Armillary Limited, our partner in New Zealand, successfully led and delivered a 60% sale of Seed Force and Seed Force Pty to RAGT, a French-based international seed company. The shares were held by New Zealand shareholders in New Zealand and Australian-domiciled proprietary seed companies. 

This followed a sales process where two other international seed companies were approached and received conditional offers. 

Seed Force is a proprietary seed company that specializes in breeding, multiplying and selling unique and common pasture and crop seed varieties to the New Zealand and export markets.

Seed Force officially became RAGT New Zealand, solidifying their partnership which began in 2006. Joining forces with global powerhouse RAGT means kiwi farmers get the best of their local homegrown expertise combined with leading global research. Now they are able to put even more effort into innovation and their local customers have even better access to the best international thinking and products. 

With over 300,000 test plots worldwide (including in New Zealand), 40 breeding programmes across multiple species, and 17 research centres, farms will reap the benefits of RAGT cultivars bred and proven to thrive in challenging climates. Within their 32 species, customers are sure to find the right plant for the right place to get the right outcome. 

Officially the name RAGT comes from the four agricultural regions in southern France where the company has its origins – Rouergue, Auvergne, Gévaudan and Tarnais.

Armillary successfully assisted the shareholders and directors of Seed Force to achieve their goals of de-risking their investment and securing a suitable long-term shareholder for Seed Force. They also assisted in the negotiations and execution of the transaction between Seed Force and RAGT, undertaking a global search for acquirers. 

Armillary is an award-winning boutique investment banking firm, independent since 2008, and adopted the Armillary name in 2009. The name derives from the armillary sphere that the Greeks used to solve astronomical problems. It is a fitting metaphor for what they do as a business, navigating the way through sometimes dark and stormy waters.