Manulife Investment concludes stake acquisition in fruit exporter DDC

Manulife Investment Management’s Hancock Natural Resource Group (HNRG) has wrapped up the acquisition of a majority stake in Chilean fruit exporter David Del Curto (DDC), on behalf of its third-party clients.

Financial details of the deal remain undivulged.

Based in Chile, David Del Curto produces more than ten types of fruits across its 11 farms.

In addition to fruit production, the company also packs the fruits and exports them to other countries.

Currently, DDC operates three packing facilities with a capacity of nine million boxes of fruit. It packs and markets fruit for nearly 90 third-party growers, as well as fruits from its own farms.

Additionally, the fruit producer manages one of the largest nurseries in the country.

DDC CEO Fernando Cisternas said: “By joining the Manulife Investment Management and HNRG team, we are able to rely on their extensive agricultural experience to expand our operations and further the reach of the firm.

“We feel the acquisition will bring tremendous additional resources to our teams and partners.”

Under the deal, Cisternas and the DDC management team will continue their association with the company.

Cisternas will oversee day-to-day operations and key strategic growth projects.

The acquisition could help HNRG to diversify its growing agricultural portfolio through its Farmland Plus initiative.

HNRG CEO William E Peressini said: “We are very excited to work on the ownership transition with the strong DDC management team that is already in place and value The Corso Group’s continuing partnership.

“We will also work closely with the existing teams on land stewardship which we anticipate will include redeveloping existing orchards and developing those orchards that have not been under cultivation.

“Through these efforts we will look to expand DDC’s production, as well as enhance existing and new marketing partnerships, to create additional opportunity.”

Additionally, the deal will also benefit from maintaining a connection to the previous ownership. The Corso Group (TCG) that acquired an ownership stake of DDC in 2005 and in this transaction will maintain a minority stake in the firm.