Binyamin Ali
Capital was deployed from the firm’s evergreen ag and timberland vehicle which had a €32m first close at the start of November.
The firm’s early stage and agtech investments vehicle’s commitment to The Kingfish Company gives it exposure to a business embarking on a US expansion project in 2021.
Direction of travel signaled by the bloc over the past few years is creating a fundraising environment beneficial to start-ups and is now backed by a sustainability conscious subsidy package.
Among the businesses to receive backing is Nanoracks, a frequent user of the International Space Station that is building a research center in the emirate to explore harsh climate food production.
Some US LPs have ‘formal mandates to reduce their allocation to Asia’ due to the US-China trade war, said Proterra Asia managing partner Tai Lin.
Universally recognized authenticity checks, price points created by non-arbitrary forces and a way to reward those already farming sustainably are needed – this is a market with a lot left to prove.
The firm secured a 27.4% IRR when it exited its €15m timberland fund in December 2019 and is now targeting a €100m vehicle with a €200m hard-cap.
The food production technique comfortably counts pensions and sovereign wealth funds among its backers, while government and multinational interest undoubtedly lends credibility.
Quirch has a strong customer base among small supermarkets and independent chains and the Colorado Boxed Beef acquisition will give it exposure to national US chains.
From Turkey to the US, private equity is eyeing up opportunities across the world and throughout the value chain, with little sign of a diminishing appetite.