Daniel Kemp

Paine Schwartz Partners, which previously invested in Costa from 2011-15 before listing it, has bid to acquire it again in a deal worth A$1.6bn.

‘There isn’t resistance out of principle’ from Australian superfunds to investing in agriculture, but barriers remain, says CEFC’s Heechung Sung.

Proterra’s Fund V has already acquired two farms in the US and will primarily target assets in the Midwest, Pacific Northwest and southern states.

CDPQ's Nicolas Leyssieux and CEFC's Heechung Sung set out how the unusual deal to establish a farmland investment platform while taking an equity stake in Gunn Agri Partners came about.

The close represents the first stage of a planned initial fundraise of A$65m, which will be used to acquire a mixed farming aggregation and water entitlements in NSW’s Southern Riverina.

CEFC and CDPQ will establish Wilga Farming, an open-end platform with A$200m of capital to be managed by Gunn Agri Partners, as well as taking a stake in the asset manager itself.

The ANREV Australian Farmland Index recorded its lowest quarterly result since its 2015 inception despite the total annualized return holding up relatively well.

With timber imports resuming and discussions over barley tariffs showing promise, there is hope that broader trade barriers will be lifted and that capital inflows can resume.

The bank will make a commitment of A$10m to New Harvest’s Indigenous Impact Investment Fund, attracted by its potential to support sustainable Indigenous Australian business growth.

Hancock Agriculture will buy Ottley Station and Moolan Downs, with the purchaser of Packhorse’s other asset Stuart’s Creek yet to be finalized.