BGL Advises Grande Cheese in its Acquisition of PGP International’s Wisconsin Whey Processing Facility

Brown Gibbons Lang & Company (BGL) announced today the acquisition by its client, Grande Cheese Company (Grande), of PGP International, Inc.’s Juda, Wisconsin whey processing facility. BGL served as the financial advisor and Quarles & Brady LLP served as legal counsel to Grande. The specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 1941, Grande is a privately held company which operates five cheese plants and three whey processing plants throughout Wisconsin. Its corporate headquarters is in Lomira, Wisconsin.

“As a leading international producer of Grade A whey isolates, whey proteins and lactose, this is an exciting acquisition,” commented Paul Graham, vice president of Grande’s Custom Ingredients Group. “It will add significant capacity for our existing products as well as many new technologies to serve our customers.”

Todd Koss, Grande’s chief financial officer, commented that “BGL proved to be a valuable advisor and was instrumental in helping us successfully navigate the auction process and secure a favorable valuation and deal terms.”

The products produced at the new Grande whey facility will be marketed under the Wisconsin Whey International Brand.

John Tilson, managing director and head of BGL’s Consumer & Retail Services Practice, led the BGL team, and Ryan Van Den Elzen and Joe Puchner led the Quarles & Brady team.