Lotion maker relocating operations to Indianapolis

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Indianapolis-based Sunshine Manufacturing LLC, a producer of tanning lotions, announced on Friday morning that it plans to add up to 180 jobs through 2015 by relocating a manufacturing facility to the city from Tempe, Ariz.

The company is a subsidiary of New Sunshine LLC, which is owned by an investment group led by former Conseco Inc. CEO Stephen Hilbert.

Headquartered near West 71st Street and Interstate 465, New Sunshine said it will invest $4.4 million to upgrade and equip a 105,000-square-foot building at 4760 Kentucky Ave. on Indianapolis’ south-west side.

New Sunshine, which has 220 employees at three locations nationwide, plans to begin hiring for manufacturing and administrative positions in the spring, when the facility is expected to be operational. The plant will serve as the company’s primary manufacturing facility in North America.

The jobs are expected to pay an average wage of $13.30 an hour, according to city documents. New Sunshine is seeking a 10-year property-tax abatement from the city to help offset its investment. The Metropolitan Development Commission will consider the request during a Feb. 1 meeting.

The Indiana Economic Development Corp. said it will provide Sunshine Manufacturing up to $900,000 in performance-based tax credits and up to $75,000 in training grants based on the company’s job-creation plans.

During the life of the abatement, the company should save about $163,422 in property taxes while paying roughly $109,728, according to the city.

Founded in 1987, New Sunshine has grown to become the leading supplier of tanning lotions to the more than 12,000 indoor tanning salons across the country. Its brands include Australian Gold, Designer Skin, Swedish Beauty and California Tan.

Hilbert’s group purchased New Sunshine in 2005. The group, MH Private Equity Fund LLC, is financially backed by retail billionaire John Menard.

 

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