Mason Wells Sells Eddy to Insight
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Mason Wells Sells Eddy to Insight

Mason Wells has sold Eddy Foods (DBA Eddy Packing), a processor of smoked, cooked and fresh pork, beef and poultry products, to Insight Equity. Mason Wells acquired Eddy Packing in January 2012 through its $525 million third fund.

Eddy Packing’s branded and private label products include barbeque meats (beef, pork, chicken and turkey), marinated meats (smoked and fresh), beef brisket (whole, sliced, and chopped), beef ribs and cutlets, pulled pork and chicken, smoked and fresh sausages, fajitas, and kolaches (stuffed pastries). The company’s products are sold to foodservice, contract packing and retail customers. Eddy Packing was founded in 1953 and is headquartered east of San Antonio in Yoakum, TX (www.eddypacking.com).

“The partnership of Eddy Packing and Mason Wells over the past several years has poised the company for future success in the food industry,” said John Fortino Jr., president and CFO of Eddy. “The investments that Mason Wells and Eddy Packing made in processing and packaging capabilities as well as in key personnel will foster sustainable growth as a leading high-quality food processor in the ready-to-eat category.”

“We are pleased to report the sale of Eddy,” said Greg Myers, senior managing director of Mason Wells.  “During our ownership, we transitioned the company from family ownership and made investments to enhance the company’s operational capabilities, expand its product breadth, and increase customer and channel diversification.”

The existing management team of Eddy Packing is investing in this transaction alongside Insight Equity. At closing, Jim Reed, an executive with more than 26 years of experience in the food and protein processing industries, joined the company as its new chief executive officer. “Insight Equity is excited to partner with an experienced operating team to pursue continued growth at Eddy. The combination of Jim Reed and John Fortino will support the company’s goals of developing best in class facilities while also expanding into new markets,” said Eliot Kerlin, a senior partner at Insight Equity.

“Eddy’s broad product offering and deep experience with various processing techniques provides a strong foundation for continued growth,” said Luke Bateman, a senior vice president at Insight Equity. “Additionally, the company’s extensive product development capabilities provide customers in multiple sales channels with a comprehensive option for fulfilling their protein needs.”

Insight Equity makes control investments in middle market, asset-intensive companies across a range of industries and specializes in partnering with companies in complex and challenging situations, including corporate divestitures, aggressive growth opportunities, restructurings, and transitions from private family ownership.  The firm is based near Dallas in Southlake, TX and also has an office in New York (www.insightequity.com).

Mason Wells makes investments in Midwest-based companies with revenues of $25 million to $300 million and EBITDAs of $5 million to $30 million. Sectors of interest include consumer packaged goods; packaging materials and converting; outsourced business services; and engineered products and services.  In February 2016, Mason Wells held a final closing of Mason Wells Buyout Fund IV and its related Executive Buyout Fund IV with total commitments of $615 million.  The firm was founded in 1998 and is based in Milwaukee (www.masonwells.com).

Robert W. Baird (www.rwbaird.com) was the financial advisor to Eddy Packing.

© 2019 Private Equity Professional | February 12, 2019

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