Smead Manufacturing Co. Inc. bought U Brands LLC on undisclosed terms.
U Brands, in San Juan Capistrano, designs and makes “fashionable” home, office and stationery products. It was co-founded in 2014 by Chief Executive Mike Cerillo and President Ben Hoch and has 22 local workers.
Smead is in Hastings, Minn., and makes home, office and organizing products under the trademarked slogan “organomics.” Annual revenue exceeds $500 million.
A press release said U Brands will stay in OC, with Cerillo and Hoch reporting to Smead President Casey Avent.
Avent was named to the post in mid-2016 and is part of the fourth generation of his family to run the 111-year-old firm. His mother, Sharon Hoffman Avent, is chief executive.
U Brands products are sold through retailers and online sites; Smead products are sold through office products dealers and retailers, and other stores.
B. Riley & Co. LLC, based in Los Angeles and with an OC office, advised U Brands; Sunbelt Business Advisors in Minneapolis advised Smead.
