Food & Beverage Acquisitions in 2015

Anheuser-Busch announced an agreement to acquire Four Peaks Brewing Company, a leading craft brewery based in Tempe, Arizona, to join its The High End craft business unit. The deal brings Four Peaks' brewpubs and statewide distribution into Anheuser-Busch's craft portfolio; terms were not disclosed and the acquisition was expected to close in early 2016.

Cooke Seafood Group (through its U.S. affiliate Cooke Seafood USA, Inc.) submitted an offer to acquire 100% of the assets of Uruguayan seafood processor Fripur S.A. The bid, announced in December 2015, is being advised by Antarctica Advisors and aims to preserve operations and workers while expanding Cooke's global processing and distribution footprint.

Consolidated Investment Group (CIG) purchased the assets of Sicilian Chefs, Inc. and rebranded the business as Caesar's Pasta, LLC to continue producing frozen Italian pastas, including gluten-free and organic lines. CIG said the acquisition expands its food-and-beverage platform and positions the new portfolio company to pursue growth in national grocery and natural/organic retail channels.

North Castle Partners, a consumer-focused private equity firm, acquired a controlling interest in Sprout Organic Foods, a developer, marketer and distributor of premium organic baby and toddler foods. The firm intends to leverage Sprout as a nutrition platform to accelerate growth; financial terms were not disclosed.

Paine & Partners has agreed to sell Icicle Seafoods (Icicle Holdings, Inc.) in two concurrent transactions: Convergence Holdings, Inc. will acquire the company's land-based processing and farmed salmon operations, while Dominion Catchers, LLC will acquire harvesting and processing vessels and associated fishing rights. The buyers have committed to long-term contracts to continue Icicle's diversified seafood operations; the transactions are expected to close subject to customary conditions.

Santa Monica Seafood, a family-owned seafood distributor based in Rancho Dominguez, California, signed a definitive agreement to acquire most of the seafood division assets of Prospect Enterprises, Inc., including American Fish & Seafood, Chesapeake Fish, LA Fish Company and Cactus Cove. The deal (excluding Kansas Marine and Central Fish Co.) expands Santa Monica Seafood's footprint across Southern California and Arizona and transfers facilities, inventory, receivables/payables and most trucks and equipment to Santa Monica Seafood.

Marbour S.A.S. completed the previously announced amalgamation to acquire MRRM Inc. (TSXV: MRR), bringing MRRM and its subsidiaries (Les Aliments Dainty Foods, Robert Reford Agency and Dainty Foods International) into the Marbour group. The deal is intended to expand Marbour’s footprint and capabilities in North America; MRRM expects to delist from the TSX Venture Exchange following closing.

McCormick & Company acquired 100% of Brand Aromatics, a Lakewood, New Jersey-based supplier of natural savory flavors, marinades and broth/stock concentrates, for approximately $63 million in cash. The acquisition expands McCormick's industrial flavor capabilities and broadens its value-added product offerings to packaged food companies and restaurants.