Serta is a company based in Hoffman Estates, Illinois that specializes in making mattresses. It was founded in 1931 by 13 mattress manufacturers who licensed the Serta name; subsequently eight independent licensees acting like a cooperative owned the company. After which, it was controlled and operated as Serta International by its largest licensee, National Bedding Company, (which ultimately held 27 of the 34 U.S. Serta manufacturing licenses).[1] In 2005, two private equity groups teamed up to purchase National Bedding Co.--The Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund, the Los Angeles-based private equity fund of Ares Management; and Teachers’ Private Capital, the private equity arm of the Ontario (Canada) Teachers’ Pension Plan.[2]
Serta is the second largest mattress brand in the United States, after Sealy Corporation, and offers two major types of mattresses - latex and inner-spring. Serta products are used extensively in the lodging industry, with Hilton Worldwide and Wyndham Worldwide among its customers. Serta mattresses are also offered on cable home shopping channel ShopNBC.
The company is famous for its "Counting Sheep" advertising campaign which were animated by Aardman Animations.[3]
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