October 6, 2014

Castanea Partners Closes Fourth Fund With $600 Million in Commitments

Promotes Steve Berg to Managing Partner

Castanea Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm focused on investing in branded consumer products and services, announced today the closing of the firm’s fourth fund, Castanea Partners Fund IV, L.P. The $600 million fund received commitments from a small group of prominent institutional investors, including endowments, foundations, family offices, and pension funds. As has been the case since the inception of the firm, Castanea’s principals contributed significant capital to the new fund. The firm now has over $1 billion in assets under management.

“We have been privileged over the years to have the support of a wonderful group of limited partners, and we are thrilled as well with the quality and commitment of our investor group in Fund IV. We will continue to focus on investing in great consumer companies and are committed to working hard to justify our investors’ trust in Castanea,” said Robert Smith, Managing Partner and co-Founder of Castanea.

Castanea is also announcing the promotion of Steve Berg to Managing Partner. As a partner, Steve joined Castanea in 2002, and was included in the launch of the firm. Steve has over sixteen years of experience in consumer products and retail brands. Prior to Castanea, Steve was with Bain Capital and Bain & Company.

“Steve has been a valued partner and significant contributor to the development and success of Castanea Partners. He has led a number of the firms’ successful investments and worked closely with management teams to drive value for our limited partners. We are proud to recognize his leadership in the firm and the industry,” said Brian Knez, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Castanea.

Castanea Partners Fund IV seeks to make equity investments of $15 million to $75 million in traditional managed buyouts, sales of private companies, growth equity and acquisition capital raises, and operationally challenged companies.

Consistent with the team’s operating experience and the firm’s overall investment strategy, the new fund will continue to focus its efforts on partnering with small to mid market differentiated consumer brands that have multi-channel direct-to-consumer opportunities for growth.

The fundraising comes on the heels of recent investments made in the prior fund: Aurora Brands, the owner of two iconic American luxury home and lifestyle brands, MacKenzie-Childs and Jay Strongwater; Essentia, a provider of enhanced, high alkaline water; and 4moms, a company that develops and markets branded juvenile products that incorporate robotics in their designs.

Ropes & Gray LLP served as fund counsel, and Harpeth Capital, LLC as fund consultant.

More information about Castanea Partners is available at www.castaneapartners.com.

About Castanea

Castanea is a private equity firm that works in partnership with founders and management teams of innovative passion brands to grow their businesses through a combination of capital investment and operating expertise. We are focused on select consumer verticals including beauty, food and beverage, multi-unit services, and enthusiast lifestyle. We typically invest between $15 to $150 million of equity in minority or majority transactions. Our team of talented operating executives offers critical expertise in key verticals and functional areas, and provides our partner companies with strategic and tactical support. Castanea has more than $1 billion in assets under management and is currently investing from a $735 million fourth fund. For more information about Castanea Partners read our story.

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