Chicago – Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC (“CHS”) today announced the sale of Otis Spunkmeyer, Inc. (“Otis Spunkmeyer”), a portfolio investment of Code Hennessy & Simmons IV LP to IAWS Group, plc, an Ireland-based, international food company.

Otis Spunkmeyer is a leading North American manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded frozen sweet baked goods with the #1 market share in frozen cookie dough in the foodservice channel since 1996 and the #2 market share in foodservice muffins. Through broadline distribution and its own unique, nationwide direct-store-deliver distribution system, Otis Spunkmeyer sells high-quality products primarily under the Otis Spunkmeyer brand to approximately 62,000 customers in the foodservice and retail channels.

CHS worked closely with Otis Spunkmeyer’s management team to extend the company’s outstanding history of revenue and profitability growth. Since completing its majority equity investment in Otis Spunkmeyer in August 2002, the company’s EBITDA increased 56%. In an industry characterized by consistent, low single digit annual growth, Otis Spunkmeyer outperformed its peer group by offering high quality products, a flexible, low-cost supply chain and exceptional brand awareness. Otis Spunkmeyer maintains long-term relationships with all major, broadline foodservice distributors and many leading foodservice operators and has received numerous customer recognition awards including “Vendor of the Year” from Subway, one the nation’s fastest growing restaurant chains.

“We had an outstanding partnership with CHS,” said John Schiavo, Otis Spunkmeyer’s CEO. “CHS helped us make the right strategic choices. During this period, we recruited outstanding management talent, expanded our penetration of the retail channel, secured and extended long-term contracts with leading foodservice operators, modified portions of our distribution system and completed our first acquisition. As the company executed these initiatives, I was grateful for CHS’ thoughtful counsel and consistent support.”

Steve Brown, Partner at CHS, said, “It has been our privilege to work with John Schiavo and the executive management team at Otis Spunkmeyer. The team consistently showed vision, integrity and exceptional commitment to customers and employees. I look forward to watching Otis Spunkmeyer’s continued success.”

CHS is a Chicago-based private equity firm specializing in private equity investments and recapitalizations of middle market companies in partnership with management. CHS has formed five private equity funds and currently manages over $2.5 billion of capital.

For more information on Otis Spunkmeyer, please visit the company’s website at www.otisspunkmeyer.com.