South-Am sold a majority interest to Van Drunen Farms

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  • Background: South-Am Freeze Dry SpA (“South-Am”), founded in 2004 and based in Chile, is a full-service manufacturer of premium freeze-dried fruits, vegetables, and powders, driven by top standards of food safety and traceability. South-Am fuses creativity and innovation with world-class quality standards.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the Company
    • Distressed operations with excess plant capacity and negative cash flow
    • Spin-out of a non-core business unit
  • Challenges:
    • Niche industry with a limited number of potential buyers
    • Expedited timeline to close
    • Spin-out of a non-core business unit
  • Outcome: On August 14, 2019, Van Drunen Farms (“VDF”) acquired a majority interest in South-Am. VDF is a world leader in agriculture, food science, and dehydrating fruits, vegetables, and grains.
  • The partnership formed between South-Am and VDF provided South-Am with a significant minority stake, and quickly filled excess plant capacity, providing a path to profitability.

Achaogen sold the global assets to Cipla USA

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  • Background: Achaogen, Inc. (“Achaogen”), based in South San Francisco, CA, is a biopharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes innovative antibacterial agents to address multidrug-resistant gram-negative infections.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the Company
    • Conducted a robust sales process, identifying and contacting approximately 200 strategic and financial parties
    • Significantly increased the value of the opening bid by running a competitive auction
    • Provided assistance throughout all phases of the Chapter 11 Section 363 sales process, due diligence, and auctions
  • Challenges:
    • Achaogen’s lead asset, ZEMDRI™, had an unsuccessful launch which lead to massive layoffs, including almost all Achaogen’s sales force
    • Dramatic downturn in the availability of financing from both the debt and equity markets for companies in the anti-infective field
    • Maximizing value with no stalking horse bidder in place
  • Outcome: On July 23, 2019, the court approved the sale of Achaogen’s core assets to Cipla USA Inc., a subsidiary of the India-based parent, Cipla Limited. Additional assets were also sold to multiple buyers as part of the bankruptcy sales process.

ASP sold certain assets to Roivant Sciences GmbH

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  • Background:  Avadel Specialty Pharmaceuticals, LLC (“ASP”), based in Chesterfield, MO, is a pharmaceutical company engaged in the business of commercializing, marketing, and distributing NOCTIVA™ (desmopressin acetate) nasal spray.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the Company
    • Ran a competitive sales process, identifying and contacting over 100 strategic and financial parties
    • Provided assistance throughout all phases of the Chapter 11 Section 363 sales process, due diligence, and auction.
  • Challenges:
    • NOCTIVA™ had limited sales and required a full commercialization effort to make the drug financially successful
    • ASP entered into an unfavorable license agreement which potential bidders ultimately had to renegotiate
  • Outcome:  On April 15, 2019, the court approved the sale of certain ASP assets to Roivant Sciences GmbH, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

inRegen sold certain assets to Orgagen

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  • Background: InRegen, with headquarters in the Cayman Islands, is a leader in three-dimensional regenerative medicine.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
      • Served as exclusive financial advisor to the Company in its divestiture of the Neo Urinary conduit assets
      • Ran a competitive sales process for the assets and assisted the Company in evaluating offers received
      • Assisted in the structuring, negotiating, and closing of the transaction
    • Challenges:
      • Complex technology
      • Small universe of potential buyers
  • Outcome: On December 31, 2018, InRegen closed on the sale of the Neo Urinary Conduit assets to Orgagen, Inc.

Sancilio sold certain assets to K.D. Pharma Bexbach

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  • Background: Sancilio Pharmaceuticals Company, Inc. (“Sancilio”), based in Riviera Beach, FL, is an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceutical products, over-the-counter and behind-the-counter products, and dietary supplements in the dental and women’s health markets.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the Company
    • Ran a competitive sales process, identifying and contacting over 300 strategic and financial parties
    • Provided assistance throughout all phases of the Chapter 11 Section 363 sales process, due diligence, and auction
  • Challenges:
    • Expedited sales timeline with less than six weeks to identify and solicit interest from potential bidders
    • Simultaneous, multiple sales processes for different divisions of the Company
  • Outcome: On August 1, 2018, the Ocean Blue division of Sancilio Pharmaceuticals Company, Inc. was purchased by K.D. Pharma Bexbach GmbH, headquartered in Bexbach, Germany.

Sancilio sold certain assets to Micelle Biopharma

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  • Background: Sancilio Pharmaceuticals Company, Inc. (“Sancilio”), based in Riviera Beach, FL, is an integrated specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceutical products, over-the-counter and behind-the-counter products, and dietary supplements in the dental and women’s health markets.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
      • Served as financial advisor to the Company
      • Ran a competitive sales process, identifying and contacting over 300 strategic and financial parties
      • Provided assistance throughout all phases of the Chapter 11 Section 363 sales process, due diligence, and auction
  • Challenges:
      • Expedited sales timeline with less than six weeks to identify and solicit interest from potential bidders
      • Simultaneous, multiple sales processes for different divisions of the Company
  • Outcome: On August 8, 2018, Altemia and the ALT Platform, a Phase III ready product for the treatment of sickle cell disease; a prenatal and dental portfolio of prenatal vitamins and fluorides; and the plant and labs of Sancilio Pharmaceuticals Company, Inc., were purchased by Micelle Biopharma, Inc.

Convert has been acquired by Abbey Road Capital

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  • Background: Convert IT Marketing, LLC (“Convert”), founded in 2011 and based in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, provides outsourced pay-per-click marketing solutions for local law firms in specialty practices throughout the U.S. Convert IT’s unique and proprietary strategies deliver superior performance to its 500+ customers in terms of cost and quality of leads, placing it in the top 1% of all digital marketers serving the legal vertical.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
      • Served as exclusive financial advisor to the Company in its divestiture of the Neo Urinary conduit assets
      • Ran a competitive sales process, identifying and contacting strategic and financial parties
      • Provided the owner with advice from pre-engagement to post-close
    • Challenges:
      • Limited buyer universe
      • Multiple offers ahead of the completion of initial calls
  • Outcome: On August 31, 2018, Convert IT was purchased by Abbey Road Capital.

CORD:USE has been acquired by Cryo-Cell International

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  • Background: CORD:USE Cord Blood Bank (“Cord”), based in Orlando, FL, owns and operates a cord blood bank that focuses on building an inventory of umbilical cord blood stem cell units for patients in need of a life-saving transplant.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the Company
    • Advised Cord in evaluating its strategic options and provided assistance throughout the due diligence and closing process
    • Ran a broad sales process, contacting 115 parties
  • Challenges:
    • Small footprint – Marketing in select markets
    • Sizeable amount of debt
    • Complex capital structure
  • Outcome: In June 2018, Cord was acquired by Cryo-Cell International, Inc. The upfront consideration consisted of cash and shares of Common Stock with the potential for contingency cash payments based upon pre-determined milestones.

Lakewood Organic received senior debt financing from Fifth Third Bank

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  • Background: Lakewood Organics (“Lakewood”), based in Miami, FL, is an independent family juice company bottling a diverse line of pure organic and premium fruit juice products. Founded in 1935, Lakewood takes great pride in being a responsible steward of the Lakewood brand and holds true to its mission to provide the best quality juices to its customers.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the Company
    • Advised Lakewood in evaluating its financing options and provided assistance throughout the due diligence and closing process
    • Ran a targeted debt raise process, contacting 18 lenders
  • Challenges:
    • Assets held by different entities including the operating business, intellectual property, and real estate
    • Expedited timeline to close
  • Outcome: In May 2018, Lakewood Organics received senior debt financing from Fifth Third Bank to help support the Company in its pursuit of numerous growth initiatives.

Sys2k has been acquired by Serent Capital

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  • Background: Systems 2000, Inc. (“Sys2k”) is a SaaS business that provides a mission-critical dealership management system for the specialty vehicle market, including RV, marine, auto, heavy duty trucks, bus and emergency vehicles. With over 350 customers throughout the U.S. and Canada and a strong recurring revenue base, the Sys2k platform is highly regarded due to its true multi-company, multi-location system offering full DMS capabilities across all departments of a dealership.
  • Cassel Salpeter:
    • Served as financial advisor to the Company
    • Ran a limited sales process, contacting 19 specifically targeted financial and strategic buyers
  • Challenges:
    • Management required guidance and support to satisfy due diligence requests due to small size and limited resources
  • Outcome: In March 2018, Sys2k was 100% acquired by Serent Capital, broadening their portfolio of system-of-record software businesses and automobile technology investments.