With a newly minted fund and a fat Rolodex, Water Asset Management co-heads Disque Deane and Matt Diserio are more than willing to evangelise about investing in the water sector. And, pretty soon, they expect to be preaching to the converted.
A Baltimore-based investment firm has raised $180 million to invest in wetlands restoration, a niche strategy that combines conservation with mid-teen return expectations.
UK finance development institution CDC has committed $20m to one of the largest agri-business private equity funds in Africa. CDC hopes the move stimulates fundraising in the sector.
The US government’s development finance institution has provided commitments in the form of senior loans to five funds that focus on agriculture in Africa and renewable energies in Asia.
The Australian sovereign wealth fund continues to increase its exposure to real estate, private equity and infrastructure, according to its Q1 2011 portfolio update. Future Fund’s infra and timberland assets increased by A$562m in the first three months of the year.
The Toronto-based asset manager attracted $330m for its first private investment fund focused exclusively on agricultural land. The Brookfield Brazil 'AgriLand' Fund aims to make money by buying up pasture lands in Brazil and converting them to crops.
Earth Capital Partners has launched its Forestry Fund I targeting 12% IRRs through the acquisition of established plantations and agricultural land ripe for planting in Brazil and other Latin America countries.
Pan-Asian private equity firm CLSA Capital Partners is targeting a final close for its Clean Resources Asia Growth Fund by the fourth quarter of 2010.