Agriculture
AVCJ Awards 2019: Responsible Investment: Organica
SEAF’s commitment to a farm-to-shop natural foods retailer highlights the idea that even sustainability-focused businesses may have room for improvement beneath the surface
Ankur achieves first close on second India VC fund
Ankur Capital, an Indian early-stage investor focused on healthcare and agriculture technology investments, has reached a first close of INR2.4 billion ($33 million) on its second fund.
PSP buys Australian almond orchards, water rights
Schroder Adveq has sold 12,000 hectares of almond orchards in Australia to Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP) for an undisclosed sum. The pension plan has also agreed to pay Olam International A$490 million ($332.5 million) for permanent...
Deal focus: Navis pursues durian farm modernization
Nearly $100 million has been earmarked for the development of upstream farming and downstream processing so that Chinese buyers can have faith in Malaysia's durian suppliers
Navis buys Malaysian durian producer
Navis Capital Partners has acquired Malaysian durian products exporter Hernan Corporation with a view to leveraging strong demand for the fruit in China and in Chinese communities globally.
Hosen targets $750m for fourth China fund
China-based food and agriculture specialist Hosen Capital is looking to raise $750 million for its fourth fund.
Lok seeks $150m for fourth India fund
Indian venture capital firm Lok Capital is targeting $150 million for its fourth fund, which will invest in growth-stage companies with a potential for positive social impact.
LGT acquires India impact investor
LGT Group has acquired a majority stake in Indian impact investor Aspada from an investment arm of Open Society Foundations, a George Soros-founded charitable institute.
PEP to acquire APAC business of US-based Horizon
Australia’s Private Equity Partners (PEP) has agreed to pay A$340 million ($230 million) for the Asia Pacific division of US automotive industry equipment supplier Horizon Global.
EDBI joins $89m round for US agtech player Inari
EDBI, the investment arm of Singapore’s Economic Development Board, has joined an $89 million Series C round for US agricultural technology developer Inari.
Macquarie buys Australia cotton farm stake from Chinese strategic
Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets (MIRA) has acquired a 49% stake in Australia’s largest cotton farm, Cubbie Station, primarily from Chinese fabrics maker Shandong Ruyi.
IFC leads $550m investment in India's L&T Finance
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has anchored the first tranche of a $550 million investment in L&T Finance Holdings (LTFH), the financial services unit of Indian engineering conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
Allegro backs Australia's Questas
Australian private equity firm Allegro Funds has confirmed its investment in local mining, construction and agricultural support services provider Questas Group.
Deal focus: TaniGroup plants a seed for Indonesia agtech
TaniGroup was established to address an information disparity that prevents Indonesian farmers from making more money. Several VC investors are now backing it to become a broader platform
China agriculture biotech program gets $30m
An investment platform owned by the Beijing Changping regional government has committed RMB204 million ($30 million) to a partnership with Origin Agritech that will commercialize genetically modified corn seeds.
Openspace backs Indonesian agtech start-up
Openspace Ventures has led a $10 million Series A round for Indonesian agricultural technology start-up TaniGroup.
Food tech: Irresistible recipes
Food technology is a virtually endless horizon of profound and unignorable investment imperatives mistaken as a niche category. Alternative protein is the first opportunity set to gain serious traction
Singapore's VisVires launches $150m food tech fund
VisVires New Protein, a Singapore-based VC firm specializing in food technology, has launched its second fund with a target of $150 million. Fund I closed at $40 million in 2016.
New Zealand agtech player gets $6.7m
BioLumic, a New Zealand-based start-up that develops ultraviolet (UV) crop yield enhancement systems, has raised a $6.7 million Series A led by US agricultural technology VC firm Finistere Ventures.
CDC anchors Global Environment Fund spin-out
UK development finance institution CDC Group has anchored a $130 million first close for a fund managed by a South Asian spin-out of US-based Global Environmental Fund Capital Advisors.
Dymon supports take-private of Malaysia’s Yee Lee
Dymon Asia Private Equity (DAPE) has backed a MYR186 million ($44.9 million) privatization bid for Yee Lee Group, a Malaysia-listed conglomerate with interests in food and agriculture, hospitality, logistics, and packaging.
Affinity-backed Leong Hup seeks up to $288m in Malaysia IPO
Affinity Equity Partners is set to make a partial exit from Leong Hup International as the Malaysian poultry producer looks to raise up to MYR1.19 billion ($288 million) in a domestic IPO.
India's Omnivore raises $97m for second fund
Omnivore Partners, an Indian venture capital firm focused on impact investment in the local agriculture industry, has closed its second early-stage fund with $97 million in commitments.
Tiger Global invests $89m in India's Ninjacart
Tiger Global Management has invested INR6.25 billion ($89.1 million) for a 26% stake in Indian agriculture industry sales platform Ninjacart.