Contact:
Paul L. Davies III or René Lajous
The Cambria Group
(650) 329-8600
The Cambria Group Adds Investment Professional
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MENLO PARK, California, July 26, 2001 – The Cambria Group announced today that it had added one professional to its investment team this month, recruiting René Lajous to join its Menlo Park office. Mr. Lajous had previously been a consultant with The Boston Consulting Group, working in the firm’s Dallas office since 1998, as well as having had prior operating roles with both Procter & Gamble and Pillsbury.
According to Lew Davies, Managing Principal of The Cambria Group, the hiring of Mr. Lajous "continues Cambria’s pattern of recruiting only professionals who have prior operating experience." Mr. Lajous’ tenure with The Boston Consulting Group provided a broad exposure to both operational and financial issues with clients spanning the transportation, energy, and telecommunications industries. He also draws on broad experience from management roles in the customer service and logistics functions at Procter & Gamble and Pillsbury, as well as having led projects in inventory control and supply chain management for these companies.
Mr. Davies added: "With his operating and consulting background, René brings broad experience evaluating and assisting companies in a wide range of industries and on a broad array of issues, skills directly relevant to our work in acquiring and managing smaller operating businesses."
Mr. Lajous also commented on the fit with Cambria: "I am pleased to be joining a firm that focuses on smaller businesses because I believe that enhances our ability to add value."
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 Bacrac Supply Company, a leading distributor of equipment, tools and supplies to the heavy construction industry; Cobblestone Golf Group, a golf course ownership and management company; Crossbow Technology, a manufacturer of motion-based sensor and actuator products; Classroom Connect, an educational publisher focusing on internet products for K-12 classrooms; DSA/Phototech, a manufacturer of illuminated display systems used in store fixture, point-of-purchase and trade exhibit applications; and FleetPride, a distributor of heavy duty truck parts. 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.
# # #
