Firm News: Company Acquisition
Soft Surroundings, a leading direct marketer and specialty retailer of branded apparel, accessories, beauty products and home furnishings, announced that it has sold a majority interest in its company to form a strategic partnership with Brentwood Associates, a leading consumer-focused private equity firm. Soft Surroundings will continue to be actively managed by CEO Tom Wilcher and President Robin Sheldon. In partnership with Brentwood, the team will remain focused on building the unique and compelling lifestyle brand through expanding both the direct (catalog and e-commerce) and retail channels.
Tom Wilcher, CEO of Soft Surroundings, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership and growth prospects for the Company, commenting, “We are proud of what we have achieved to date and are excited to bring on a value-added partner in Brentwood that will help us continue to grow our business.” Robin Sheldon, president and co-founder added, “Brentwood has a clear understanding of the importance of brand in today’s retail world and will be a strong influence in maintaining our unique position.” Grant Williams, co-founder and majority shareholder of Soft Surroundings, added, “Brentwood’s expertise and successful record in the direct-to-consumer and retail sectors will prove to be a huge asset in expanding our brand.”
Founded in 1999 by the current executive team of Robin Sheldon, Tom Wilcher, and Grant Williams, St. Louis-based Soft Surroundings is a unique, multichannel lifestyle brand, offering proprietary apparel, beauty and home solutions to today’s active woman who has tremendous demands on her time. Tom and Grant were also a part of the group that sold Home Decorators Collection, Inc., a home furnishings catalog and internet retail company, to The Home Depot in 2006.
“Brentwood invests in authentic, differentiated brands led by exceptional management teams, whose focus on accelerating growth can leverage our broad industry and business expertise,” said Eric Reiter, partner with Brentwood Associates. “Soft Surroundings has carved out a unique niche within the women’s apparel market, targeting an underserved consumer and bringing her special products and a unique customer experience.”
In addition to growing its highly successful catalog and e-commerce business, Soft Surroundings is expanding its retail store network, with recent store openings in Kansas City, MO and Denver, CO. The Company is also planning new store openings in leading malls and lifestyle centers in Boston, MA, San Antonio, TX and Houston, TX by the end of 2012.
“Soft Surroundings is a stellar example of spot-on product mix with truly pleasing customer service, all delivered by a strong and enthusiastic management team – a winning formula for a successful growth strategy,” said Roger Goddu, partner with Brentwood Associates.
Soft Surroundings is the tenth acquisition by Brentwood Associates’ latest fund, Brentwood Associates Private Equity IV, L.P. This follows Brentwood’s recent successful exits of portfolio companies Array Marketing Group, Filson Holdings, and Ariat International. The acquisition is being partially funded through senior debt. OneWest Bank, FSB is acting as administrative agent for the senior credit facility. Brentwood was represented by Greenberg Traurig LLP in conjunction with the transaction. Soft Surroundings was advised by Financo, Inc. AEGIS Professional Services acted as legal counsel to Soft Surroundings.
Soft Surroundings
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, Soft Surroundings is a leading multi-channel marketer and aspirational lifestyle brand offering unique solutions to today’s active woman who has tremendous demands on her time and craves interludes of comfort, romance, and relaxation in her life. The company’s product offering consists of soft, unique and easy-to-wear clothing, well-priced luxury bedding, home furnishings and state-of-the-art beauty and fragrance products. Soft Surroundings operates a mail order catalog, an e-commerce website (www.softsurroundings.com), and retail stores.
Brentwood Associates
Brentwood Associates is a leading consumer-focused private equity investment firm with over $650 million of capital under management and a thirty-year history of investing in leading middle-market growth companies. Brentwood focuses on investments in growing businesses where it is able to leverage its extensive experience in areas such as: branded consumer products; consumer services; direct marketing, including direct mail and e-commerce; education; health and wellness; restaurants; and specialty retail. Since 1984, Brentwood’s dedicated private equity team has invested in 41 portfolio companies with an aggregate transaction value of over $5 billion. With significant experience in both investing and brand building, Brentwood is a value-added partner with entrepreneurs and executives building world-class companies. For more information about Brentwood, please visitwww.brentwood.com.