John A. Van Den Bosch, Regional Leader in Pet Distribution, Acquired by Rubelmann Capital

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Press release: Charter Capital Partners

Charter Capital Partners, a Grand Rapids, Michigan-based investment bank, recently announced that its client, John A. Van Den Bosch Co., a fifth-generation legacy pet food products distribution company and wild bird seed manufacturer, has been acquired by Rubelmann Capital, a leading investment firm.

For more than 90 years Van Den Bosch has been a regional leader in providing best-in-class pet products to its customers. Van Den Bosch’s reputation within the industry makes it an ideal platform for Rubelmann’s long term capital allocation strategy. Additionally, David Blatte former CEO and Chairman of leading pet products companies Quaker Pet Group and WorldWise Inc. has partnered with Rubelmann in this investment and will serve as the Chairman of Van Den Bosch’s Board. Under Rubelmann Capital’s ownership, John A. Van Den Bosch Co. will continue its legacy of excellence in pet food distribution and the production of Nature’s Window wild bird seed. The transition will be seamless, ensuring uninterrupted services to existing customers and partners.

“We take pride in the legacy we have built at John A. Van Den Bosch,” stated Dave Van Den Bosch, Chairman of the Board of Directors of John A. Van Den Bosch. “We’d like to thank the leadership team and all the employees who helped grow the business and consider them part of our family. In addition, we’d like to thank our customers and vendors who we have partnered with for many years and our shareholders for their support for the past 90 years.” Joel DeBruin, CEO, said, “Rubelmann Capital’s dedication to integrity and quality perfectly aligns with our values. We are confident that this acquisition will usher in a new era of growth and success for our company.”

“The entire team at John A. Van Den Bosch Co. have done a remarkable job building on the company’s 90-year legacy, and we look forward to working with them to continue the growth trajectory for years to come,” said Peter Rappaport, Founder at Rubelmann Capital. “We will continue operating as John A. Van Den Bosch Co. and expect a seamless transition for employees, customers, and vendors.”

“Current CEO Joel DeBruin will continue to lead the company following the acquisition. With Rubelmann’s support, VDB will remain focused on continuing to serve our customers at the highest standards and will remain focused on adding new innovative products to our already diverse offering,” said David Blatte, Chairman. “We expect this industry to continue to benefit from the continued growth of pet ownership and increased demand for quality pet products and we look forward to partnering and helping our customers take full advantage of the exciting trends in their product categories.”

The transaction was spearheaded by Charter team members Mike Brown, partner and managing director, Jenny Dakoske, Director, Justin Pinto, senior associate, and Dylan Stenzinger, analyst.

Reflecting on the experience, Dakoske shared, “It was a pleasure working with and advising the John A. Van Den Bosch shareholders throughout the sale to Rubelmann Capital.”

Pinto added, “As a legacy fifth generation company, we quickly recognized the synergies with Rubelmann Capital and are thrilled to witness the ongoing growth to be achieved through this partnership.”

Charter Capital Partners served as exclusive M&A advisors to John A. Van Den Bosch Co. Miller Johnson represented the seller, and Haynes and Boon provided M&A Counsel to Rubelmann Capital. Old National provided financing for this transaction. The transaction was performed by principals of Charter acting in their capacity as registered representatives of M&A Securities Group, Inc., Member FINRA/SiPC, a separate entity from Charter Capital Partners.