January 15, 2015

Ontario Teachers' Acquires Wind Point's Stake In Shearer's Snacks

TORONTO (January 15, 2015) – The Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (Teachers’) today announced the acquisition of an additional equity stake in Shearer’s Snacks (Shearer’s) from Wind Point Partners (Wind Point). With this transaction, Teachers’ will hold a significant majority ownership in Shearer’s, with company management remaining a meaningful shareholder. 

Teachers’ Private Capital (TPC), the private equity group of, Teachers’, acquired its initial stake in Shearer’s in 2012 alongside Wind Point and in partnership with CJ Fraleigh, who joined as Chairman and CEO. Fraleigh has 25 years of experience in consumer products and most recently served as CEO of Sara Lee – North America. 

During Teachers’ and Wind Point’s ownership, Shearer’s completed the acquisitions of Lance Private Brands and Medallion Foods, doubling the size of the business and significantly expanding the private label and contract manufacturing product offerings. 

“We have created significant value over the past two years by deepening Shearer’s longstanding relationships with branded companies and retailers by broadening our scope, both through internal initiatives designed to help our customers grow and by expanding our national manufacturing footprint and diversifying our product offerings,” commented Fraleigh. “We are proud of the transformation accomplished while partnering with Wind Point and Teachers’, and we believe this transaction has long-term positive implications for our customers and associates.” 

“We welcome the opportunity to build on our relationship with Shearer’s,” said Jane Rowe, Senior Vice-President of TPC. “The company’s strong management team has demonstrated its ability to grow organically and through acquisitions in a sector that continues to have attractive prospects.” 

“The Shearer’s story is an example of how Wind Point’s strategy to partner with a top caliber CEO such as CJ can transform a business."

- Mark Burgett, Managing DIrector

Mark Burgett, a managing director at Wind Point stated, “The Shearer’s story is an example of how Wind Point’s strategy to partner with a top caliber CEO such as CJ can transform a business. CJ and the entire Shearer’s team did an excellent job executing on our value creation plan, by increasing Shearer’s category management and manufacturing capabilities to help its customers grow, improving productivity and completing add-on acquisitions.” 

Terms of the transaction are not being disclosed.