SAN FRANCISCO, CA, June 13, 2008 – Demeter Group, an investment bank focused on three consumer verticals, food, beverage and beauty, served as advisor to San Francisco Equity Partners and Simon Equity Partners on their investments in Yes To Carrots, an innovative, high growth natural personal care company. Both funds participated in a $14 million Series A funding round that Yes To Carrots recently announced it has closed, and which was led by San Francisco Equity Partners.

San Francisco Equity Partners is a private equity firm, and Simon Equity Partners is the private investment arm of the Simon family, founders of Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG).

"We identified Yes To Carrots as an exciting category innovator last year and were pleased when subsequently both investment firms retained us to advise them on the transaction," said Jeff Menashe, CEO at San Francisco-based Demeter Group. "Our industry expertise and relationships with the leading masstige and prestige beauty retailers around the globe allowed us to fine-tune projections for the company’s multi-channel distribution strategy."

Yes To Carrots was founded in Israel two years ago by Ido Leffler and Lance Karish, and introduced its products in the U.S. in April 2007 through an exclusive national sales arrangement with Walgreens. Yes To Carrots is currently in the process of moving its headquarters to San Francisco, and carefully broadening its distribution to other retail thought leaders. The company formulated and markets all-natural products containing Beta-carotene, which is derived from such natural and organic ingredients as carrots and other orange fruits and vegetables. These are combined with detoxifying Dead Sea mud and minerals to create a paraben-free formula that provides a natural glow for skin and hair. Next month, the company is launching product extensions with Walgreens for different skin types.

"Consumers clearly are increasingly concerned about paraben and other chemicals used in their personal care products and consequently are turning to natural products. We identified this trend early on at Sephora where I was part of senior team that made the strategic decision to give natural brands prime importance in the skincare planogram," says Jani Friedman, a Demeter Group Managing Director with 20 years brand development experience in the beauty and fashion industries, and who previously was Vice President and Divisional Merchandise Manager of Skincare at Sephora USA. "Natural products are growing at a double-digit annual rate and is now a $7.2 billion category, or roughly 7% of the personal care industry, which, by contrast, is today a much slower single-digit growing business."

Since offering its products through Walgreens, which remains the company’s largest customer, Yes To Carrots is now also sold by Target, Duane Reade and Longs Drug Stores as well as via the Home Shopping Network and beauty products retailer Ulta, among others. Yes To Carrots is also sold in 16 countries internationally.

The new capital will be used to finance the company’s growth which includes expanding its world-class management team. "This is an important step for us, and we are especially pleased to have the participation and support of knowledgeable investors like Simon Equity Partners and San Francisco Equity Partners, who as key investors are helping guide Method Products, a successful marketer of non-toxic, biodegradable products for the home that’s been ranked among the top 10 fastest-growing companies," said Leffler and Karish.

"Yes To Carrots has all the attributes – superior products, an experienced management team and a solid game plan – to succeed in the natural personal care market," said Steven Simon. "Demeter Group’s expertise in the vertical was especially helpful to us in defining the company’s potential, and their assistance will be valuable going forward."