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Jul. 2, 2018 Source: e-mail from Rurik B. Halaby, Chairman and Founder, AgriCapital Corporation I would like to bring you up to date with my plans. Effective June 30, I will retire from active involvement at AgriCapital. As you may know, I founded the Company in 1983, and after thirty-five years of having one of the greatest jobs in the world, and turning 78 in May, I decided that it is time to finally retire. I had lengthy discussions with my highly talented friends and colleagues, Doug, Joe and Lucy, and we have decided it would be in their best interests to replenish their careers by moving on to other employment. Simpler said than done, considering the complex web of relationships that AgriCapital has. And so AgriCapital will remain in business as we unwind various relationships and commitments. With a background in engineering and then investment banking, I went out on my own in early 1981, and it so happened my first two clients were in agribusiness. I quickly developed an appreciation for the sector's critical importance and for the creativity and integrity of its players. Plus the early 1980's were very challenging economically for the industry, making me think there was a need for an investment bank that offered its services exclusively for that sector. I knew little, if anything, about agriculture, but I soon found out that agribusiness people were intellectually generous with their ideas, and as long as one asked a question, however dumb, honestly, there was someone to teach you. And boy, did I ask some dumb questions, and in the process, I learned a thing or two. Change in agriculture is never ending, and any time you think you know something, take a deep breath and try to find out all that you don't know. As Michelangelo supposedly said on his death bed, "Ancora imparo," I am still learning! Since our inception in 1983, AgriCapital has been involved in some 580 assignments on behalf of over 440 agribusiness entities globally and covering the food chain from one end to the other. Along the various assignments we had, I attended an uncounted number of conferences around the world which allowed me to make friends and contacts with so many good people. Agriculture is blind to race, gender, creed, religion, and nationality. Everywhere in the world you meet people with a common purpose, feeding the world's growing population healthier food, economically and environmentally responsibly. What a privilege and pleasure it has been interacting with all this talent. Whatever success we have had is due to the support I have received from so many people. I should mention my friend and partner John Crabtree who helped me co-found AgriCapital in 1983, and who throughout the years was always there for me. My thanks to the various employees we have had including Doug Sterkel, Joe Crotty, Lucy Lu, and Joy Lumbres. A big thanks to the various Members of AgriCapital Advisors who allowed us to leverage our knowledge base to practically every sector of agribusiness around the world. A special thanks to so many people who over the years "adopted" AgriCapital and volunteered their help and advice. Last but not least, a heartfelt thanks to the many clients we have had that entrusted their futures to us. Tweet |
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