Hinckley Allen represented Mercure Capital, a search fund affiliate of its long-time client, Double R Partners, in their acquisition of Pel-Freez, an Arkansas-based producer of human and animal biologicals as well as one of the oldest and largest producers of domestic rabbit meat in the United States.

Pel-Freez generates biological materials for over 1,000 pharmaceutical and biotech customers located in the United States and abroad. A mainstay in northwest Arkansas, the company has operated its food production unit since 1911.

Hinckley Allen assisted Mercure Capital in all facets of the acquisition, providing counsel and guidance on matters related to real estate, tax, employee benefit and pension plan matters, and related regulatory issues. The firm also counseled Mercure Capital in its financing transaction for the acquisition. Throughout the process, Hinckley Allen worked closely with counsel to Pel-Freez to ensure a smooth transition of business operations as Pel-Freez experienced a change of ownership for the first time in decades.

The acquisition represents one of many transactions in which Hinckley Allen represented Double R Partners, a sponsor of search funds, established by Harvard Business School professors Royce Yudkoff and Richard Ruback. Previous acquisitions of Double R Partners include target businesses in the oil testing, building and maintenance, and fire prevention equipment testing industries.