Capabilities by Industry: Consumer Goods & Retail

Greenhill has considerable transaction experience and a global network of corporate relationships in the Consumer Goods & Retail sector.  Our Managing Directors and professionals in North America, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia and Japan have executed many of the most significant and complex transactions for some of the leading companies in the industry.

Our expertise in the Consumer Goods and Retail industry covers: food; specialty ingredients; agricultural commodities; beverage; tobacco; household and personal care; consumer health; grocery retail; apparel; specialty retail; e-commerce; foodservice; and restaurants.

Below we highlight a few of the transactions on which we have advised in this area:

Recent Transactions

15-Dec-19
$45.4 billion
Target: 

Nutrition & Biosciences Division of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

United States flag
Acquiror: 
International Flavors and Fragrances, Inc.

Advising IFF, a global leader in flavors and fragrances, on its merger with DuPont’s Nutrition & Biosciences Division, creating a clear global leader in the specialty ingredients sector

27-Nov-19
$320 million
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Target: 

David’s Bridal Inc.

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Acquiror: 
N/A

Advised David’s Bridal, a leading bridal gown and special occasion dress retailer, on its out-of-court recapitalization

19-Nov-19
$NA
United States flag
Target: 

New Belgium Brewing

Japan, Australia flags
Acquiror: 
Lion / Kirin

Advised Lion, one of Australasia’s leading beverage companies and a wholly owned subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Kirin Holdings, on the acquisition of New Belgium Brewing, a leading US independent craft brewery

17-Oct-19
$400 million
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Target: 

Marshall Retail Group

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Acquiror: 
WH Smith plc

Advised WH Smith PLC, one of the UK’s leading retailers, on the acquisition of Marshall Retail Group, a market leading US travel retailer with operations across airport, resort and tourist locations, from Brentwood Associates, a consumer-focused private equity firm

26-Jul-19
$518 million
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Target: 

Crossmark

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Advised an ad hoc group of lenders on the comprehensive out-of-court recapitalization of Crossmark, a sales and marketing services company that provides solutions for consumer-branded suppliers and retailers

28-Jun-19
$NA
Brazil flag
Target: 

Flormel

Brazil flag
Acquiror: 
Unbox Capital

Advised the shareholders of Flormel, a leader in healthy snacks and indulgences in Brazil, manufacturing snacks, snack bars, candies, chocolates, and other premium packaged food products, on the sale of a minority stake to Unbox Capital, the investment arm of the controlling shareholders of Magazine Luiza, one of the largest retailers in Brazil

07-Jun-19
$NA
Spain flag
Target: 

Grupo Electro Stocks

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Acquiror: 
Würth Group

Advised Apax Partners, a global investment firm, on the sale of Grupo Electro Stocks, a leading Spanish distributor of electrical materials, to the Electrical Wholesale business unit within the Würth Group, a global leader in the distribution of assembling and fastening materials

26-Apr-19
$200 million
Japan, Australia flags
Target: 

Lion's Specialty Cheese division

Canada flag
Acquiror: 
Saputo Inc.

Advised Lion, an Australian subsidiary of Kirin and one of Australasia’s leading food and beverage companies, on the sale of its Specialty Cheese division to Saputo, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world  

18-Apr-19
$4.8 billion
United States flag
Target: 

Acreage Holdings Inc.

Canada flag
Acquiror: 
Canopy Growth Corporation

Advised Canopy Growth, a leading diversified cannabis company, on its acquisition of Acreage Holdings Inc., a vertically-integrated multi-state cannabis company with its headquarters in New York

22-Mar-19
$NA
Australia flag
Target: 

Four Pillars Gin

Japan, Australia flags
Acquiror: 
Lion Beer Australia

Advised Lion, an Australian subsidiary of Kirin, on its acquisition of a strategic stake in Four Pillars Gin, Australia’s leading craft gin distillery

22-Feb-19
$1.6 billion
United Kingdom flag
Target: 

Dairy Crest Group plc

Canada flag
Acquiror: 
Saputo Inc.

Advised Dairy Crest Group plc, a producer of leading British food brands and value-added ingredients, on a recommended cash offer for its entire issued share capital from Saputo Inc, one of the top ten dairy processors in the world

19-Feb-19
$324 million
Canada flag
Target: 

Aritzia Inc.

flag not available

Advised the Special Committee of Aritzia, an innovative designer and retailer of fashion brands, on the secondary offering and concurrent repurchase of shares held by Berkshire Partners

28-Jan-19
$NA
United States flag
Target: 

The Laundress Inc.

Netherlands, UK flags
Acquiror: 
Unilever plc

Advised The Laundress Inc., a laundry and home cleaning products brand, on its sale to Unilever, a British-Dutch consumer goods company

19-Dec-18
$NA
United States flag
Target: 

Pfizer Inc. Consumer Health Business

United Kingdom flag
Acquiror: 
GlaxoSmithKline plc

Advised GlaxoSmithKline plc ("GSK"), the UK listed international pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company, on the combination of GSK's and Pfizer's Consumer Health businesses to create a world-leading Joint Venture

06-Dec-18
$165 million
Germany flag
Target: 

Storz & Bickel GmbH, related entities and IP

Canada flag
Acquiror: 
Canopy Growth Corporation

Advised Canopy Growth, a leading diversified cannabis company, on its acquisition of Storz & Bickel, a premium manufacturer of vaporization devices

03-Dec-18
$4.0 billion
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Target: 

Assets owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc

Acquiror: 
Unilever plc / Hindustan Unilever Limited

Advised GlaxoSmithKline plc, the UK listed international pharmaceutical and consumer healthcare company, on the divestment of Horlicks and other consumer healthcare nutrition brands to Unilever plc, and on the merger of GSK Consumer Healthcare Limited with Hindustan Unilever Limited

29-Nov-18
~$200 million
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Target: 

Primal Nutrition LLC

United States flag
Acquiror: 
The Kraft Heinz Company

Advised Primal Nutrition, makers of Primal Kitchen branded condiments, dressings and sauces, on its sale to Kraft Heinz

26-Nov-18
$880 million
New Zealand flag
Target: 

Restaurant Brands New Zealand Limited

Acquiror: 
Finaccess Capital, S.A. de C.V.

Advised Finaccess Capital, an investment company with a strong presence in the casual dining and quick service restaurant sector, on its 75% partial takeover of Restaurant Brands New Zealand, a corporate franchisee specialising in managing multi-site branded food retail chains (with brands consisting of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Carl’s Jr.)

18-Nov-18
$876 million
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Target: 

David's Bridal

flag not available
Acquiror: 
N/A

Advised the Ad Hoc Group of the company's $481mm term loan with respect to the company's prepackaged Chapter 11 restructuring

30-Oct-18
$198 million
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Target: 

InMotion Entertainment Group LLC

United Kingdom flag
Acquiror: 
WH Smith plc

Advised WH Smith plc, one of the UK’s leading retailers, on the acquisition of InMotion Entertainment, the market leading retailer of digital accessories in US airports

24-Oct-18
$41 million
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Target: 

TeePublic

Australia flag
Acquiror: 
Redbubble

Advised Redbubble, a global online independent artist community and marketplace, on the acquisition of TeePublic, a similar online platform, and associated A$61 million equity raising

15-Oct-18
$1.1 billion
U.K., Ireland flags
Target: 

Greencore Group plc’s US business

United States flag
Acquiror: 
Hearthside Food Solutions LLC

Advised and acted as sponsor to Greencore Group plc, a leading international manufacturer of convenience foods based in Ireland, on the disposal of its entire US business to Hearthside Foods Solutions

04-Oct-18
$154 million
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Target: 

Larger non-controlled assets of Electra Private Equity plc

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Acquiror: 
Lexington Partners

Advised Electra Private Equity plc, a UK-listed private equity investment trust, on its strategic review and subsequent sale of the larger non-controlled assets of Photobox and Knight Square to funds managed by Lexington Partners

24-Sep-18
$619 million
Canada flag
Target: 

Farm Boy

Canada flag
Acquiror: 
Empire Company Limited

Advised Empire Company Limited on the acquisition of Farm Boy, one of the most successful and fastest growing food retailers in Canada

15-Aug-18
$3.9 billion
Canada flag
Target: 

Common shares and common share purchase warrants in Canopy Growth

United States flag
Acquiror: 
Constellation Brands

Advised Canopy Growth on a C$5bn investment by Constellation Brands. As consideration for the investment, Constellation received newly issued Canopy common shares and common share purchase warrants

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