Fundraising

McLarty Capital Partners plans to lock down enough capital for the first close of its recently-launched Rural Business Investment Company by mid-2017.

The fund will invest in 10-12 companies selected from over 40 sub-sectors in the agri and food value chain, with an average investment of $15 million.

Stafford's latest timber fund has so far been invested most heavily in secondaries, followed by co-investments, said Tom Goodrich, a timber group partner.

Singapore’s Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp and its asset management unit Lion Global Investors have closed a S$550m private equity fund to invest in agriculture and commodity companies across Asia.

The Small Enterprise Assistance Fund (SEAF), the impact investment fund manager with investments in over 33 countries, is gearing up to launch a new $100m India-focused agri fund.

Stafford Capital Partners, which invests in timberland through funds of funds, has added global agriculture to its investment strategies, saying it intends to replicate its successful timberland model.

The fund of funds house was awarded mandates by two European institutions and hopes to have $250m in agri-dedicated AUM by end of 2015.

The AXA Group fund of funds house has launched the Architas Diversified Real Assets Fund and is looking for direct timber opportunities.