Wellard Obtains US$83m Private Equity Investment from Standard Chartered
Standard Chartered Private Equity Limited (SCPEL) has invested in international agribusiness Wellard to grow the business through a number of identified agribusinesses opportunities throughout the wider Asian region.
The Wellard-SCPEL partnership will enhance Wellard’s ability to continue building its large, vertically integrated agricultural business to meet the increasing demand for protein from Wellard’s increasingly global operations in established and emerging markets across the Middle East, eastern Europe, southeast Asia and China.
SCPEL will invest US$83m in Wellard via a convertible note. On conversion, SCPEL will become a significant minority shareholder.
Wellard executive chairman Mauro Balzarini said international demand for protein continued to increase and the resulting opportunities available to Wellard’s business partners, customers and suppliers were extensive. Wellard’s 10-year strategic plan is focused on those opportunities.
“Wellard has built a substantial livestock and grain production, trading and distribution business, operating in the Asian, Middle Eastern, European and South American regions,” he said. “Consumer demand for protein is increasing and Wellard is perfectly placed to use our international infrastructure, expertise, experience and extensive business partnerships to supply that increased demand.”