May 31, 2016

International agriculture and food investment firm, AGR Partners is moving its headquarters to Davis, California in order to gain an advantage of proximity to the food and agriculture hub surrounding the University of California Davis, reports the Sacramento Business Journal.

AGR managing partner, Ejnar Knudsen told the Sacramento Business Journal that a relocation to Davis would provide an “amazing transportation advantage” due to its centrally located Amtrak station. Additionally, the move will allow AGR to leverage the availability of meeting and conference facilities on campus, as well local hotels, the Public Garden and Mondavi Center, and the UC Davis Arboretum.

This move follows closely upon AGR’s announcement at the end of 2015 of the opening of a Chicago office as part of a strategic move to expand its national coverage and to support the company as it seeks new opportunities to invest along the food and agriculture value chain. The office will be led by managing directors, Keith Freeman and Michael Solot, who both joined AGR Partners in 2014.

In March of this year, AGR Partners joined with TIAA Global Asset Management (TGAM) to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the launch of a $600 million agribusiness fund. The fund will be a pooled fund and Teachers Personal Investors Services, Inc. is identified as the recipient of a $3 million sales commission from the offering.

Under the filing, TIAA-CREF Alternative Advisors and AGR Partners are listed as fund managers, while JohnGoodreds, Managing Director, and Jose Minaya, Senior Managing Director, both at TIAA Global Asset Management, and Ejnar Knudsen, managing partner at AGR Partners, are listed as executive officers.

Additionally, AGR announced the expansion of its Advisory Board Team, adding two new members – Douglas R. Circle and Richard T. Crowder. The two new members will be joining Duane “Butch” Fischer and Dan O’Neill who were named to the board earlier this year.

“Our advisory board helps to execute AGR’s investment strategy as well as to assist portfolio companies with strategic direction and business insight,” said Knudsen in a company statement. “These new advisors are influential business leaders with deep industry expertise,” said Knudsen, adding, “they bring a combined business experience of 100+ years to all of our portfolio companies.”

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GAI News staff