Government had lobbied for Armajaro which was also a significant donor to the Conservative party as well as to Andrew Mitchell, the international development secretary who reportedly intervened on Anthony Ward's behalf after receiving £40,000 in donations from the millionaire's company to his parliamentary office. On 17 July 2010, Armajaro purchased 240,100 tonnes of cocoa. The buyout caused cocoa prices to rise to their highest level since 1977. The purchase was valued at £658 million and accounted for 7 per cent of annual global cocoa production (some sources call this a market corner). While cocoa beans are perishable, they can be held in storage for several years. It was reported that Armajaro sold this batch of cocoa purchase later in the year. In November 2013, Armajaro announced the sale of its commodity trading division to ECOM Agroindustrial after sustaining losses of $7.5 million in fiscal year 2012, despite $3 billion in revenue. The takeover of Armajaro's coffee, sugar and cocoa business, which was slowly completed globally over 2014, will boost ECOM's presence to compete alongside the largest global commodity firms such as Archer Daniels Midland, Bunge Limited, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus Group, also known as the ABCD. The purchase came in a period of uncertainty for commodities as sugar and coffee futures remained at stagnant lows coupled with tightening margins for cocoa due to slower demand. Armajaro Holdings continued ownership of its commodity focused hedge funds under Armajaro Asset Management LLP. St Vincent Cocoa Company In August 2011, Armajaro Trading Ltd signed an agreement with the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines aiming to establish a sustainable cocoa industry on the island. Armajaro has set up a subsidiary company in the country – the St Vincent Cocoa Company Ltd. The agreement (until 2061) intends to develop a viable cocoa industry through investment by both parties, with up to 2000 ha planted with cocoa and production between 2500 – 3000 tonnes per year. Armajaro will provide credit to farmers, build infrastructure and invest in training of farmers, and in return will have exclusive rights to buy, sell and market all cocoa produced in the country. The government will invest in irrigation and road infrastructure, and will grant tax and import exemptions to the company for 15 years. in July 2014, the company was closed following the sale of Armajaro to Ecom Agrotrade Ltd. In September 2014 a local consortium bought