JH Partners To Sell CHEFS Catalog To Target

                 JH Partners To Sell CHEFS Catalog To Target

PR Newswire

SAN FRANCISCO, March 14, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- JH Partners, LLC, a private
equity firm specializing in investing growth capital in consumer-focused
companies, today announced it has agreed to sell its portfolio company CHEFS
Catalog to Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT).  Financial terms of the transaction,
which is expected to close within 30 days, were not disclosed.

CHEFS Catalog is a leading direct-to-consumer specialty retailer of top-rated
cookware, bake ware, cutlery, kitchen tools and cooking utensils aimed at
inspiring home chefs to create delicious and new recipes.  JH
Partners acquired Colorado Springs, Colorado-based CHEFS Catalog from The
Neiman Marcus Group, Inc. in 2004. 

Upon completion of the transaction, Target will combine CHEFS Catalog with the
acquired assets of Cooking.com to create a new, wholly-owned subsidiary of
Target aimed at expanding the company's presence in the growing cooking and
kitchenware market.  Both brands will continue to operate under their current
names.

"We're delighted with the outcome of our work with CHEFS Catalog's management
team, led by Tim Littleton," said Michael John, partner at JH Partners.
 "CHEFS and the JH Partners teams have worked together to transform Chefs from
a single channel catalog company into a true multichannel retailer of great
cookware with exceptional revenue and margin growth driven by our online
business."

Janney Montgomery Scott and Perkins Coie advised JH Partners on the sale of
CHEFS Catalog.

About CHEFS Catalog   
CHEFS Catalog is a leading direct-to-consumer specialty retailer of top rated
cookware, bake ware, cutlery, kitchen tools and cooking utensils aimed at
inspiring home chefs to create delicious and new recipes.  Founded in 1979 and
based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, CHEFS operates www.chefscatalog.com, and
sells leading brands, including All-Clad®, Cuisinart®, Le Creuset®,
KitchenAid®, Scanpan®, Wusthof® and more. 

About JH Partners, LLC   
Based in San Francisco, JH Partners, LLC, specializes in investing capital in
growth-oriented, middle-market consumer products and services companies. JH
Partners, LLC distinguishes itself among private equity firms with its decades
of relevant operating experience among its professional investment team and
the deep understanding of consumer markets that comes with the firm's narrow
investment focus.  Among the firm's 24 current and past investments are such
well-known brands as Bare Escentuals, J.McLaughlin, Frette, Alex and
Ani, Design Within Reach, Jurlique, and Peet's Coffee & Tea.  JH Partners
manages approximately $1 billion in private equity commitments.  Additional
information on JH Partners, LLC may be found at www.jhpartners.com.

Contacts:   Todd Fogarty
            Kekst and Company
            todd-fogarty@kekst.com
            212-521-4854
            Jeffrey Taufield
            Kekst and Company
            jeffrey-taufield@kekst.com
            212-521-4815

 

SOURCE JH Partners, LLC

Website: http://www.jhpartners.com