Clearlake Capital Group to Acquire WellPet
Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., with certain affiliates today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Wellness Pet Food Holdings Company, Inc. (WellPet) (www.wellpet.com) from affiliates of Berwind Corporation. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
For more than 100 years, WellPet has been a pioneer in the natural pet food movement by offering nutritional recipes with the highest quality ingredients for dogs and cats. Headquartered in Tewksbury, MA, WellPet is a top global supplier of premium pet food and treats with brands including Wellness, Old Mother Hubbard, WHIMZEES, Eagle Pack, Holistic Select and Sojos.
Powered by its dedication to provide the very best natural food and treats for happier, healthier pets, WellPet has become a leader in the high growth premium-focused category. The Company is uniquely positioned as the largest independent North America-based pet food manufacturer, producing proprietary and exclusive formulations at its three state-of-the-art facilities in Indiana, Minnesota and the Netherlands, supported by a supply chain spanning more than 1.2 million distribution points across the globe. WellPet is led by CEO Camelle Kent-Rizkalla, who will be remaining with the Company and a team of 400+ employees with deep experience in the pet food category.
“We are thrilled to partner with WellPet during such a pivotal time in the premium pet food and treats category,” said José E. Feliciano, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Clearlake. “We believe the current market tailwinds, enduring increase in pet ownership, and pet humanization dynamics offer a unique opportunity to meaningfully invest behind the Company and accelerate WellPet’s near- and long-term growth objectives to serve pet parents in the best possible ways. We are eager to support the WellPet management team and bring together all of Clearlake’s available resources to drive value creation, accelerate organic growth and create a consolidation platform for the category.”
“Today marks an important new chapter in WellPet’s history as we look to advance our mission of delivering nutritional excellence for the growing number of pet parents around the world,” said Kent-Rizkalla. “Clearlake’s operational insights and deep experience in the consumer sector will accelerate our momentum in premium pet food and treat products and support our unwavering commitment to nutritional innovation, product quality for our partner retailers and pet owners and the wellbeing of the pets that depend on our products.”
“We are excited to leverage our extensive experience investing in consumer brands, emerging food platforms and health and wellness trends to the pet food and treats ecosystem,” said Arta Tabaee, Managing Director, Clearlake. “We believe deploying our deep bench of operating partners and our O.P.S. value creation framework can drive accelerated growth at WellPet through best-in-class innovation, enhanced brand investment and careful attention to the Company’s customers and retail partners.”
The Company was advised by Centerview Partners and Clearlake was advised by Goldman Sachs & Co.