Duxton, the asset management house founded by prominent South Australian businessman Ed Peter, has stopped investors from withdrawing money from its unlisted agricultural fund amid a strain on the finances of several of the pubs and farms group’s portfolio of companies.

Mr Peter is the former head of Deutsche Asset Management in Asia and chair of Duxton, an investment vehicle that oversees a portfolio of pubs, vineyards, farms and water rights. His companies have secured backing from prominent investors, including the billionaire Oatley family, hedge fund manager Richard Magides and Phil King’s Regal Partners.