RMWAH raises equity of AUD45 million

18 May 2010

Origo Partners PLC

RMWAH raises equity of AUD45 million

Origo Partners Plc ("Origo") is pleased to announce that its portfolio company R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings Pty Ltd ("RMWAH"), the Australian agricultural company focused on acquiring, developing and operating prime farmland, continues to build the business by raising further equity funding.

In a series of recent transactions, RMWAH has entered into arrangements to place a total of AUD45 million worth of common stock. The equity raised will be engaged to complete the acquisition of various properties in the Northern Territory of Australia. The transactions are expected to close in June, 2010.

RMWAH is furthermore considering various other tactical joint initiatives with key partners, including proposals to further cement the business as Australia's premier agricultural operator across multiple platforms including the production of organic beef, lamb and poultry in conjunction with landscape restoration and bio-fuel production plans.

Origo CEO Chris Rynning commented, "The strong evolution of the RMWAH business underlines the attractiveness of the company's strategy of investing in high-quality agricultural businesses. The value of these assets is expected to continue to grow on the back of rising demand from Asia for high-quality protein products, in particular meat."

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Origo Partners Plc: 

Origo is an established private equity investor and strategic consultancy business, which provides its shareholders with exposure to growth opportunities and private equity returns based on the China growth story.

Origo's business model is to generate capital gains from private equity investment in growth companies from which it also generates fees for consultancy services related to further fundraisings, M&A and strategic development. 

Origo has a significant portfolio of investments in a range of industrial sectors, including metals and mining, agriculture, renewable energy/clean tech and technology, telecom and media ("TMT").