Acosta’s lead investor sells to Carlyle Group

Acosta Sales & Marketing, an in-store merchandising and marketing agency in the consumer goods industry, is being acquired by The Carlyle Group, according to a company release.


The deal is worth an estimated $5 billion, including debt. The sale is expected to close in the next quarter.


Carlyle will purchase the full ownership stake from investor Thomas H. Lee Partners. Following the investment, Acosta senior management will continue to lead the company.

Acosta's management team will continue to have significant ownership of the company.

Founded in 1927, Acosta offers marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food-related consumer packaged goods. It is projected to have fiscal 2014 revenues of about $1.85 billion, according to Moody’s Investors Service Inc.


Thomas H. Lee acquired the Jacksonville, Florida-based company in 2011 for more than $2 billion from private equity firm AEA Investors LP.


Acosta is a third-party service provider for Wal-Mart Stores and operates an office in Bentonville.