deal sourcing
Businesses in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Queenstown and the regions, including off-market opportunities.
Due diligence
Financial, tax, lease, licence and employment checks, coordinated with New Zealand lawyers and accountants.
Overseas investment consent
We check early whether the purchase needs consent from the Overseas Investment Office, for example because it includes sensitive land.
Moving to New Zealand
We point overseas buyers who plan to live and work there to licensed immigration advisers.
How a New Zealand deal runs with GBCORP
Six stages, one point of contact. Most sales settle in four to nine months.
01 · Valuation and preparation
We review the accounts, normalise earnings and prepare the sale documents.
02 · Confidential approach
An anonymous teaser, then an information memorandum to screened buyers under NDA.
03 · Offers and letter of intent
We compare offers on price, structure and certainty, then agree heads of terms.
04 · Due diligence
The buyer’s advisers review finance, tax, leases, licences and staff.
05 · Agreement and conditions
The sale and purchase agreement is signed, with finance, due diligence, landlord and any consent conditions.
06 · Settlement and handover
The price is paid at settlement, the share register and Companies Office records are updated for a share sale, and staff and customers are introduced.
New Zealand rules that shape the deal
The points that decide structure, timing and cost in a New Zealand transaction.
- Overseas investment. Overseas persons need Overseas Investment Office consent to buy sensitive land, and to buy significant business assets above a monetary threshold; most smaller purchases without sensitive land fall outside it.
- Share transfers. A share transfer is entered in the company’s share register, and the Companies Office record of shareholders is updated.
- No general capital gains tax. New Zealand has no general capital gains tax, although some gains, such as those on property sold within the bright-line period, are taxed.
- GST on going concerns. A business sold as a going concern between GST-registered parties is zero-rated when the conditions are met and agreed in the contract.
- Employees. Employees do not transfer automatically in an asset sale, except some roles, such as cleaning and catering staff, protected under Part 6A of the Employment Relations Act.
- Leases and licences. Commercial leases need the landlord’s consent to assign, and licences such as alcohol licences need a new application or approval.
Local partners, one point of contact
GBCORP runs each New Zealand deal end to end with our local partner network: lawyers, chartered accountants and business valuers. We work with owners and buyers in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, Queenstown and the regions.
We speak your language, and we work with buyers and sellers from across the world. We handle transactions up to USD 20 million; fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request.
Questions about buying and selling in New Zealand
The questions we hear first, answered plainly.
How long does it take to sell a business in New Zealand?
Most business sales take four to nine months from valuation to settlement. Finding the right buyer and satisfying the agreement’s conditions take most of that time.
Can a foreigner buy a business in New Zealand?
Yes. Overseas buyers can own New Zealand businesses. Overseas Investment Office consent is needed when the purchase includes sensitive land or significant business assets above the threshold, and overseas buyers generally cannot buy existing homes.
Is there capital gains tax when you sell a business in New Zealand?
There is no general capital gains tax, so the gain on selling a business held long term is generally not taxed. Some gains, such as on property sold within the bright-line period, are taxed; confirm your position with your accountant.
Do employees transfer when a New Zealand business is sold?
In a share sale, nothing changes for employees. In an asset sale they do not transfer automatically, except some protected roles such as cleaning and catering staff; the buyer offers employment to the staff it wants to keep.
What size of business does GBCORP handle in New Zealand, and what does it cost?
We advise on transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-run businesses to established regional firms. Fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request after a confidential first conversation.
Guides to buying or selling a business in New Zealand
The essentials every buyer and seller should read before a first conversation.
Nearby markets and deal flow
Cross-border buyers often compare neighbouring markets. Each one has its own local advisory page.
Talk to our team
Considering buying or selling a business in New Zealand? Reach out for a confidential first conversation.
