Livingstone, an independent, international investment banking firm, announced that Aurora Casket Company, Inc. has been acquired by private equity firm Kohlberg & Company, LLC. Livingstone acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Aurora. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Aurora is an independent manufacturer, marketer and distributor of funeral products. The company complements its core offering of metal and hardwood caskets with a wide breadth of cremation caskets, urns, memorial stationary, grave markers, and other funeral supplies and services. This comprehensive solution delivers a compelling value proposition that increases revenue, enhances profitability, and improves client satisfaction for Aurora’s funeral service customers.

“Over its 120-plus year history, Aurora has focused exclusively on providing the highest quality products and services to its customers,” commented Aurora board member Jerry Reichert. “Aurora is excited to partner with such a well respected institution that is equally committed to funeral service and our purpose of helping to create an honorable closure to every life.”

“The partnership between Aurora and Kohlberg creates a powerful force in the funeral products industry,” commented Livingstone managing director Andy Isgrig, who heads the U.S. industrial practice. “Aurora is well positioned to continue its market share growth in the industry.”

Aurora represents Livingstone’s 20th closed transaction and the sixth sale to a U.S.-based private equity firm in 2012. Kohlberg joins American Securities, JZ International, Incline Equity Partners, Lindsay Goldberg, and Waveland Investments as recent PE counterparties to Livingstone transactions.

Kohlberg is a U.S. private equity firm that acquires middle-market companies (valued from $100 million to $750 million).

Livingstone is an independent, international investment banking firm focused on M&A, capital raising and special situations transactions with values up to $500 million.