Lakeview Investments

Lakeview Equity Invests in NutriScience Innovations

On December 11, 2017, Lakeview Equity Partners, LLC, invested in NutriScience Innovations, LLC. NutriScience is a certified global supplier of quality nutritional and functional ingredients to companies that manufacture nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and dietary products. Lakeview also acquired the assets of NutriScience’s sister company FabriChem, Inc., a global pharmaceutical and specialty chemical raw materials supplier.

Collectively, the companies will operate as a unified market leader and provide a large and diverse portfolio of ingredients to a global customer base. “Our investment in NutriScience targets the health and wellness market similar to our investment in UAS Labs of Wausau, WI which produces scientifically proven probiotic‐based supplements,” said Joe Cesarz, managing director of Lakeview Equity Partners. “Dietary supplements, sports supplements and nutraceuticals are a huge and growing worldwide market.”

The NutriScience/FabriChem group was established in 1993 by the Pallathra family, co-founded by Jacob and Martha Pallathra, who will retain an ownership interest. “We’re excited to partner with the Pallathra’s and with Alan Yengoyan, a management executive with experience in the sports and performance nutrition industry, who will be the new CEO of NutriScience,” said W. Kent Velde, President of Lakeview Equity Partners. “The Pallathras have created a unique and robust company, and we’re confident in Alan’s ability to take its operations and marketing to the next level.”

• NutriScience Innovations’ Headquarters is located in Trumbull, Connecticut, just 1 hour north of New York City. NutriScience also has a regional office in Mexico City, Mexico
• NutriScience has exclusive contract manufacturing partnerships across the globe and an extensive supply chain for sourcing a diverse catalog of specialty products - capable of supplying custom formulations and grades. 20+ years of excellence in supplying the highest quality specialty ingredients and raw materials to customers worldwide
• NutriScience supplies ingredients which are Natural and Organic-compliant, as well as products which adhere to Kosher and Halal standards
• NutriScience maintains strategically-located & well-staffed warehouses with highly experienced technical staff and personalized, prompt customer service
• NutriScience is a cGMP certified supplier, certified by SGS

For more information, visit www.nutriscienceusa.com.

UAS Labs Acquired

Lakeview Equity Partners LLC has acquired UAS Laboratories Inc., a pioneer in the research, development and manufacture of probiotic nutritional supplements. Dr. S.K. Dash founded UAS Labs in 1979 to manufacture and market probiotics in the U.S., Canada and more than 60 other countries worldwide. He will remain with the company as chairman, founder and director of new business development.

Two probiotic pros are also stepping to the plate as partners in the transaction. Kevin Mehring will serve as the new president of UAS Labs, and Dr. Greg Leyer as chief scientific officer. Both are industry veterans with deep roots in the probiotic arena. And while the company will launch new products, its mission and passion will remain in the realm of probiotics.

With plans to expand science around digestive and immune health, Mehring says that most products are based on the well-documented DDS1 strain of L. acidophilus, adding that strain-specific formulations targeted at particular health conditions are the future of probiotics. The company will also continue to focus on research and development—a cornerstone at UAS since the beginning.

In December 2014, Lakeview Equity Partners provided funding for UAS Laboratories to acquire certain intellectual property assets of Micropharma Limited, Montreal, Canada, whose researchers have developed an award-winning probiotic strain, LRC™. The LRC™ strain has been shown to support healthy cholesterol levels and maintain heart health. As part of the agreement, UAS Labs also took ownership of the pioneering Cardioviva™ brand of probiotics; which can be found at major retailers in the US and Canada. The companies have enjoyed a close relationship as partners and industry leaders in the probiotic space and were both winners of the 2014 NEXT Innovation Summit’s NutraAward presented at Natural Products Expo West.

Also in late 2014, Lakeview Equity Partners provided funding for UAS Laboratories to complete a $4 million state-of-the-art upgrade to their probiotic focused manufacturing facility in central Wisconsin. This upgrade positions UAS to continue to grow as an industry leader in probiotics.

In April 2018, UAS Laboratories acquired Nebraska Cultures, Inc. a company which specializes in custom-manufactured probiotic solutions including the DDS®-1 strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus and the ProDURA® brand of spore-based probiotics. Founded in 1981 as one of the first manufacturers to offer probiotic ingredients to the natural products industry, Nebraska Cultures helped set the stage for today’s widespread interest and growing consumer acceptance of probiotic supplementation for improved health.

Two Industry Power Houses Come Together to Redefine Event Housing Management

In April 2008, Lakeview Equity Partners acquired a majority interest in Travel Technology Group, LLC. Travel Tech, based in Chicago, is a premier provider of housing services for more than 200 events worldwide each year. Founded in 1984, Travel Tech is a key player in the events industry. The company provides event organizers and their customers with full-service housing and travel solutions, using award-winning technology. Travel Tech’s clients include Reed Exhibitions, Merchandise Mart Properties, Penton Media, the National Restaurant Association, the International Housewares Association and the 2008 Republican National Convention, to name a few. Travel Tech’s founders, Tom Baur and Bob Derham, retain a significant minority equity interest in the company. The company’s senior management team continues to manage day-to-day operations while working with Lakeview Equity on future growth strategies.

In April 2009, Lakeview Equity Partners acquired the assets of Ambassadors, an Atlanta-based event housing and registration services company. We’re committed to driving service excellence in the event planning industry,” said Joseph Cesarz, vice president of Lakeview. “Both companies are innovative market leaders and will continue to define industry standards.”

In December 2009, Travel Technology Group, LLC and Ambassadors, both industry-known for their event housing expertise and tenure in the meetings and conventions world, unveiled the new brand identity for their merged organization. "onPeak represents the best of unparalleled customer service and next-generation technology between both companies since our merger in April 2009." said Michael Howe, President & CFO for onPeak. "This new identity represents what we're all about: elevating the expectations of event housing providers through end-to-end solutions and next-generation technology that deliver top performance for clients."

On October 7, 2014, Lakeview Equity Partners successfully divested its majority interest in onPeak LLC to Global Experience Specialists (GES), a full service provider of live events and a wholly owned subsidiary of Viad Corp (NYSE:VVI), a publicly traded company based in Phoenix, AZ.

For more information, visit www.onPeak.com .

Partnership Will Help Banking Technology Services Firm Grow More Rapidly

CFC Technology Corporation., LLC, Plymouth, MN, provides community banks and credit unions with technology consulting services and solutions. CFC sells, hosts and supports a diverse range of products and services for financial institutions, including check imaging and remote deposit capture, data recovery solutions, business continuity solutions and technology infrastructure consulting services. The company's service offerings are focused on assisting financial institutions generate greater revenue from their customer relationships and benefit from more efficient, secure and streamlined business operations.

"CFC is viewed as a trusted advisor by its customers," said W. Kent Velde, president of Lakeview Equity Partners. "The company's ability to provide leadership and expertise in multiple areas of financial technology services, leading with their advisory consulting services, puts them in an excellent position to help customers leverage their technology investments to improve business profitability."

CFC's founders, Bill Ristvedt, president, and Richard Wanke, chief operating officer, will remain owners in the company and will continue to serve as its leaders. "We are excited about our new partnership with Lakeview Equity Partners. The organization has extensive experience in the financial services and financial technologies industries. We are confident that this partnership will help us broaden the service and solution offerings CFC can provide to our customers and ultimately grow our business," said Ristvedt.

For more information, visit www.cfctechnology.com

Automatän Company is the Premier Manufacturer of Lithographic Labeling Equipment for the Corrugated Packaging Industry.

Automatan, based in Plover, WI, is a leading manufacturer of lithographic labeling equipment sold to the corrugated packaging industry worldwide. “Automatän has achieved excellent brand recognition through its superior technology, product performance and customer service,” said W. Kent Velde, president of Lakeview Equity Partners, LLC. “With the trend toward large-format labeling in product displays and in-store advertising, Automatän’s products make it possible to add high-quality graphics to corrugated packaging.”

A partner in the acquisition, Kevin Widder, will serve as the new president and chief executive officer of Automatän. He has more than 20 years of experience in the capital equipment industry.
“We’re very excited about this acquisition,” said Widder. “Automatän is a great company with a terrific reputation in the industry. The new management understands Automatän’s market and its customers, and Lakeview Equity Partners has the financial capacity and strategic resources to support the company and bring it to the next level.”

For more information, visit www.automatan.com .

Automatän was successfully sold in November 2015 to a private equity firm. Please see Lakeview Equity Partners Latest News for more information.

LS Research, LLC, Cedarburg, WI Company Develops and Tests Wireless Technologies.

On May 30, Lakeview Equity Partners, LLC, announced the acquisition of LS Research, LLC, Cedarburg, WI. LS Research is a national leader in wireless design and product development solutions.

LS Research customers include both Fortune 500 firms and innovative middle market companies. “The unique skill sets and proprietary trade expertise at LS Research helps its customers get a wireless product designed, built and — through the LS Compliance division — tested and certified for production,” said Kent Velde, president of Lakeview Equity. “In fact, the LS Compliance test lab is the only facility of its kind in Wisconsin.”

This is the third investment made by the one-year-old private equity fund. “We are impressed with the experience, talent and tenure of the management group at LS Research, which will co-invest in the transaction and continue to manage the company,” said Velde.
“With Lakeview Equity, LS Research will be able to continue to expand our capabilities and provide new opportunities in this exciting technology field,” said Bill Steinike, president of LS Research. “We are very enthusiastic about the future of our company.”

For more information, visit www.lsr.com

LS Research was successfully sold in November 2015 to Laird PLC, a global technology firm. Please see Lakeview Equity Partners Latest News for more information.

Firehouse Animal Health Centers, Denver, CO Denver-based Company Growth Strategy Based on Exceptional Medical Care for Pets

Lakeview Equity added Firehouse Animal Health Centers, Denver, CO, to its portfolio in April 2006. The company’s two animal hospitals in the Denver metropolitan use a unique service model that is both profitable and attractive to customers seeking superior medical care for their pets.

“The company has an exceptional management team,” said Kent Velde, president of Lakeview Equity. “Our investment will provide capital to fund the company’s articulated growth strategy, which includes acquisition of existing animal hospitals and development of ancillary services.”

Lakeview Equity Partners successfully sold Firehouse Animal Health Centers to VCA Antech, Inc. (NASDAQ: WOOF) in April 2010. VCA Antech is a publicly traded company that acquires and consolidates vet clinics across the country.

5 Alarm Fire & Safety, Inc., Fort Atkinson, WI Original Investment Puts Fire Safety First.

5 Alarm Fire & Safety, Inc., Fort Atkinson, WI, became Lakeview Equity’s first investment in February 2006. “5 Alarm is a very well-managed company that offers industry-best products used by firefighters, EMTs and first responders,” said Kent Velde, president of Lakeview Equity. “Its extensive sales and service network represents excellent opportunities for acquisition of new customers.”

5 Alarm is one of the largest fire and safety equipment distributors in the Midwest. The company’s diverse customer base includes fire departments, emergency government departments, municipalities and industrial plants.

Lakeview Equity Partners sold 5 Alarm in January, 2014.