Fox’s NHNZ buys into Aquavision

Fox-backed Kiwi factual producer Natural History New Zealand has acquired a stake in Aquavision, one of the biggest producers in South Africa.

NHNZ said that the deal to buy into its South African counterpart will allow both companies to expand their international footprint. Aquavision is based in Johannesburg and has produced titles including Dolphin Army, Lion Army and Mother Warthog.

“Joining forces with NHNZ gives us access to decades of filmmaking expertise and will raise our profile with their network of some of the world’s top broadcasters and networks,” said Aquavision CEO and founder Peter Lamberti

NHNZ managing director Michael Stedman said: “With Aquavision’s knowledge and tremendous experience in Africa, this development will boost both companies’ ability to generate new ideas that appeal to the international market.”

In 2008 NHNZ acquired a stake in Singapore-based producer Beach House Pictures, but this is its first such deal in Africa.

Stedman said the M&A activity will continue: “NHNZ is part way through a strategy to bring like-minded companies around the world on board to strengthen our global filmmaking capacity and giving us access to an enormous range of footage and production opportunities,” he noted.

Financial details of the Aquavision deal were not disclosed.