Investors snap up Mexican bluefin tuna ranching giant Baja Aqua Farms

The investor group includes: Equity Group Investments, a firm founded by late US billionaire Sam Zell; CastleHarlan, another private equity; Mexican beverage bottler Organizacion Cultiba SAB de CV; and Continental GrainCompany from the agribusiness sector.

A group of prominent investors has acquired Baja Aqua Farms (BAF), one of the world’s leading vertically integrated bluefin tuna ranching companies.

The investor group is comprised of US private equity firm EquityGroup Investments, founded by the late US billionaire Sam Zell; Mexican beverage bottler Organizacion Cultiba SAB de CV; agribusiness company Continental Grain Company; and private equity firm Castle Harlan.

While full financial details were not disclosed, Cultiba contributed around $40 million for a minority stake in BAF, according to a transaction filing seen by Undercurrent News. As part of the deal, representatives from each investing company will join BAF’s board of directors.

Antarctica Advisors served as the exclusive sell-side advisor to BAF on the deal, led by Birgir Brynjolfsson.

In a statement, BAF CEO Manuel Vazquez said the consortium’s”combined operational expertise will be a major asset in driving the growth and expansion of our business going forward.”

BAF operates tuna ranching facilities in Mexico’s Baja California, from where it supplies sashimi-grade bluefin to high-end restaurants and retailers worldwide.

 

Source: Undercurrent News