Competitive Advantages
  
     
 
Our Competitive Advantages
  
     
 
Farm Facts
Farms with sales over $250,000 (10% of all farms) account for about 60% of the total US farm production value, as of 2004*.
 
We offer distinct competitive advantages which help provide institutional investors with a number of key benefits including:
 a history of attractive returns
 excellent capital preservation
 portfolio diversification
 low to moderate risk

Commitment
John Hancock has demonstrated a long-term, strategic commitment to natural resource investment and management, both as a leader in providing tax-exempt farmland investment products since the early 1980s and as an active investor in agricultural investments for its own account for more than 100 years. John Hancock Life Insurance Company USA (JHUSA) was acquired by Manulife Financial Corporation in 2004.
Focus
We focus exclusively on acquiring and managing farmland properties for institutional investors. We do not provide additional services, such as sales/brokerage and farm management for non-institutional investors, in order to avoid potential conflict situations and distraction from our primary focus.
Geographic Presence
We primarily manage agricultural properties in major U.S. farming regions. These properties include commodities such as corn and soybeans in the Midwest, almonds and wine grapes in California, cotton and rice in the Mississippi Delta and cranberries and vegetables in Wisconsin.
We entered the international market in 2000 with the acquisition of our first property in Australia. We manage specialized commodities in Australia including macadamia nuts and wine grapes. With our investment in Australian farmland, we became the first U.S.-based institutional investment manager to enter international farmland markets.
HAIG Australian Portfolio
Graphic Diversification

Portfolio Management
We apply a quantitative approach to portfolio management, which enables us to develop portfolios that maximize return at each client's desired risk level. This portfolio-level quantitative focus allows investors to evaluate farmland in much the same way they evaluate more traditional investments in stocks and bonds.
Investment Philosophy
Through our working relationship with Farmland Management Services (FMS), we combine hands-on farming expertise with strong portfolio management skills to generate the highest possible returns. We employ investment professionals, including CFA Charter holders. We aim to complement stable returns from leased row cropland with returns from higher yielding, directly operated permanent cropland. Direct operation of permanent cropland enables us to add incremental return.
Direct Property Operation
Working with FMS enables us to operate farm properties directly. This direct operation is especially advantageous in permanent crop properties, where most of the value is in the tree or vine, rather than the underlying land. Controlling the management of this valuable asset allows us to protect the long-term viability of the trees and vines, thus enhancing the upside potential of the investment.
Research
We emphasize research throughout our acquisition, portfolio management and asset management processes. This research ranges from commodity specific supply and demand forecasting to more macro-level agricultural industry studies. Our research focus seeks to ensure that our clients benefit from a comprehensive review and analysis of the industry.
*Sources for Farm Facts: USDA ERS, NASS 2004-2006.
  
 
The information contained on this website is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any security, insurance product or service. Any product or service discussed in this website is intended for and is only appropriate for institutional investors and other qualified purchasers. The information available on this website is for informational purposes only. For other important legal information, please click on TERMS OF USE.