Latest news with #Fortifi
Cision Canada
6 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Fortifi Food Processing Solutions Completes Acquisition of Area 52
Fortifi, a global food technology company, adds Area 52, a Canadian manufacturer of crustacean processing equipment, to its portfolio of automation solutions for the food industry. TORONTO, June 2, 2025 /CNW/ - The Fairing Group, a boutique M&A advisory firm specializing in mid-market mergers and acquisitions, is pleased to announce Area 52's acquisition by Fortifi Food Processing Solutions ("Fortifi"), a KKR portfolio company. The acquisition enables Fortifi to further expand its solution set to drive growth and innovation in food categories with global reach and application. "Area 52's innovative machine designs increase worker safety, protein quality and processing yields. As an industry partner, Area 52 provides valuable automation capabilities to a growing crustacean and seafood market at a time when labor shortages challenge traditional harvesting processes," said Massimo Bizzi, Chief Executive Officer of Fortifi. "We welcome this opportunity to grow within the Fortifi family and expand our global reach," said Tim Fogarty, Founder of Area 52. "We share Fortifi's dedication to innovative, customer-centered product design and service." All Area 52 employees will join Fortifi's broad-based ownership program, which provides employees with the opportunity to participate in the benefits of equity ownership. The Fairing Group served as exclusive financial advisor to Area 52. McInnes Cooper served as legal counsel to Area 52. EY Parthenon provided financial and tax due diligence to Fortifi. Stewart McKelvey served as legal counsel to Fortifi. Headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick, Area 52 is a leading manufacturer of automated crustacean processing equipment, specializing in solutions for lobster and crab production. Area 52 offers a strong portfolio of proprietary and patented equipment and technology for automated washing, netting, scoring / cutting, and butchering. These automated systems enable processors to complete full lines including packaging, pick-and-place robots, and material handling to provide strong manufacturing ROIs from animal harvesting to final customer shipment. For more information, please visit: About Fortifi Food Processing Solutions Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas and operating worldwide, Fortifi is a leading platform of automated food processing equipment and automation solutions. Fortifi serves customers worldwide through its global manufacturing and service footprint, and drives improvements in yield, productivity, food quality, and worker safety for many of the world's largest food producers. Fortifi's growing portfolio includes Bettcher Industries, Frontmatec, MHM Automation, Nothum Food Processing Systems, REICH Thermoprozesstechnik GmbH, LIMA (Les Innovations Mecaniques Alimentaires) and Kais Software. For more information, please visit: The Fairing Group is a Toronto based M&A advisory firm specializing in mid-market mergers and acquisitions across North America. The firm focuses on buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory, fractional corporate development, and capital markets and corporate finance for independent businesses, private equity investors, and portfolio company management. For more information, please visit
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Fortifi Food Processing Solutions Completes Acquisition of Area 52
Fortifi, a global food technology company, adds Area 52, a Canadian manufacturer of crustacean processing equipment, to its portfolio of automation solutions for the food industry. TORONTO, June 2, 2025 /CNW/ - The Fairing Group, a boutique M&A advisory firm specializing in mid-market mergers and acquisitions, is pleased to announce Area 52's acquisition by Fortifi Food Processing Solutions ("Fortifi"), a KKR portfolio company. The acquisition enables Fortifi to further expand its solution set to drive growth and innovation in food categories with global reach and application. "Area 52's innovative machine designs increase worker safety, protein quality and processing yields. As an industry partner, Area 52 provides valuable automation capabilities to a growing crustacean and seafood market at a time when labor shortages challenge traditional harvesting processes," said Massimo Bizzi, Chief Executive Officer of Fortifi. "We welcome this opportunity to grow within the Fortifi family and expand our global reach," said Tim Fogarty, Founder of Area 52. "We share Fortifi's dedication to innovative, customer-centered product design and service." All Area 52 employees will join Fortifi's broad-based ownership program, which provides employees with the opportunity to participate in the benefits of equity ownership. The Fairing Group served as exclusive financial advisor to Area 52. McInnes Cooper served as legal counsel to Area 52. EY Parthenon provided financial and tax due diligence to Fortifi. Stewart McKelvey served as legal counsel to Fortifi. About Area 52 Headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick, Area 52 is a leading manufacturer of automated crustacean processing equipment, specializing in solutions for lobster and crab production. Area 52 offers a strong portfolio of proprietary and patented equipment and technology for automated washing, netting, scoring / cutting, and butchering. These automated systems enable processors to complete full lines including packaging, pick-and-place robots, and material handling to provide strong manufacturing ROIs from animal harvesting to final customer shipment. For more information, please visit: About Fortifi Food Processing Solutions Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas and operating worldwide, Fortifi is a leading platform of automated food processing equipment and automation solutions. Fortifi serves customers worldwide through its global manufacturing and service footprint, and drives improvements in yield, productivity, food quality, and worker safety for many of the world's largest food producers. Fortifi's growing portfolio includes Bettcher Industries, Frontmatec, MHM Automation, Nothum Food Processing Systems, REICH Thermoprozesstechnik GmbH, LIMA (Les Innovations Mecaniques Alimentaires) and Kais Software. For more information, please visit: About The Fairing Group The Fairing Group is a Toronto based M&A advisory firm specializing in mid-market mergers and acquisitions across North America. The firm focuses on buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory, fractional corporate development, and capital markets and corporate finance for independent businesses, private equity investors, and portfolio company management. For more information, please visit Ref. Fortifi PR: Click Here SOURCE The Fairing Group View original content: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Blue-collar squeeze: Logan locals priced out, pushed west to buy
Tow truck driver Trent Smith and his wife Sammy had a long-term plan to save for a home deposit, but surging prices pushed them out of their hometown. The couple, both fulltime workers with two-year-old twin boys and an older son, hoped to buy in Logan, on Brisbane's southern fringe, but struggled to find anything decent within their $600,000 budget. 'We were stuck with a certain amount we could spend, and it was getting more concerning as we were looking in Logan where we lived. It seemed like every week the properties were getting worse or smaller for the price you paid,' 29-year-old Mr Smith said. They widened their search westward after routinely missing out on the few suitable properties available locally as rival buyers offered $50,000 to $100,000 above asking price. The couple eventually secured a property in One Mile, Ipswich, on a 642 sqm block. The centrally located three-bedroom, one-bathroom home was move-in ready, a big backyard for the kids to play, and was affordable at $600,000. 'I always thought the place had a bad rap, but after living there the last month, I'm glad I agreed,' Mr Smith said. 'I was worried, but Sammy really liked the place from the get-go.' Mr Smith is a self-employed contractor who was able to transfer to a local branch of the company, while Ms Smith, 34, now commutes to Slacks Creek for work and daycare. 'It is a compromise but if you can get into a home, it's worth it,' he said. They worked with mortgage broker Tristan Vercoe, of Fortifi Finance, to secure a loan requiring just a 5 per cent deposit through the government's First Home Guarantee scheme. 'Most self-employed people think they will have to wait two years to get into a home, but if you get the right team working together you can get it done in six months with some forward planning, like we were able to do for Trent and Sammy,' Mr Vercoe said. He said getting on the property ladder required a positive mindset but often also a reality check. 'Instead of focusing on the opportunities they don't have, the people who are successful are looking at the cards they've got and making the most of it. 'Trent and Sammy know this isn't their forever home, but they have already manufactured equity in that property by upgrading the floors and they are so happy,' Mr Vercoe said. PropTrack modelling paints a stark picture of how far affordability has shifted in the past five years, by projecting 2030 home prices if recent growth continues at the same pace. A typical house in Logan Central, now priced at $657,000, would hit $1.5m, based on 129 per cent growth since 2020. One Mile, while currently slightly more affordable at $600,000, was on a similar growth trajectory of 134 per cent – with a projected median of $1.405m if the trend persists over the next five years.
