Turnspire Capital Partners Acquires LifeLine Foods and ICM Biofuels, Forming The LifeLine Group

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Turnspire Capital Partners LLC (“Turnspire”) announced today that an affiliate has acquired LifeLine Foods LLC and ICM Biofuels LLC. The operations will be combined under The LifeLine Group (“LifeLine”), with the food business continuing to operate as LifeLine Foods, and the biofuels business being rebranded as LifeLine Biofuels. Turnspire’s partner in the formation of LifeLine is AgraMarke Quality Grains, Inc. (“AgraMarke”), a Missouri cooperative of corn farmers.

Headquartered in St. Joseph, Missouri, LifeLine’s food business is a leading manufacturer of corn-based products – cornstarch, masa, and other ingredients – serving a diverse array of customers in the food and beverage and building products markets. LifeLine Biofuels leverages a starch stream from the food business to produce renewable fuels and other value-added products with a lower carbon intensity, creating synergies that enhance efficiency and sustainability across the platform.

Turnspire is also pleased to announce that Jeremy Bezdek has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of LifeLine. An accomplished executive across energy and ingredients businesses, Mr. Bezdek spent over 26 years at Koch Industries, where he led the growth of Flint Hills Resources’ biofuels business prior to its acquisition by POET. Mr. Bezdek also served as a Managing Director within Koch’s investment arm.

Turnspire Partner Abel S. Osorio said, “We are thrilled to unify the LifeLine platform under a shared vision for growth. LifeLine operates at the intersection of food and renewable energy, where we see meaningful opportunities to enhance performance, expand capabilities, and build long-term value. We are excited to partner with AgraMarke, which is a vital part of LifeLine’s ecosystem, and Jeremy Bezdek, whose experience makes him the ideal CEO to lead this business.”

Jeremy Bezdek added, “I appreciate the confidence that Turnspire has placed in me and the exceptional LifeLine team. Through the transaction process, I have seen Turnspire’s commitment to operational excellence and disciplined value creation; together we will build on LifeLine’s strong foundation to create a best-in-class platform.”

AgraMarke President Chuck Bebermeyer added, “Having founded LifeLine in 2001, we take great pride in the company’s history and its role in supporting the region’s growers, customers, and communities. We are confident that, in partnership with Turnspire, we will continue to strengthen LifeLine’s legacy of innovation, quality, and growth.”

Chemlink Partners served as financial advisor and Freshfields LLP served as legal counsel to Turnspire in the transaction. Portage Point Partners served as financial advisor to LifeLine Foods and ICM Biofuels.

About The LifeLine Group

The LifeLine Group is a leading U.S. manufacturer of corn-based products that serve the food and beverage, biofuels, and building products industries. Headquartered in St. Joseph, Missouri, LifeLine operates two complementary divisions: LifeLine Foods, which produces food-grade corn ingredients for leading consumer brands, and LifeLine Biofuels, which leverages starch byproducts from the food business to produce renewable fuels and other value-added coproducts with a reduced carbon footprint. Together, the divisions form an integrated platform focused on quality, innovation, and sustainability. For additional information, please visit lifeline-group.com.

About Turnspire Capital Partners

Turnspire Capital Partners invests in high-quality businesses that have reached strategic, financial or operational inflection points and stand to benefit from our hands-on, operationally focused approach. Turnspire’s investment philosophy is predicated on creating value through operational improvements rather than through financial leverage. Turnspire strives to make each of its portfolio companies best-in-class in their respective industry niche, and then to grow the businesses through organic initiatives or strategic acquisitions. For additional information, please visit www.turnspirecap.com.

About AgraMarke Quality Grains

AgraMarke Quality Grains is a Missouri cooperative of over 600 progressive farmers who deliver corn daily to The LifeLine Group for further processing into food ingredients, ethanol, and related coproducts. AgraMarke founded LifeLine in 2001 and its members serve as value-added partners to the business.