Vestar Capital Partners is to acquire Woodstream, a manufacturer and marketer of branded pest and animal control as well as lawn and garden products, from Brockway Moran and CHS Capital.
Terms of the deal, which is expected to close teh second quarter of 2015, have not been disclosed.
Woodstream, through a broad portfolio of leading niche brands, services the lawn and garden, birding, pet, rodent control, hobby farm and animal control needs of consumers. Woodstream’s brands include Victor mouse and rat traps, Terro liquid ant bait, Perky-pet bird feeders, and Zareba and Fi-Shock electronic animal and hobby farming fencing, among others.
“We have strategically assembled a portfolio of leading brands to better serve our retail partners in important niche, destination categories,” says Harry Whaley, president and chief executive officer of Woodstream. “We are very pleased to have partnered with Brockway Moran & Partners and CHS Capital. Going forward, Vestar’s experience in branded consumer products and track record of supporting its portfolio companies in building companies through add-on acquisitions will be critically important to Woodstream.”
“We look forward to partnering with Harry Whaley and Woodstream’s excellent management team,” says Brian O’Connor, managing director of Vestar and co-head of the Consumer Group. “We believe Woodstream will continue to achieve strong growth by investing in its leading brands, particularly Victor and Terro, and by continuing its strategy of pursuing complementary acquisitions.”
“During our long history with Woodstream, the Company completed 11 strategic add-on acquisitions and expanded significantly in a number of ways,” says Lawrence I Shagrin, a partner at Brockway Moran & Partners. “We have enjoyed our collaboration with Woodstream and are confident that Vestar will be an excellent value-added partner given their significant capabilities.”
The Senior Secured Loan Program (SSLP), jointly managed by affiliates of GE Capital and Ares Capital Corporation, provided commitments for the debt financing for the transaction. Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as the legal advisor to Vestar in this transaction. William Blair & Company, Peter W Klein, PA and Faegre Baker Daniels LLP represented Woodstream in the transaction.
