Private equity firm Mason Wells announced it closed on the acquisition of Whitehall Specialties, a Wisconsin-based producer of cheese products. The business will be owned by Mason Wells, management and other co-investors.

Co-investors include Northleaf Capital, PPM America, Audax Mezzanine and the management of Whitehall. Senior financing for the transaction was led by BMO Capital Markets, and mezzanine financing was provided by Audax.

Headquartered in Whitehall, Wis., the company is a leader in the production and marketing of custom analog and processed cheese products. Analog, or imitation, cheese is used in a variety of food processing, food service, and retail applications.

“Mason Wells is delighted to be partnering with Whitehall Specialties to continue expanding its market reach and developing new products,” said Greg Myers, senior managing director of Mason Wells.

Mason Wells is a Midwest-based private equity firm that manages more than $800 million of capital through the Mason Wells Buyout Funds. Since 1982, Mason Wells has closed more than 80 transactions through the Mason Wells Buyout Funds and its predecessor funds. The firm focuses its investments in the consumer packaged goods, packaging materials & converting, engineered products & services and outsourced business services industries.