IDAHO FALLS — Kyäni, Inc., an Idaho Falls-based wellness company, has been acquired by Amare Global, an Irvine, California-based mental wellness company.
the the acquisition was announced on Tuesday and is effective immediately.
“As we searched for the right next step for Kyäni, I wanted to ensure that Kyäni’s vision could continue and set our business partners up for optimal success,” Kyäni co-founder Carl Taylor said in a press release. “It’s not a mistake that we ended up at Amare Global, whose name translates to ‘love’.”
Kyani was founded in 2006 by Taylor, Kirk Hansen and Jim Hansen, who “set out to create a company that would bring hope and wellness to as many people as possible,” the press release says. The direct selling business operates in more than 50 countries and in more than 20 languages.
The Hansen brothers, along with seven other family members, died in a plane crash after a 2019 hunting trip in South Dakota.
“Myself, Kirk and Jim never waver in our values of integrity, loyalty and hard work,” said Taylor. “I believe this strategic partnership with Amare will help propel Kyäni into an exciting new chapter and further fulfill our mission of bringing hope, health and wellness to the world.”
I will love global was founded in 2018 by Hiep Tran and focuses on creating products that “support mental wellness through the gut-brain axis.” The company takes a holistic approach to wellness that includes products, programs and people.
“Today we welcome the amazing Kyäni community to our Amare community with open arms,” Tran said in a statement. “The full name of our company is Amare Global, and this acquisition and strategic partnership will allow us to deliver on the global vision I have always had for Amare at a faster pace. It was also imperative that Kyäni’s values and mission align with our own, and we are confident that they will.”
About 6% of Kyäni employees worldwide, including some in Idaho, were laid off as part of the acquisition, company spokeswoman Andrea Neipp confirms to EastIdahoNews.com. Those affected received severance pay.
It’s unclear how the eastern Idaho operations will be affected by the acquisition, but Neipp says office locations and employee needs are being evaluated during the transition process. With the acquisition, Amare will employ 360 people worldwide.
“I truly believe that this strategic partnership with Amare will help achieve the vision that Kyäni’s founders set out to accomplish. We look forward to this next evolution of growth and are motivated to align forces with a like-minded partner whose team brings leadership and experience unmatched in the industry,” said Kyäni CEO Katy Holt-Larsen.
Taylor and his wife Linda, along with Rebecca Hansen and LeAnn Hansen, widows of Kirk and Jim Hansen, will continue as shareholders in Amare. Taylor will also serve on the company’s board of directors.
