VMG Partners – an investor in branded consumer products companies in the lower middle market – has closed VMG Partners III, LP with $500 million of committed capital. VMG’s investors include college endowments, charitable foundations, international investors and corporate pension plans. VMG closed its prior fund, VMG Partners II, LP, in 2011 with $382 million of committed capital.
VMG Partners targets companies that are active in the food, beverage, wellness, pet products, personal care and household products sectors. The firm has offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles (www.vmgpartners.com).
“VMG Partners has built its track record partnering with entrepreneurs to build leading consumer products companies. With the completion of our third fund we are now very well positioned to continue working with these creative and visionary entrepreneurs,” said Michael Mauzé, Managing Director of VMG.
In addition to closing its third fund, VMG has been active in 2015 with the recently announced sale of Vega, a maker of plant-based nutrition products (primarily powdered shakes and snack bars) to White Wave (NYSE:WWAV) for approximately $550 million in cash, and the completion of three investments in the better for you food and wellness sectors. VMG recently made investments in Health Warrior, a maker of plant-based superfood snacks; Perfect Bar, a maker of nut butter based nutrition bars, and; Vermont Smoke and Cure, a manufacturer and marketer of antibiotic and nitrate free, humanely raised beef, pork and turkey meat sticks, bacon, summer sausages, smoked pepperoni and ham.
“VMG is well situated to support brands as small as $5 million and as large as $500 million in sales. We provide access to a unique tool box of value-add resources and strategic capital to organizations and brands in our core consumer segments regardless of size or stage,” said Kara Cissell-Roell, Managing Director of VMG. “Our team has a proven track record of helping entrepreneurs and management teams in critical areas of sales, marketing, field activation, operations, finance and legal strategy utilizing our VMG Toolbox on a customized basis. We will continue to work collaboratively with management teams to accelerate growth, drive brand awareness and create exceptional strategic value for all stakeholders.”
“Our latest investments exemplify the core areas of our expertise,” said Dave Baram, Managing Director of VMG. “Our efforts are focused on helping the entrepreneurs who built these companies expand their consumer base and reach their full potential by employing sound and consistent investment strategies that have delivered above average returns for our investors and partner brand stakeholders over the past 10 years.”
Park Hill Group (www.parkhillgroup.com) served as the placement agent for VMG Partners and legal advice was provided by Latham & Watkins (www.lw.com).
© 2015 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 7-16-15
