Capstone Partners LLC,an award-winning investment banking firm, announced that it has successfully advised Seventh Generation, Inc. (SVG), a subsidiary of Unilever, on the divestiture of its bobble brand to O2COOL, a portfolio holding of LKCM Headwater Investments. According to Ted Polk, Managing Director at Capstone, “It was a pleasure to work with the SVG team and to represent such a unique brand. With its patented bottle design and filtration features, bobble has clearly differentiated its product offering within an attractive market space.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Established in 2009, bobble® is an innovator in the rapidly growing reusable, on-the-go drinkware industry, offering a high-quality, high-design lineup of hydration, filtration, and coffee/tea products. With its mission to reduce the outrageous waste of single-serve, disposable beverages and beverage systems, bobble® is a category leader in providing consumers stylish, sustainable alternatives they actually want to carry all day long. The brand’s original reusable bottle design blends style and function, with the ability to filter water while you drink. bobble® also boasts a patented, distinct and recognizable bottle shape. Today, bobble® has over 20 SKUs in five main product categories including bobble Insulate™, bobble Infuse™, bobble Classic and bobble Sport, and its ‘brew on-the-go’ coffee/tea Presse™ by bobble.
SVG, a leading provider of environmentally-friendly household and personal care products acquired bobble® in 2013 as part of its sustainability initiatives and subsequently made substantial investments in its product design, brand positioning and marketing. In 2016, Unilever looked to bolster its natural and organic product portfolio and acquired SVG. Capstone was then retained to help divest bobble®, a business with significant brand appeal and strong long term growth prospects. On behalf of SVG, Joe Bowman of SVG Ventures noted that “We are excited that bobble® has found an attractive home at O2COOL and wish the new owners much success with the brand.”
Founded in 1992, O2COOL is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of creative consumer products. The company specializes in patent-protected cooling, hydration, and patio, pool and beach solutions that appeal to active consumers and pet owners. O2COOL’s innovative, multi-functional and Cool by Design™ products include an extensive list of handheld misting fans, battery-operated and rechargeable fans, and drinking and misting bottles. The 25-year-old company has significant retail placement and deep sales relationships across multiple market channels, including sporting goods, mass, specialty, grocery, drug, hardware/do-it-yourself, healthcare, ecommerce, theme park, and more. In March 2017, O2COOL partnered with LKCM Headwater Investments to launch growth initiatives, particularly add-on acquisitions, aimed at providing more innovative products for its customers and expanding the end-market segments which it serves.
Capstone Partners LLC is an award-winning investment banking firm dedicated to serving the corporate finance needs of middle market business owners, investors and creditors. Over the past 15 years, Capstone has earned a reputation as one of the most innovative firms in the industry, offering corporate sale & divestiture, merger & acquisition, private placement, corporate restructuring, valuation and financial advisory services. The firm maintains seven industry practices, including: Business Services, Consumer Products, Education & Training, Government Services, Health & Medical, Manufacturing & Industrial, and Technology & Telecom. Headquartered in Boston, Capstone has offices in Chicago, London, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, Silicon Valley and Tampa with an international presence that spans 450+ professionals in 70 offices across 31 countries. For more information, please visit www.capstonellc.com.
