JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Acosta Sales & Marketing, a full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer goods industry behind many brands at retail and foodservice, has announced it has signed a definitive agreement for an equity investment by The Carlyle Group, a global alternative asset manager.
Carlyle will purchase the full ownership stake of funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners LP. GIC, which is currently an investor in Acosta, will re-invest in the company. Following the investment, Acosta senior management will continue to lead the company, and operations will remain the same. Acosta's broad management team will continue to have significant ownership of the company.
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in third-quarter 2014.
"Acosta is well positioned to meet the changing needs of consumer product manufacturers and retailers seeking more effective and efficient outsourced sales and marketing solutions," said Sandra Horbach, managing director and head of Carlyle's Consumer & Retail team. "We are impressed with the company's associates, capabilities and the quality of its client and customer portfolios and its significant growth potential."
"Acosta has benefited tremendously from its partnership with THL, and their financial and operational expertise was an important component of our growth and success," said Robert Hill, president and CEO of Acosta. "Carlyle has an established track record of investing in respected companies with a history of positive growth. Together, we are excited to lead Acosta into a new chapter with a focus on expanding services to meet a broader set of client and retailer needs."
Acosta provides a variety of outsourced sales, marketing and retail merchandising services to manufacturers and retailers throughout the United States and Canada.
Carlyle is a global alternative asset manager with $199 billion of assets under management across 120 funds and 133 fund of funds vehicles as of March 31, 2014. It invests across four segments: corporate private equity, real assets, global market strategies and solutions, in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including aerospace, defense & government services, consumer and retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology and business services, telecommunications and media and transportation.
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