ACON Investments takes majority stake in YumEarth

By taking control of YumEarth, ACON Investments captures an organic confectionery platform generating a revenue of $75M and an EBITDA of $9M. Announced on June 30, 2026, the transaction officially secures a controlling stake in the candy brand for the private equity firm. The financial architecture of this middle-market buyout is structured as the inaugural investment deployed from the ACON Evolution Fund, representing the firm's sixth partnership formed to invest in the U.S. market. Strategically, the lead sponsor brings in The Fini Company, a Spanish global confectionery manufacturer founded in 1971, to act as a direct strategic co-investor holding a minority ownership stake alongside the fund. Under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer Steve Van Tassel, the target's executive management team will remain in place to steer the next phase of expansion. The strategic thesis driving the acquisition centers on pairing financial sponsorship with an operating industry partner; The Fini Company will explicitly leverage its established manufacturing depth and international distribution network spanning over 100 countries to accelerate the target's product innovation pipeline. The execution of this leveraged buyout is supported by debt financing led by Truist Bank. On the buy-side, ACON Investments was advised financially by Santander, while Winston Taylor and Hogan Lovells acted as transaction and fund counsel, respectively. Deloitte provided financial advisory services to The Fini Company, supplemented by legal counsel from Blank Rome and Garrigues. On the sell-side, the management of YumEarth retained TM Capital as financial advisor, with Jones Day serving as legal counsel.