Africa’s largest private sector investment manager, Old Mutual Investment Group has increased its overall effective equity stake in African agriculture investment group, UFF African Agri Investments, to 49%.

"Our additional stake has been acquired from the 3 founding members," OMIG told Africa Global Funds.

The partnership will see the strengthening of a longtime relationship between the two companies, with investment opportunities of up to $500m into African farmland envisaged over the next three years.

UFF African Agri Investments has specialist expertise, with a dedicated focus on investments in the Agri sector in Africa.

The Group has long been a fund advisor to Old Mutual Investment Group through its Futuregrowth Agri and Old Mutual Agri Funds.

OMIG’s FutureGrowth subsidiary took an initial stake of 28% five years back.

Diane Radley, CEO of Old Mutual Investment Group, said this formal partnership was a natural progression for the two organisations.

“As the largest manager of real assets in Africa, we have a deep belief in the opportunities in agricultural investing across the African continent. Agriculture as an asset class has already gained huge momentum globally, but is still in its infancy in Africa. This presents a significant investment opportunity for both local and international investors,” she said.

Radley said:OMIG “The UFF team offers unparalleled experience in the arena of African agri-investing, an invaluable addition to our alternative assets growth strategy, which seeks to expand our investment business into the rest of Africa.”

She added that the UFF and Old Mutual partnership is a signatory to the Principles of Responsible Investments in farmland.

"All farms are assessed and monitored on compliance to International Finance Corporations standards on environmental, social and governance standards encompassing standards set by the International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations (UN), World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and local legislation,” she said.

"In addition, on the farms in the portfolio, the funds implement a comprehensive education, healthcare and/or housing programmes for farm workers. ”UFF has an innovative and unique way to affect positive change. 6% of rental revenues is invested in social economic projects providing education, housing and healthcare,” she said.

Duncan Vink, Co-founder of UFF,  added: “We couldn’t have chosen a better company to partner with than the Old Mutual Investment Group, an organisation that is fully aligned with our vision of the significant opportunities that African agricultural investing present, together with making a positive change on the continent, We are looking forward to further compounding an already strong and fruitful relationship and believe that this transaction will drive the future growth of each organisation as well as the broader African continent."

“Agriculture is a vital economic driver in Africa given a number of socio-economic factors, including population growth, poverty and unemployment. These factors present acute challenges and make unlocking our agricultural potential not just an attractive option, but a necessity,” said Vink.