Aurora Capital Partners Acquires Leading High-Pressure Processing Provider Universal Pure

LOS ANGELES, November 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Aurora Capital Partners (“Aurora”), a leading middle-market private equity firm, today announced the acquisition of Universal Pure Holdings, LLC (“Universal Pure” or the “Company”) ), the largest independent provider of high pressure processing (“HPP”) and associated technical and food safety services for cold chain oriented food and feed customers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Founded in 2001, Universal Pure is the HPP partner of choice for food, beverage and pet food manufacturers in North America and combines this leadership position with an unparalleled suite of value-added services including cold storage, bottling, kitting and assembly, dry aging, tempering and inventory management. HPP is a unique technology that uses water and pressure to inactivate foodborne pathogens without the use of chemicals or other additives while dramatically extending product shelf life without compromising nutritional value, taste or texture. The company’s footprint includes eight facilities located nationwide at major shipping lanes and distribution centers in the United States.

“Universal Pure has an exceptional growth history built around a culture of customer service,” said Randy Moser, Partner at Aurora. “Best-in-class service and long-standing experience combined with the largest footprint in North America uniquely positions Universal Pure in a rapidly growing industry. We see significant opportunity to build on this position and the company’s success and look forward to accelerating growth through organic expansion and its experienced acquisition program. »

“Universal Pure is an ideal partner for the Aurora program,” said Marc Rosenbaum, Partner at Aurora. “Jeff and his team have built an impressive platform, and we’re excited to capitalize on the significant lead the business has through new and existing relationships with blue-chip clients. We’re thrilled to be chosen as partner of Universal Pure at an exciting time in its evolution.”

“Aurora has a well-deserved reputation for partnering with leadership teams to help accelerate growth,” said Jeff Williams, CEO of Universal Pure. “We are confident that they are the right partner for Universal Pure at this stage of its development, and with their partnership, we are excited to continue to add to the solutions we offer our customers and to implement our many growth.”

This transaction marks Aurora Equity Partners VI’s eighth investment, which was activated in September 2020. It follows several recent Aurora investments in the broader industrial technology sector, including Pace, Spray-Tek, Cold Chain Technologies and Inhance Technologies.

William Blair and Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisors and Mayer Brown LLP served as legal advisor to Universal Pure on the transaction. Harris Williams served as financial advisor and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP served as legal advisor to Aurora. Twin Brook Capital Partners led the debt financing in support of the transaction.

About Aurora Capital Partners

Aurora Capital Partners is a leading private equity firm primarily focused on control investments in middle-market companies with market-leading positions, stable industry dynamics, attractive business model characteristics and concrete growth opportunities in partnership with management. Aurora provides unique resources to its portfolio companies through its strategy and operations program and team of experienced operational advisors. Aurora’s investors include public and corporate pension funds, endowments and foundations active in private equity investing. For more information about Aurora Capital Partners, visit: www.auroracap.com.

About Universal Pure

Universal Pure is the leading provider of outsourced cold chain high pressure processing, food safety and technical supply chain services that ensure the safety and nutritional value of food and beverage products. The company is the largest independent supplier of high pressure treatment in North America. Universal Pure operates 20 HPP machines in a network of strategic facilities in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Through its facility footprint, totaling 1.1 million square feet, Universal provides an integrated solution and is a trusted partner for HPP, chilled and frozen storage, beverage bottling, kitting and assembly, tempering and other value-added cold chain services. Learn more at http://www.universalpure.com.

Aurora Media Contact
Taylor Ingraham / Harriet Hartman
CSA Advisors
203-992-1230
[email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCEAurora Capital Partners