Consumer Products Acquisitions in 2016

aden + anais, a portfolio company of Swander Pace Capital, has acquired HALO Innovations, a maker of award‑winning wearable blankets and infant sleep products. The acquisition combines complementary juvenile soft‑goods brands to expand product offerings and distribution across major U.S. and international retailers.

CID Capital, a private equity firm based in Indianapolis, has acquired BigMouth Inc., a Glastonbury, Connecticut–based novelty consumer products company. The deal transfers ownership from BigMouth's shareholders (led by founder Steve Wampold) to CID Capital, which plans to scale the brand through its portfolio resources.

Wilson Sporting Goods Co., a subsidiary of Amer Sports, acquired the EvoShield brand, including products, intellectual property and distribution rights, from EvoShield, LLC. The selective asset acquisition expands Wilson’s baseball and softball product portfolio by adding EvoShield’s protective-gear technology and brand.

Aterian Investment Partners, through an affiliate, has acquired Step2, a branded designer and manufacturer of large-format plastic toys headquartered in Streetsboro, Ohio. The deal combines Step2 with Aterian's existing platform Backyard Discovery to create the largest outdoor toy company in North America and expand market share across playsets, playhouses, ride-ons and home & garden products.

Ranir LLC, a Grand Rapids-based manufacturer of private-label oral care products, has acquired BrushPoint, a Toronto-based maker of store-brand manual and power toothbrushes. The acquisition expands Ranir's product portfolio, manufacturing capabilities and geographic reach across the U.S., Canada and Europe; terms were not disclosed.

Gildan Activewear Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 100% of Peds Legwear Inc. for $55 million in cash. The acquisition adds the Peds and MediPeds brands, a North Carolina manufacturing and distribution facility, and roughly $80 million in annual sales to Gildan’s apparel portfolio, enabling broader distribution and access to the footwear channel.

Clarion Brands, a portfolio company of Swander Pace Capital, has acquired American Lifeline, Inc., the maker of the Florajen probiotic supplement brand. Cleary Gull acted as exclusive financial advisor to American Lifeline; the acquisition adds a leading pharmacist-recommended probiotic brand to Clarion's consumer health portfolio.

Jerdon Style, a portfolio company of Hall Capital, acquired 4Knines, a maker of fabric-based protective liners and vehicle seat covers; earlier in the year Jerdon Style also acquired Telegraph Hill Bathrobes. The transactions expand Jerdon Style’s consumer product offerings into automotive/pet accessories and high-end bathrobes, creating synergies with Hall Capital’s automotive parts distribution assets.

Butler Home Products, a division of Bradshaw International, has acquired Clean Ones Corp., a Portland, Oregon-based household glove company. Clean Ones will retain its name and Portland office and will be marketed as a brand within the Butler portfolio to expand Butler's market share and product offering in gloves across national retail channels.

Lincolnshire Management purchased Phoenix Brands LLC, a Stamford, Connecticut-based maker of laundry detergents (brands including Ajax, Dynamo and Fab), from Trilantic Capital Partners for about $145 million in late 2010. The deal included Phoenix’s brands, manufacturing and logistics assets; Phoenix had roughly $130 million in revenue and product distribution in about 40 countries at the time.

Denver-based Classic Brands LLC has acquired Hiatt Mfg. Corporation of Winona, Minnesota, expanding Classic Brands' product portfolio and distribution reach. The deal adds the Stokes Select bird-feeder brand and broadens the combined company's presence across the lawn & garden, hardware and pet retail channels.

Pacific Market International (PMI) has agreed to acquire Formation Brands, LLC in a deal executed with investment partners Joshua Green Corporation and Endeavour Capital. The acquisition expands PMI's housewares and private-label capabilities, diversifying its product line and customer base by adding Formation's experience in beverage and specialty gift housewares.