Institutional Investors

The timberland investment manager has hired Geoffrey Seeto as managing director of New Forests Asia to lead the expansion and consolidation of its Asian business.

Compound annual growth rate 'is the most important performance metric' for institutional investors, according to Andrew Nicholas Smith, co-founder of OWLshares, an alternatives index developer, and author of a new farmland report.

Fund II has acquired 18,500 acres across six properties in four transactions. Fund I is set to open again before the end of the year.

In case you missed it, last week Agri Investor held its inaugural Australia Forum in Melbourne, hosting nearly 200 investors, fund managers, government officials, consultants and corporates.

Impact investment firm Aurora Impact and the Savory Institute are launching the Future Ready Now project in June to attract investment into a grasslands restoration fund. Pension funds and sustainable clothing companies are among the attendees.

TIAA-CREF's second agriculture vehicle has raised over $1.7bn to date, reaching nearly 70% of its target.

John Corbett, director of Hassad Australia, told delegates at Agri Investor’s inaugural Australia Forum in Melbourne this morning that Australia ticked many boxes for the Qatari Investment Authority's agri ambitions.

The $14.7bn New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association is actively exploring agriculture investment opportunities after making its first foray into the sector last year.

The joint venture between Canada’s Public Sector Pension Investment Board and established farming family business Hewitt Cattle highlights various key aspects of agri investing in Australia.

Martin Newnham has been appointed chief executive after John McKillop left last year. Newnham is also CFO at the fund management firm.