Ukraine Farms Are Takeover Targets for Private Equity’s Bleyzer

Ukrainian farms are an attractive investment because the country is rich in under-developed, fertile land that could feed the world’s growing population, according to Michael Bleyzer, who runs private-equity firm SigmaBleyzer.

The company owns AgroGeneration, which manages fields of wheat, sunflowers and other crops in five Ukrainian regions, and is looking for deals to expand farm operations in the country, Bleyzer said in an interview in Paris on April 29. As Ukraine’s recession enters a second year and banks restrict lending, it’s difficult for companies to find cash, which presents an opportunity for private-equity firms looking for new investments, he said.