3 April 2007 - As of April 3rd, 2007 SIA Alta Capital Partners signed share purchase agreement for the 66,18% of the leading Polish Warsaw Stock Exchange listed confectionary producer Mieszko.
Alta Capital acquires Mieszko through acquiring 100% shares and votes in Central European Confectionary Holdings B.V from investment funds ultimately managed by Darby Overseas Investments, Ltd., the private equity arm of Franklin Templeton Investments.
Darby Overseas Investments, a leading provider of private equity and mezzanine finance in emerging markets, was founded in 1994 by The Honorable Nicholas F. Brady, who served as U.S. Secretary of the Treasury between 1988 and 1993. In 2003 Darby became a fully owned subsidiary of Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE:BEN], a global investment management organization operating as Franklin Templeton Investments. Franklin Templeton Investments provides global and domestic investment management solutions managed by its Franklin, Templeton, Mutual Series, Fiduciary Trust, and Darby investment teams. The San Mateo, California-based company has 60 years of investment experience and approximately US$564 billion in assets under management as of February 28, 2007.
Established in 1993, Mieszko is a well-known confectionery producer in Poland with a strong portfolio and popular brands in filled pralines and fizzy caramel segments of the confectionary business. Mieszko’s most popular brands include: ZOZOLE, Kleinoty, Cherissimo, Amoretta and Frutis. In 2006 the company’s sales totaled 50 million EUR. Mieszko’s products are also sold in the Baltics, Germany and other European countries.
Indrek Rahumaa told that Mieszko’s acquisition fits into Alta Capital’s strategy of building a portfolio of regional players in dairy food processing and confectionary products.
“We believe that transforming local players into regional companies decreases the operational, sales and marketing pressures that smaller companies are facing due to the increased proportion of chain retailers and their bargaining power.” he said.
“We intend to continue with the strategy of increased market penetration in Poland and plan to significantly boost export. Mieszko’s growth potential is tremendous and supported by the rapid increase in consumer wealth across the region. Mieszko’s experience and knowledge of industry make it an ideal platform for expansion via organic growth and acquisitions of other companies in the industry,” he added.
Mr. Marek Moczulski, president of Mieszko commented: “for Mieszko the signing of agreement means opening up new ways for development. Mieszko management is happy that new shareholders have fully backed the Company’s strategy.”
Mieszko will remain a publicly listed company on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and as required by the stock exchange regulations, Alta Capital will decrease it’s shareholding in Mieszko slightly below 66% within the next 3 months.