Slade Gorton

Situation

As America’s original seafood family, the Gorton family has a reputation for authenticity, industry leadership, and an unwavering commitment to bringing nutritious, sustainable seafood from around the world to America’s table. The Company has evolved and adapted in recent years, showing resiliency through various market shifts. To propel the Company into its next growth phase, the family sought a buyer who would share the same strategic vision for bringing sustainable seafood to everyone by leveraging the Company’s world-class supply chain with its diverse customer and vendor relationships.

Engagement

G2 has served as a long-term strategic advisor to Slade Gorton for over ten years and supported the Company as the exclusive financial advisor for this sale process. G2 was responsible for running a highly tailored, strategic, and efficient transaction process for the Company.

Outcome

In March 2023, Cooke Seafood USA SG, Inc. (“Cooke”), a Canadian family-owned and managed leader in sustainable aquaculture agreed to acquire the equity interests in Slade Gorton. Kim Gorton, the CEO of Slade Gorton, and Mike Gorton Jr., EVP of Business Development, both fifth-generation family members, will continue to lead the Company. The partnership will unlock a number of opportunities, allowing the combined business to serve its existing customers better, grow with its vendors and share in mutual best-in-class industry expertise.

Kim Gorton shared, “G2 ran an incredibly robust process and supported us through complex market dynamics, ultimately achieving a fantastic outcome for my family. We are thrilled to partner with Glenn Cooke and his remarkably talented team, who share my family’s values, vision, and passion for seafood. G2’s market expertise and outstanding process management were critical to identifying the appropriate partner, navigating a complex and multi-generational transaction, and ultimately to the overall success of the transaction.”

“We are delighted with the outcome for Kim and her family,” said Mike Williams, Managing Director at G2. “This transaction is a prime example of G2’s strategy of partnering with exceptional organizations where the depth of our industry expertise, breadth of network relationships, and transactional expertise come together to maximize value for our client. This partnership between Slade Gorton and Cooke will offer the Company additional expertise and scale to continue executing a shared growth plan. It was an honor to support Kim and her family over the past several years, and we are thrilled to have played a role in their successful outcome.”