11.01.04
On October 11th, Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL, entered into an agreement to acquire EAS, Golden, CO. Under the terms of the agreement, Abbott will purchase EAS for approximately $320 million in a cash–for–stock transaction. EAS was founded in 1990 and sold to North Castle Partners, San Francisco, CA—a private equity firm specializing in nutrition and healthy living—in 1999. According to Abbott, the acquisition of EAS complements its long-standing presence in general and specialized nutrition products for infants, children and adults—housed in its Columbus, OH-based Ross Products Division. Abbott acquired ZonePerfect Nutrition Co. in 2003, and the company has been moving to meet growing consumer demand for healthy snacks and meal replacements for people on the go.
