LIPTON TEAS AND INFUSIONS acquired by CVC

Benson Hill has acquired the assets of ZFS Creston, LLC from Zeeland Farm Services. This strategic acquisition provides Benson Hill with immediate industrial capacity to process its proprietary "Ultra-High Protein" soybeans into value-added ingredients (soy flour, white flake) for the human and pet food markets. By acquiring an existing operational facility rather than building a new one (Greenfield), Benson Hill accelerates its speed to market and secures a scalable supply chain for its "clean label" ingredients. The transaction was financed through a new $100 million debt facility led by Avenue Capital Group and $5 million in seller financing.

Lucas Bols entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of Tequila Partida LLC, including its Mexican subsidiaries Casa Partida and Tequila Partida de Mexico, from the Shansby Trust and Edrington USA. This acquisition is a strategic move to integrate one of the fastest-growing spirits categories into the Lucas Bols portfolio, specifically targeting the high-growth ultra-premium tequila segment in the United States. Tequila is a fundamental ingredient in the Margarita, the most popular cocktail in the US, making this acquisition a seamless fit for Lucas Bols’ global cocktail-led growth strategy. By taking over the brand, Lucas Bols intends to leverage its existing US distribution platform to accelerate sales beyond pre-pandemic levels. The transition includes the acquisition of all intellectual property, trademarks, and inventory, while maintaining the local production team in Mexico to ensure the preservation of the brand's artisanal quality and handcrafted heritage.

BGH Capital acquired a controlling stake in Laurent Bakery Group. The transaction involved the exit of a silent co-investor and the reinvestment of founder Laurent Boillon, who remained a significant shareholder and Director. The strategic rationale for the deal is the massive growth potential of the group’s wholesale division, particularly its national supply contract with Coles. BGH aims to capitalize on the shift in Australian consumer preferences toward high-quality, traditional French baking, which was previously underserved in the mass market. By providing fresh capital and management expertise, BGH intends to expand the group's manufacturing footprint and optimize its national logistics network. This partnership allows the founder to focus on product quality and brand DNA while the private equity firm professionalizes the corporate structure. This deal highlights the continued interest of private equity in "recession-proof" consumer staples that possess both a strong retail identity and a scalable industrial engine.

TA Associates acquired a majority stake in Nactarome from Ambienta SGR SpA, with Nactarome management retaining minority equity alongside the seller. This secondary buyout transitions control of the Italian flavours platform, financed via TA's debt fund following a competitive auction managed by Lazard. The move aligns with TA's thesis on high-margin B2B food ingredients, where Nactarome's natural flavours and clean-label prowess—bolstered by bolt-ons like Nactis and IPAM—offer organic R&D-led growth plus tuck-in potential. Timing taps peak sector momentum, with Europe F&B buyouts hitting €13 billion amid premium multiples for optimized PE assets; post-deal priorities encompass international expansion, service elevation, and M&A continuity.

Biscuit International acquired Continental Bakeries from Goldman Sachs Asset Management. This "transformational" deal allows the group to effectively double its size, increasing revenue from EUR530 million to over EUR900 million. The combined entity employs 4,500 people and operates 33 factories with a production capacity of 300,000 tons per year. The transaction was financed through a capital increase subscribed by Platinum Equity and the management team, alongside new debt facilities. The deal creates an undisputed pan-European giant with over 80% of sales generated outside France.

Ardian has acquired a majority stake in Florida Food Products (FFP) from MidOcean Partners. Under the terms of the agreement, MidOcean, which first invested in FFP in 2018, will retain a significant minority equity stake alongside Ardian. The partnership aims to accelerate FFP's strategic plan through further investment in R&D, infrastructure, and acquisitions to expand its portfolio of natural ingredient solutions. The deal represents a major exit and reinvestment for MidOcean, validating the rapid growth of the clean label sector.

Lionel Wolberg, leading a prominent financial consortium comprising FrenchFood Capital, Bpifrance, and Tikehau Capital, has successfully completed the acquisition of Markal. This strategic corporate transmission represents a major milestone for the Drôme-based pioneer, which boasts an established revenue profile of EUR 68 million and a workforce of approximately 70 employees. The transaction architecture was structured to ensure long-term corporate stability and continuity, with the historical founding Markarian family rolling over a portion of their assets to retain a meaningful minority stake alongside the new ownership. Strategic rationale for this buyout includes the professionalization of Markal's leadership and the institutionalization of its extensive sourcing and distribution capabilities. By appointing Lionel Wolberg as President, the company gains access to deep sector expertise and significant financial backing from dedicated agri-food and institutional investment funds. The incoming capital and strategic guidance will be deployed to accelerate Markal's product innovation pipeline, reinforce its sustainable agricultural partnerships, and scale its commercial footprint across specialized European organic retail networks and international export channels.

DSM has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire First Choice Ingredients. This acquisition strategically expands DSM's Food & Beverage offering by adding a leading position in the US savory dairy flavor market. The deal allows DSM to leverage its global distribution network to accelerate First Choice Ingredients' growth outside the US, while integrating their proprietary fermentation technologies into DSM's existing portfolio of enzymes and cultures.

3i Group has invested in Dutch Bakery, a bakery group specialized in home bake-off bread and snack products, to support the company's international growth strategy in the fragmented European private label market for bake-off products. The investment by 3i Group will enable Dutch Bakery to strengthen its leading position in the Dutch market and expand its activities internationally. The company's growth strategy will be based on a combination of organic growth and external development, including targeted acquisitions. 3i Group will provide its expertise and support to the management team of Dutch Bakery to help the company reach its full potential and achieve its growth objectives.

Altia Oyj completed a merger‑of‑equals transaction with Arcus ASA on September 1, 2021, resulting in the dissolution of Arcus ASA into Altia and the creation of a new combined entity, Anora Group Plc, headquartered in Helsinki. The deal was structured as a full‑capital‑stock merger: Arcus shareholders received 0.4618 new Altia shares for each existing Arcus share, with Altia issuing approximately 31.4 million new shares, leading to a post‑combination ownership split of 53.5% for former Altia shareholders and 46.5% for former Arcus shareholders. The combined group, Anora, now integrates Altia’s Finnish‑centered wine and spirits activities with Arcus’s Norwegian‑based portfolio and distribution network, creating a cross‑border platform with approximately 1,100 employees and a broad Nordic footprint in regulated alcoholic beverages.