GE Antares announced today it is administrative agent on a $66 million senior secured credit facility to support the acquisition of Gold Star Foods by Castle Harlan. GE Capital Markets served as joint lead arranger and joint bookrunner on this facility.

Headquartered in Ontario, California, Gold Star Foods is a leading distributor of food to K-12 schools serving over 3,500 schools in over 380 districts. The company has been recognized nationwide by the United States Department of Agriculture and the American School Food Service Association as one of the outstanding food service distributors to school districts.

"GE Antares is a long-term partner to Castle Harlan. Their constructive financing structure and ability to move quickly through every stage of the deal process made them an excellent financing partner," said Bill Pruellage, Co-President of Castle Harlan.

"I'm excited to be financing another successful acquisition by Castle Harlan," said Doug Cannaliato, managing director of GE Antares, "In partnership with management, Castle Harlan will enable Gold Star Foods to continue to grow, and we look forward to helping finance this growth."

Castle Harlan, founded in 1987, invests in controlling interests in the buyout and development of middle market companies worldwide. The Castle Harlan team of 18 investment professionals has completed 54 acquisitions with a total transaction value in excess of $11 billion. Castle Harlan, along with its affiliates, has managed investment funds with equity commitments of over $6 billion. The firm traces its roots to the start of the institutionalized private-equity business in the late 1960s. Since 1999 Castle Harlan has invested in Australia and Southeast Asia with its affiliate CHAMP Private Equity in Sydney and Singapore.