March 25, 2024

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Oxley Capital Partners, led by managing director Ben Craw, has been retained as financial advisor and is overseeing an invitation of offers for up to 100 percent of the issued shares in Australian Soil Management (ASM or “Project Alpha”) through a Non-Binding Expressions of Interest (NBOI) process. 

Founded in 2011 by Dr. Greg Bender, who has 43 years of experience in agribusiness and soil biology, ASM was launched with the singular mission to “help farmers remove 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere”.

Today, under the leadership of Bender, together with Norman Marshall and Chris Main, the fully established and growing carbon project services enterprise has become an industry leader active across approximately 25 carbon projects registered with Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator, and with a stable and robust pipeline of future initiatives. 

Reflective of their level of confidence and dedication, the founders and members of ASM’s executive team are personally invested in the natural capital sector, and are operating registered soil carbon projects across their personal farming interests. 

The company’s pioneering status in the industry, demonstrated track record of natural capital projects for farmers and landowners, its proven industry leadership, and its promising pipeline of initiatives positioning it for future growth make Project Alpha a compelling investor opportunity.

ASM explained that its organic growth is due to its alignment and novel partnership structure with the project proponent through a high-integrity success fee model with the farmer or landowner, adding that there is significant scope existing to invest in growth initiatives to scale and expand ASM current footprint. 

“We are seeking a strategic partner that will support ASM execute our targeted short and long term growth initiatives, leveraging major tailwinds in the natural capital  sector,” said Chris Main, CEO, ASM.

Project Alpha’s current geographic focus spans Eastern Australia, with extensive research trials being undertaken with farmers since 2012. Today, ASM gives incoming investors direct exposure to Australia Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) with contracted success fees paid in the form of ACCUs. 

“An incoming investor will access an established platform underpinned by best in class management with direct exposure to ACCUs from existing registered projects and a healthy project pipeline,” noted Ben Craw, managing director, Oxley Capital Partners.

Overseeing this transaction, Oxley Capital Partners is an independent corporate advisory and investment firm working with family owned and corporate food and agribusiness operations throughout the supply chain. It specializes in transaction services including selling food and agribusiness assets and raising alternate forms of debt and equity capital to support business evolution and growth. 

The firm expressed that relevant due diligence documentation is available for qualified interested parties, including an information Overview and Process letter. 

Interested parties may contact Ben Craw, managing director, Oxley Capital Partners, at ben.craw@oxleycp.com

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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