Paine Schwartz‑Backed HGS BioScience Acquires NutriAg Ltd.

Paine Schwartz Partners Makes Strategic Investment in HGS BioScience (Formerly Humic Growth Solutions)

September 20, 2022

Agriculture

Paine Schwartz Partners completed a strategic investment through its Food Chain Fund VI in HGS BioScience (formerly Humic Growth Solutions), a Jacksonville-based manufacturer of extracted humic and fulvic acid products. The investment (terms undisclosed) will support the company's growth, product innovation and operational scaling across its six North American manufacturing sites and global distribution footprint.

HGS BioScience Acquires Pharmgrade

January 13, 2026

Agriculture

Paine Schwartz Partners–backed HGS BioScience has acquired Pharmgrade, an Idaho-based developer of microbial consortium products, to strengthen its microbial capabilities and expand its integrated biologicals platform. The deal enhances HGS's R&D, formulation and manufacturing depth and helps scale Pharmgrade’s microbial technologies to retailers and growers across North America.

Inverness Graham-Backed Custom Agronomics Acquires BioTek Ag

April 17, 2024

Agriculture

Custom Agronomics, a portfolio company of Inverness Graham Green Light, has acquired BioTek Ag to expand its private-label portfolio of liquid plant nutrients, nitrogen stabilizers and specialty products. The deal broadens Custom Ag’s formulation capabilities and extends the combined business’s geographic reach into the U.S. Midwest and Southeast. Terms were not disclosed.

Tilia Holdings Acquires NutriScience Innovations

May 4, 2021

Food & Beverage

Chicago-based private equity firm Tilia Holdings completed the acquisition of NutriScience Innovations, a Milford, Connecticut developer and supplier of branded nutritional and specialty ingredients. The sellers on the transaction included Akoya Capital, Lakeview Equity Partners and Greyrock Capital Group; NutriScience's CEO Alan Yengoyan will remain in his role to support the company's next phase of growth.

Nexus Agriscience Acquires Hemp Division and IP Portfolio from Biotech Institute

January 27, 2026

Biotechnology

Nexus Agriscience has acquired the hemp division and intellectual property portfolio of Biotech Institute, internalizing genetics, germplasm, and research talent to expand its molecular farming platform. The transaction brings issued and pending patents, proprietary germplasm, seed inventory, and key personnel into Nexus to accelerate development of hemp-derived natural ingredients for flavor, fragrance, and functional markets.

Paine Schwartz Partners Takes AgroFresh Private

April 3, 2023

Agriculture

Paine Schwartz Partners has completed a go-private acquisition of AgroFresh Solutions, Inc., acquiring the company’s outstanding public shares and delisting it from NASDAQ. The transaction gives AgroFresh a private ownership structure intended to strengthen its financial foundation and support expansion initiatives, innovation investment, and its mission to reduce food waste across the fresh produce supply chain.