Clayton, Dubilier & Rice to Acquire Leading North American Personal Care Products Platform

NEW YORK, May 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Clayton, Dubilier & Rice announced an agreement today under which CD&R-managed funds will acquire High Ridge Brands, the largest North American consolidation platform focused on acquiring orphaned personal care brands, from Brynwood Partners. The transaction is valued at approximately $415 million. Additional terms were not disclosed.

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.

About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice

Founded in 1978, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private investment firm with an investment strategy predicated on producing financial returns through building stronger, more profitable businesses. Since inception, CD&R has managed the investment of $21 billion in 66 companies, representing a broad range of industries with an aggregate transaction value of approximately $100 billion. The Firm has offices in New York and London. For more information, visit www.cdr-inc.com.

About High Ridge Brands

Headquartered in Stamford, CT, High Ridge Brands provides families with high quality personal care products at a great value. High Ridge Brands' portfolio of brands includes Zest, Coast, Alberto VO5, Rave, White Rain, Salon Grafix, Thicker Fuller Hair, Zero Frizz and LA Looks.  For more information, please visit www.highridgebrands.com.

SOURCE Clayton, Dubilier & Rice