H.I.G. WhiteHorse, the credit affiliate of H.I.G. Capital, has arranged a €120 million financing package for Nasta Pet Food, a France-based, family-owned international group specializing in ultra-premium pet nutrition.
The financing supports Nasta’s acquisition of FirstMate Pet Foods, a premium pet food manufacturer based in British Columbia, Canada, and the continued execution of the Group’s North American development strategy. Following the transaction, the combined business will operate an integrated industrial platform across Europe and North America, with consolidated annual production capacity of approximately 45,000 tons of dry pet food and 4,000 tons of wet pet food. The Group serves more than 400,000 pet-owning households globally and is targeting approximately €200 million in consolidated revenues in 2026.
Founded in 2016, Nasta develops and markets a portfolio of ultra-premium pet nutrition brands, including Bab’in, Forza10, Natural Code, and FirstMate Pet Foods. The company combines integrated production capabilities in France and Italy with international distribution across more than 30 markets, pursuing a strategy that blends organic growth with targeted acquisitions.
H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe said the transaction underscores its ability to provide flexible and scalable capital solutions to sponsor-less businesses pursuing cross-border acquisitions. H.I.G. Capital manages $74 billion in capital and invests across debt and equity strategies globally.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our partnership with H.I.G. WhiteHorse marks the beginning of a new chapter of growth and maturity for Nasta. The support and trust of this world-class institution highlight the credibility of our project, of our teams, and of our brands’ heritage. As we are engaging in this growth path, we are very pleased with the opportunity to partner with the H.I.G. teams to shape the future of our Group.”
Geoffroy Lefebvre, Chief Executive Officer of Nasta Pet Food
“We are delighted to support Nasta with a financing solution tailored to its strategic ambitions. This transaction highlights H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe’s ability to deliver flexible, scalable capital to help sponsor-less businesses execute transformative cross-border acquisitions.”
Pascal Meysson, Head of H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe
“We are pleased to support Nasta in this important new phase of its development. Nasta is an amazing business: it has a strong positioning in the attractive and resilient ultra-premium pet nutrition segment, integrated industrial capabilities, a compelling international growth strategy, a high-caliber management team, and highly experienced shareholders. The acquisition of FirstMate Pet Foods marks a key milestone in the Group’s expansion and significantly strengthens its footprint in the strategic North American market.”
Charles Bourgeois, Managing Director at H.I.G. WhiteHorse Europe
