Aqua-Spark, a new Netherlands-based aquaculture-focused venture fund launched in November 2014, is taking a different approach to investing in the sector. Typically venture funds plans exits, and a return of capital to partners within seven to ten years either through public offerings or acquisitions, however, Aqua-Spark is established as an ‘evergreen’ fund with the mission of remaining open and involved with companies for the long term. Every six months valuations will be determined allowing new investors in, and allowing older investors to exit once an initial lock-up period has been met. Because aquaculture companies require a significant initial capital investment and take longer to mature, this investment model may be well-suited to the sector. The fund intends to make 10 investments per year of between €250,000 and €5 million ($336,000 – $6.7 million) each, in small and medium sized companies that meet its sustainability criteria, and that can network and share technology, feed and distribution. The fund aims to pay dividends after an initial investment period of five to seven years, and over the next ten years aims to place €200 million.
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