Milwaukee-based Lakeview Equity Partners LLC has acquired UAS Laboratories Inc., an Edina, Minn.-based pioneer in the research, development and manufacture of probiotic nutritional supplements.
“With a 30-year history of innovation and quality, UAS Labs is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the rapidly expanding probiotic supplements market both domestically and internationally,” said Joe Cesarz, managing director of Lakeview. “We are excited about the opportunity to support UAS Labs’ management in expanding their in-depth research and development around the many uses of probiotics for better health.”
As partners in the transaction, Kevin Mehring will serve as the new president of UAS Labs and Dr. Greg Leyer will serve as the chief scientific officer.
“UAS Labs has built a strong reputation globally for offering the highest quality probiotic-based solutions to both industry and the consumer alike. It is an honor to advance this mission as we stay committed to offering industry leading educational tools and marketing support to the health food natural retailer,” said Mehring.
“The opportunity to build upon a great legacy brand with a firm dedication to research, development and clinical science is very exciting to me, and one in which our customer base will benefit greatly with new innovative and efficacious products,” Leyer said.
Dr. S.K. Dash founded UAS Labs in 1979 to manufacture and market probiotics in the United States, Canada and more than 60 other countries worldwide. He will remain with the company as chairman, founder and director of new business development.
“I’m proud to have served the natural products industry for over 30 years and help pioneer the probiotics category. Providing consumers with superior DDS products and improving their quality of life has been my honor,” Dash said. “I’m looking forward to working with Kevin Mehring and Dr. Greg Leyer, two highly skilled industry veterans, and will continue to serve UAS Labs in an R&D capacity where we can explore even greater applications for probiotics. Continuing to lead the industry with scientifically validated products and helping UAS Labs achieve excellence remains my personal passion.”
Lakeview Equity Partners is a private equity investment fund that focuses on investments in Midwest-based, middle market companies.
