Vestar Completes the Sale of Simple Mills

Core Insights - Vestar Capital Partners has completed the sale of Simple Mills to Flowers Foods for an enterprise value of $795 million, marking a successful exit for the private equity firm [1] - The investment in Simple Mills, initiated in October 2019, was driven by a shift towards better-for-you foods and the unique potential of the Simple Mills brand, resulting in consistent double-digit topline growth during Vestar's ownership [2] - Vestar's strategy involved expanding distribution channels, supporting product innovation, investing in marketing and R&D, and strengthening the supply chain, which collectively contributed to significant value creation [2][3] Company Overview - Simple Mills is recognized as a premium brand offering better-for-you snacks, including crackers, cookies, snack bars, and baking mixes [1] - Vestar Capital Partners specializes in management buyouts and growth capital investments, focusing on building long-term enterprise value in sectors such as Consumer, Business & Technology Services, and Healthcare [4] - Since its inception in 1988, Vestar has invested over $12 billion in 94 companies, with a total value of approximately $61 billion, including more than 200 add-on acquisitions [4]