Cavendish, the full-service investment bank for growth and investment companies, is pleased to announce that it has advised on the merger of Goedhuis & Co and Waddesdon Wine, a subsidiary of the Rothschild Foundation, which completed on 3 November 2023.

Both companies will initially continue to trade under their existing names while the two businesses are fully integrated, to ensure no disruption to clients or suppliers. The new entity, Goedhuis Waddesdon Limited, is poised to become a formidable presence in the wine industry, uniting exceptional wine expertise, prestigious portfolios and first-class levels of service to create an unparalleled destination for wine collectors, retailers and hospitality businesses seeking to elevate their standards of wine excellence.

Goedhuis & Co is a distinguished, multi-award-winning fine wine merchant with over four decades of experience, celebrated for its expertise in all the great wine regions, with a particular focus on Burgundy and Bordeaux. Waddesdon Wine represents wines from Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite and Edmond de Rothschild Heritage exclusively within the UK.  Waddesdon Wine also represents Hundred Acre and collaborates closely with esteemed wineries including Henri Bourgeois and Penfolds.

Chateau Lafite Rothschild will retain a shareholding in the newly merged Goedhuis Waddesdon Limited. Goedhuis Waddesdon’s headquarters will be in London Bridge and at the Rothschild estate, Waddesdon Manor which has recently opened its newly renovated cellars which house the largest collections of Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild outside of Bordeaux.

The lead advisers on the transaction were Lord Leigh of Hurley, Senior Partner, Rebecca McCredie, Director and Tom Holland-Hibbert, Associate.

Lord Leigh of Hurley, Senior Partner of Cavendish, commented:

“It has been a pleasure working with both the Goedhuis & Co and Waddesdon Wine teams. The partnership will enable the newly formed Goedhuis Waddesdon Limited to accelerate its expansion plans whilst remaining dedicated to its core offering. I look forward to watching its continued success.”

Johnny Goedhuis, Chairman of Goedhuis Waddesdon Limited, said:

“What makes this deal so special is the combination of Waddesdon’s extensive reach in the on-trade and their unique relationships with leading Bordeaux chateaux, with Goedhuis’ private client expertise and our extensive contacts in Burgundy and Italy. We are delighted to be joining forces with their great team and look forward to a shared future as a thrilling home for premium wineries and their clients.