Carbon

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 bloc’s center piece environmental legislation has gotten caught in a legislative saga of nail-biting voting results and negotiating room walkouts.

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.

Christof Kutscher has stepped down from the role and Berg will move up from his position as chief investment officer for the firm’s nature based carbon strategy.

The Kilter Agriculture Fund will invest in farmland water and is targeting A$65m in a first fundraise that will close later this month.

Climate Asset Management’s investment vehicle will straddle its existing carbon and natural capital strategies and is open to investment from Apple supply chain companies to address its Scope 3 emissions.

As some individual farmers hold back on committing to decades long land use agreements, private capital portfolios can play a role in looking long-term to help the sector decarbonize.