Blyth, Inc. is a Greenwich, Connecticut based marketing and manufacturing company that sells personal and decorative products. In 2001, it was the largest candlemaker in the United States. Subsidiaries include the multi-level marketing companies PartyLite and Visalus.
History
On May 13, 2002, Blyth announced that it has acquired all of the membership interest in CBK, Ltd., LLC, a designer and marketer of giftware and home decor, sold under the CBK brand.[2] Blyth purchased the interests in CBK for total cash consideration of approximately $49.5 million. Midwest CBK was sold to MVP Group International in 2011.[3] CBK was to remain obligated on its indebtedness, including approximately $4.8 million of long-term debt.[2]
In 2012 Blyth sold the brand Sterno, which it had acquired in 1997.[4][5]
In 2015, Blyth was acquired by the private equity firm Carlyle Group.[6] Subsidiary Silver Star Brands was sold to Crosby Rock, leaving Blyth with PartyLite.[7]
In 2008 Blyth began a multi-stage takeover of ViSalus, a multi-level marketing company which sells nutritional supplements and energy drinks.[8][9] In the first stage of the takeover Blyth purchased a 43.6% equity interest for $14.0 million.[10][11] In 2011 Blyth invested an additional $2.5 million and increasing their ownership share to 57.5%.[12]
By August 2012 Blyth owned a 73% share of Visalus and planned a spin off of the company in an initial public offering. In September 2012, Moody's Investors Service downgraded Blyth's credit from "stable" to "negative,"[13] Blyth stated that ViSalus's growth was not properly valued, and Blyth withdrew the IPO citing uncertain market conditions.[14][15]
In September 2014, ViSalus' founders and select stockholders arranged to buy back control of the company from Blyth. Blyth remained an equity holder with 10% of ViSalus's stock.[16][17][18] The transaction eliminated Blyth's obligation to pay the co-founders $143.2 million as part of the 2008 acquisition. At the time of the transaction, ViSalus' earnings and revenue had declined from a high-point in 2012, and the company had been operating at a loss for 2013 and the first two quarters of 2014.[17]
