Key Takeaways:
- Ceres Partners appointed Nick Schupbach as Managing Director and Justin Lott as Director of Private Equity.
- Schupbach and Lott bring extensive experience in agriculture, water, and water rights from their roles as co-founders of Appia Capital Partners.
- The new hires will support Ceres Partners’ private equity strategy, focusing on food, agriculture, and water resource investments.
- Ceres Partners’ private equity portfolio is aligned with its $1.7 billion farmland fund, Ceres Farms, with assets targeting sustainable food and agriculture innovations.
Ceres Partners, a leading investment firm specializing in agriculture and natural resources, announced the addition of Nick Schupbach and Justin Lott to its private equity leadership team. Schupbach and Lott join Ceres Partners from Appia Capital Partners, where they co-founded the firm and developed a focus on investments in agriculture, water, and water rights.
In their new roles, Schupbach and Lott will lead the companies’ private equity initiatives, advancing the firm’s portfolio in the food and agriculture sectors while expanding into U.S. water resource investments.
Leadership Perspectives
Perry Vieth, Founder and CEO of Ceres Partners, expressed enthusiasm about the new appointments, stating, “We are excited to welcome Nick and Justin to Ceres Partners. They are proven investors with expertise in agriculture and water investments, and this range of experience will allow them to expand our investment capabilities and add value to our agriculture-and-food-focused private equity solutions.”
Brandon Zick, Chief Investment Officer of Ceres Partners, commented on the longstanding professional relationship with Schupbach and Lott, noting, “We worked with Nick and Justin over the years on our farmland fund, and came to appreciate their diligence, integrity, and insightful views on the future of investing in natural resources. This work dovetails with our existing private equity strategy, and I expect they will bring immediate value to our team and our investors.”
Extensive Expertise in Agriculture and Water Investments
Nick Schupbach brings to Ceres Partners a wealth of knowledge in natural resource investments, with experience spanning water rights, farmland, timber, and carbon markets. He became an active investor in water rights in 2008 and has authored multiple white papers on the sector, establishing himself as a thought leader in sustainable water resource investments.
“I’m thrilled to join Ceres Partners,” Schupbach shared. “The firm has an impressive track record and exceptional network, and we align on the right way to invest in agriculture-related private equity and water rights. Ceres Partners’ network of farmers gives us insight into market trends that we can pair with our investing experience and research to create attractive portfolios across these sectors, and I’m excited to help lead this effort.”
Justin Lott, with 20 years of investment experience across capital structures and both private and liquid markets, has an extensive background in water, agriculture, and related industries. He has also served on the boards of several agricultural companies, offering him insights that align well with Ceres Partners’ goals.
“I am excited to join Ceres Partners and I see water as a common link between the investment focus of our two firms,” Lott remarked. “I have great respect for the Ceres team and believe that our combined experience will lead to better outcomes for investors in both the water and agricultural private equity strategies that we will manage.”
