Hard asset investment specialist Merricks Capital has won a major international award for its innovative agricultural lending.
Merricks Capital today announced it had been awarded ‘Private Lender of the Year – Global’ by Agri Investor as part of their annual global awards.
Merricks Capital’s Managing Director, Portfolio Management, Geoff Davis said, “This award recognises Merricks Capital as a leading private debt lender in agricultural farmland credit across Australia and New Zealand.
“Our deep understanding of agricultural operations, asset bases and loan exit strategies enables us to service opportunities that traditional banks often underservice.
“Growing demand and increasing regulatory pressures faced by the banks have created a financing gap in the agriculture credit market.
“This gap is expected to exceed $10 billion over the next five years and Merricks Capital is uniquely placed to meet it and in doing so, deliver strong, risk-adjusted returns to investors.
“Our significant restructuring capabilities also enable us to work alongside borrowers to achieve positive outcomes for debt, where required.”
The Agri Investor Global Awards are voted for by the industry and recognise managers, investors, deals and innovators in the agriculture industry. The awards cover a number of categories and regions and feature global winners.
“Merricks Capital is particularly pleased that we have been recognised in the global category, indicating the strength of our model and the attractiveness of our agricultural funds to investors globally,” Mr Davis said. “Our strategy of investing in farmland senior credit reduces investors’ exposure to the operational, weather and other risks arising from direct agricultural business investment.
“Over the past seven years we have invested $1.4 billion across the sector in senior secured loans supporting farmland acquisitions, horticultural development, land-use conversion and downstream processing, through our flagship products, the Merricks Capital Agriculture Credit Fund and the Merricks Capital Partners Fund.”
The Agriculture Credit Fund has demonstrated consistent results, with a fund return of 10.1% since its inception in June 2021 (as of February 2025, net of fees and costs).
Mr Davis said that in 2024 Merricks Capital originated and structured $400 million in senior debt facilities covering horticulture, livestock, cropping and processing, helping agricultural operations scale and adapt for growth.
“We expect a continued strong pipeline, estimated at $550 million in 2025 and nearly $1 billion in 2026,” he said.
