Some of the best known orphan brands in the FMCG space have found a new home. Clayton, Dubilier & Rice will acquire High Ridge Brands for $415 million from Brynwood Partners. Additional terms were not disclosed. High Ridge Brands is billed as the largest North American consolidation platform focused on acquiring orphaned personal care brands.
High Ridge Brands is a portfolio of nine primarily value-oriented consumer brands with wide demographic appeal that compete in the personal cleansing and hair care categories. The Company's core brands, including Zest, Alberto VO5, White Rain, Coast, and Rave, maintain high consumer awareness and brand equities, resulting in strong product presence at leading retailers across the mass, dollar, food, drug and club channels.
"High Ridge Brands is a well-diversified portfolio of longstanding, resilient personal care brands with strong share positions in the personal cleansing and hair care categories," said CD&R Partner Ken Giuriceo. "The business is highly scalable and will serve as a platform through which to further consolidate the highly fragmented personal care products space."
"We are very excited about the future of High Ridge Brands and are delighted to partner with the CD&R team," said James Daniels, CEO of High Ridge Brands. "The Firm's experience with corporate carve-outs, deep consumer products expertise and reputation for operational excellence will be invaluable as we continue to scale."
CD&R Operating Partners John Compton, former president of PepsiCo, and Vindi Banga, former president of Foods, Home and Personal Care at Unilever, will join the High Ridge Brands board of directors upon the close of the transaction, expected in June 2016.
"We look forward to working closely with the High Ridge leadership team as it executes its strategy to accelerate organic growth and continues to pursue accretive add-on acquisitions," said Mr. Compton.
"High Ridge operates in large and stable markets that have proven to be recession resistant," added Mr. Banga. "The consumable, non-discretionary nature of the Company's product portfolio provides highly attractive exposure to the U.S. consumer."
BMO Harris Bank, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., ING Capital LLC, Natixis, Bank of Ireland, Jefferies Finance LLC and Société Générale have committed to provide debt financing for the transaction. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as legal advisor and BMO Capital Markets acted as financial advisor to CD&R. William Blair & Company, LLC served as investment banking advisor and Holland & Knight LLP acted as legal advisor to High Ridge Brands.