Todd Corporation Ltd
Encyclopedia
Todd Corporation is a New Zealand
company
owned and controlled by the Todd family and based in Wellington. The corporation is controlled by John D. Todd its chairman who according to Forbes Magazine is New Zealand's first billion dollar company. John D. Todd succeeded Sir Bryan Todd
in 1987 when Sir Bryan died.
after the company began importing motor vehicles.
This automotive business would define the Todd family business until well into the 1980s. Charles Todd was credited with bringing the first motor car into Otago and in 1908 acquired a Ford dealership in Dunedin
then in 1928 acquired the Rootes Group franchise for Hillman
, Humber
and Commer
and obtained an Auckland Branch.
During the protectionist years of the 1930s the Todd family formed Todd Motor Industries Limited and in 1934 built an automotive assembly plant in Petone to reassemble vehicles imported as parts from Chrysler (USA) and Rootes. According to the Todd Energy website by 1964, Todd Motors was assembling and selling over 10,000 cars per year. In 1970 the company purchased the New Zealand Mitsubishi franchise. This franchise and assembly plants were sold to Mitsubishi Motors in 1987
The Todd family also founded Europa an oil importing and retail business that owned terminal services at four major ports and a chain of petrol stations across New Zealand. According to the Todd Energy website, this business was founded during disruptions in the petrol industry in 1929. Europa was originally named 'Associated Motorists Petrol Company Limited' (AMPC) and was formed in 1931. The company imported petrol from the Soviet Union from 1933, and was supported by the New Zealand Farmers' Union and various regional Automobile Associations. Because of price undercuttng by overseas oil companies, the government introduced price regulation of petrol from 1933.http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4t20/1
According to Todd Energy
, Europa was the first to offer electric petrol pumps in New Zealand, the first to use articulated road tankers for fuel distribution and the first chain to operate service station convenience stores.
The Todd family also developed interests in the prospecting for, extraction of and refining of petroleum products. In 1954 they acquired prospecting licenses around New Zealand and developed joint venture agreements with Shell Oil New Zealand Limited and BP New Zealand. The discovery of the Kapuni
gas and condensate field in 1959 meant that the Todd family together with Shell and BP became major players in the New Zealand petroleum production business.
Later discoveries in the famous Maui gas field
meant the Todd family was intimately involved in supplying a majority of New Zealand's LPG and CNG natural gas for energy generation as well as fuel for the transport industry. Together with Shell, BP and the Government-owned Petrocorp began production in 1980.
In 1972 BP New Zealand took a 60 percent interest in Europa, purchasing the company’s marketing and refining interests including the Europa petrol stations. The two retail brands continued to operate independently, however in 1989 they were brought under the BP brand.
Todd continued its involvement in the exploration and production businesses.
When sold to Mitsubishi in 1987, Todd Motors was assembling a wide range of cars, and light and heavy commercial vehicles. During the 1980s the Company held the number two market share position in the New Zealand automobile industry. The sale bought the Todd family's involvement in the New Zealand automotive industry to a close.
According to the Todd Capital website the capital side of the business owns the following investmentshttp://www.toddcapital.co.nz/keyinvestments/index.html.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
owned and controlled by the Todd family and based in Wellington. The corporation is controlled by John D. Todd its chairman who according to Forbes Magazine is New Zealand's first billion dollar company. John D. Todd succeeded Sir Bryan Todd
Bryan Todd (New Zealand)
Bryan James Todd was one of four brothers who built one of New Zealand's biggest industrial and commercial enterprises. He was an important figure in the development of the New Zealand oil and gas energy industry and, incidentally, in the development of New Zealand tax law.-Early life:Todd was born...
in 1987 when Sir Bryan died.
History
The history of Todd Corporation is understood to have begun in 1885, when Scottish immigrant Charles Todd founded opened either a wool scoring business (according to Todd Energy) or a rural goods store in Central Otago. By 1929, it had evolved into a car sales and maintenance business run by his son and namesake Charles ToddCharles Todd (New Zealand)
Charles Todd , fellmonger, wool-scourer, motor car importer and assembler, petrol importer and retailer, industrialist and community leader; he was a leading New Zealand businessman and was a principal founder of the Todd Corporation-References:...
after the company began importing motor vehicles.
This automotive business would define the Todd family business until well into the 1980s. Charles Todd was credited with bringing the first motor car into Otago and in 1908 acquired a Ford dealership in Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
then in 1928 acquired the Rootes Group franchise for Hillman
Hillman
Hillman is a British automobile marque created by the Hillman Motor Car Company, founded in 1907. The company was based in Ryton-on-Dunsmore, near Coventry, England. Before 1907 the company had built bicycles...
, Humber
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
and Commer
Commer
Commer became known in later years as a maker of vans for the British Post Office—particularly the Commer FC which was introduced in 1960 with many body styles, including a 1500 cc van. After engine and interior upgrades it was renamed the PB in 1967 and the SpaceVan in 1974...
and obtained an Auckland Branch.
During the protectionist years of the 1930s the Todd family formed Todd Motor Industries Limited and in 1934 built an automotive assembly plant in Petone to reassemble vehicles imported as parts from Chrysler (USA) and Rootes. According to the Todd Energy website by 1964, Todd Motors was assembling and selling over 10,000 cars per year. In 1970 the company purchased the New Zealand Mitsubishi franchise. This franchise and assembly plants were sold to Mitsubishi Motors in 1987
The Todd family also founded Europa an oil importing and retail business that owned terminal services at four major ports and a chain of petrol stations across New Zealand. According to the Todd Energy website, this business was founded during disruptions in the petrol industry in 1929. Europa was originally named 'Associated Motorists Petrol Company Limited' (AMPC) and was formed in 1931. The company imported petrol from the Soviet Union from 1933, and was supported by the New Zealand Farmers' Union and various regional Automobile Associations. Because of price undercuttng by overseas oil companies, the government introduced price regulation of petrol from 1933.http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/4t20/1
According to Todd Energy
Todd Energy
Todd Energy is a diversified energy company operating in New Zealand. Todd Energy employs over 200 people and is part of the Todd Corporation. Nova Energy is the retail division of Todd Energy- Electricity :...
, Europa was the first to offer electric petrol pumps in New Zealand, the first to use articulated road tankers for fuel distribution and the first chain to operate service station convenience stores.
The Todd family also developed interests in the prospecting for, extraction of and refining of petroleum products. In 1954 they acquired prospecting licenses around New Zealand and developed joint venture agreements with Shell Oil New Zealand Limited and BP New Zealand. The discovery of the Kapuni
Kapuni
Kapuni is a small hydrocarbons field and drilling site in the North Island of New Zealand. It is located within a dairy farming area in Taranaki, south of New Plymouth....
gas and condensate field in 1959 meant that the Todd family together with Shell and BP became major players in the New Zealand petroleum production business.
Later discoveries in the famous Maui gas field
Maui gas field
The Maui natural gas field is the largest gas, natural gas condensate and oil field in New Zealand, producing nearly three-quarters of the country's hydrocarbons, as well as providing energy for electricity generation. It is located in the Tasman Sea, 35 km off the coast of Taranaki and to the...
meant the Todd family was intimately involved in supplying a majority of New Zealand's LPG and CNG natural gas for energy generation as well as fuel for the transport industry. Together with Shell, BP and the Government-owned Petrocorp began production in 1980.
In 1972 BP New Zealand took a 60 percent interest in Europa, purchasing the company’s marketing and refining interests including the Europa petrol stations. The two retail brands continued to operate independently, however in 1989 they were brought under the BP brand.
Todd continued its involvement in the exploration and production businesses.
When sold to Mitsubishi in 1987, Todd Motors was assembling a wide range of cars, and light and heavy commercial vehicles. During the 1980s the Company held the number two market share position in the New Zealand automobile industry. The sale bought the Todd family's involvement in the New Zealand automotive industry to a close.
Investments
Todd Corporations are currently maintained under two distinct branches. Todd Energy continues the Todd family's involvement in the energy industry. Todd Capital, formed after the sale of the automotive industry, focuses on media and communications business but has some other significant investments.According to the Todd Capital website the capital side of the business owns the following investmentshttp://www.toddcapital.co.nz/keyinvestments/index.html.
- An interest in Sky Network TelevisionSKY Network TelevisionSky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
("Sky") a pay television operator - This shareholding is a result of its purchase of an ownership interest in Sky Television in 1990 soon after its founding and its subsequent sale, followed by the company's purchase of shares in Independent NewspapersIndependent NewspapersThis article refers to the New Zealand company. For the Irish company formerly of the same name, see Independent News & Media.Independent Newspapers Limited was a media concern in New Zealand.-History:...
and INL's subsequent purchase of an interest in and then its purchase of Sky TelevisionSKY Network TelevisionSky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
. - A 14.8% shareholding in Crown Castle Australia Pty Limited ("CCA"). http://www.toddcapital.co.nz/keyinvestments/index.html
- A 100% shareholding in Landco Limited, Landco website
- A 17.0% shareholding in Woosh Wireless Limited. Woosh website
Previous investments
- A 35.0% shareholding in Metlifecare Limited, Todd Capital sold its entire shareholding in November 2005.
- A 14.2% shareholding in Independent Newspapers Limited (INL)
- A 25.0% shareholding in Clear CommunicationsClear CommunicationsClear Communications was a telecommunications company based in New Zealand. Until merging into Telstra's operations in 2001, it was the biggest rival to Telecom New Zealand....
- A 20.0% shareholding in AAPTAAPTAAPT is Australia's third largest land line telecommunications company and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Telecom New Zealand. The company is a member of the Infrastructure Assurance Advisory Group for the Critical Infrastructure Protection branch of the Attorney-General's...
Limited, - A 21.0% shareholding in UtiliCorp NZ Inc
See also
- Todd EnergyTodd EnergyTodd Energy is a diversified energy company operating in New Zealand. Todd Energy employs over 200 people and is part of the Todd Corporation. Nova Energy is the retail division of Todd Energy- Electricity :...
- Bay of Plenty Energy
- King Country ElectricityKing Country ElectricityKing Country Energy is an electricity generation and distribution company in New Zealand, supplying the Waitomo, King Country and Ruapehu Districts. It generates 100% of its electricity from renewable sources ....
- Andrew ToddAndrew Todd (New Zealand)Andrew Todd was one of four brothers who built one of New Zealand's biggest industrial and commercial enterprises. He was an important figure in the car assembly industry.-Early life:...
- Bryan ToddBryan Todd (New Zealand)Bryan James Todd was one of four brothers who built one of New Zealand's biggest industrial and commercial enterprises. He was an important figure in the development of the New Zealand oil and gas energy industry and, incidentally, in the development of New Zealand tax law.-Early life:Todd was born...
- Charles ToddCharles Todd (New Zealand)Charles Todd , fellmonger, wool-scourer, motor car importer and assembler, petrol importer and retailer, industrialist and community leader; he was a leading New Zealand businessman and was a principal founder of the Todd Corporation-References:...
- Kathleen ToddKathleen ToddKathleen Mary Gertrude Todd was a pioneering New Zealand child psychiatrist.-Early Life:Kathleen Todd was born on 19 November 1898 in Heriot, Otago, She was one of the seven children of Charles Todd, an auctioneer and stock and station agent who founded a firm that became the Todd...