Harvest Partners

Natural Products Group

• Business

  Natural Products Group, LLC (“NPG”) was the parent of Arbonne International, LLC (“Arbonne”) and Levlad, LLC (“Levlad”). Arbonne was a leading direct marketer of personal care products including skin and anti-aging creams, bath and body washes and nutritional products. Arbonne marketed these products through a growing, multi-level marketing network of over one million independent consultants in North America, Australia and the United Kingdom. Levlad was a leading manufacturer and marketer of natural and organic personal care products for its branded products business, Nature’s Gate, and for a growing base of private label customers, including Arbonne.

• Situation

  In 2002, Harvest targeted the healthy living and natural products industries as areas of focus and evaluated numerous opportunities. In mid-2003, NPG hired a boutique mergers and acquisitions firm to conduct a sale process. The sale process was a challenge because NPG was a family-owned business with sub-scale management, weak systems and controls and no obvious strategic buyer. In late 2003, through networking at a conference, Harvest learned of a consultant with specific insight into the company. Harvest differentiated itself by lining up key executives in advance of closing.

• Harvest Partners Investment

  In November 2004, Harvest purchased NPG. To fund the acquisition Harvest arranged the debt financing, which included a senior credit facility and a mezzanine note. In addition, Harvest arranged equity co-investment capital for the transaction.

• Investment Thesis

  • Market leader
  • Attractive business model
  • Arbonne consultant base generates sustainable revenues and profit growth
  • Favorable industry dynamics
  • Geographic expansion potential

• Value Creation

  • Introduced new products
  • Developed infrastructure to sustain growth and profitability
  • Upgraded business systems
  • Broadened and Strengthened Management Team

• Outcome

  • Completed three dividend recapitalizations in August 2005, January 2006, and June 2006 and exited in 2010