Origin Merchant Partners (“Origin”) is pleased to announce that it acted as exclusive financial advisor to Buhler Industries (“Buhler”)(TSX:BUI) on its sale to the Turkish farm equipment company Başak Traktör Tarim Ziraat Ve Iş Makinalari Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş. (“Başak Traktör”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASKO Holding (“Asko”).
Buhler: Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Buhler is an integral part of the agricultural landscape in Canada, manufacturing and distributing agriculture equipment through the leading brands Versatile and Farm King. The Versatile line is well known to farmers in North America and Australia, producing high horsepower tractors of up to 650 hp. Farm King produces augers, mowers, bale carriers, snowblowers, and implements. Dating back almost 100 years, Buhler has served as a cornerstone in the Canadian economy, taking pride in employing over 800 Canadians and making a significant impact in the Province of Manitoba, with manufacturing facilities in both Winnipeg and Morden.
Başak Traktör is headquartered in Sakarya, Turkey and started manufacturing agricultural equipment and machinery in 1914 under a variety of brand names. In 1996, the company was renamed Başak. Under the brand name of Başak Traktör, the company manufactures tractors up to 120 horsepower and manufactures soil tillage, planting, and plant protection machinery, harvesting and garden equipment under the Başak Agri brand. In addition, Başak distributes other agricultural brand machinery.
ASKO Holding most recently made its first acquisition in North America by purchasing Hy-Brid Lifts in the United States earlier in 2023. ASKO Holding is a diversified company with interests in agricultural machinery, construction equipment, energy, and technology.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Jim Osler, Christopher Solda
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that MyLand Company Inc. (“MyLand”) has raised $12 million in the first closing of its Series B financing round led by Climate Innovation Capital (“CIC”) and Waterpoint Lane (“WPL”). Origin Merchant Partners was a financial advisor to MyLand with respect to this transaction.
Myland is a soil health company, helping to tackle two of the world’s biggest challenges: food security and climate disruption. MyLand’s innovative and patented technology allows farmers to rapidly implement regenerative agriculture practices and improve their soil health by harnessing the land’s own natural ecosystem. MyLand partners with farmers to infuse life into the soil, helping to return farms to their most fertile state, achieving greater productivity and enhanced profitability.
WPL manages investments in and provides strategic growth support to a portfolio of growth oriented businesses with a view to the triple bottom line – profit, people and the planet. WPL’s focus is on growth stage companies and consumer products that support and promote sustainable practices throughout our food system.
CIC invests in entrepreneurs with climate technologies and businesses that have the potential to deliver significant financial returns and the greatest carbon reductions in the shortest period of time. As founders, operators, investors and climate advisors, CIC works to leverage its team’s experience, insight and networks to be strong partners to its portfolio companies and investors.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Rob Penteliuk
Origin Merchant Partners (“Origin”) is pleased to announce that G3 Canada Limited (“G3”)’s Shortline Railway Assets have been acquired by Regional Rail.
G3 is a division of G3 Global Grain Group. Headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the company operates a network of grain elevators in Western Canada. G3 purchases a variety of grains, oilseeds, and special crops from farmers and third parties across Canada, then markets and transports the product to domestic and global customers via its state-of-the-art facilities.
Regional Rail is a US-based short-line and regional railroads aggregator backed by 3i Group, a British multinational private equity firm. With extensive experience and success spanning railroad operations, Class I railroad relations and negotiations, state and local relations, and industrial business developments, Regional Rail aims to acquire or create a core group of shortline railroads in North America.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead and Christopher Solda.
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that CHS Inc. (“CHS”) has divested CHS Larsen Cooperative, a collection of certain Wisconsin-based agricultural service assets, to Country Visions Cooperative (“CVC”). Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to CHS with respect to the divestiture.
CHS is a St. Paul, Minnesota based global agribusiness, owned by farmers, ranchers and cooperatives across the United States, and generating more than US$38 billion in revenue in FY2021. The company is committed to creating connections to empower agriculture and helping its owners and customers grow their businesses.
Country Visions Cooperative is a leading agriculture based cooperative, which owns and operates convenience stores and country stores across Eastern Wisconsin. CVC also offers a range of agronomy, grain, energy, and feed products and services to a variety of commercial customers and businesses. The company is committed to the growth of its community and its members.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Shaun Quennell.
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Zen-Noh Grain Corporation (“ZGC”) has divested certain U.S. grain handling facilities to Viserion Grain, LLC (“Viserion”). This divestiture is in connection with ZGC’s acquisition of multiple grain facilities from Bunge, a transaction announced in spring of 2020. Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to ZGC with respect to the divestiture.
ZGC is the U.S. subsidiary of the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations of Japan, Zen-Noh. ZGC trades and exports corn, soybeans, sorghum, wheat, and bi-products from its state-of-the-art export elevator located at mile 164 on the Mississippi River in Convent, Louisiana to Japan and other global markets. ZGC also has grain origination interests in Canada and Brazil, and a forage processing business in Pasco, WA.
Viserion is a newly formed subsidiary of Viserion International Holdco, LLC (“Viserion International”), a global agricultural merchant based in Boulder, Colorado backed by Pinnacle Asset Management, L.P. (“Pinnacle”), and is expected to manage a portfolio of strategic grain storage and handling facilities.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Christopher Solda
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Kitchen Partners Limited (“Kitchen Partners”) has entered into a strategic partnership with Homestyle Selections LP (“Homestyle Selections”). Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Kitchen Partners with respect to this transaction.
Kitchen Partners is a leading Canadian supplier of high quality custom food solutions in the hot and cold stirred food category, producing over 9 million kilograms annually of soups and sauces, dips and dressings, marinades, appetizers, gravies, fillings, entrées and sides, for some of Canada’s largest restaurant chains and food retailers.
Homestyle Selections is a Canadian headquartered platform of food processing companies that supports your local grocery and food service establishments across Canada and the US, and includes Freshstone Brands and Tiffany Gate.
Origin Senior Leads: Jim Osler, Lindsay Weiss.
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Walter Global Asset Management (“Walter GAM”) has acquired a majority interest in Bonnefield Financial Inc. (“Bonnefield”)
Bonnefield is a leading Canadian farmland investor and is the foremost provider of land-lease financing for farmers in Canada. The firm’s investors are individuals and institutional investors who are committed to the long term future of Canadian agriculture.
Walter GAM is a globally diversified private equity firm with a best-in-class business platform. The firm builds customized, long-term partnerships with a select group of portfolio companies that operate within the asset management industry and share the goal of sustained and profitable growth.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Bonnefield with respect to this transaction.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Rob Penteliuk
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that ILTA Grain Inc. (“ILTA”) has completed the sale of its Saskatchewan processing facilities to ETG Commodities Inc. & DG Global Inc.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to ILTA with respect to this transaction.
ILTA Grain Inc. is a leading processor and merchandiser of pulses, grains/oilseeds and other special crops in Western Canada. ILTA has operations in locations throughout Saskatchewan.
ETG Commodities Inc. (“ETG”) is the Canadian subsidiary of Export Trading Group, one of the largest and fastest growing integrated agricultural conglomerates in Africa, importing and exporting agricultural commodities from 48 countries. The company entered the Canadian market in 2012 and acquired its first Canadian processing assets in 2014 with the purchase of TW Commodities in Swift Current. ETG exports Canadian pulses, canola and flax to over 15 countries.
DG Global Inc. is a Canadian leader in the marketing and distribution of food grade non-GMO soybeans, pulses, cereals and feed products internationally. DG Global is Canadian owned and operated with market reach to over 6o countries and an established network of partnerships around the world.
Origin Senior Lead: Andrew Muirhead
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that ILTA Grain Inc. (“ILTA”) has completed the sale of its Belle Plaine, SK facility to Viterra Inc. The state of the art facility can handle a wide range of pulses and other commodities for export to countries worldwide.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to ILTA with respect to this transaction.
ILTA Grain Inc. is a leading processor and merchandiser of pulses, grains/oilseeds and other special crops in Western Canada. ILTA has operations in locations throughout Saskatchewan.
Viterra Inc. (“Viterra”) is one of Canada’s leading grain companies, headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan. Viterra has operations throughout North America that handle, process, distribute and transport grains and oilseeds globally. Viterra is part of Glencore Agriculture, a global market leader in originating, handling, processing and marketing agricultural commodities.
Origin Senior Lead: Andrew Muirhead
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Hensall District Co-operative, Inc. (“Hensall”) has completed the acquisition of ILTA Grain Inc.’s edible bean processing plant, located in Bloom, Manitoba and the satellite receiving location in Miami, Manitoba. The facility has the capacity to process up to 40,000 tonnes of dry beans per year and will increase Hensall’s ability to source and process plant-based proteins to supply global demand.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Hensall with respect to this transaction.
Hensall DIstrict Co-operative Inc., founded in 1937, is 8th largest non-financial co-operative in Canada with over 6,000 member-owners and 30 owned locations in Ontario and Manitoba. Hensall has customers in more than 40 countries and operations in Commodity Handling and Storage, Food Products (Dry Beans and Food Grade Soybeans), Grain and Ingredient Marketing, Energy (Fuel and Propane), Animal Nutrition, Crop Inputs and Global Freight Forwarding and Logistics.
ILTA Grain Inc. (“ILTA”) is a leading processor and merchandiser of pulses, grains/oilseeds and other special crops in Western Canada. ILTA has operations in locations throughout Saskatchewan (Swift Current, Cutknife, North Battleford, Saskatoon, Regina).
Origin Senior Lead: Andrew Muirhead
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Gardiner Dam Terminal Ltd (“GDT”) has completed the sale of substantially all of its assets to Viterra Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $30 million.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to GDT with respect to this transaction.
Gardiner Dam Terminal Ltd. is a producer-owned company that jointly owns and operates an inland grain terminal located near Strongfield, Saskatchewan, together with Viterra Inc. GDT AgServices Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gardiner Dam Terminal Ltd., owns and operates crop input supply businesses near Strongfield, Broderick, and Tullis, Saskatchewan.
Viterra Inc. (“Viterra”) Viterra is Canada’s grain industry leader, headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan. Viterra has operations throughout North America that handle, process, distribute and transport grains and oilseeds. Viterra is part of Glencore Agriculture, a global market leader in originating, handling, processing and marketing agricultural commodities.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Mark Ernst
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Kraft Heinz Canada, a subsidiary of The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC), has completed the acquisition of Ethical Bean Coffee based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Kraft Heinz Canada with respect to this transaction.
Ethical Bean Coffee is a leading roaster of 100% Fairtrade, certified organic coffee. Founded in 2003, and based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Ethical Bean is committed to social responsibility, global awareness and environmental accountability.
Kraft Heinz Canada is a subsidiary of The Kraft Heinz Company (NASDAQ:KHC), the fifth largest food and beverage company in the world. A globally trusted producer of delicious food, its portfolio is composed of iconic brands including Kraft, Heinz, Cracker Barrel, Classico, Philadelphia, Renée’s Gourmet, Maxwell House and Nabob. Kraft Heinz is the #1 food and beverage and the #1 foodservice company in Canada and its products are found in more than 90% of Canadian households. Kraft Heinz is dedicated to the sustainable health of its people, its planet and its Company.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Jim Osler
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Avena Foods Limited (“Avena”) has completed its sale to Ironbridge Equity Partners (“Ironbridge”).
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Avena with respect to this transaction.
Avena Foods Limited is a leading supplier of pure, organic certified, gluten-free oats to the North American market through its Purity Protocol farm to table production model. Avena has an established network of over 90 gluten-free and organic oat growers across the Canadian prairies and a dedicated gluten-free and allergen-free milling facility in Regina, SK.
Ironbridge Equity Partners is a Canadian private equity firm whose strategy is to make equity and equity-linked investments in high-quality, mid-market, Canadian private companies. Target industries include consumer and business products and services, manufacturing, and distribution. The operating background of the principals enables Ironbridge to be a high-value partner to management teams as they seek to improve and grow their businesses. Ironbridge’s assets under management are over $400 million.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Jim Osler
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Yorkshire Valley Farms has completed its acquisition of Farm Fresh Poultry Co-operative Inc.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Yorkshire Valley Farms with respect to this transaction. Yorkshire Valley Farms (“Yorkshire Valley”) is a leading Ontario-based organic chicken, eggs and turkey producer, supplying product under the Yorkshire Valley Farms brand name to customers all across Canada.
Farm Fresh Poultry Co-operative Inc. (“Farm Fresh”) is a farm-owned primary processor of air chilled chicken products based in Harriston, Ontario serving customers in the foodservice and retail poultry markets.
Post-acquisition of Farm Fresh, Yorkshire Valley will be a leading integrated producer of conventional and organic chicken along with organic egg and turkey products.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Charles Pennock
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Continental Ingredients Canada Inc. (“CIC”) has completed its sale to Quadra Chemicals Ltd. (“Quadra”).
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to CIC with respect to this transaction.
Continental Ingredients Canada Inc. is a leading independent provider of food ingredient solutions, specializing in the design and application of functional ingredient systems that impart the desired body and texture characteristics, shelf life stability, and flavour to processed foods, beverage and dairy products.
Quadra Chemicals Ltd. is a Canadian distributor of both nutritional and functional specialty and commodity chemicals. Quadra has grown to be Canada’s third largest chemical and ingredient distributor and the seventh largest in North America.
Origin Senior Leads: Jim Osler, Andrew Muirhead
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that The Scoular Company (“Scoular”) has completed its acquisition of the Special Crops Division of Legumex Walker Inc. (“Legumex”).
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Scoular with respect to this transaction.
The Scoular Company is a 123-year old company based in Omaha, Nebraska. Scoular operates 130 independent business units that provide diverse supply chain solutions for end-users and suppliers of grain, feed ingredients, and food ingredients around the globe. From more than 90 offices and facilities, more than 850 employees are engaged in the business of buying, selling, storing, and handling grain and ingredients as well as managing transportation and logistics worldwide.
Legumex Walker Inc. is a processor and merchandiser of pulses, other special crops, and canola products. Legumex derives its revenue from sourcing, processing, marketing and distributing special crops, canola and associated food products to a global client base in over 80 countries. Legumex has operations in Canada, in the U.S., and in China. Legumex’s Special Crops Division, based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is one of the largest processors of pulses and other special crops in Canada with an annual processing capacity of approximately 522,000 tonnes.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Rob Penteliuk
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Hi-Pro Feeds Inc. (“Hi-Pro”) has completed the divestiture of its Dexter, New Mexico processing facility (“Dexter North”) to The Scoular Company (“Scoular”). Built in 2002, the Dexter North facility processes steam-flaked and rolled corn primarily for major dairy operators in the New Mexico region. Dexter North includes a shuttle train loop track connected to BNSF’s Southwestern line capable of handling a 110-car unit train and storage capacity for 850,000 bushels of corn.
Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Hi-Pro with respect to this transaction.
Hi-Pro Feeds Inc., a Birch Hill Equity Partners’ portfolio company, was founded in 1942 and is a single system of eleven individual feed mills serving the animal nutrition industry in the U.S. and Canada. Headquartered in Okotoks, Alberta Hi-Pro represents a partnership of individual sites, each of which was originally created out of a desire to serve local animal nutrition needs.
Birch Hill Equity Partners invests in leading Canadian middle-market businesses. With $2.0 billion in capital under management, Birch Hill’s team has many years of experience working together as an active partner with top management teams in building long term value. Since 1994, Birch Hill has made more than 50 investments with 33 fully realized. Birch Hill acquired Hi-Pro from Viterra Inc. in 2012.
The Scoular Company is a 120-year old company with more than $6 billion in sales. The Scoular Company operates 90 independent business units that provide diverse supply chain solutions for end-users and suppliers of grain, feed ingredients, and food ingredients. The Scoular Company’s 700+ employees are engaged in buying, selling, storing, and handling grain and ingredients as well as managing transportation and logistics worldwide.
Origin Senior Lead: Andrew Muirhead
Origin Merchant Partners advised the Special Committee to the Board of Directors of Ceres Global Ag Corp. with respect to its consideration of the existing management structure, a shareholder motion to terminate the Management Agreement, and the potential impact such termination would have on the company.
Ceres Global Ag Corp. is a Toronto-based asset management corporation with two main investment areas: its Grain Handling and Storage unit, anchored by its 100% ownership of Riverland Ag Corp.; and its Commodity Logistics unit, containing its 25% interest in Stewart Southern Railway Inc. and its development of the Northgate, SK Commodity Logistics Hub. Ceres also has significant capital available to invest in these and related businesses. Ceres common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “CRP”.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Jim Osler
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce that Thompsons Limited has completed its sale to The Andersons Inc. and Lansing Trade Group LLC. Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor to Thompsons with respect to this transaction.Thompsons Limited is a private, family-owned business operating since 1924. Its principal business has involved the distribution of corn, soybeans, wheat, and dry beans as well as providing farmers with the necessary inputs to produce and grow successful crops. Today, Thompsons provides agricultural supplies and services, including seed, fertilizer and crop protectants to farmers throughout Ontario’s agricultural regions. Thompsons also offers bean processing services in Ontario and Northern Minnesota and exports products to food processors in over 30 countries worldwide.
The Andersons Inc. is a diversified company rooted in agriculture. Founded in Maumee, Ohio, in 1947, the company conducts business across North America in the grain, ethanol, and plant nutrient sectors, railcar leasing, turf and cob products, and consumer retailing.
Lansing Trade Group LLC was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. The company has offices throughout North America as well as offices in Geneva, Switzerland and Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Origin Senior Leads: Andrew Muirhead, Rob Penteliuk
Origin Merchant Partners is pleased to announce the successful sale of Energy Manufacturing Company, Inc. (“Energy”) to Ligon Industries, LLC (“Ligon”). With the addition of Energy, Ligon expands its presence in the mobile industrial equipment end market and further strengthens its products offering. Origin Merchant Partners acted as exclusive financial advisor in this transaction.
Energy Manufacturing Company is a leading designer and manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders and related products for mobile and stationary industrial equipment. Their products are sold to customers in a wide variety of industries including agriculture, construction, lawn & garden, refuse compaction, forestry and medical. Energy Mfg. is based in Monticello, Iowa. The Company has access to Asian sourcing of cylinders through an exclusive manufacturing relationship in Dongguan, China.
Ligon is the largest independent manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders in North America through its operating businesses including HDM Hydraulics, HTI, Ramrod Industries, Seabee Corporation, Fisher Hydraulics, Great Bend Industries, Hydratech and now Energy Mfg.
Origin Senior Lead: Bill Doepke
