Dairy

Confidence among farmers is strong after a bumper 2020 winter crop, with hopes that a repeat this year will set the sector up for years to come.

Proterra Investment Partners' Asia arm has grown to the point where it accounts for most of the firm’s AUM and is the focus for the firm’s future growth.

The firm was also granted a seat on the Simple Love’s board as its continues to make inroads into the Asia food sector through its third flagship food fund.

Investment manager Sapient Capital Partners is targeting a net IRR of 12%-14% for its first dairy fund, which has lined up a seed portfolio of assets in Australia.

The vehicle aims to raise A$500m in its first 12 months, providing loans of A$10m-$150m to counterparties across a variety of commodities.

The aggregation of seven dairy farms in Victoria is in the ‘top echelon’ of Australian dairy producers, a source says.

Managing director Chris Sun says improving food safety conditions and the influence of key opinion leaders on China’s consumers help make the company’s direct-to-consumer model especially attractive.

The Foreign Investment Review Board has become a ‘de facto security regulator’, according to Lachlan Molesworth of Foreign Investment Advisory Australia.

Dave Chen says the pause on fundraising for the firm’s $300m follow-up to its $184m debut wastewater vehicle comes as investors display growing interest in renewable natural gas.

The firm intends to draw on its inaugural fund’s ‘very successful' investment in Farefield Dairy as it seeks to support Glacier Products’ expansion across Africa.