Fresh off of its December 2015 acquisition of Captek Softgel International – a contract manufacturer and distributor of softgels for vitamin, mineral and supplement brands – Swander Pace Capital has acquired Swanson Health Products, an online and catalog marketer of branded and third-party healthy living products.
Swanson carries over 27,000 health and wellness products including vitamins, minerals, supplements, sports nutrition, natural food, and beauty products. The company was founded in 1969 by Leland Swanson and has annual revenues of approximately $300 million and 650 employees. Swanson is headquartered in Fargo, ND with an additional facility in Sparks, NV (www.SwansonVitamins.com).
“Swanson has established itself as the leader in online and catalog marketing of healthy living products,” said Corby Reese, a managing director at Swander Pace Capital. “The company is extremely well-positioned to take advantage of trends in healthy living, natural and organic lifestyles, and a more active, aging population.”
Swander Pace invests in middle-market consumer products companies including branded and non-branded manufacturers, marketers, and distributors that sell through a range of retail and institutional channels. The firm generally targets companies that have up to $400 million in revenues. The firm has raised over $1.3 billion of equity capital through five private equity funds and has led investments in more than 40 consumer products companies. Swander Pace was founded in 1996 and has offices in San Francisco; Bedminster, NJ; and near Toronto in Oakville, ON (www.spcap.com).
Kirkland & Ellis (www.kirkland.com) served as the legal advisor to Swander Pace Capital on the acquisition.
© 2016 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 1-25-16
