Peoples Company Acquires Murray Wise Associates from Farmland Partners Inc.

Rhea-AI Summary

Peoples Company (NYSE:FPI) announced it will acquire Murray Wise Associates (MWA) from Farmland Partners, effective November 15, 2025, and will manage select non-core farmland assets under an ongoing engagement. MWA, founded by Murray Wise, operates in 20 states with offices in Bloomington and Champaign, Illinois, and Clarion, Iowa, and has completed more than $5 billion of land and agribusiness transactions across 43 states over 25 years. Nine MWA team members will join Peoples Company and Eric Sarff will become Vice President. The deal strengthens Peoples Company's presence in Illinois and expands its national farm management platform.

Positive

• Effective date set for November 15, 2025
• $5 billion of historical transactions across 43 states represented by MWA
• 9 team members from MWA will transition to Peoples Company
• MWA operates in 20 states, expanding Peoples Company's footprint
• Eric Sarff joins as Vice President, adding management continuity

Negative

• Only 9 team members to cover MWA's existing 20-state operations
• Transaction includes management of select non-core assets, not full asset transfer

Insights

Agribusiness M&A Strategist

Peoples Company expands national farm-management scale by acquiring Murray Wise Associates, effective November 15, 2025.

Peoples Company is buying Murray Wise Associates and will assume management of select non-core farmland assets, with nine MWA team members transitioning and Eric Sarff joining as Vice President. The deal broadens Peoples Company’s footprint in Illinois and adds a team experienced in auctions, brokerage and management that completed over $5 billion of transactions in 43 states over 25 years, per the announcement.

The business mechanism is consolidation: Peoples Company gains local capacity, client relationships and operating staff while integrating MWA’s regional offices in Bloomington, Champaign and Clarion. The transaction includes a formal engagement to manage specified assets for Farmland Partners, preserving continuity of asset oversight under a specialist manager.

Key dependencies and risks include successful integration of the nine-person team into Peoples Company’s national platform and retention of client relationships during the transition. The announcement names no purchase price or specific performance guarantees, so financial implications for either party remain unspecified.

Watch for short-term operational signals: staff retention and client renewal rates in the next 3–6 months, and any disclosure of transaction consideration or asset lists by November 15, 2025. Over 12 months, monitor whether this increases Peoples Company’s managed acreage in Illinois relative to its earlier Illinois acquisitions named in the release.

Transaction includes transition of select farmland assets for management by Peoples Company; Acquisition reflects broader industry trend toward specialized farm management solutions

CLIVE, Iowa, Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Peoples Company, a recognized leader in integrated land management, brokerage, appraisal, and energy solutions with offices across the nation, today announced the pending acquisition of Murray Wise Associates, LLC (MWA) from Farmland Partners Inc (NYSE: FPI). The transaction, effective November 15, 2025, includes the engagement of Peoples Company for the ongoing management of select non-core farmland assets.

This acquisition underscores a growing trend in the agricultural sector: institutional and asset management firms increasingly partnering with specialized farm management companies to optimize operational efficiency and enhance returns. With its robust national platform, proven track record of effective farmland management, local farm managers on the ground across the country, and deep expertise, Peoples Company is uniquely positioned to meet this demand.

"Murray Wise Associates has long been recognized as a trusted name in farmland auctions and brokerage," said Steve Bruere, President of Peoples Company. "This acquisition not only strengthens our presence in key agricultural markets but also reflects a broader shift in the industry toward leveraging specialized farm management expertise. We're excited to welcome the Murray Wise team and to continue delivering exceptional value to landowners and investors."

Founded by Murray Wise, MWA has built a reputation for excellence in farmland sales, brokerage, management, and advisory services – completing land and agribusiness transactions totaling more than $5 billion in 43 states over the past 25 years.

The company's integration into Peoples Company will expand service offerings for clients while maintaining both firms' high standards of integrity and professionalism. MWA currently operates in 20 states and has offices in Bloomington and Champaign, Illinois, and Clarion, Iowa. Its nine team members will transition to Peoples Company.

"Joining forces with Peoples Company creates tremendous opportunities for our clients and team," said Eric Sarff, President of MWA. "Peoples Company's national reach and comprehensive service platform will allow us to deliver even greater value while continuing to provide the personalized service our clients expect."

Eric Sarff will join Peoples Company as Vice President. In this role, Sarff will play a critical role in driving the company's strategy and execution as well as providing leadership across Peoples Company's service divisions.

Farmland Partners Inc. acquired 100% of the equity interests in MWA in November 2021, adding approximately 16,700 acres to its management portfolio at the time and creating a joint asset management platform.

"MWA has a talented team that has partnered closely with farmers and clients across the country to grow FPI's management portfolio over the past four years," said Farmland Partners President and CEO Luca Fabbri. "I'm thrilled that they will be able to continue their growth under the Peoples Company umbrella. Peoples is a leading farm management firm with a cutting-edge proprietary technology platform, and we look forward to working closely with them in the future."

Peoples Company, headquartered in Clive, Iowa, operates across the United States, offering integrated solutions in land brokerage, appraisal, farm management, and capital markets. In recent years, Peoples Company acquired two other Illinois-based firms, Land Pro LLC and The Atkins Group. The addition of Murray Wise Associates positions Peoples Company as a dominant player in the Illinois farmland market. 

For more information about Peoples Company, visit www.PeoplesCompany.com.

About Peoples Company
With over 50 years of experience, Peoples Company is a leading provider of agricultural land services nationwide. The company offers comprehensive solutions in land brokerage, appraisal, farm and energy management, crop insurance, and capital markets, serving landowners, investors, and stakeholders across every major agricultural region in the U.S.

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SOURCE Peoples Company

FAQ

When is Peoples Company's acquisition of Murray Wise Associates (FPI) effective?

The acquisition is effective November 15, 2025.

How many MWA employees are joining Peoples Company as part of the FPI acquisition?

Nine team members from Murray Wise Associates will transition to Peoples Company.

What role will Eric Sarff have after the Peoples Company acquisition of MWA (FPI)?

Eric Sarff will join Peoples Company as Vice President.

How large is MWA's historical transaction footprint in the Peoples Company acquisition (FPI)?

MWA completed more than $5 billion in land and agribusiness transactions across 43 states over 25 years.

Does the Peoples Company acquisition transfer all MWA assets from Farmland Partners (FPI)?

The transaction includes the engagement for ongoing management of select non-core farmland assets, indicating not all assets were fully transferred.

Which MWA offices and states expand Peoples Company's presence after the FPI deal?

MWA operates in 20 states with offices in Bloomington and Champaign, Illinois, and Clarion, Iowa, strengthening Peoples Company's Illinois position.