Not Disclosed
has been acquired by
a portfolio company of ACON Investments
August 2024
Consumer Products & Services
Brent Smith
Managing Director, Consumer Products & Services
About Brent
Brent Smith is a managing director for William Blair based in the firm’s Chicago office. He originally joined William Blair's investment banking team in 2000. Before joining William Blair, he worked for Lehman Brothers and Heitman Financial Limited.
Community Involvement
JUF Financial Division
Cradles to Crayons, Family Advisory Council
Food Allergy Initiative Chicago
Awards and Affiliations
Buyouts: Deal of the Year, 2016: Gold Standard Baking (Arbor Investments)
Investment Dealers' Digest: 2001 Overall and M&A Breakthrough Deal of the Year (Smuckers Acquisition of JIF and Crisco Brands from Procter and Gamble)
Notable Transactions
$600,000,000
has been acquired by
December 2022
Consumer Products & Services
Not Disclosed
a portfolio company of Tilia Holdings
has been acquired by
October 2022
Consumer Products & Services
Not Disclosed
has received a strategic growth investment from
November 2021
Consumer Products & Services
William Blair acted as exclusive financial advisor to Natural Partners, Inc. in connection with a $240 million strategic growth investment led by HGGC, LLC and Snapdragon Capital Partners LLC.
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Not Disclosed
a portfolio company of Sterling Investment Partners
has been acquired by
October 2021
Consumer Products & Services
William Blair acted as the lead financial advisor to All My Sons, a portfolio company of Sterling Investment Partners, in connection with its sale to Golden Gate Capital.
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$532,000,000
a portfolio company of Freeman Spogli & Co
has been acquired by
February 2021
Consumer Products & Services
William Blair served as financial advisor to Green Garden Products, a portfolio company of Freeman Spogli & Co., in connection with its pending sale to Central Garden & Pet (NASDAQ: CENT, CENTA). Green Garden Products is the leading independent home gardening platform with a diverse portfolio of branded, consumable gardening products positioned for meaningful growth.
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Not Disclosed
a division of KIK Custom Products and portfolio company of Centerbridge Partners
has been acquired by
a portfolio company of Wind Point Partners
August 2020
Consumer Products & Services
$750,000,000
has been acquired by
July 2019
Consumer Products & Services
William Blair acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Ranir LLC, a leading global self care company providing oral care products to consumers worldwide owned by the Kiphart family and Camden Partners, in connection with its pending sale to Perrigo Company plc.
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Not Disclosed
has been acquired by
October 2018
Consumer Products & Services
$1,200,000,000
has been acquired by
December 2017
Consumer Products & Services
Not Disclosed
has been acquired by
November 2017
Consumer Products & Services
Not Disclosed
has been acquired by
September 2017
Consumer Products & Services
Rigorous pursuit of your success. Every transaction. Every time.
Our investment bankers are 100 percent committed to your organization’s sustained success. By drawing on our deep industry and product experience as well as our dedicated global resources, we provide advisory and financing services that allow you to capitalize on today’s opportunities and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges.
More about investment banking at William Blair
Consumer Products & Services
Amid rapidly evolving consumer preferences and the proliferation of new brands and channels, our experience and relationships throughout the consumer and retail industry have allowed us to deliver outstanding outcomes for our clients. Corporate boards, management teams, and business owners turn to us for execution excellence, sector expertise, deep relationships with strategic, financial, and family buyers, and creative public and private capital market solutions.
More about our consumer products & services expertise
About William Blair
William Blair is a premier global partnership with expertise in investment banking, investment management, and private wealth management. We provide advisory services, strategies, and solutions to meet our clients’ evolving needs. As an independent and employee-owned firm, together with our strategic partners, we operate in more than 20 offices worldwide.*
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1935Year William Blair was founded
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1,900+Employees worldwide
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139 billion+Client assets
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90 YearsIndependent and employee-owned
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20+Offices worldwide
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~650Companies under coverage
As of March 31, 2025
*Includes strategic partnerships with Allier Capital, BDA Partners, and Poalim Capital Markets.