Proven agribusiness investors
enabling rapid and sustainable growth
About Us
We are a specialist agribusiness investment group, with deep industry expertise and hands-on operating experience, helping mid-sized food and agriculture companies grow to become clear industry leaders
We partner with exceptional agriculture and food companies to guide them through rapid yet sustainable growth, to become clear industry leaders.
Our accomplished team, with decades of agricultural investing, development and operating expertise across the globe, helps companies achieve their fullest potential.
We pioneer innovative approaches to solve many of the headwinds facing modern agriculture and always put environmental, social and governance considerations at the heart of our investments and operations.
Sunridge Partners provides patient capital, deep industry expertise and a hands-on approach to achieving outsized returns for all stakeholders.
Our Approach
We help agribusiness owners, operators, and entrepreneurs grow their businesses into industry leaders with the help of our capital and strong industry focussed expertise, globally
Why work with Sunridge Partners
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Our unique focus on food and agriculture, allows us to better understand particular agribusiness needs faster and have in-depth sector and sub-sector expertise bringing solutions to your business
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Our stewardship and value creation track-record is unparalleled and our investing, operations and business development skills add value beyond just capital
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We are driven by the highest environmental, ethical and socially responsible principles and work with you to achieve the best possible outcomes for all stakeholders during the whole lifetime of our ownership
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As we are family backed, we pride ourselves on providing patient and long-term capital
We can provide owners and operations with the following solutions
We have flexible mandate to create custom solutions for owners and operators wishing to either fully transition a business yet also have the ability to form mutually beneficial partnerships for ownership and growth
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Growth capital (organic and acquisitions)
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Purchase of whole company or divisions
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Changes to the shareholder base
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Financing for management buy-outs/buy-ins
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Real estate and agriculture tourism development (full in-house design & construction teams)
Environmental, Social and Governance
We are at the forefront of investing in and operating food and agricultural companies in a way that is truly sustainable, or ideally even regenerative. Sunridge Partners actively seek investment opportunities that address the growing challenges in food and agriculture.
Our Core Principles
From ending poverty and hunger to climate change and sustaining our natural resources, food and agriculture lies at the very heart of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Five key principles guide us in a unified approach across the food and agribusiness investment landscape:
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Safeguarding and improving the livelihoods and social well‐being of individuals producing food and processing agricultural products
- Promoting food and agribusiness products and systems that contribute to improved health and well-being
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Conserving, protecting and enhancing our natural ecosystems
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Instilling transparent governance within natural and human systems
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Fostering holistic innovation and sustainable growth for all stakeholders
We have also made a commitment to meaningfully contribute to and find solutions in our investments to the SDGs. The SDGs where we believe Sunridge can have the greatest impact are:
Our Commitment
We are a proud signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment, the leading global proponent for incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles in investment activities.
As a signatory, we have committed to:
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Incorporate ESG considerations into our investment analysis and decision-making processes
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Prioritize ESG issues in our ownership policies and practices, as active owners
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Seek appropriate disclosure on ESG metrics within Sunridge investments
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Promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry
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Work with internal and external stakeholders to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles
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Report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles
Our Investment Criteria
We invest in experienced management teams and companies to build and grow sustainable champions across the food and agribusiness value chain
Food and Agriculture Value Chain Focus
Inputs
Seeds, genetics, fertilizers, crop protection, equipment, services
Primary Production
Produce, plantations, aquaculture, specialty crops
Processing
Food processing, value-added processing
Storage& Transportation
Shipping, infrastructure, cold storage, distribution
Geography
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Our focus is on member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
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We have the ability to scale businesses globally beyond OECD countries
Companies
We partner with private, mostly family owned companies that have:
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Exceptional management teams with a shared passion to grow and develop their businesses
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Track-record of operational excellence
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Operate in interesting niches within the food and agriculture value chain that are growing rapidly
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Minimum EBITDA of US$2 million
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Aligned goals and strict adherence to environmentally, ethically and socially responsible principles
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Ability for Sunridge Partners to add value beyond capital
Transaction Size
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Our customary transaction size is between US$ 15-50 million in equity over the lifetime of an investment
We welcome you to contact us to discuss how we might partner to create mutually beneficial opportunities in the agribusiness sector.
Team
We are driven by agribusiness experts, with hands-on sector specific investment, operations, and business development expertise
Leadership
Philipp Saumweber
Managing Partner
Philipp Saumweber is an experienced principal investor and operator in the agriculture sector, which he has worked in for over a decade and has deployed capital across the agricultural value chain in Europe, North America and Australasia.
While at Sunridge Partners, Philipp was also the interim CEO for one of its portfolio businesses.
Philipp was an investment professional at King Street Capital, a large hedge fund, where he led investments in real asset sectors throughout Europe.
Philipp began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he advised public and private companies in European real estate, lodging and gaming sectors on strategic and financial matters.
Philipp holds a BA in Economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Hugues Marchand
Partner
Hugues Marchand is an investment professional with more than 15 years of principal investing experience, primarily in the infrastructure sector across Europe, North America and Africa.
At Sunridge Partners, Hugues has also been CFO of a portfolio business.
Previously, Hugues was a principal investment professional at GDF SUEZ, leading transaction in LNG, infrastructure and power projects globally. Hugues was also divisional CFO in Turkey.
Hugues holds a BEng in Applied Maths from the Universite Catholique de Louvain, an MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London, a PhD in Operations Research from the Centre for Operations Research and Econometrics (UCL) / Columbia University and attended INSEAD’s General Management Program.
Michael Voice
Partner
Michael is seasoned agribusiness investment and business development professional with more than a decade of experience.
Michael was a business development director for one of Sunridge Partners' portfolio companies.
Previously, Michael was an investment professional at RJI Capital, a boutique private equity and
strategic advisory firm.
Michael began his career in commodities trading at Dominion Resources, one of the largest physical and financial traders of natural gas in the US.
Michael holds a BSE in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MSc with Distinction in Shipping, Trade, and Finance from Cass Business School.
Lukas Wittern
Senior Associate
Lukas works across all aspects of the firm from business development to portfolio company operations.
Previously, Lukas worked as a Strategy Manager at Teneo, focusing on strategic and organisational transformations as well as projects requiring advanced data analytics. He was previously also a consultant for Bayer Crop Science and BASF Agriculture in Seeds and Traits with a focus on Wheat.
Lukas holds an MA in Natural Sciences, an MPhil in Management, and a PhD in Plant Sciences from the University of Cambridge.
Ben Burgess
Associate
Ben works across all aspects of the firm from business development to portfolio company operations.
Previously, Ben spent three years working with Boston Consulting Group as a Senior Associate in London and Melbourne. He specialised in product and growth strategy projects within the consumer and food space. Ben also has experience working in the investment banking division of Credit Suisse’s general industrials team.
Ben holds a BComm in Economics and Finance with first class honours (Deans list) from the University of Melbourne and a BCompSc in Computer Science with first class honours from Monash University.
Bilyana Chinchikova
Finance Controller
Bilyana is involved in the financial oversight of Sunridge Parners and its portfolio companies.
Previously, Bilyana spent five years working for the Controllers division at Goldman Sachs in the Investment Accounting and Corporate Accounting teams.
Bilyana holds a BSc in Management with first class honours from Cass Business School and is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant.
Muriel Stankovic
Executive Assistant
Muriel joined in 2022 and provides executive assistant support to the partners.
Muriel started her career in the US as a personal assistant and then, 14 years was an Executive Assistant working with a large team at Eurostar International.
Most recently, Muriel started and successfully built her own hospitality business.
Muriel holds a degree in Administration.
Carol Wood
Administration Manager
Carol provides administrative support to the Team and ensures that the office runs smoothly.
She commenced her career working administratively for a medium sized American oil company until it was bought by BHP Billiton, where she continued as Executive Assistant running the London office of the Chairman & CEO. Carol has been working with the Sunridge team since 2014.
Carol holds a BA (hons).
Wider Team
Our team includes leading industry operators and executives as well as a seasoned board of advisors from across the food and agriculture industry.
Contact
Sunridge Partners (UK), LLP
318 Harbour Yard
Third Floor
Chelsea Harbour
London, SW10 0XD
United Kingdom
+44 20 3892 3080