Consumer Private Placement and M&A Transactions Review Week Ending January 8 2023

Lucky Saint: The company raised GBP 10.4 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by Beringea and JamJar Investments on January 3, 2023, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at GBP 37.6 million. The company is an operator of a non-alcoholic beer brewery.

Owen’s Craft Mixers: The company raised $6.5 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors on January 6, 2023. The company is a producer of non-alcoholic drink mixers.

IQBar: The company raised an estimated $6 million of Series B venture funding in a deal led by Lotus Bakeries on January 3, 2023, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at $50.5 million. FF2032, Sweater, Phoenix Fund, and other undisclosed investors also participated in the round. The company is a producer of healthy snack foods and energy bars.

Sustainable Beverage Technologies/BrewVo: The company raised $5.5 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors on January 6, 2023. The company is an owner and operator of a beer brewery intended to manufacture and market packaged beverage concentrates.

Elements: The company raised $2.2 million of venture funding in the combination of convertible debt and equity from Alpha Bridge Ventures and other undisclosed investors on January 5, 2023. The company is a producer of formulated tonics powered by adaptogens.

Magic Mind: The company raised $1.4 million of venture funding in the form of SAFE notes from Floodgate Fund and other undisclosed investors on January 4, 2023. The company is a producer of energy drinks intended to enhance concentration, stimulate creativity, boost motivation, and increase productivity.

KnowSeafood: The company raised venture funding from undisclosed investors on January 6, 2023. The company is an operator of an online seafood platform intended to offer direct access to quality sustainable and natural seafood.

Moolec / LightJump Acquisition: The company acquired LightJump Acquisition Corporation through a reverse merger for $138 million, resulting in the combined entity trading on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol MLEC and MLECW on January 3, 2023. Moolec Science SA is a science-based ingredient company focused on producing real animal proteins in plants through Molecular Farming, an alternative protein technology.

She Beverage Company / Punch Animation: The company reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Punch Animation for $54 million on January 3, 2023. The company produces bottled water and craft beer beverages.

Benson Hill / IMG Enterprises: The Fresh Business Assets of Benson Hill were acquired by IMG Enterprises for $3 Million on January 03, 2022. The company is a provider of fresh produce located in the United States.

Back To Nature Foods / Barilla Group: The company, a subsidiary of B&G Foods, was acquired by Barilla Group through an LBO on January 3, 2022 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a producer of organic and healthy foods made with recipes inspired by nature and selected ingredients.

Bandwagon Brokerage / Wholesale Produce Supply: The company was acquired by Wholesale Produce Supply, via its financial sponsors Cross Rapids Capital and The Baupost Group, through an LBO on January 4, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a provider of fresh food and vegetables intended for food service distributors and other wholesalers.

Castle Malting / Groupe Soufflet: The company reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Groupe Soufflet, a subsidiary of InVivo, for an undisclosed amount on January 2, 2023. The company is an operator of a malting plant intended to serve small and medium-sized breweries.

Cookie DO / Individual Investor: The company was acquired by Mr. Neil Hershman for an undisclosed amount on January 3, 2023. The company is a producer of cookie dough based in New York.

Criterion Ices / Gresham House: The company was acquired by Northern Bloc, via its financial sponsors Santander UK and Gresham House, through an LBO on January 4, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a producer of traditional ice cream intended to serve theatres and restaurants.

Great Lakes Foods / SpartanNash: The company was acquired by SpartanNash for an undisclosed amount on January 5, 2023. The company is a supplier of groceries, meat, dairy and bakery products and is a provider of retail marketing services catering to supermarkets and convenience stores.

Keystone Bakeries / Café Valley Bakery: The company, a subsidiary of Maplehurst Bakeries, was acquired by Café Valley Bakery, via its financial sponsors Stellus Capital Investment Corporation BDC, Swander Pace Capital and Stellus Capital Management, through an LBO on January 4, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a producer of bakery products intended for supermarkets, schools, restaurants and convenience stores.

McFarlan Bakery / Individual Investor: The company was acquired by Mr. Clint DeWitt and Ms. Meghan DeWitt for an undisclosed amount on January 5, 2023. The company is an operator of a bakery located in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

New Fruit Group / Organto Foods: The company was acquired by Organto Foods for an undisclosed amount on January 2, 2022. The company is a vertically integrated agribusiness focused on the sustainable production and distribution of fresh fruits.

Santera Tequila / Casa Maestri: The company was acquired by Casa Maestri for an undisclosed amount on January 3, 2023. The company is a producer of blue weber agave tequila based in New York, United States.

WA Imports / Forever Cheese: The company was acquired by Forever Cheese, via its financial sponsor Prairie Capital, through an LBO on JAnuary 4, 2023 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a manufacturer and importer of premium Japanese food products and ingredients based in Hebron, Illinois.