Praesidian Capital to Invest $11.4 Million in First-Lien Debt In Aquasana, Inc.

New Funding Refinances Existing Senior Debt, Further Strengthens Companys Balance Sheet

NEW YORK April 13, 2015 Praesidian Capital, a leading provider of senior and subordinated capital for small and mid-sized businesses, announced today that it is investing $11.4 million in first-lien debt in Aquasana, Inc., a Texas-based provider of residential water filtration systems and replacement cartridges. The company has been held by Catterton, the leading consumer-focused private equity firm, since 2009.

Based in Austin with operating facilities outside of Ft. Worth, Aquasanas products are sold predominantly online in a direct-to-consumer business model. The 18-year-old company has satisfied hundreds of thousands of consumers via its own website, as well as through online retailers such as Amazon, QVC, Home Depot, and Costco. Aquasanas filters are NSF Certified to reduce 60 common water contaminants including more than 96% of chlorine and chloramines. The company has engineered its water filter components for minimal waste including reusable outer filter casings and filter cartridges made of recyclable parts and compostable materials.

In 2014, Aquasana was recognized by the industry with the Frost & Sullivan Product Line Strategy Leadership Award, as well as the Housewares Executive Gold Innovation Award.

Our products filter 10x more contaminants than Brita, the market share leader, which has empowered our high customer satisfaction and brand loyalty, stated Todd Bartee, Aquasana Chief Executive Officer, who joined the company in 2010 from Dell. We offer our 200,000 active customers the most effective products on the market coupled with the ease of online ordering. In the past five years, we have achieved 50% growth in sales through product innovation, customer acquisition, and new distribution strategies in the U.S. and abroad.

Jon Mansfield, Partner of Praesidian Capital, stated: We are pleased to take part in the $2.7 billion water filtration industry. Aquasana has tapped a niche in an industry focused on health and environment, and we look forward to supporting management and Cattertons vision for strategic growth.

About Aquasana, Inc.
Aquasana is a leading water filtration company based in Austin, TX with the sole focus of providing best-in-class water filtration products. The company markets drinking water filters, shower filters, and whole-home water filter systems that remove over 60 harmful contaminants from water. For more information, please visit www.aquasana.com.

About Praesidian Capital
Praesidian Capital is an innovative private investment firm focused on providing senior and subordinated debt along with growth capital to private lower middle market businesses in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and selectively in Northern Europe. Praesidian invests in established, small and mid-sized companies often in connection with management buyouts, recapitalizations and refinancings. Based in New York City with an office in London, Praesidian manages nearly $1 billion in committed capital. For more information, visit www.praesidian.com.

About Catterton
Catterton is the leading consumer-focused private equity firm with more than $4.0 billion currently under management and a 25-year track record of success in building high growth companies. Since its founding in 1989, Catterton has leveraged its category insight, strategic and operating skills, and network of industry contacts to establish one of the strongest private equity investment track records in the middle market. Catterton invests in all major consumer segments, including Food and Beverage, Retail and Restaurants, Consumer Products and Services, Consumer Health, and Media and Marketing Services. In addition to Aquasana, Catterton’s investments include: Restoration Hardware, Baccarat, PIRCH, John Hardy, Flywheel Sports, CorePower Yoga, Outback Steakhouse, Plum Organics, Mendocino Farms, Noodles & Company, PIADA, Frederic Fekkai, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Wellness and Nature’s Variety pet food, Kettle Foods, Odwalla and P.F. Chang’s, to name a few. More information about Catterton can be found at catterton.com.

Contact: The Abernathy MacGregor Group
(213) 630-6550
Rivian Bell, rlb@abmac.com
Kristin Cole, kec@abmac.com