NEW YORK, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C. and Activated Holdings LLC are pleased to announce the signing of a definitive agreement with Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to acquire the worldwide business of Shaklee, one of the leading network marketing companies in the world. Shaklee is a leading manufacturer and distributor of nutrition, personal care and household products operating in Japan, the U.S., Mexico, Malaysia and Canada.
"After 30 years, the worldwide opportunity for Shaklee will finally be reunited under one ownership structure," said Roger Barnett, Managing Partner of Activated Holdings LLC. "Shaklee has a wonderful history of developing the best nutrition, personal care and household products while also creating terrific opportunities for its distributors, the extended members of the Shaklee family. I think this is a fantastic opportunity for Shaklee and I am both honored and excited to be a part of unifying Shaklee into a global company."
"We are delighted to be joining the Shaklee family. This transaction enables us to become a partner with a company with a 50 year history and a superb product portfolio including 45 patents," said Rob Berner, Managing Director of Ripplewood.
About Shaklee
For nearly 50 years, Shaklee has been a leading provider of premium quality, natural, environmentally friendly nutrition, personal care, and household products. The Shaklee brand is synonymous with high quality and efficacy, representing one of the most well established names in the nutritional supplement and direct selling industries. The company's strong and loyal customer and distributor base has supported the company over the last 47 years. With a robust product portfolio, including 45 patents worldwide, Shaklee operates in Japan, the U.S., Mexico, Malaysia and Canada and has over 700,000 members worldwide.
About Ripplewood
Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C. manages approximately $10 billion of capital, focusing primarily on investments in the U.S. and Japan. Ripplewood's U.S. portfolio holdings include Asbury Automotive; WRC Media, Inc. and Direct Holdings Worldwide, the parent company to Lillian Vernon Corporation and Time Life, Inc. The portfolio companies in its Japan-focused fund include Japan Telecom Co., Ltd., the Phoenix Seagaia golf resort, recording label Columbia Music Entertainment, auto-components manufacturer Niles Co., Ltd. and electronics component manufacturer D&M Holdings Inc. In 1999, a Ripplewood-led consortium purchased Shinsei Bank Ltd. (formerly the Long Term Credit Bank of Japan, Ltd.) whose stock successfully commenced trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in February of this year.
About Activated
Activated Holdings LLC is an investment vehicle of a private family holding company controlling over $2 billion in assets. Activated principals have experience managing businesses in international global consumer marketing and the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, direct marketing and direct selling industries.
Contact: Jeffrey Taufield
Kekst and Company
(212) 521-4815
Jeffrey-taufield@kekst.com
Ripplewood Holdings L.L.C.