JH Partners, LLC ("JH Partners" or "JHP") is a San Francisco-based private equity firm focused on building sustainable, long-term equity value in consumer and marketing-driven growth companies.
JH Partners differentiates itself from traditional private equity groups by the considerable operating experience of its principals, which includes more than 35 years of combined tenure in senior operating roles. JH Partners invests in growth-oriented businesses with sustainable competitive advantages and revenues of $10 to $300 million.
JH Partners' professionals work closely with the management teams of partner companies, providing strategic, operating and financial guidance to facilitate the growth and success of these companies and to provide meaningful returns to investment and management partners. JH Partners' relationships with management are long-term in nature, which enables JHP to provide close collaboration over a range of strategic issues.
The principals of JH Partners have invested, on behalf of themselves and their co-investors, approximately $600 million and are currently investing a $390 million fund raised in 2008. JH Partners' principals consistently commit significant amounts of personal capital to JHP investments and view themselves as co-investors, not money managers.
John Hansen is President of JH Partners, LLC., a position he has held since 2004. Between 1998 and 2004, he was President of Jesse.Hansen & Co, Inc. He combines a background as a private equity investor with 10 years as a general manager in the consumer and retail sector, having built businesses ranging in size from $10 million to $200 million.
Prior to 1998, Mr. Hansen was President and CEO of ThermoLase (AMEX: TLZ), a publicly-held aesthetic laser technology company, previously a division of ThermoElectron Corporation. His operating experience also includes service as President of Bare Escentuals, a premier brand of all-natural cosmetics and skin care products, and VP, Retail of Performance Bicycle Shop, the nation's largest independent retailer and direct marketer of cycling products. Mr. Hansen was previously a principal with General Atlantic, a private investment company, and worked as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department of Morgan Stanley & Co. in New York.
Mr. Hansen serves as Chairman of the boards of directors for Frette, Jurlique and La Perla. He also serves on the boards of directors of NapaStyle, JH Direct and Lussori. Mr. Hansen has previously served on the boards of Bare Escentuals (NASDAQ: BARE), Design Within Reach (NASDAQ: DWRI), Bell Sports, GoSmile, MD Formulations, Performance Bicycle Shop, Six Degrees Records, The Record Bar, ThermoLase, Walter Drake and Wellpet.
Mr. Hansen received an MBA from Harvard Business School, a JD from the University of California (Boalt Hall) and an AB from Harvard College. He is a member and past Chairman of the Northern California Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization, and serves on the Committee on University Resources (COUR) for Harvard University and on the Board of Dean’s Advisors at the Harvard Business School.
Michael John is a partner at the firm. He combines extensive experience building, leading and managing middle-market consumer companies with an active history of investing in privately-held consumer firms and in real estate.
Prior to joining JH Partners, Mr. John was President and CEO of City Graphics, a firm he founded and grew to $31 million in revenues in seven years. His experience also includes service as President and CEO of Pacific Lithograph, where he built the company into the largest commercial lithographer in San Francisco. Mr. John has also built a successful real estate development practice in Idaho where he has developed over $100 million of projects.
Mr. John currently serves as Chairman of the boards of AmeriMark Direct, Barmensen, Chef's, Country Home Products, GoSmile and Ouidad. He also serves on the board of Bell Automotive and served previously on the board of Bare Escentuals (NASDAQ: BARE).
He received a BS from the University of Oregon and also completed the Stanford Executive Management Program. Mr. John is a past member of the Northern California Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization.
Jeff Hansen is a partner at the firm. Mr. Hansen has worked closely with several partner companies over the years, including La Perla, Frette, Chefs, GoSmile, Country Home Products, Jurlique and Kate Somerville. Mr. Hansen is currently working in Italy as CEO of La Perla, and also serves on the boards of La Perla, Frette and Kate Somerville.
Prior to 2004, Mr. Hansen was an early employee of E-Offering Corp., a pioneering consumer products and technology company that leveraged the Internet to deliver investment products and research to consumers online. The company was acquired by WitSoundview in 2000 (formerly NASDAQ: SNDV). Previously, Mr. Hansen worked in private equity at Burr, Egan, Deleage & Co., focusing on investments in areas of media and communications. Mr. Hansen began his career as an investment banking analyst for Salomon Brothers Inc. in New York.
Mr. Hansen received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA with distinction from the University of Virginia, and he is a member of the Northern California Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization.
James Williamson serves as the CFO of JH Partners, LLC, a position he has held since 2004. Between 1999 and 2004, he was Chief Financial Officer of Jesse.Hansen & Co, Inc. He is experienced in developing and managing company financial and administrative systems.
Prior to joining 1999, Mr. Williamson worked in the public accounting field and held financial officer positions with three organizations. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in London, England, he worked in both the New York and San Francisco offices of Deloitte & Touche, LLP, providing audit and consulting services to the firm's retail clients. Mr. Williamson left public accounting in 1993 to serve as the CFO for Stanford Bookstores, Inc., and held similar positions for a government-funded international relations organization and a non-profit development corporation. Mr. Williamson has also functioned as a part-time and interim CFO of several partner companies.
Mr. Williamson received a Master of Arts degree from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and a certification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
Pat Collins is a senior investment professional with the firm. Prior to joining 2004, Mr. Collins worked at Behrman Capital, a private equity firm with $1.8 billion under management. At Behrman, Mr. Collins helped to originate, structure, document and monitor private equity investments. He actively participated in the sale and initial public offering of two of these investments.
Mr. Collins' operating experience includes participating as a member of PeopleSoft, Inc.'s Portal Solutions product marketing team where he helped launch one of PeopleSoft's largest selling software products. In addition, Mr. Collins led the start-up efforts of one of Behrman Capital's portfolio investments. Prior to Behrman Capital and PeopleSoft, Mr. Collins was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. in New York.
Mr. Collins received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Yale University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
Julie Bell joined JH Partners in 2005. Prior to joining JH Partners, Ms. Bell worked at Bain & Company. At Bain, Ms. Bell worked in a variety of practice areas, including consumer products, retail and technology. She also worked in Bain & Company's private equity practice, where she conducted strategic and operational diligence on numerous acquisition targets.
Ms. Bell received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Business from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.
Brad Murray joined JH Partners in 2007. Prior to joining JH Partners, Mr. Murray worked at Summit Partners, a $9 billion private equity firm focused on middle-market buyouts and growth equity investments. At Summit, he was responsible for originating and executing investments in a variety of industries and completed investments totaling $260 million in capital.
Mr. Murray received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Williams College.
Rob Ramsey joined JH Partners in 2005. Prior to joining JH Partners, Mr. Ramsey worked as an analyst in the mergers and acquisitions group at CIBC World Markets Corp. in New York. At CIBC, Mr. Ramsey worked on public company and financial sponsor transactions, with a focus on the consumer product and healthcare sectors.
Mr. Ramsey received an AB in Economics from Harvard College.
Ben Lee joined JH Partners in 2006. Prior to joining JH Partners, Mr. Lee was an analyst in the investment banking division at Thomas Weisel Partners in San Francisco. At Thomas Weisel Partners, Mr. Lee was involved in a variety of M&A transactions and equity offerings across various industries.
Mr. Lee received a BS in Physics from Stanford University.
Taylor Rettig joined JH Partners in 2007. Prior to joining JH Partners, Mr. Rettig was an associate at Pali Capital, Inc. in New York where he focused on public structured equity offerings. Prior to that, Mr. Rettig was a generalist in Morgan Joseph & Co.'s investment banking division.
Mr. Rettig received an AB in Politics from Princeton University.
Shiva Arooji joined JH Partners as an Executive Assistant in 2007. Prior to joining the firm, Shiva worked as an Operations Analyst at Banc of America Securities, LLC in Charlotte, North Carolina. Shiva received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Tricia Wessels joined JH Partners in 2007 and is the Executive Assistant to both John Hansen and Michael John. Prior to joining the firm, Tricia was the Executive Assistant to the CEO and CFO of Fischer, Francis, Trees and Watts in New York. Tricia received a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
Helen Roman joined JH Partners as an accountant in 2007. Her prior experience includes accounting work at two Bay Area venture capital firms, DCM Doll Capital Management and Crimson Capital, and as an auditor at KPMG in both their New York and Boston offices. Helen is a CPA, and has an MS in Accounting from Northeastern University, a Diploma in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics, and a BS in Political Science from Wellesley College.
Mr. Lee is currently Co-Chairman of Bell Sports, Executive Chairman of Bay Travelgear, Inc., and Co-Chairman of Bell Automotive Products, Inc. Mr. Lee is also the Managing Director of Hayden Capital Investments, an investment fund he co-founded.
Mr. Lee's prior experience includes service in the roles of Chairman, CEO and COO of Bell Sports, where the company's revenues grew from $28 million to $207 million during his tenure. In addition, he served as SVP of Sales, Distribution and Service of Wilson Sporting Goods. Mr. Lee worked extensively with John Hansen when Mr. Hansen was responsible for General Atlantic's investment in Bell Sports.
Mr. Lee currently serves on the boards of Bell Sports, Design Within Reach, Jurlique, Tailwind Sports Corporation, a sports management company (owner of the U.S. Postal Service Bicycle Team), The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix and Bell Automotive Products, a JHP partner company. He is also a member of the CEO Founders Circle for Thomas Weisel Partners Merchant Bank.
Ms. Blodgett is President and CEO of Bare Escentuals, Inc. (NASDAQ: BARE), a former JHP partner company. Under Ms. Blodgett's direction, Bare Escentuals has increased sales from $30 million to over $600 million.
Ms. Blodgett's prior experience includes service in executive positions in product development and brand management at Max Factor, Proctor & Gamble and Neutrogena. Ms. Blodgett's current and past board positions include Bare Escentuals, Walter Drake, GoSmile and MD Formulations.
Ms. Blodgett completed the Cosmetic Marketing Program at Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. She is also a past member of the Northern California Chapter of the Young Presidents' Organization.
Mr. Badovinus is currently CEO of Mannatech, Inc (NASDAQ: MTEX). Mr. Badovinus has played an active role in JHP partner companies both as a chief executive and as a board member, including Design Within Reach (NASDAQ: DWRI), where he served as CEO, NapaStyle, Chef's Catalog, Country Home Products and Walter Drake.
Mr. Badovinus' prior experience includes service as President and CEO of Acme Boot Company; President and CEO of Eddie Bauer, where he grew the company's revenues from $200 million to $1 billion; President of Williams Sonoma; Chairman and CEO of Frederick & Nelson; President and CEO of Broadway Southwest Department Stores; EVP of Emporium Capwell Company; and VP of Nordstrom.
Mr. Badovinus has previously served on the boards of The Vermont Country Store, Inc., Gardener's Supply Company, Autumn Harp, Inc., The New England Overshoe Company (NASDAQ: NEOS), Walter Drake and Sagus International. Mr. Badovinus holds a BA from the University of Washington.
Mr. Marwah is currently Chairman of TATTOO Brand Consulting, a San Francisco-based consultancy he founded in 1990. TATTOO is a pure strategy firm, focused on helping companies create, nurture, leverage and evolve their brand assets.
Prior to founding TATTOO, Mr. Marwah held media and account planning roles at Fallon, Chiat/Day, Y&R and Leo Burnett. He was a Leo Burnett/P&G scholar in the Doctoral Program at the University of Michigan, where he also taught marketing.
Mr. Marwah is an advisor to the boards of Jurlique and La Perla and works closely with the executive teams at Frette, GoSmile, Ouidad and Lussori.
Ms. Taylor is currently advising JHP partner companies in the health and beauty sector. She serves on the boards of GoSmile, Kate Somerville and Ouidad, and is a senior advisor of Jurlique.
Ms. Taylor has been instrumental in building some of the most famous prestige brands in the cosmetics industry. She has held numerous executive management positions within the industry, including General Manager of Frederic Fekkai and Kiehl's Since 1851. She also held senior marketing positions at Lancôme USA (Division of L'Oreal), Chanel, Inc. and Elizabeth Arden. More recently, Ms. Taylor served as a senior executive at Guthy-Renker Corporation, where she developed new beauty brands for the direct-response marketer.
Ms. Taylor has a BS degree from UCLA and an MBA from the University of Southern California. Ms. Taylor is a member of Cosmetic Executive Women, The Society of Cosmetic Chemists and CTFA (Cosmetic, Toiletries and Fragrance Association).
Mr. Marinelli is currently Vice Chairman of Edmund Frette S.á.r.l., the holding company of Frette, and is a member of the board of directors of La Perla S.r.l., both JHP partner companies. Mr. Marinelli served as CEO of Frette from 2005 to 2008. Over the last 20 years, Mr. Marinelli has developed significant experience in luxury goods companies, serving as both a chief executive and as a board member. Additionally, Mr. Marinelli has experience with turnaround situations of both public and private companies, including large state-owned Italian conglomerates.
Mr. Marinelli has previously served on the board of public companies including Ebookers Plc. and Finmatica S.p.A..; state-owned Italian enterprises including Breda S.p.A., Termomeccanica S.p.A., Officine Reggiane SpA, Officine Galileo S.p.A., and SMA S.p.A.; and privately held companies including Bassilichi S.p.A., Pineider 1774 S.r.l., and Golden S.p.A.
Mr. Marinelli is a lawyer by training and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is President Emeritus of the Harvard Business School Alumni Association of Italy.
Mr. Machado has been a serial entrepreneur in the consumer products industry for over 28 years.
Mr. Machado's prior experience includes founding and serving as CEO of Wellpet and of Storybook Heirlooms. Under Mr. Machado's leadership, Wellpet grew to 80 stores before it was sold and renamed Petco. Storybook Heirlooms, a catalog company focusing on girls and women's fashion, was named by Inc. magazine as the 29th-fastest growing privately-held businesses in the United States before it was sold to Fulcrum Direct. Mr. Machado also served as the Interim CEO of GoSmile, a JHP partner company, during 2007 and 2008.
Mr. Macahdo holds a degree in business from the University of Santa Clara.
Ms. George currently serves as Chairman of Recycled Paper Greetings, the leading U.S. marketer of humorous greeting cards, and is Co-Chairman of Bell Automotive Products, Inc., a JHP partner company.
Ms. George has established an exceptional track record in management of both publicly traded and entrepreneurial companies. With a foundation in finance and marketing, Ms. George has directed the development of internationally renowned branded products and infused new direction into companies in transition. Ms. George is also recognized for her extensive sales, marketing and general management experience in the consumer products and medical device industries.
Ms. George currently serves on the boards of Swell, Inc., 3-Day Blinds, Bell Automotive, TerraCycle and DR Power Co., of which the latter three are JHP partner companies. She has previously served on the boards of Oakley, Remedy Temp and Bell Sports.
JH Partners believes that the close working relationship of the principals and senior operating partners with the management teams of partner companies is instrumental in building value for our investors and management partners.
Importantly, many senior executives from our past partner companies have remained active with us as investors, directors, and executives in later investments.
AmeriMark Direct is a leading direct marketer of women's apparel, name brand cosmetics and fragrances, jewelry, watches and accessories, and health related merchandise. In business for over 35 years, AmeriMark sells its merchandise through several distinctive catalogs and ships millions of packages to its satisfied customers each year. AmeriMark also offers memberships in the Passport to Savings and Passport to Health discount buying programs.
Initial Investment - March 2005
Completed Recapitalization - June 2006
Barmensen is a developer, distributor and marketer of condition-specific lifestyle nutraceutical products under the Barmensen, Maxoderm, Vazomyne and Connection brand names. Each of their products, whether in the fitness, skin care, sexual health, or dietary categories, takes a unique approach to address consumer needs, often through proprietary formulations or innovative delivery methods. Barmensen branded products are sold nationwide through select grocery and drug retailers, direct-response television and print, and the Internet.
Initial Investment - August 2006
Today, Bell is a well-recognized consumer brand known not only within auto racing and motorcycle circles, but also by the countless millions of cyclists and parents who purchase Bell bicycle helmets and accessories for themselves and their children every year. Now Bell is back to its automotive roots, offering an array of automotive accessories designed to provide convenience and fun to your everyday driving experience.
Initial Investment - December 2004
Acquired Victor Products - October 2005
For 25 years, CHEF'S has been a leading resource - first in catalogs and now also online - for home chefs and culinary professionals seeking the best for their kitchens. CHEF'S selection is constantly expanding to include the most advanced electrics, finest cookware and cutlery, and state-of-the-art tools from the best brands in the kitchen: All-Clad, Calphalon, Cuisinart, KitchenAid, Microplane, Wusthof, and many more.
Initial Investment - October 2004
Country Home Products is a designer, assembler, and marketer of professional grade outdoor power equipment for homeowners under the DR and Neuton brand names. The Company was founded in 1985 by former members of the Garden Way executive team and is located in Vergennes, Vermont.
Initial Investment - March 2006
Dr. Leonard's Healthcare Corporation is a direct marketer of value-priced healthcare and convenience products through two catalogue titles, Dr. Leonard's and Carol Wright Gifts. Dr. Leonard's, in business for 28 years, is America's leading healthcare catalog. Over the years, Dr. Leonard's has broadened its product line to include housewares, apparel, shoes and other relevant product categories. Carol Wright Gifts was founded in 1972, and is a leading direct marketer of unique gifts, health, beauty and home products.
Initial Investment - December 2007
Founded in 1860 and based in Milan, Frette markets and sells its high-end Italian bed and bath linens and homewear to individual customers and the top hotels and resorts around the world. The company has a rich history supplying the finest linens to aristocratic families throughout Europe, as well as to The Vatican, and Frette sheets have adorned the beds of the world's most prestigious trains and ocean liners, including the Orient Express and the Titanic. Today, the products are available in over 100 exclusive boutiques throughout the world, in cities including Beverly Hills, New York, London, Paris, Dubai and Tokyo. Top hospitality establishments, such as the Paris Ritz, London Savoy, Singapore Raffles and all of Ritz-Carlton's US properties outfit their hotels with Frette sheets. The products can also be found in select high-end department stores and online at www.frette.com.
Initial Investment - December 2004
GoSMILE, Inc. is a producer and multi-channel marketer of advanced tooth-whitening and oral care products designed to promote health and beauty on the go. The products have been proven through clinical study to be more effective than competing products on the market. GoSMILE is currently sold through specialty retailers and high-end department stores in both the U.S. and Europe.
Initial Investment - June 2005
Jurlique International is an Australian-based manufacturer and multi-channel global marketer of natural skin care products. The products are derived from herbs and plant extracts biodynamically grown on the Company's organic farms in South Australia. Jurlique distributes its products primarily in Asia, Australia and the United States, through a network of Company-owned stores, distributors, high-end department stores, pharmacies, spas and via duty free . The Company was founded by a horticulturist and scientist in 1983.
Initial Investment - April 2006
Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts is dedicated to offering clients real solutions to skin concerns through comprehensive, result-driven products and services. With an emphasis on clinical skincare and advanced technologies, Kate Somerville has garnered a devoted celebrity following and has been widely featured in the media. Kate Somerville products can be purchased through the internet, luxury spas, direct-response television, prestige retail locations, as well as at the flagship Kate Somerville clinic on Melrose Place in West Hollywood.
La Perla S.r.l. is an Italian-based designer and multi-channel global marketer of luxury intimate apparel and beachwear. La Perla's elegant and sophisticated lingerie is sold through an international network of company-owned boutiques, prestige department stores, high-end shops and online at www.laperla.com.
Initial Investment - August 2007
Lussori is a luxury retailer and etailer of timepieces and jewelry. The Company provides discerning consumers with the finest in luxury timepiece and designer jewelry brands, such as Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Bulgari, Carl F. Bucherer, Chopard, Corum, Girard Perregaux, Glashutte Original, Harry Winston, Hearts of Fire, IWC, Michael Beaudry, Montblanc, Omega, Piaget, Ulysse Nardin, Tag Heuer and many others. Lussori services it's customers through its flagship retail store located on Ocean Avenue in Carmel, California, its website, Lussori.com, as well as through its concierge call center.
Initial Investment - November 2006
NapaStyle is a multi-channel lifestyle company founded by Michael Chiarello, acclaimed Napa Valley chef, author and host of the popular cooking shows Easy Entertaining with Michael Chiarello on the Food Network and NapaStyle on the Fine Living Network. The Company expresses a unique style of living, inspired by Napa Valley, through its original, lifestyle-based content and specialty products designed for kitchen, home, garden and entertaining. NapaStyle's content is distributed across a wide range of media and its products are available through multiple distribution channels, including catalog, company-owned boutiques and online at www.napastyle.com.
Initial Investment - August 2000
Ouidad pioneered the curly haircare category over 20 years ago when she opened the first hair salon dedicated to clients with wavy and curly hair. One of NYC's top salons, it attracts a global clientele that includes celebrities, socialites, members of the press and other NYC influentials. It is here that stylists practice Ouidad's signature Carving & Slicing(r) cutting technique that is also taught to accredited affiliate stylists across the nation. Ouidad is also the creator of an award-winning, signature haircare line that meets the many needs of women, men and children with a variety of curly hair types. The comprehensive Ouidad collection is currently sold in the Ouidad Salon on 57th Street in Manhattan, select salons with Ouidad Certified Stylists and online at www.ouidad.com.
TerraCycle manufactures and sells effective and natural plant fertilizers made from waste (worm poop) and packaged in waste (used soda bottles). The company launched its revolutionary worm poop plant food line at Canadian Wal*Mart and Home Depot stores in 2005 and was honored with Home Depot Canada's Environmental Stewardship Award that same year. In July 2006, an Inc. magazine cover story crowned TerraCycle "The Coolest Little Startup in America." TerraCycle worm poop plant foods are now available in home and garden product retailers, such as Home Depot and Wal*Mart stores, nationwide.
Initial Investment - March 2007
Bare Escentuals, one of the fastest growing personal care companies in the U.S., is a developer and multi-channel marketer of cosmetics, skin care and body care products. The company's ID bareMinerals product line is the nation's leading mineral make-up. Bare Escentuals branded personal care products are sold nationwide through select beauty retailers, direct-response television, the Internet, mail order and company-owned boutiques.
Initial Investment - August 1990
Completed Merger with MD Formulations - November 2001
Completed Recapitalization - June 2004; February 2005; October 2005; June 2006
Completed Initial Public Offering (NASDAQ: BARE) - September 2006
Completed Secondary Offering (NASDAQ:BARE) - March 2007
Design Within Reach is a provider of distinctive modern design furnishings and accessories. The company markets and sells products from prominent designers, such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Charles and Ray Eames, through four highly integrated sales channels consisting of its studios, catalog, website and direct sales force. This seamless channel integration and use of a single, common inventory enable DWR to offer merchandise on an 'in stock and ready to ship' basis, versus traditional furnishings retailers, which typically require customers to wait weeks or even months for their products.
Initial Investment - January 1997
Completed Initial Public Offering (NASDAQ: DWRI) - June 2004
Completed Secondary Offering (NASDAQ: DWRI) - March 2005al Investment -
Since 1983, MD Formulations has been delivering new and innovative skin care treatments and products that fuse beauty with science. The company develops and markets its leading results-oriented aesthetic skin care line under the brand md formulations, which is distributed nationwide through aestheticians, the Internet, company-owned boutiques and select beauty retailers. MD Formulations was merged with Bare Escentuals in November 2001.
Initial Investment - June 1999
Completed Merger with Bare Escentuals - November 2001
For over fifty years, Walter Drake has been a catalog retailer of unique, inexpensive gifts, gadgets and personalized items in addition to household goods and kitchen products. Walter Drake has built a national brand with an established, loyal customer base through its diverse and continually expanding product line and its longstanding reputation for providing superior customer service. Catalog titles include Walter Drake, Home Marketplace, HomeWares and Directions.
Initial Investment - October 2001
Sold to Strategic Investor - December 2003
JH Partners invests in established and growth-oriented consumer businesses. We seek to invest in companies with strong brands and sustainable competitive advantages, and partner with experienced management teams to create long term value. The active role we take as investors is born out of our deep industry knowledge and operational expertise, and therefore we typically seek to take control equity positions.
Our entrepreneurial approach to investing allows us to be flexible with respect to transaction structure and investment size; however we target investments greater than $10 million (and ideally between $15 million and $75 million) in businesses that meet or exceed the following criteria:
The Hotaling Building is located in San Francisco's historic Jackson Square District. Built in 1866, 451 Jackson was originally designed to house a whisky distillery and was the largest liquor warehouse on the West Coast.
The Hotaling Building still retains the Dickensian air and charm through its resilience and architecture. The structure was one of few in the area to survive the 1906 earthquake due to the heroic efforts of a Navy Lieutenant named Frederick Newton and his brigade, who ran a hose over a mile all the way from Pier 43, over Telegraph Hill, and down to Jackson Square. Salt water from their ship's pumps enabled them to stop the fire's spread to the area.
According to the chroniclers of the time, when local clergymen interpreted the 1906 quake as divine retribution for the city's wickedness, Charles Field asked:
"If, as they say, God spanked the town
For being over-frisky,
Why did He burn his churches down
And spare Hotaling's whisky?"
The much-quoted jingle appears on a plaque outside the building today.