Bain Capital’s Sankaty Advisors invests in matzo maker Manischewitz

Sankaty Advisors, an investment arm of private equity firm Bain Capital, has made an undisclosed investment in Manischewitz. Based in Newark, NJ, Manischewitz is a producer of matzos and kosher food products.

PRESS RELEASE

Newark, N.J. — April 8, 2014 — Manischewitz, the nation’s largest manufacturer of premium kosher foods, today announced that it has secured a strategic investment from Sankaty Advisors, the independently-managed credit affiliate of Bain Capital, LLC and one of the world’s leading private managers of fixed income and credit instruments. Terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.
Headquartered in Newark, N.J., Manischewitz is the number one baker of matzo in the world and produces hundreds of other kosher foods including baked goods, pastas, soups, gefilte fish, sardines and borscht under Manischewitz, Rokeach, Mishpacha, Season, Guiltless Gourmet and other brands. Its products are sold through major grocery chains and specialty food distributors in the United States, Canada and other locations around the world.
“This transaction will allow Manischewitz to continue its storied tradition of producing the highest quality kosher products, which have delighted consumers the world over for more than 125 years. It will also enable the company to maintain its position as the world’s most iconic purveyor of kosher food,” said Yaakov Horowitz of the Orthodox Union, Head Rabbi at Manischewitz. “The Manischewitz group of brands are a large part of the social fabric of the global Jewish and kosher community, and they continue to represent the innovation and spirit of the company’s founder Rabbi Dov Behr Manischewitz.” Mark Weinsten will lead the company as Chief Executive Officer.
“This investment reflects our confidence in the Manischewitz brands and team,” said Sankaty Advisors in a statement. “Manischewitz has earned a position as one of the most highly recognized brands in the world, and it has distinguished itself through a passionate commitment to producing the highest quality kosher products possible. We believe Manischewitz is well positioned to grow due to rising mainstream interest in kosher foods.”
About Manischewitz
Manischewitz is the world’s largest matzo manufacturer and one of America’s largest kosher brands. Founded in 1888, the Company is one of the oldest and most well recognized food brands across the globe. From its Newark, NJ headquarters, the company sells hundreds of kosher foods including matzo, other baked goods, pastas, soups, gefilte fish, and sardines under the Manischewitz, Rokeach, Mishpacha, Season, Guiltless Gourmet and other brands. Its products are sold through major grocery chains and specialty food distributors in the United States, Canada and throughout the world. All Manischewitz products are certified kosher by the Orthodox Union. www.manischewitz.com
About Sankaty Advisors, LLC
Sankaty Advisors is the independently-managed credit affiliate of Bain Capital, LLC and one of the world’s leading private managers of fixed income and credit instruments. Founded in 1998 and now managing more than $22 billion of assets, Sankaty has an integrated team of 200 people that enables the firm to invest up and down the capital structure, and to conduct rigorous, independent analysis of thousands of corporate issuers. Sankaty invests in a wide variety of securities and investments globally, including leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, distressed and stressed debt, mezzanine debt, structured products and equities. An employee-owned private partnership, the firm has offices in Boston, New York, Chicago, London, Luxembourg and Melbourne. For more information, please visit www.sankaty.com.