Demeter Group Expands into the Beauty Sector.

Former VP of Skincare at Sephora, Jani Friedman, Named to Lead New Practice

SAN FRANCISCO -- Demeter Group, a leading boutique investment bank and corporate development advisory firm for consumer companies, today announced that Jani Friedman, a newly hired principal with the firm, has been named to lead the firm's beauty practice.

This extension of the firm is a logical next step for Demeter Group, as there are many similarities between the beauty sector and the firm's core practice of wine, food and beverage. Both practice areas deal in luxury goods with strong margins, growth rates and consumer direct sales. Consumer need for innovation in beauty, wine, food and beverage has led to the emergence of category leaders within each space - companies that the Demeter Group is ideally placed to serve.

"We see a growing convergence between the food and beverage sector, with collaborations between these industries becoming more common," said Jeff Menashe, Managing Partner of Demeter Group. "By strengthening our beauty focus with the addition of Jani, we will be well positioned to better serve our clients and provide them the high-level advice and support they have come to expect from Demeter Group."

Ms. Friedman brings more than 20 years of brand development experience to Demeter Group, with expertise in the beauty, apparel and packaged goods sectors. She joins the firm from Sephora, where she was a Vice President and Divisional Merchandise Manager of Skincare. While at Sephora she was in charge of overseeing a portfolio of more than 60 cosmeceutical, natural and haircare brands in addition to a team of merchants and crossfunctional managers. Before joining Sephora, Ms. Friedman worked with Red Envelope as a Divisional Merchandise Manager and as an Associate Brand Manager at Levi Strauss & Company.

"I am thrilled to be joining the Demeter Group, a firm with a proven track record in the high-end wine, food and consumer package goods sectors," said Ms. Friedman. "I look forward to using my own experience, while working with Jeff and the rest of the firm, to build a successful beauty practice at Demeter. My passion has always been working with brands to help them grow and be successful."

For the first year Ms. Friedman and her team will focus their efforts on private placement of equity capital for brand owners; corporate development advisory for brand owners linking strategy, finance and valuation; and buy-side and diligence advisory for buyers or investors.

About Demeter Group:

Based in San Francisco, CA, Demeter Group is a boutique investment bank and corporate development advisory firm, dealing primarily with consumer companies in the food & beverage, wine and beauty industries. For its clients, Demeter Group has significant experience working on acquisitions, divestitures, valuations and the development of various board-level strategies. For more information about the firm, and a listing of past and current clients, visit www.demetergroup.net.