Contact:
Paul L. Davies III or Christopher Sekula
The Cambria Group
(650) 329-8600
The Cambria Group Promotes René Lajous
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MENLO PARK, California, July 1, 2002 – The Cambria Group announced today that it had promoted René Lajous to Vice President effective immediately. Mr. Lajous had joined the firm’s Menlo Park office a year earlier after having been a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group from 1998 through 2001, as well as having had prior operating roles with both Procter & Gamble and Pillsbury.
According to Lew Davies, Managing Principal of The Cambria Group, Mr. Lajous has been involved in all aspects of Cambria’s activities, working both with portfolio companies and on new deal activity. “René’s background in operations has made him very effective in working with our portfolio companies, just as the strategic and financial experience he gained as a consultant has made him adept at evaluating industries and companies.” Davies added that having this breath of experience and perspective is particularly critical for Cambria with its focus on acquiring and managing smaller operating businesses.
Founded in 1996, The Cambria Group is a private equity firm which acquires and invests in small and mid-sized operating businesses across a wide spectrum of manufacturing, distribution and service industries. The firm’s acquisition targets are generally stable, profitable businesses with valuations under $25 million--typically, private companies or corporate divestitures and all pursued on a friendly basis--where the companies lack both the high growth sought by venture capitalists and the scale required to interest traditional fund-based buyout firms. Cambria’s principals, each of whom has an operating as well as transactional background, provide the majority of the equity themselves and take an active approach in their roles as shareholders and board members.
To date, the firm has made six investments, including Cobblestone Golf Group, a golf course ownership and management company; Crossbow Technology, a manufacturer of motion-based sensor products and wireless sensor networks; Classroom Connect, an educational publisher focusing on internet products for K-12 classrooms; FleetPride, a distributor of heavy duty truck parts; DSA/Phototech, a manufacturer of illuminated display systems used in store fixture, point-of-purchase and trade exhibit applications; and Bacrac Supply Company, a distributor of disposable construction tools and supplies. Cambria has exited two of these investments through sales to large strategic buyers. Cambria is actively pursuing other acquisition and investment opportunities and plans to assemble a portfolio of approximately ten to twelve stand-alone companies over the next few years.
Cambria’s primary office is in Menlo Park, California, with a satellite office in Waltham, Massachusetts.
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