Equity Group Investments: Investor Consortium Partners with Baja Aqua-Farms to Promote Future Growth

Baja Aqua-Farms, a leading Bluefin tuna rancher based in Baja California, Mexico, has announced a strategic partnership with an investor consortium consisting of Continental Grain Company (Conti), Organización Cultiba SAB de CV (Cultiba), Equity Group Investments (EGI), and Castle Harlan Inc. The partnership aims to provide Baja Aqua-Farms with additional capital and operational expertise to meet the growing demand in the seafood industry and expand its business.

With this investment, the investor consortium will also join Baja Aqua-Farms' board of directors. Ignacio Sanz from Conti, Juan Ignacio Gallardo Thurlow from Cultiba, Rahul Sen from EGI, and Patrick Zyla from Castle Harlan will bring their industry knowledge and experience to support the company's growth and expansion plans.

Baja Aqua-Farms is known for its sustainable and environmentally responsible approach to Pacific Bluefin tuna ranching. The company strives to produce and distribute the highest quality tuna, sought out by top chefs globally for its consistent quality and year-round availability.

Manuel Vazquez, the Chief Executive Officer of Baja Aqua-Farms, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that the investor consortium's expertise would be a significant asset in driving the company's growth. He also highlighted the shared commitment to environmentally sustainable practices, which would create unique opportunities for customers, suppliers, and employees.

The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Baja Aqua-Farms

Established in 2000 and headquartered in Baja California, Mexico, Baja Aqua-Farms is a leading vertically integrated Bluefin tuna rancher. The company operates in the pristine oceanic waters of Baja California, producing a variety of tuna products under rigorous standards. Their commitment to quality and year-round availability has made them a preferred choice for top chefs and supermarket chains worldwide. To learn more, visit bajaaquafarms.com.

About Continental Grain Company

Continental Grain Company (Conti) is a privately-owned global investor, owner, and operator of companies with a rich history spanning over 200 years in the food and agribusiness sector. Conti focuses on creating long-term value by leveraging industry knowledge, capital, and talent across a range of businesses. Their approach involves building platforms that harness strategic expertise in food production, processing, and distribution to source proprietary deals. With a commitment to sustainable and efficient food supply chains, Conti aims to contribute to a nutritious and reliable food supply. For more information, visit www.continentalgrain.com.

About Cultiba

Cultiba is a holding company listed on the Mexican Stock Market (Bolsa Mexicana de Valores). It has minority interests in leading food and beverage companies and a track record of successful integrations and synergy capture. Cultiba, along with its subsidiaries and affiliates, aims to drive profitable volume growth and expand EBITDA margins, with a particular focus on the North American market. To learn more, visit www.cultiba.mx.

About Equity Group Investments

Equity Group Investments (EGI) is a private investment firm founded by Sam Zell over 50 years ago. With flexible and opportunistic capital, EGI specializes in direct private investment opportunities but has the expertise to invest across the capital structure. As a long-term investor, EGI actively collaborates with portfolio company executives to implement strategic planning, operational efficiencies, and scale businesses. Through economic cycles, EGI has successfully grown companies in various industries into multi-billion-dollar enterprises. Their current portfolio includes investments in healthcare, transportation and logistics, infrastructure, energy, consumer, industrial, manufacturing, agri-business, and real estate. For more information, visit www.egizell.com.

About Castle Harlan

Castle Harlan is a New York-based private equity firm established in 1987. The firm focuses on making control equity investments in middle-market companies, with a particular emphasis on niche consumer and specialty industrial businesses. Castle Harlan's investment strategy revolves around partnering with existing management teams to achieve long-term returns for investors. With over 55 completed acquisitions worth over $11 billion in aggregate enterprise value, Castle Harlan has a proven track record of successful investments. For more information, visit www.castleharlan.com.

In conclusion, the partnership between the investor consortium and Baja Aqua-Farms is expected to drive the growth and expansion of the company. With additional capital and the expertise brought by the consortium members, Baja Aqua-Farms will be well-positioned to meet the increasing demand for high-quality Bluefin tuna in the seafood industry. Furthermore, the shared commitment to sustainability will ensure that Baja Aqua-Farms continues to be a leader in environmentally responsible practices, benefiting customers, suppliers, and employees alike.