Consumer Private Placement and M&A Transactions Review Week Ending May 26, 2024

Carbon Robotics: The company raised $50 million of Series C venture funding in a deal led by Sozo Ventures and S28 Capital on May 20, 2024, putting the company’s pre-money valuation at $119 million. NVentures (Santa Clara), Ignition Partners, Anthos Capital, Voyager Capital, Fuse (Seattle), Liquid 2 Ventures, Amity Ventures, Vulcan Asset Management and Revolution (Washington DC) also participated in the round. The company is a developer of AI-powered robotic systems that precisely identify, weed and thin specialty vegetable crops using lasers with millimeter accuracy, while observing the conditions of the crop and soil in a field for later analysis..

Ketos: The company raised $10 million of venture funding in a deal led by Tenfore Holdings on May 21, 2024. Accenture Ventures, Danu Venture Group, Plum Alley Investments, Plug and Play Tech Center, and Broadway Angels also participated in the round. The company is a developer of water analytics technology designed to measure, manage, and forecast water quality and efficiency in agricultural, industrial, and municipal applications.

Traction: The company raised $10 million of Series A venture funding in a deal led by Cooperative Ventures on May 21, 2024. Plymouth Growth also participated in the round. The company is a developer of farm management software designed to support farmers by integrating their factual accounting data with field operations.

Ark Biotech: The company raised $8.2 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors on May 24, 2024. The company is a developer of bioreactors and operating systems designed for the industrial production of cultivated meat.

Sempera Organics: The company raised $2.6 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors on May 24, 2024. The company is a producer of mushroom based foods, supplements, and wellness products.

Craize: The company raised $2.1 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors on May 24, 2024. The company is a producer of non-GMO, gluten free corn wafers.

Forever Feed Technologies: The company raised an undisclosed amount of venture funding from River Ranch Farms, Bar 20 Dairy and De Jong Family Farms on May 22, 2024. Fresno First Bank, Wreden Ranch, Producers Dairy Foods, Central Valley Meat Company, Associated Feed & Supply Co, Grimmius Cattle Company and Hollandia Farms also participated in the round. The company is a developer of automated on-farm feed mills for growing cattle feed indoors.

Verdi: The company raised an undisclosed amount of venture funding from NEC X on May 22, 2024. Thrive – SVG Ventures has also invested in the round. The company is a developer of a commercial variable rate system for irrigation and fertigation in fruits, nuts, and vegetables.

Biothentic / Groupe Léa Nature: The company, a subsidiary of ABCD Nutrition, was acquired by Groupe Léa Nature via its financial sponsors Crédit Mutuel Equity and BNP Paribas Développement, through a 3.5 million euros LBO on May 20, 2024. The company is a producer of raw ingredients for manufacturing organic bulk consumer products.

Buxton Brewery / Happy Place Investors: The company was acquired by Happy Place Investors for an undisclosed amount on May 20, 2024. The company is a producer of beers based in Buxton, United Kingdom.

Cactus Feeders / Standard Nutrition Co: The company was acquired by Standard Nutrition Co, via its financial sponsor Ospraie Management, through an LBO on May 21, 2024 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a producer of commercial-fed cattle and hogs intended for beef and pork production.

Clean Juice / BRIX Holdings: The company was acquired by BRIX Holdings for an undisclosed amount on May 21, 2024. The company is an operator of an organic juice and food bar franchise.

Felder / Schneider bakery: The company reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by Schneider Bakery for an undisclosed amount on May 25, 2024. The company is an operator of a café/bakery based in Engelskirchen, Germany.

Pepsico Belgium and Luxembourg / Royal Unibrew: Royal Unibrew reached a definitive agreement to acquire the Beverage Business in Belgium and Luxembourg unit of Pepsico for an undisclosed amount on May 22, 2024. The company is a producer of beverages based in Luxembourg and Belgium.

Ram’s Gate Winery / O’Neill Vintners & Distillers: The company was acquired by O’Neill Vintners & Distillers for an undisclosed amount on May 22, 2024. The company is an operator of a winery based in Sonoma, California.

Square One Organic Spirits / Uncle Nearest: The company was acquired by Uncle Nearest for an undisclosed amount on May 21, 2024. The company is a producer and retailer of organic botanical vodkas and cocktail mixers.

STËLZ / Heineken: An undisclosed stake in the company was acquired by Heineken on May 21, 2024. The company is a manufacturer of hard seltzers based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The French Bastards / Experienced Capital Partners: The company was acquired by Experienced Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount on May 20, 2024. The company is an operator of a bakery and pastry shop based in Paris, France.

Vins Etonnants / Les Grappes: The company was acquired by Les Grappes for an undisclosed amount on May 23, 2024. The company is an operator of an online retailer platform that provides wines from independent producers.

Xochitl / Forward Consumer Partners: The company was acquired by Forward Consumer Partners through an LBO on May 20, 2024 for an undisclosed amount. The company is a producer of tortilla chips and salsa.