Field Notes: IFC seeks partners to double its annual agribusiness investment; weighing the impact of a Trade War II

IFC - International Finance Corporation seeks partners to double its annual agribusiness investment; weighing the impact of a Trade War II; Agri Investor Awards nominations window closes on Friday; Ceres Partners, LLC makes two hires as it pushes into US water investment; and more. Welcome to Field Notes, the start-of-the-week briefing.

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First look

IFC seeks partners to double its agribusiness investment

The World Bank hopes to pursue a range of partnerships with private firms active in emerging markets as part of its efforts to double annual investment in agribusiness by 2030. Read more...

They said it

“Water world historically moved very slowly. In the last two or three years, we’ve seen 10-15 years of actual progress”

Ceres Partners, LLC director Justin Lott says the introduction of the Federal government as a buyer and the renegotiation of existing supply have brought rapid progress to the US water investment market.

Deals

Palladium to exit Del Real Foods

Palladium Equity Partners, LLC has struck a deal to sell its majority shareholding in Del Real Foods to Corporación Multi Inversiones. Financial details were undisclosed. Palladium Equity Partners will retain a minority stake in the business alongside the founding Cardenas family, with CMI becoming the new majority shareholder.

Monomoy acquires Oliver Packaging and Equipment

Monomoy Capital Partners has acquired food packaging systems and bakery equipment provider Oliver Packaging and Equipment Company . The company also provides compostable and recyclable plastic and fiber-based meal trays and films for end markets including senior meals, education and grocery. Oliver Packaging and Equipment also has a “significant and growing” installed base of packaging and bakery equipment across a diverse customer base in North America.

People

Ceres eyes water in adding Appia Capital execs

Ceres Partners?has hired a pair of executives from Appia Capital Partners to manage its existing private equity unit and launch a separate water-focused vehicle.

Ceres chief investment officer Brandon Zick told?Agri Investor that Nick Schupbach, CFA and Justin Lott will manage the firm’s existing agribusiness funds, a forthcoming third agribusiness vehicle and also spearhead creation of a new water-focused vehicle. Continue reading...

VC fundraising

SeaO2 , a Dutch start-up developing technology to remove carbon from seawater, raised €2 million in a seed round that included Future Tech Ventures , CarbonFix and NEW-TTT fund, among others.

Oceanloop , an indoor shrimp farming start-up headquartered in Germany, raised €35 million in a venture debt investment from the European Investment Bank (EIB) as part of the European Union’s InvestEU guarantee program.

Agrovision , a Los Angeles-headquartered berry grower and packer backed by Aliment Capital, secured a $400 million credit facility from BTG Pactual , 高盛 and others.

Dive into the detail in this week's Field Notes...