Disposal of MW Brands to Trilantic Capital Partners

DATE
July 2010

TRANSACTION TYPE
Private Equity Disposal

VALUE
£680 Million

SECTOR
Food & Beverage

Spayne Lindsay & Co. LLP advises Trilantic Capital Partners on its successful investment in and eventual exit from MW Brands.

Trilantic Capital Partners (‘Trilantic’) has completed the sale of its investment in MW Brands (‘MWB’) to Thai Union Frozen Products PCL (‘TUF’) for a total consideration of €680m million. Spayne Lindsay & Co. LLP provided general corporate finance advice to Trilantic Capital Partners with its initial investment in and ultimate exit from MW Brands.

MW Brands is one of Europe’s leaders in tuna and other ambient seafood products through iconic brands – including John West, Petite Navire, Mareblu and Hyacinthe Parmentier – and holds leading market positions in France, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands. TUF is Thailand’s major processor and exporter of canned and frozen seafood products.

Trilantic acquired MW Brands through a carve-out of various entities from the US food producer H.J. Heinz (‘Heinz’) in 2006. During the latest fiscal year ended 31 March, 2010, MWB generated sales of €448 million.

Spayne Lindsay & Co. played a leading role in realising the original investment in MW Brands, having assembled an experienced MBI team consisting of three former Heinz executives, created a detailed