Houlihan Lokey Advises Iovate Health Sciences

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Iovate Health Sciences International, Inc. has agreed to be acquired by Xiwang Foodstuffs Co., Ltd. The transaction was signed on June 12, 2016.

Founded in 1995 and based in Oakville, Canada, Iovate is a dynamic, leading-edge nutritional company that delivers some of the highest quality, most innovative, and effective active nutrition products in the world. With brand innovations like MuscleTech, Six Star Pro Nutrition, Purely Inspired, and Hydroxycut, the company is committed to being the number one active nutrition and weight management supplement company in the world. Iovate distributes across all major channels of distribution, including food, drug, mass and club, health food stores, and online, as well as in more than 130 countries worldwide. Iovate products are available nationwide at GNC, The Vitamin Shoppe, Bodybuilding.com, Walmart, Target, Walgreen’s, Sam’s Club, Amazon.com, and other top retailers.

Founded in 2007 and based in Shandong Province, China, Xiwang Food is the leading Chinese player in healthy consumable oils like corn oil and flaxseed oil. Xiwang Food has a vast sales and distribution network, selling its products in more than 85,000 mass merchandise stores and over 2,000 drug stores in China. The company has been listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZ000639) since 2011 and currently has more than 5,000 employees. It is a subsidiary of Xiwang Group Company Limited, a large industrial enterprise company that also maintains investments in specialty steel, real estate, energy and beverages, among other sectors. Xiwang Group is ranked among the 500 largest companies in China, with consolidated revenue in excess of $5 billion.

The proposed transaction is subject to the satisfaction of closing conditions, including Xiwang Food’s shareholders’ approval as well as regulatory approvals in Canada, China and the U.S.  The transaction is expected to close later in the calendar year.

Houlihan Lokey is serving as the exclusive financial advisor to Iovate and assisted in initiating, structuring, and negotiating the transaction.

If you would like more information about Houlihan Lokey, or if you have questions regarding the sale of Iovate, please contact one of the deal team members listed.

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Deal Team Contacts, Consumer, Food & Retail Group:
William S.J. Hood, Managing Director, WHood@HL.com, +1.212.497.7884
Susan Roddy, Senior Vice President, SRoddy@HL.com, +1.212.497.4195
Alex Meyerguz, Vice President, AMeyerguz@HL.com, +1.212.497.7887
Asia: Weimin Chen, Managing Director, WChen@HL.com, +852.3551.2338

Houlihan Lokey (NYSE: HLI) is a global investment bank with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets,valuation, financial restructuring, and strategic consulting. The firm serves corporations, institutions, and governments worldwide with offices in the United States, Europe, and the Asia‑Pacific region. Independent advice and intellectual rigor are hallmarks of our commitment to client success across our advisory services. Houlihan Lokey is ranked as the No. 1 M&A advisor for all U.S. transactions, the No. 1 global M&A fairness opinion advisor over the past 15 years, and the No. 1 global restructuring advisor, according to Thomson Reuters

Compliments of Houlihan Lokey – A member of the EACC