Western Milling Sold to Agricultural Merchant

A subsidiary of Pinnacle Asset Management-based Viserion International Holdco LLC inked a definitive agreement to purchase California-based agribusiness Western Milling from its current owner Krause Western Inc.

Western Milling is one of the oldest and most prominent suppliers of mixed grain cattle feed products to the dairy industry in California. The firm also operates large-scale fertilizer and grain merchandising businesses with a fleet of natural gas-fueled trucks. Its products include complete feeds, blended vitamin-rich feeds, pelleted feeds, rolled grains, branded pet foods, supplements, and other grain commodities.

“Western Milling has been a well-respected cornerstone of California’s agriculture industry for nearly a century. We are thrilled to acquire this outstanding, multifaceted company whose feed mill and fertilizer operations will complement Viserion International’s existing grain handling and commodity trading offerings,” said Aaron Wiegand, CEO of Viserion International, in a release. “We look forward to working with Western Milling’s seasoned management team and excellent operational personnel, who will strengthen our international agribusiness platform.”

Under the terms of the deal, Viserion Milling LLC will acquire Western Milling’s headquarters in Visalia, CA, and its locations in Hanford and Famoso in California, Hereford, TX, and Buckeye, AZ.

Kevin Kruse, outgoing CEO of Western Milling, will serve as Executive Chairman of Western Milling under the new ownership. The firm’s chief financial officer, Chad Pinter, will become the CEO of Western Milling.

“Viserion International’s domestic growth plans will be significantly amplified by Viserion Milling’s comprehensive portfolio of agribusiness units and established presence in the California dairy market,” Jason A. Kellman, managing partner and chief investment officer at Pinnacle, said in the statement. “Following Viserion International’s recent portfolio acquisition of ten grain elevator facilities from Zen-Noh Corp., we are pleased that the company continues to grow into one of the leading agricultural merchants in the US.”