DAWSON-FORTÉ CASHMERE SHAREHOLDERS SELL MAJORITY EQUITY STAKE TO TEMPUS PARTNERS

Dawson-Forté Cashmere, the brand parent of Kinross Cashmere and &Isla, is pleased to announce that the current shareholding group has sold a majority position to Tempus Partners, a consumer-focused private equity firm.

Andy Bartmess will remain Dawson-Forté’s CEO and a shareholder. In a statement, Bartmess said, “We are excited to work with Tempus Partners to accelerate the growth of our Kinross and &Isla brands as we expand into more stores and across channels.” Mary McCann, Dawson-Forté’s SVP of Sales and Merchandising, who remains an executive and shareholder, added, “I’m thrilled to work with Geoffrey and Kyle at Tempus Partners as we enter Dawson-Forté’s next chapter together. Their proven experience in successfully growing consumer brands makes them excellent partners for Dawson-Forté’s future.”

Geoffrey Champlin, Managing Partner of Tempus Partners, said, “We were drawn to Dawson-Forté because of its long history of excellence, dedication to product quality, and its passionate customer base.” Kyle White, Managing Partner of Tempus Partners, added, “We’re especially happy Dawson-Forté will continue under Andy’s and Mary’s leadership as we work to expand while keeping in place what makes the Kinross and &Isla brands so special.”

Kinross Cashmere is a luxury apparel brand with a heritage of excellence in cashmere and other fine natural fibers spanning over 150 years. &Isla is a UK-inspired luxury cashmere brand for customers seeking an easy, elevated aesthetic with a touch of the unexpected. The two can be found in more than 600 stores across the United States and the United Kingdom. Key retailers in the United States include Mitchells, Larrimors, Barcelino, Julian Gold, M. Dumas, McCulleys, Silver Creek Outfitters, Ascot Shop, Hilton’s, Ari of Boston, Maxwell and Company, and Pitkin County Dry Goods. The company’s resort business includes Yellowstone Club, Valley Club, Jupiter Island Club, Cole Sports, and Tahoe Style.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. MMG Advisors, Inc. brokered the transaction and acted as exclusive financial advisor to the sellers. Scholhamer Business Law acted as legal advisor to the sellers; Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff acted as legal advisor to Tempus Partners.