Harris Williams Advises Pink Lily on its Investment from Cortec Group

RICHMOND, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces it advised Pink Lily on its investment from an affiliate of Cortec Group (Cortec). Founded in 2014, Pink Lily is one of the fastest growing online women’s lifestyle brands in the country. The transaction was led by Ryan Budlong, Corey Benjamin, Beau Pierce, and Dylan Digmon of the Harris Williams Consumer Group and Keith Zukowski of the firm’s Richmond office.

“Since its founding, Pink Lily has created a highly engaged social community to become one of the fastest growing digitally native lifestyle brands in America. It has been a pleasure working with Pink Lily founders Tori and Chris Gerbig and the entire Pink Lily team to help find a growth-focused partner in Cortec to continue scaling the brand,” said Ryan Budlong, a managing director at Harris Williams.

“The continued shift online in the apparel and accessories space has attracted significant interest from investors seeking to back differentiated brands of scale with clear runway to continue expanding. Tori and Chris have created a unique and authentic brand with deep knowledge of its core audience, and we look forward to watching Pink Lily’s continued success,” added Corey Benjamin, a managing director at Harris Williams.

Pink Lily is a leading e-commerce platform, featuring a wide assortment of women's clothing, shoes and accessories. Headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Pink Lily is led by husband-and-wife co-founders Tori and Chris Gerbig.

Founded in 1984, Cortec invests in middle market specialty direct-to-consumer products and services, distribution, and healthcare products and services companies in partnership with founders, owners, and management teams who want to work with Cortec to drive growth and improve business fundamentals.

Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC).

The Harris Williams Consumer Group has completed transactions across a variety of verticals, including branded consumer products; consumer services; food, beverage and agribusiness; and restaurant and retail. For more information on the Harris Williams Consumer Group and recent transactions, visit the Consumer Group’s section of the Harris Williams website.

Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 8th Floor, 20 Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AB, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: [e-mail]). Geschäftsführer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. DE321666994). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business.