LightRiver Acquired by Leading Private Investment Firm

WASHINGTON, D.C. [April 4, 2022] —Grain Management, LLC (“Grain” or the “Firm”), a leading private investment firm exclusively focused on broadband technology and the global communications sector, announced today it has acquired LightRiver’s Technologies & Software entities, comprising a premier optical network integration solution provider to the telecommunications, utilities, datacenter and cloud industries.

Since its establishment in 1998, LightRiver has delivered over $1 billion in carrier-grade transport network solutions, including certified design, professional staging services, deployment services, and network automation products to over 150 clients in North America and Europe. The business offers full lifecycle hardware, software, services, and support solutions in multi-technology networking. It specializes in the design, procurement, delivery, and ongoing technical support of heterogenous transport networks and the open software tools to discover, monitor, provision and control multi-vendor packet optical networks.

“Grain’s focus on connectivity makes them an ideal partner. Their support positions LightRiver to build on our market and technology leadership while enhancing the commitment to our customers and partners, and enabling teammates in those key markets,” states Glenn Johansen, LightRiver Founder and CEO. “We look forward to leveraging Grain’s market, management, and financial strengths to grow our platform and expand our solution portfolio and customer base.”

“We’ve been deeply impressed by the strong technical capabilities and compelling offerings the LightRiver team brings to a fast-growing segment,” said Michael McKenzie, Managing Director at Grain. “We look forward to partnering with this deep and talented team to advance their services and software platform.”

Grain acquired LightRiver from CVF Capital Partners and Plexus Capital. Cowen and Company, LLC served as exclusive financial adviser to LightRiver, CVF and Plexus in the transaction and Donahue Fitzgerald LLP served as legal counsel. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, LLP served as legal counsel to Grain in connection with the transaction. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Grain Management

Grain Management, LLC is a leading private investment firm that focuses on broadband infrastructure and technology companies that connect the world to the information economy. Founded in 2007, Grain invests exclusively in the telecommunications sector, employing a rigorous, data-based process buoyed by deep industry expertise to identify investment opportunities in key areas of telecommunications infrastructure, including fiber networks, wireless spectrum, and cell towers. For more information visit www.graingp.com.

About LightRiver

LightRiver is the premier provider of next generation, multi-vendor, Factory Built Networks® and netFLEX® vendor neutral, Optical Domain Control Software solutions. LightRiver is an expert in Packet Optical, DWDM/ROADM, MPLS and Carrier Ethernet systems and designs, engineers, commissions, automates and supports next generation, software controlled, transport networks for mission-critical clients that require the highest capacity, reliability, resiliency and manageability that today’s optical communications technology can deliver. LightRiver delivers unique value with turnkey hardware and software solutions, carrier-grade quality and unparalleled customer care in multi-technology networking. For additional information about LightRiver, please visit www.lightriver.com

Contacts:

LightRiver Public Relations Jaymie Scotto & Associates (JSA) +1 888.695.3620 ext. 6 pr@jsa.net

Grain Management Public Relations PR@graingp.com

CVF Capital Partners Announces New Investment in Vege Labs, LLC

Vege Labs Takes on Private Equity Investment to Fund Growth

San Diego, CA (March 25, 2021)- Vege Labs, LLC (“Vege Labs” or the “Company”, previously Vege Kurl, Inc.), a leading value-added formulator and manufacturing partner for personal care products using organic and natural ingredients for leading brands, announces it has received a strategic investment from Hemingway Capital (“Hemingway”) and middle market private equity firm, CVF Capital Partners Capital (“CVF Capital Partners”). With its new partners, Vege Labs plans to accelerate its organic growth and pursue acquisitions that will expand its product and service offerings for their clients.

For over six decades, Vege Labs has manufactured a wide variety of products in the personal care industry, with extended capabilities in the household cleaning and pet care arenas. The Company specializes in being a value-added partner for companies selling hair care and skincare solutions, hand sanitizers, fragrances and other alcohol-based products, as well as OTC, topical ointments, and botanical extracts.

“We are very excited to partner with CVF Capital Partners as we focus on our next phase of growth,” said John Matise, CEO of Vege Labs. “Both Hemingway and CVF Capital Partners bring extensive industry experience that we can leverage to further advance our business and meet the growing needs of our clients.”

“We chose Hemingway and CVF Capital Partners because of the strong alignment of culture, commitment to management teams, proven track record of investing and helping the businesses they acquire, and a parallel vision for the natural and sustainable products industry,” added John Matise, Chairman and shareholder.

“Vege Kurl has significantly expanded its product and market reach while demonstrating a high level of service and commitment to the customers they serve. We are delighted that they chose to partner with Hemingway and CVF,” said Stefan Okhuysen, Partner at CVF Capital Partners.

About Vege Labs, LLC: Headquartered in Glendale, CA., Vege Labs was founded in the 1950s as a private label contract manufacturing partner and formulator of high-quality cosmetic, cosmeceutical, health & beauty, and household products. The Company provides a wide range of products such as: shampoos, conditioners, hairsprays, serums, permanent waves and relaxers, skincare creams and lotions, alcohol-based products such as hand sanitizers, colognes, and fragrances, OTC products, plus spa and esthetics products. Our expertise even lends itself to pet care and household cleaning products.

The Company’s sister company, Vege Tech, is a Certified Organic company that offers many natural botanical technologies as well as marketing savvy to customers wishing to create leading edge products with a Natural or Organic marketing flair. We strive to build a more sustainable world through natural products, lower waste, and involvement in saving the Amazonian Rainforest. http://www.vegelabs.com/

CVF Invests With Management in Gary Platt Manufacturing

CVF Capital Partners announced today the acquisition, alongside management, of Gary Platt Manufacturing (GP) (https://www.garyplatt.com), based in Reno, NV. 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 a high quality, 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.

The casino and gaming industries have benefited from several recent legal changes and promises to be a growing sector. In May 2018, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling finding the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) unconstitutional, freeing states to decide for themselves whether to legalize sports betting. To date, residents in fourteen states are now able to place a legal sports wager, with more states expected to join them in 2020.

With expanding legalization has come new business opportunities through the expansion of sports betting. As a result, the commercial casino gaming sector logged its fourth consecutive year of gaming revenue growth in 2018—surging nearly 3.5 percent to $41.7 billion, a new historic high. New commercial casino properties opened in Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, and voters in Arkansas have approved a constitutional amendment, making it the 25th state to legalize commercial casino gaming (and the 41st state overall with legal casino gaming, including tribal casino operations).

According to Joe Esposito, President & CEO of Gary Platt Manufacturing, who will be investing in the new transaction with other team members, “the outlook for the casino and gaming industry is bright as more states introduce new gaming options including new casinos and sport betting venues.” He stated further that, “we look forward to the opportunity to partner with CVF in the years to go come. Their long experience in manufacturing and teaming up with management teams successfully will further help propel Gary Platt forward”.

The investment in Gary Platt is a clear example of the evolution nationally of changing consumer tastes and preferences. According to Stefan Okhuysen, Principal at CVF Capital Partners, “The changes in the U.S. gaming industry at the federal and state levels provides a great opportunity to invest in a rapidly growing segment where consumers are looking for new and innovative entertainment and hospitality options.”