Milling & Baking News - December 28, 2010 - 14

Business 

Ag Growth expands in grain
handling with Tramco acquisition
WINNIPEG, MAN. - Ag Growth International Inc. has acquired 100% of
the outstanding shares of Tramco Inc., a
manufacturer of heavy duty chain conveyors and related handling products
that are sold primarily into the grain and
oilseed processing sectors. The purchase
price of $21.3 million plus closing costs
and a working capital adjustment will be
financed from Ag Growth's cash on hand
and represents a valuation of approximately five times Tramco's normalized
EBITDA over their last two fiscal years.
Tramco was established in 1967 and is
located in Wichita, Kas., with an overseas
manufacturing facility in Hull, England,
and a sales office in The Netherlands.

Tramco is active in both the domestic
and international grain processing sectors with average sales over the last two
fiscal years of approximately $30 million.
Tramco's international footprint is augmented with a strategic alliance in China
and sales efforts in other major processing markets such as South America. To
date, Tramco has sold conveyors into
more than 50 foreign countries.
"We are very excited to join forces with
this market leader in the grain processing
segment," said Gary Anderson, chief executive officer of Ag Growth. "Tramco is
an industry leader with a premier brand
name and strong market share and as
such provides an excellent entry point

General Mills to purchase Pasta Master in Australia
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - General
Mills, Inc. has agreed to acquire Bendigo,
Victoria-based Pasta Master, a producer
of chilled Italian meals, pasta and sauces.
The sale, which includes the business
and a production facility in Bendigo, is

People

expected to be completed in March 2011.
General Mills said approximately 75
people working at the facility will become part of General Mills when the sale
is completed next year.
"The acquisition of Pasta Master

into the next important segment of the
chain, the grain processing sector. The
processing industry is an integral part of
the food supply chain and is a compelling direction for Ag Growth to continue
to build its leadership in grain handling
equipment."
Ag Growth makes portable and stationary grain handling, storage and conditioning equipment, including augers, belt
conveyors, chain conveyors, grain storage
bins, grain handling accessories, grain
aeration equipment and grain drying systems. Ag Growth has 10 manufacturing
facilities in Canada, the United States and
Finland, and its sales, marketing, and distribution system distributes product in 48
states, nine provinces and internationally.
Tramco has more than 150 employees and its products are in more than 55
countries around the world. MBN
strategically broadens our ready-to-cook
pasta offerings to consumers," said Markus
Muehleisen, managing director of General
Mills Australia. "Its long history of innovation and quality in Italian meals fit well with
our Latina portfolio, which is Australia's No.
1 brand of fresh pasta and sauces." MBN



Barney Saunders, retired Cargill
executive, dies at age 87
MINNEAPOLIS - Walter B. (Barney)
Saunders, a longtime executive at Cargill,
died Dec. 9 at the home. He was 87.
Mr. Saunders spent his entire 41-year
career at Cargill, holding a range of positions. He was vice-chairman of the company at the time of his retirement. He
served on the board of directors of Cargill
as well as the Chicago Board of Trade.
A 1944 graduate of Harvard College,
Mr. Saunders served in the U.S. Army,

spending three years on the European
front. He was discharged as Captain Field
Artillery.
Active in community affairs, he was
a trustee of the Nature Conservancy,
Minnesota chapter; Courage Center;
MacPhail Center for Music; and Hamline
University where he was chairman of the
board for two years. At Hamline he also
received the Edgar M. Carlson Award
in 1998. He was co-founder of the Love

Brian Plattner of Wenger to adjunct post at K.S.U.
SABETHA, KAS. - Brian Plattner, process engineering manager at Wenger
Manufacturing, Inc., has been named
adjunct instructor in the Department of
Grain Science and Industry at Kansas
State University in Manhattan.
"Brian has already become a regular guest lecturer for the extrusion class,
which I've been teaching as part of the curriculum since 2002," said Sajid Alavi, associate professor in the K.S.U. department.
"Plus, he has been an instructor in the
14 / December 28, 2010 Milling & Baking News

Extrusion Processing: Technology and
Commercialization short courses held here
in Manhattan and in India since 2005."
Mr. Plattner graduated from K.S.U. in
1997 with a bachelor's degree in biological
and agricultural engineering. He later received a professional engineering license
in 2003, and in his current position at
Wenger he is responsible for process specification. He also is involved in researching
new innovations for Wenger's line of extrusion and drying equipment. MBN

Lake Association, Danbury, Wis., with his
cousin, James T. McMillan.
Mr. Saunders was predeceased by his
first wife of 48 years, Lois Duxbury; his
twin, Arthur William; and his sisters,
Phebe Haugen and Sallie Wright. Survivors include Patricia Bratnober, his wife of
11 years; his children Sallie March (John);
Arthur William (Roberta); John (Mary);
Susan Zoidis (Greg); stepchildren Philip
Bratnober, Jane Ransom (John); and Sarah
Bratnober; and several grandchildren and
great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Dec. 17 at St.
Paul's Episcopal Church in Minneapolis. MBN

Edward Silk joins
Van de Vries Spice
EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. - Edward
L. Silk has joined Van de Vries Spice
Corp. as vice-president of business development. Mr. Silk most recently was
vice-president of sales and marketing
at Quality Ingredients Corp. for nearly
15 years. Earlier, he held various industrial ingredient sales and marketing positions in the food industry. MBN

bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

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Milling & Baking News - December 28, 2010

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