Nutrition Capital Network (NCN) has released its list of Top 15 M&A and Financing Transactions for the first six months on 2012. These include Pfizer’s $360-million acquisition of Alacer in supplements, DSM’s $540-million purchase of Ocean Nutrition in ingredients, the merger of Sprouts and Sunflower natural food retail chains, and Campbell’s Soup $1.6-billion acquisition of Bolthouse Farms.
 
“In aggregate these deals illustrate a few notable trends,” says Grant Ferrier, an NCN principal and co-founder. “First, the M&As are getting bigger; second, more and more players are coming to the table each quarter like P&G and Dole; and third, natural & organic and healthy foods are increasingly a competitive battleground for the world’s largest food companies. In addition, we are seeing an increased interest over time in companies across the supply chain, including ingredient and manufacturing companies, indicating that investors are becoming more strategic in their approach to the industry.”
 
NCN has convened 14 investor meetings since 2007, and has a successful track record of matching entrepreneurs, growth companies and technology innovators with suitable investors, acquirers and strategic partners. Of the 252 companies that have presented at the NCN Investor Meetings from 2007-2011, 41% have completed some form of transaction.
 
Past presenters that have closed significant transactions include Food Should Taste
Good, a company acquired by General Mills in February 2012, in addition to Annie’s, Immaculate Baking, Zico, Zhena’s Gypsy Tea and mix1.
 
NCN’s Fall Investor Meeting in San Francisco, CA, on October 15-16 will feature ten minute presentations by 18-22 qualified presenting companies, followed by opportunities for structured one-on-one meetings, as well as informal networking. Companies seeking investment are invited to apply to present.
 
For more information, log on to www.nutritioncapital.com.