Private companies with distinct organic growth opportunities are often constrained by a lack of working capital and substantial capital expenditure needs. Bank financing of working capital is typically limited to formulaic amounts without credit for projected future receivables or inventory growth. Similarly, capital expenditure loans usually require meaningful equity contributions – capital that is precious to businesses that are growing. We provide debt and equity-based growth capital solutions that are focused on a company’s cash flow and enterprise value rather than asset characteristics. Historically we’ve provided growth capital to our partner companies for uses as varied as existing facility expansion, large capital equipment purchases, roll-outs of de novo locations, and excess working capital, among other things. We look to value creation, not orderly liquidation value, as the driver of our returns, and we consider the equity value already created in a business as a meaningful part of our evaluation. Similarly, our securities are structured such that we are rewarded for growth of our partner companies, not simply for capital deployed.
Contact UsStrategic acquisitions are a foundational growth strategy for many lower middle market businesses, whether for product line diversification, vertical integration, market share accretion, or operational leverage purposes. Acquisitions of meaningful scale are often not achievable solely through a combination of senior debt, seller financing and the purchasing company’s captive equity resources. Our capital can be used to fill the financing gap that often exists in private company acquisitions in a substantially more cost-effective manner than taking on a pure minority equity partner. We know that in most cases, business owners are under significant pressure to meet pre-established deadlines and we understand that sourcing financing generally isn’t management’s primary consideration as they diligence what often is the most important strategic decision of their career. We work seamlessly with company management in these situations not only to provide capital expeditiously but also to act as an outsourced diligence, analytical and strategic resource to facilitate a smoother and more informed acquisition closing process.
Contact UsAs a manager of limited life funds, we know that all capital is not permanent. Bank loans mature, and most private capital funds typically have 5-7 year investment windows. For management teams and business owners, such relatively short time horizons don’t always comport with their longer-term plans. Our capital can be used as a solution to recapitalize any combination of company’s senior debt, subordinated debt, warrants, preferred equity or common equity as the needs arise – typically to either to repay the face value of current indebtedness or to enable a company to repurchase certain of its existing warrants or equity at a pre-negotiated value. Depending on the specific recapitalization needs and cash flow profile of the business, often times we can lower the company’s cost of capital by employing debt or debt-like preferred equity securities and allow more of the company’s common equity value to accrue back to remaining shareholders.
Contact UsThe desire to exit simultaneously is not always mutually shared in businesses with multiple shareholders. Age differences, risk tolerances, and personal goals all play a part in each individual’s exit calculus. For example, members of a management team who desire to continue working may wish to purchase the interests of an inactive partner. Or, to preserve a company’s culture and values, a majority owner may want to reward minority shareholders and/or management with the opportunity to purchase their company at a negotiated value rather than sell to a third party. Alternatively, a parent may want to sell their stake in the family business to his or her children. Our capital is matched well for these types of situations where an individual shareholder or shareholders look to effect an ownership transition but do not personally have the funds to do so. Our flexible debt and equity transaction structures often enable the purchasing party to move from a minority position to a substantial majority position with the ability to repurchase our equity interests and gain 100% ownership in 5-7 years.
Contact UsWe realize that access to capital doesn’t necessarily make one a good investor, and by the same token, there are good investors out there who lack a dedicated pool of capital. We have come to know that often times, such “independent sponsors” have leads on transaction opportunities that are off-market, priced below market, and/or in an industry in which the principals have deep prior experience and relationships. We understand the value in such opportunities and can provide capital, analytical and reputational support to the independent sponsors that source and manage them. For such opportunities, we are willing to offer market compensation – typically in the form of an ongoing management fee and upside economics commensurate with value creation.
Contact UsAt some point during the careers of most business owners, wealth diversification inevitably becomes a primary focus. For many, the next logical decision is whether or not to sell. We’ve been around long enough to know that there are other considerations which make the decision more nuanced, and more importantly, that it doesn’t have to be binary. Perhaps the owner is looking to take advantage of a personal investment opportunity that requires a specific amount of capital, provide financial support to a family member in need, or simply contribute a meaningful amount of money to their children’s college fund. We’ve seen them all. For owners who look to achieve similar types of personal objectives while maintaining majority control of their business, our capital can provide a less dilutive and more flexible alternative to an outright sale in the form of a shareholder dividend or distribution.
Contact UsTake a look at some of the companies we’ve helped over the years.
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