Partnering with Business Owners to Accelerate Growth & Build Shareholder Value Flexibly-Structured Equity + Debt Capital Solutions
About
Owners of lower middle market companies partner with Pacific Growth Investors* (PGI) when they need $5 million to $25 million in capital from a financial partner with deep operating experience to achieve their growth strategies.
Our flexibly-structured equity plus debt capital solutions facilitate organic growth, acquisitions and recapitalizations for Precision Manufacturing, Business Services, Technology and Industrial companies.
* PGI is the successor firm to Vintage Capital Partners.
“Pacific Growth Investors is the first private equity firm I’ve dealt with that really understands our business and acts as a true partner. They are great board members, providing the right balance of oversight without being over-bearing.” Bob Leaming, CEO, Spectra Aerospace
Approach
We invest in businesses led by experienced, proven management teams seeking a collaborative financial sponsor.
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Our investment evaluation and diligence process uncovers areas where we can enhance enterprise value during the investment period.
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Our flexibility in structuring transactions with a combination of preferred equity, common equity, senior secured debt and subordinated debt provides business owners with the capital they need without giving up operating control of their companies.
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Our collaborative relationship with management as their financial sponsor results in well-defined, sustainable strategies that drive value creation.
“Pacific Growth Investors quickly impressed me by their integrity. They delivered a capital structure that meets everybody’s goals, rewarding legacy management if projections are met while providing downside protection for new money.” James Miller, CEO & Chairman, ConQuest Firespray
Investment Guidelines
PGI, the successor firm to Vintage Capital Partners, has been providing flexibly-structured equity plus debt solutions to lower middle market companies since 2003. As the control financial sponsor, we structure majority or significant minority equity investments pursuant to the following guidelines:
Identified Growth Opportunities: organic, acquisitions, geographic expansion, product development
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Attractive Expanding Margins
Geography
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Western U.S.
Sustainable Investing
PGI focuses on generating top quartile investment results though adhering to its investment thesis of partnering with successful, capable, and ethical business owners who are seeking to evolve their businesses for long term success. PGI believes that by investing via flexible capital alternatives and providing operational expertise to each investment, it is contributing to long-term sustainable value creation and mitigating risks for all stakeholders across the investment continuum, from portfolio company employees to our investors.
PGI continually strives to improve and build upon the opportunities for value creation and risk mitigation, with a focus on developing durability and sustainability at all PGI companies. We believe the keys to achieving this objective are rooted in securing profitability of each enterprise. This starts with attracting and retaining key people in each organization and reducing risk, including environmental risk, through improvements in business processes. In essence, Profits, People, and the Planet are viewed as key principles of our investment approach.
Profitability
Growing shareholder value starts with creating a profitable and sustainable enterprise, one that can reinvest back into its business, people, and surrounding community. This reinvestment includes but not limited to vocational training, tuition assistance, health and retirement benefits, employee career development, as well as facility improvements including energy and waste reductions. PGI aims to partner in situations where its expertise can aid in the development of viable, profitable enterprises that generate the resources to have a long-term impact in the areas where they operate.
People
PGI believes that a focus on sustainability and social responsibility are key aspects to attracting and retaining key talent in any organization. By offering equitable pay, job training, attractive and broad benefits, and educational opportunities while creating jobs for underrepresented people and fostering overall inclusiveness in the workplace, both PGI and our portfolio companies create greater value for all stakeholders.
Planet
The opportunities to mitigate risks for any business includes how best it identifies and uses the resources around it, including the physical environment. At Spectra, PGI partnered with management to help rebuild and improve two manufacturing facilities utilizing state of the art equipment and improved processes to decrease energy use and reduce the environmental impact to the community.
In summary, PGI focuses on establishing a collaborative relationship with our business owners who serve as partners as we strive to meet our overall investment objectives. Through these relationships, PGI seeks to find opportunities and develop strategies that not only enhance the profitability of each business but recognize that long-term value creation is a product of reinvesting in our people along with improving the utilization of resources that contribute to improving the planet.
PGI’s co-founding managing partners together have invested nearly $300 million across 14 companies in three funds since 2003. Their aggregate experience coupled with that of PGI’s operating partners exceeds 100 years of value creation for lower middle market companies as investors, board members and operators.
“Pacific Growth Investors is a patient partner that provides us with much more than just capital. The PGI team is instrumental in helping us navigate the opportunities and challenges experienced by every business. They listen carefully and provide access to a deep bench of experts.” Jeff Scheinrock, CFO, Originate, Inc.
Mark co-founded Pacific Growth Investors (PGI) and its predecessor fund, Vintage Capital Partners (VCP), to accelerate value creation at lower middle market companies as their control financial sponsor. He co-manages all aspects of PGI’s investing activities, including fundraising, business development, transaction structuring, due diligence, portfolio management and exit strategies. Mark developed the firm’s investment strategy after initiating the formation of VCP in 2002, and served as the Chair of VCP’s investment committee.
Mark serves on the boards of PGI portfolio companies Spectra Aerospace (Lanic Aerospace) and Emerge Diagnostics, and leads Originate, Inc.’s operating committee. He was on the boards and/or operating committees of VCP portfolio companies eScreen, Inc., Avioserv San Diego, Lubricating Specialties Company, ATS, PlayNetwork, PCA Aerospace, Sandel Avionics and True Position Technologies.
Prior to founding VCP, Mark was a partner at Levine Leichtman Capital Partners responsible for the origination, evaluation and due diligence process for new investment opportunities. He led the West Coast credit product portfolio and was a member of the Healthcare Industry Group for CS First Boston’s corporate investment banking group. Mark began his career in commercial banking, providing leveraged loan products to lower middle market businesses.
Mark has been a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, Pepperdine University and the UCLA Anderson School of Management, and has presented at the Association for Corporate Growth and other organizations. Mark earned his M.B.A. from Pepperdine University and his B.A. from the University of California, Berkeley.
Tom co-founded Pacific Growth Investors (PGI) as the successor fund to Vintage Capital Partners (VCP). He co-manages all aspects of PGI’s investing activities, including fundraising, business development, transaction structuring, due diligence, portfolio management and exit strategies. During his 10 years at VCP, Tom was on the investment committee and was responsible for portfolio monitoring.
Tom serves on the boards of PGI portfolio companies Spectra Aerospace (Lanic Aerospace) and Emerge Diagnostics, and is a member of ConQuest Firespray’s operating committee. He was on the boards and/or operating committees of VCP portfolio companies Avioserv San Diego, Lubricating Specialties Company, ATS, PCA Aerospace, Sandel Avionics and True Position Technologies.
Prior to joining VCP in 2007, Tom was a member of the investment team at Graham Partners, a private equity firm focused on middle market industrial technology and advanced manufacturing companies. He left Graham Partners to serve on the senior management team of a lower middle market company as director of operations. Tom began his career at Arthur Andersen, Transaction Services Group providing due diligence for financial and strategic buyers. He earned his B.A. from Northwestern University.
Bob joined Pacific Growth Investors (PGI) in 2016 after working closely with the firm’s principals as CEO and a director of their funds’ portfolio companies. In his role as Operating Partner, Bob applies over twenty five years of C-level experience at public and private companies to provide valuable operating and financial guidance to PGI portfolio companies as a board member and advisor. He also participates in the investment evaluation, due diligence and portfolio monitoring processes.
PGI Managing Partner Mark Sampson and Bob initiated their relationship in 2003 when Bob was CEO and a director of eScreen, one of Vintage Capital Partners’ (VCP’s) earliest investments. Under Bob’s leadership during VCP’s investment period, eScreen achieved tremendous organic growth and completed domestic and cross-border strategic acquisitions. VCP realized its investment in eScreen through its successful sale to a public company in 2012.
Bob currently is CEO of Emerge Diagnostics, a medical diagnostics technology company. He approached PGI in 2016 to discuss management’s growth objectives and the company’s capital needs, resulting in PGI’s successful investment in Emerge. Therafter, Bob joined the board of VCP portfolio company Sandel Avionics in 2016 to provide strategic guidance to the growing company.
Bob began his career in consulting and has held significant management positions at both public and private companies, including COO and CFO of LabOne. He earned his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and his B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Tim joined Pacific Growth Investors (PGI) in 2016 after working closely with the firm’s principals as a director of their funds’ portfolio companies. In his role as Operating Partner, Tim leverages twenty five years of experience in the C-suites of growth companies to assess prospective investments in the evaluation and due diligence process, and advise portfolio companies.
Tim and PGI’s principals initiated their relationship in 2006 when they were directors of Vintage Capital Partners portfolio company eScreen. Tim joined the board of Lubricating Specialties Company, a VCP portfolio company, in 2016 to provide strategic guidance.
Tim currently is President and CEO of Accurate Background. His deep experience as a C-level executive includes: USIS, President of Commercial Division; INPUT, President and CEO; and, Current Analysis, President and CEO. Tim began his career at General Electric. He earned his M.B.A. from Emory University and his B.S. from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Austin Lindsey
Associate
Austin is a dedicated member of the investment team where he focuses on the due diligence and evaluation of new investments and participates in the monitoring of portfolio companies.
Before joining PGI, Austin was a manager at Ernst & Young (EY), where he was a member of the Strategy & Transactions practice providing valuation and modeling services on numerous engagements primarily for clients in the technology, hospitality, and healthcare industries. Prior to rejoining EY, Austin was an associate for National Veterinary Associates in their Business Operations group, where he performed operational and financial analysis and developed strategic operational plans for management and the board of directors. Austin started his career with EY as an Analyst.
Austin earned his B.S. in Business Administration, with a major in Finance, from the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder.
Starr Companies Announces Agreement with Emerge Diagonstics, LLC for Defense Base Act Clients.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starr Companies today announced an agreement with Emerge Diagnostics, LLC helping clients by offering objective evidence to the pathology of an injury. This will provide a more definitive overall diagnosis of an injured employee. Emerge Diagnostics can provide medical professionals valuable information and help employees return to work in a timely fashion...
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Jan 17, 2018
Originate Receives Strategic Investment from Pacific Growth Investors to Fuel Growth and Global Expansion.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Originate, Inc. - a software innovation studio partnering with high-profile startups and leading global brands - has received an investment from Pacific Growth Investors, LLC. With offices in the United States and Europe, Originate has achieved record revenue growth of over 50% in 2017 and will use the proceeds for working capital and international expansion...
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Dec 29, 2017
Pacific Growth Investors caps a successful 2017 with the sale of True Position Technologies.
Torrance, California – Pacific Growth Investors, LLC (“PGI”) has announced the sale of portfolio company True Position Technologies, LLC (“TPT”) to HBD Industries. The sale marks the first realization from Vintage Capital Partners II, LP, a fund managed by PGI...
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Jan 23, 2018
Starr Companies Announces Agreement with Emerge Diagonstics, LLC for Defense Base Act Clients.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Starr Companies today announced an agreement with Emerge Diagnostics, LLC helping clients by offering objective evidence to the pathology of an injury. This will provide a more definitive overall diagnosis of an injured employee. Emerge Diagnostics can provide medical professionals valuable information and help employees return to work in a timely fashion.
Starr Companies Announces Agreement With @emergedx:
“Our partnership with Emerge Diagnostics provides us with cutting-edge technology to help reduce lost time from work, improve patient care, provide better quality of life for employees and help insureds with ADA and EEOC compliancy,” stated Kevin McCracken, vice president, defense base act.
About Starr Companies:
Starr Companies (or Starr) is the worldwide marketing name for the operating insurance and travel assistance companies and subsidiaries of Starr International Company, Inc. and for the investment business of C. V. Starr & Co., Inc. and its subsidiaries. Starr is a leading insurance and investment organization with a presence on five continents; through its operating insurance companies, Starr provides property, casualty, and accident and health insurance products as well as a range of specialty coverages including aviation, marine, energy and excess casualty insurance. Starr’s insurance company subsidiaries domiciled in the U.S., Bermuda, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and U.K. each have an A.M. Best rating of “A” (Excellent). Starr’s Lloyd’s syndicate has a Standard & Poor’s rating of “A+” (Strong).
Jan 17, 2018
Originate Receives Strategic Investment from Pacific Growth Investors to Fuel Growth and Global Expansion.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Originate, Inc. - a software innovation studio partnering with high-profile startups and leading global brands - has received an investment from Pacific Growth Investors, LLC.
With offices in the United States and Europe, Originate has achieved record revenue growth of over 50% in 2017 and will use the proceeds for working capital and international expansion. Originate accelerates the design and delivery of next generation software solutions with a focus on time to market, scalability, and business impact.
“Originate works with some of the world's most sophisticated companies to leverage the power of modern technologies and navigate the increasingly complex digital and business ecosystem,” said Brent Cohen, CEO of Originate, Inc. “This investment, coupled with our exceptional talent, will allow us to scale our expertise and ultimately help our partners build and maintain their competitive advantage.”
“We are excited to partner with Originate in support of their growth goals,” said Mark Sampson, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Pacific Growth Investors. “Originate is a leader in its field and has partnered with cutting-edge companies in financial services, media, and technology to develop new and innovative software products. We continue to believe that information technology will be transformational in the near term, and that Originate’s services will be in high demand.”
About Originate:
Originate designs, builds, and scales transformative technology products. Founded in 2007, we have offices based in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Newport Beach, Las Vegas, New York, and Berlin. We partner with large enterprises to build revolutionary new products and reimagine legacy systems, and with high growth startups to help them accelerate their vision and create competitive advantage. Our model includes bolstering innovation labs, embedding agile teams in partner companies to drive rapid change from within, and designing and developing products from concept to launch.
Pacific Growth Investors is a private equity investment firm headquartered in Torrance, California, that completes structured growth equity investments as the sponsor of entrepreneurially owned, lower middle market businesses. The principals of PGI have over fifty years of combined financial and operational experience across a variety of businesses. Our focus is to partner with experienced owners, operators and founders of established businesses who seek flexible, patient capital solutions and a value-added partner that can provide financial, operational and strategic assistance. We combine our industry knowledge and insights to guide owners through growth opportunities with an aim towards enhancing shareholder value.
Pacific Growth Investors caps a successful 2017 with the sale of True Position Technologies.
Torrance, California – Pacific Growth Investors, LLC (“PGI”) has announced the sale of portfolio company True Position Technologies, LLC (“TPT”) to HBD Industries. The sale marks the first realization from Vintage Capital Partners II, LP, a fund managed by PGI.
Headquartered in Valencia, California, TPT is a leading manufacturer of precision components for flight control applications used in a wide array of commercial and military aircraft. Founded in 1990 by Allen Sumian, TPT was well known by its blue-chip customer base for its service, design prowess and expertise in the machining of tight tolerance, mission critical parts.
“We have been extremely fortunate to have partnered with the team from PGI. Their support and counsel has helped our growth tremendously,” said Allen Sumian, President and CEO of TPT, “From the very beginning, they took the time to understand our business and objectives. They were there with us every step of the way and their support and guidance that has helped us grow and expand to better serve our customers.”
“It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to work closely with Allen and the dedicated and talented team at TPT,” said Thomas Webster, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of PGI, “We are proud of the fact that TPT is well positioned for future growth and are pleased to be able to deliver another successful financial realization for our investors through this transaction.”
TPT was advised on the transaction by Houlihan Lokey and Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP was counsel to the Company. Vintage was represented by Venable LLP.
About PGI:
Pacific Growth Investors is a private equity investment firm headquartered in Torrance, California, that completes structured growth equity investments as the sponsor of entrepreneurially owned, lower middle market businesses. The principals of PGI have over fifty years of combined financial and operational experience across a variety of businesses. Our focus is to partner with experienced owners, operators and founders of established businesses who seek flexible, patient capital solutions and a value-added partner that can provide financial, operational and strategic assistance. We combine our industry knowledge and insights to guide owners through growth opportunities with an aim towards enhancing shareholder value.
