Sharon, WI – Exacto®, LLC (“Exacto” or the “Company”), a full-service innovation partner in the agricultural, turf and ornamental horticulture markets, has received a growth investment from S2G Ventures (“S2G”) and Skyline Global Partners (“Skyline”). This strategic investment will strengthen Exacto’s leadership position and accelerate the introduction of new solutions, including in soil and water management.
Hennepin Partners served as financial advisor and Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath served as legal counsel to Cox Family Holdings in connection with the transaction.
Founded in 1981, Exacto brings over four decades of experience in developing comprehensive, full-season offerings that enhance crop protection, plant health, nutrition, seed treatments, and soil enhancement products. By improving application efficiency and reducing environmental impact, Exacto’s products deliver superior results for customers and growers, boosting crop performance and driving positive economic outcomes.
With its resolute commitment to innovation and intellectual property, combined with its customer-centric full-service approach, Exacto is a trusted partner for leading agrichemical distributors and retailers. Exacto products are used annually on 130 million U.S. acres.
The transaction marks a pivotal moment in Exacto’s growth journey, positioning the company for even greater success as it continues to lead the way in technology-driven advancements. The new partnership will enable Exacto to further build on its strong foundation through scaling its operations and capacity, accelerating product innovation, and enhancing commercial capabilities as well as expanding its footprint in key growth areas.
“Hennepin Partners demonstrated exceptional skill and perseverance throughout this process. Their ability to communicate clearly, negotiate strategically, and guide us through the complexities of the transaction was instrumental in securing a successful outcome,” said Kenny Cox, CEO of Cox Family Holdings. “We really appreciated their leadership and partnership, which has ensured that Cox Family Holdings remains a key stakeholder as Exacto embarks on its next phase of growth,” he continued.
“This is the seventh process I have been involved with Hennepin Partners both on the sell and buy side. No one works harder to create real value in the agricultural space than the Hennepin team. They created strong global industry interest in Exacto and a platform premium for the company,” said Kip Pendleton, Board Member of Cox Family Holdings.
“Our perspective is that Exacto’s management team has built a remarkable business with a strong IP strategy and market leadership in the private label sector,” said Sanjeev Krishnan, Managing Partner at S2G. “With the support of S2G’s value creation capabilities, we believe Exacto is poised to strengthen its position as an industry leader and continue to innovate at the forefront of the sector. We look forward to supporting the management team and existing shareholders as they lead Exacto into its next phase of growth.”
“At S2G, we see tremendous potential in Exacto’s ability to scale,” said Cristina Rohr, managing director at S2G. “Our focus will be on activating key growth levers, including geographic expansion and strategic investments in IP, to enhance Exacto’s capacity to consistently deliver outstanding value to its customers.”