A US innovator known for its exchange-traded products and exchange-traded funds has announced a major acquisition.
WisdomTree has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Ceres Partners, LLC, a specialist alternative asset manager focused on the $3.5 trillion US farmland market along with adjacent assets such as solar, AI data infrastructure, and water.
Ceres has approximately $1.85 billion in assets under management with around 545 US farmland properties across 12 states, mostly in the Midwest. WisdomTree sees this asset class as ripe for growth and Ceres has delivered strong results with a 10.3% net average annual total return since its inception in 2007—outperforming farmland benchmarks.
“Farmland is one of the largest yet most underpenetrated real asset classes in the U.S., offering both scale and scarcity,” said Jonathan Steinberg, WisdomTree Founder and CEO. “This acquisition expands our leadership in innovative, income-generating investment solutions, while strategically accelerating our entry into private asset markets with a high-quality, scalable platform. It reflects our commitment to delivering differentiated exposures that drive long-term value for clients and stockholders alike.”
Steinberg adds that the acquisition positions the firm to capitalize on “the most significant structural growth opportunities in wealth and asset management today: ETPs, private markets, managed models and tokenization.”
The move into private asset markets will be immediately accretive, WisdomTree says, and will also offer long-term income growth potential.
Ceres founder and CEO Perry Veith says that his firm has a proud legacy of working with farmers in long-term partnerships and that being part of WisdomTree marks an exciting new chapter.
“For nearly two decades, we’ve built a differentiated farmland investment platform rooted in performance, operational expertise and a deep understanding of US agricultural markets,” he says. “This partnership brings product innovation, scale and distribution that will allow us to reach more investors seeking resilient, inflation-hedged and income-generating real assets. Together, we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on the next wave of growth in farmland —including solar, AI data infrastructure and water—with a shared commitment to innovation and long-term value creation.”
The terms of the transaction are $275 million upfront cash consideration payable at closing, subject to customary adjustments; and up to $225 million earn-out consideration payable in 2030, contingent on compound annual revenue growth of 12–22% measured over five years.
Subject to approvals, financing and other customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close in Q4 2025.
New joint research by T. Rowe Price, MIT, and Stanford University finds more diverse asset allocations among older participants.
With its asset pipeline bursting past $13 billion, Farther is looking to build more momentum with three new managing directors.
A Department of Labor proposal to scrap a regulatory provision under ERISA could create uncertainty for fiduciaries, the trade association argues.
"We continue to feel confident about our ability to capture 90%," LPL CEO Rich Steinmeier told analysts during the firm's 2nd quarter earnings call.
It's the mega-RIA firm's third $1B+ acquisition in just three months.
Orion's Tom Wilson on delivering coordinated, high-touch service in a world where returns alone no longer set you apart.
Barely a decade old, registered index-linked annuities have quickly surged in popularity, thanks to their unique blend of protection and growth potential—an appealing option for investors looking to chart a steadier course through today's choppy market waters, says Myles Lambert, Brighthouse Financial.
