CVF Invests in Two of the Nation’s Largest Landscape Management Contractors

Central Valley Fund (CVF) announced today it has invested growth capital financing in landscape contractors in Northern California and Nevada

DAVIS, CA (PRWEB) – SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 –

Central Valley Fund (CVF) announced today it has invested growth capital financing in two of the nation’s largest landscape contractors.

The transaction includes equity investments in Coast Landscape Management, based in Napa, CA, and Signature Landscapes, based in Reno/Tahoe, Nevada. The two companies will be merged into a single entity during the 4th quarter of 2017. The combined company will be the 53rd largest landscaper in the United States based on current rankings by Landscape Management Magazine.

The investment was completed in partnership with Lebo Newman, CEO of Signature (and shareholder in both companies), and Kelly Solomon, CEO and shareholder of Coast. Lebo Newman will become Chairman and Kelly Solomon will be CEO of the combined companies. Justin Trimble will be COO. Minority shareholders including Tim Laskowski, Tim Scott and Sal Perez will continue in their management roles at the combined company.

“We are excited to partner with Lebo and Kelly and their teams during their next phase of growth,” said Brad Triebsch, a Managing Partner with CVF. “Professional landscape services are essential to maintain the attractiveness and appeal of properties of all sizes. Both Coast and Signature offer their clients turn-key solutions that continue to win accolades for quality, consistency and personal touch. Through a well-trained, loyal team and the latest industry technology, the companies provide a service level that cannot be matched by smaller providers. In addition to local market growth, both companies will play a significant role in consolidating this industry through accretive acquisitions.”

“We are excited by the opportunities ahead of us,” said Newman. “The CVF team shares our vision for building strong teams and systems to deliver superior service to our customers. Their partnership provides our two teams the opportunity to set the standards for innovation, quality and customer service in our market areas.”

David Ryan of Upton Financial acted as the Financial Advisor to both Signature and Coast in the transaction.

About Coast Landscape Management

Coast Landscape Management offers contracted full-service landscape management to large sites including resorts, business parks, wineries, multi-family properties and public agencies for parks, schools and recreational facilities. Coast is headquartered in Napa, California with regional offices in Concord, Santa Rosa, San Rafael, Sacramento and Roseville. Coast was established in 2005 by Lebo Newman and Robert and Kelly Solomon. Coast has received many industry awards and accolades and recently has been named a “Best Place to Work” in the North Bay for the seventh year. http://www.CoastLM.com

About Signature Landscapes

Signature Landscapes is the largest landscape contracting company in Northern Nevada and designs, builds and maintains landscapes for commercial, residential, hospitality and resort properties in the greater Reno/Tahoe market area. The company’s team of highly trained horticulturists, certified landscape professionals and arborists have received many local and industry awards for excellence, including the recent “Best Landscaper in Northern Nevada” by the Reno News and Review. Signature has been led since its founding by Lebo Newman, a longtime industry veteran who has participated in the growth of several large landscape contracting firms in the Western United States. http://www.signaturelandscapes.net

About Central Valley Fund (CVF)

The Central Valley Fund was established in 2005 to finance later-stage growth and buy outs of small businesses through mezzanine debt and preferred equity investments. The Fund has over $325 million in committed capital and has offices in California – Davis, Fresno and San Diego – and in the Pacific Northwest in Portland, OR. It is focused on making investments in California’s Central Valley and throughout the Western United States. http://www.CVFcapitalpartners.com

Cool Mountain Transport Delivers Essential Goods for America

Off-Spec Solutions Rebrands to Cool Mountain Transport to Reflect an Increased Emphasis on Our Employees and Serving the Broader Transportation Market

Nampa, ID – Off-Spec Solutions, one of Idaho’s premier transportation companies of food products, is rebranding to Cool Mountain Transport effective July 1, 2020. Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Nampa, ID, the company is a leading asset-based over-the-road trucking company that provides refrigerated and dry van transportation services to leading food services companies and agricultural producers throughout the United States.

The name change came about for two reasons. First, Off-Spec Solutions started in the agricultural by-product hauling industry where the company would transport products that were considered non-typical. Hence the name “Off Spec.” While the company still provides these services, the company has also diversified its service offering and now primarily transports food products from their clients’ facilities to America’s distribution facilities and grocery stores.

The second reason for the name change is reflective of the company’s current focus on serving the broader transportation market and of the new management team that was installed shortly after the company received an investment from Central Valley Fund (“CVF”) in late 2018. CVF is a private equity firm that focuses on helping small to medium-sized businesses headquartered in the western United States with an injection of capital for strategic acquisitions, growth financing, among other endeavors. In addition, CVF provides personal attention to their portfolio companies and leverage best practices and corporate governance from their decades of working with similar companies.

CVF Managing Partner, José Blanco, added, “The team has done an exceptional job improving the company culture which is evident in the improved relationships with vendors and client and the overall perception in the marketplace.”

In the Spring of 2019, Tony Powe was hired as CEO to run the company. “The partnership with CVF has provided the company with the financial resources necessary to expand our operational infrastructure and become a more substantial transportation partner for our customers. Additionally, Cool Mountain Transport is a better reflection of our current business and the renewed focus on growing our business and providing expanded transportation solutions to the general marketplace.” The company’s new management team is focused on enhancing the company’s customer support activities, driver hiring and training practices, and overall safety programs. Given the recent improvements in the operations of the company and the new management team’s focus on providing better results for our customers, vendors, and employees, it made sense to rebrand the company as Cool Mountain Transport.

Mr. Powe added, “We’re changing the company culture and are focused on deploying the best equipment, hiring the best drivers, and improving our focus on safety. We strive to be the best transportation provider for our clients, a trusted partner to our vendors, and a long-term home for our employees!”

About Cool Mountain Transport

Cool Mountain Transport was founded in 2009 to provide food and livestock waste by-product hauling. While the Company continued to grow in that field, it diversified its offering to provide additional transportation services and general over-the-road trucking.

Currently, Cool Mountain Transport provides general logistics solutions to a variety of businesses throughout the United States. For over ten years, the Company has partnered with customers by offering reliable, safe, and transparent supply chain solutions. Cool Mountain Transport received an investment by Central Valley Fund in late 2018. For more about Cool Mountain Transport, visit www.coolmountaintransport.com.

About Central Valley Fund

Central Valley Fund was established in 2005 to finance later-stage growth, recaps, and buyout opportunities across the lower middle market. CVF invests both mezzanine debt and preferred equity and has raised $385 million in committed capital across its three funds. The fund has offices throughout California – Davis, Fresno, and San Diego. This geography allows the firm to attend to small businesses seeking capital throughout the broader Western United States. For more information, please visit www.centralvalleyfund.com.

For More Information Contact:

Tony Powe

President and CEO

Cool Mountain Transport

Tel: (208) 475-2500

Cell: (510) 917-6055

Email: tony@coolmtntransport.com

Gary Platt Manufacturing Launches Premium Face Masks

CVF Portfolio Company, Gary Platt, Is Helping Stop The Spread Of COVID-19 With Stylish Premium Face Masks

Over the past few months, the effects of COVID-19 have been disastrous for both families and businesses. As the economy attempts to reopen, it becomes ever more important for individuals and businesses to emphasize health and safety.

Gary Platt Manufacturing, a CVF Capital Partners portfolio company, has leveraged its manufacturing capabilities to begin producing premium, customizable face masks at an affordable price. With safety being the number one priority at the moment, Gary Platt is committed to helping everyone get through this.

About Gary Platt Manufacturing

Gary Platt Manufacturing has been in the gaming seating business since 1996. At the inception, the founders of the company had over 40 years of experience in the gaming seating industry. Gary Platt produces seating exclusively for casinos for their slots, table games, poker, bar-top, sportsbook, bingo, and hospitality seating. The company was founded on the concept that high quality, the comfortable chair would increase player’s “time on device” and as a result, casino revenues. By specializing in casino seating, Gary Platt has become the recognized leader in performance seating by casino customers and casino management. Gary Platt supplies IGT, Bally, Aristocrat, WMS, Multimedia, Aruze, and Konami, amongst others, with seating for their participation games. Gary Platt chairs are in virtually every casino in the US. For more information, please visit https://www.garyplatt.com/

About CVF Capital Partners

CVF Capital Partners was established in 2005 to finance later-stage growth, recaps, and buyout opportunities across the lower middle market. CVF invests both mezzanine debt and preferred equity from the $385 million in committed capital it has raised across three funds. The fund has offices throughout California – Davis, Fresno, and San Diego. This geographical footprint allows the firm to attend to small businesses seeking capital throughout California and the broader Western United States. For more information, please visit https://cvfcapitalpartners.com/

At CVF Capital Partners:

Jose Blanco, Managing Partner: (530) 757 7004 x227

Chris Carleson, VP: (530) 757 7004 x221

SOURCE CVF Capital Partners