Houlihan Lokey Advises AURELIUS

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that funds advised by AURELIUS have agreed to acquire Hain International, the U.K. and European business of The Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ:HAIN). The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

AURELIUS is a global private equity investor, distinguished and widely recognised for its operational approach. Its key investment platforms include AURELIUS Opportunities V, AURELIUS European Opportunities IV, AUR Portfolio III, and AURELIUS Growth. AURELIUS today employs more than 400 professionals in 10 offices spanning Europe, North America, and Asia. AURELIUS is a renowned specialist for complex investments with operational improvement potential, such as carve-outs, platform build-ups, or succession solutions.

Hain International is a leading European platform in the healthy and better-for-you food and beverage categories, comprising an exceptional portfolio of market-leading brands and scaled private-label capabilities. The business operates across six core categories: baby and kids (Ella’s Kitchen), spreads and jellies (Hartley’s, Sun-Pat, Robertson’s, Frank Cooper’s, and Rose’s), soups (New Covent Garden Soup Co., Yorkshire Provender, and Cully & Sully), non-dairy beverages (Joya, Natumi, and Lima), meat-free (Linda McCartney’s), and desserts. With seven manufacturing facilities across the U.K., Germany, and Austria, Hain International supplies leading grocery retailers, discounters, foodservice operators, and B2B customers across the U.K., Ireland, and Continental Europe. The business employs approximately 1,500 people and generates net sales of c. £490 million.

The proposed acquisition of Hain International represents a landmark corporate carve-out, establishing an independent, agile European food and beverage leader. Hain International will build upon its leading market positions, accelerate differentiated product innovation, expand its scaled private-label partnerships, and optimise operational efficiencies across its pan-European supply chain.

Houlihan Lokey acted as the exclusive financial advisor to AURELIUS. This transaction reinforces Houlihan Lokey’s strong track record in the food and beverage and consumer sectors, following the sales of Berief to Müller, Frias to Refresco, IDAK’s acquisition of Onoré, Katjes’ acquisition of Graze, Vivera’s acquisition of The Vegetarian Butcher, and Paulig’s acquisition of Conimex.

RELATED: Consumer, Food & Beverage, Mergers and Acquisitions