HKW Inc.: announces acquisition of Panos Brands LLC

Indianapolis / IN. (hkw) Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney + Company Inc. (HKW) announced that it closed on the acquisition of Panos Brands LLC on January 29, 2016. Panos, headquartered in Rochelle Park, New Jersey, is a leading provider of branded consumer foods. Known for its unique portfolio of brands, the Company has expanded its footprint over the last few years focusing on providing consumers with high quality, great tasting, «better for you» products in the specialty, natural, organic and grocery food channels.

Steven M. Grossman, President and CEO of Panos, stated, «We are excited to move forward with HKW as Panos embarks on its next phase of growth. HKW’s collaborative approach, vision for value creation, and their reputation as a trusted partner resonated very well with our management team».

«The Panos opportunity met all the key criteria for an HKW investment», said John Carsello, HKW Partner. «The Company participates in the attractive health and wellness niche of the food industry and has an excellent track record of growth. Most importantly, the proven, impressive executive team has created a results-oriented environment that is a tremendous fit with the HKW culture. We look forward to a successful partnership with Steven Grossman and the entire Panos team».

HKW is a private equity firm founded in 1903 with offices in Indianapolis and New York. Since 1982, HKW has sponsored 51 platform transactions of lower middle-market companies throughout North America, as well as 56 add-on acquisitions.