Milltrust Agricultural Investments acquired by Future Planet Capital

 

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone

 

Future Planet Capital, a global impact and innovation investment group, has acquired Milltrust Agricultural Investments through a transaction that also included the acquisition of financial consulting firm RT Capital. 

 

Under the mandate of “Sustainable Prosperity”, Milltrust International is a specialist investment group co-headquartered in London and Singapore offering a range of investment solutions addressing the most pressing themes of our time including emerging economies, the rising demand for food, climate change, and technological revolutions.

 

With $600 million in AUM across a range of ESG and impact investment funds, including the award-winning Climate Impact Asia Fund managed in partnership with WWF-Hong Kong, a branch of the World Wide Fund for Nature that invests in companies across Asia Pacific driving the adaptation and mitigation of climate change; the British Innovation Fund, a vehicle that directs international and domestic capital into the UK University originated venture sector to commercialize world-leading IP, with a strong focus on agri science and technology; and its Buy & Lease (New Zealand) Fund launched in 2016 as a vehicle to provide investors the ability to gain exposure to capital appreciation and fixed returns while not being exposed to operational risks.

 

“Population growth, climate impact, health innovation, and food chain security will all remain long-term secular challenges for decades to come,” said Simon Hopkins, CEO, Milltrust. “We continue to find hugely compelling life-changing investment solutions and innovative business ventures through our deep scientific network in these areas and we remain committed to developing these for our investors.”

 

Just a few of Milltrust’s portfolio deals that GAI News has shared in the past include:

 

~ The 2017 acquisition of Cottress Farms – a collective of citrus, avocado, and wine and table grape orchards located in the Sunraysia region of Victoria, Australia. 

 

~ The 2018 acquisition of Invergelly and Taminga – two adjacent dairy farms in the Southern Riverina district of New South Wales.

 

~ And in 2019, Milltrust Agricultural Investments’ acquisition of a 24.9 percent stake in Waitonui Milltrust Agricultural Holdings (WMAH), a newly launched entity owned in partnership with a consortium of New Zealand investors.

 

At the time, the WMAH acquisition represented the consolidation of a string of investments made over the prior six months that culminated in the formation of a large-scale, integrated dairy and beef farming enterprise.

 

Milltrust expressed in a company statement that sustainable investing in agriculture will remain a key area of focus following the sale of MAI, with plans to build out its capability in these areas through its FCA-regulated subsidiary, Milltrust International LP, and Milltrust Ventures in Singapore.

 

“The sale of MAI is a significant exit for our group, underpinning the value and expertise we bring to our early-stage venture investment programmes delivering real-world solutions,” said Hopkins. “It will now enable us to fast-track our investments and growth in Asia and other geographies where we see a significant valuation arbitrage, as well as expand our ‘sustainable prosperity’ solutions for wealth management clients.”