Equiteq, the leading M&A advisory firm for companies in the knowledge economy, is pleased to announce that it has advised LRI, the leading price reporting agency (PRA) in the global rice industry, on its sale to S&P Global Platts, the leading independent provider of information, benchmark prices and analytics for the commodities and energy markets. The transaction closed on August 31, 2019.
Founded in 2011, LRI offers rice price assessments, news and analysis for rice market participants such as buyers, sellers, brokers and traders in countries including: Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Paraguay, Thailand, Uruguay, U.S.A. and Vietnam. Their transparent and robust methodology is highly complementary with Platts’ approach. Platts will add LRI's rice varieties and grade benchmarks to its growing suite of price assessments in grains and oilseeds.
Discussing the transaction, Gabriela Silvestris, Managing Director of M&A in Equiteq’s London office, said: “LRI’s methodologies, knowledge, insight, passion and commitment to transparency in the rice industry is unparalleled. This acquisition will allow Platts to expand its portfolio of agricultural price assessments while extending its data and news coverage in key export regions for international grains. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with Stephen Jones, his team and LRI’s founders. We wish them all the best as they embark on this next phase of growth”
Regarding Equiteq’s role in the transaction, Sandy Savage, a key shareholder of Demeter Reports Ltd added “Equiteq were instrumental in helping us to achieve this outcome. From our first meeting, Gabriela and the Equiteq team understood our objectives and our desire to find the right home for the LRI. Equiteq were a pleasure to work with, and they provided an invaluable level of service and support throughout. I hope we have an opportunity to work together again in the future.”
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