Gryphon Investors, a leading private equity firm focused on profitably growing and competitively enhancing middle-market companies in partnership with experienced management, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Metagenics, a leading global practitioner-recommended nutritional supplement company, from Alticor.
In partnership with Metagenics' leadership team, including CEO Brent Eck, Gryphon will continue to invest in Metagenics' global mission of providing effective nutritional solutions recommended by healthcare professionals to help people live happier, healthier lives. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2021.
"Metagenics has a unique position as a leader among nutrition brands recommended by healthcare practitioners across its three core geographic markets,” said Gryphon Operating Partner, Mike Ferry. "We are excited to invest behind the Metagenics mission, including helping their healthcare practitioner partners to support the health of their patients around the world."
Founded in 1983 and based in Aliso Viejo, CA with facilities in North America, Europe, and Australia, Metagenics creates clinically proven and transparent nutrition programmes and products to support good health. It is more than 850 natural health products span seven functional areas, including digestive health, foundational health, cardiometabolic/immune response, neurological health, immune health, women's health and bariatric health. For over 35 years, Metagenics has partnered with healthcare practitioners who recommend its nutritional products to support their patients' health with measurable results.
"We're happy to partner with a company that operates at the gold standard of scientific credibility, quality, innovation, and sourcing transparency. Both healthcare practitioners and their patients are increasingly focused on making proactive healthy lifestyle choices, and nutrition is a necessary part of that effort,” said Ryan Fagan, Managing Director in Gryphon's Consumer Group. “Gryphon has been searching for the right platform to invest behind this movement for several years and we will continue to actively search for similar opportunities - potential acquisitions for Metagenics as well as incremental independent platforms in the health and wellness category."
Metagenics' management team will continue to be led by CEO Brent Eck. As part of the transaction, Gryphon Executive Advisor Steve LaMonte will become Executive Chairman of the Metagenics Board. This will be the fourth investment on which Gryphon and Mr LaMonte have partnered. He will be one of several Gryphon executive advisors to join the board along with Gryphon Operating Partner Mike Ferry, Gryphon Deal Partner Matt Farron, and Gryphon Managing Director Ryan Fagan. The transaction marks Gryphon's third investment in consumer health products and first investment in the nutritional health category.
"We are delighted to partner with the team at Gryphon as we plan for long-term sustainable growth for the Metagenics brand around the world,” added Mr Eck. “Gryphon brings a truly differentiated set of capabilities as a partner, and their investment will allow us to invest for the future, both organically and through strategic acquisitions."