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Mereo Capital Partners 2023 Year in Review

We are pleased to provide a brief update on our activities over the past year. Headquartered in Conshohocken, PA, Mereo Capital Partners (“Mereo”) is focused on opportunistic and thematic investments in lower middle market companies which have the potential for operational improvement.  Since inception in January of 2021, Mereo has focused on the following:

  1. Building a brand consistent with its core values of integrity, technical excellence, teamwork, passion & perseverance, and humility. 
  2. Sourcing opportunities through our three-pronged process which includes our network of advisors and partners, lower middle market intermediaries and a tech-enabled direct outreach effort all resulting in less competitive processes.
  3. Closing new investments and implementing post-close value creation plans with the assistance of our operating advisors. 

We are pleased to have closed on four transactions within our core sectors: healthcare services, aerospace and defense, business services and industrial. We actively work our network to source these opportunities on a proprietary or less competitive basis. We reviewed over 600 opportunities in 2023 and while deal flow remains robust, we are mindful of today’s economic uncertainty and volatile capital markets.  We believe we have invested in sectors and companies which will remain resilient and grow regardless of the economic outlook.  Given the increase in interest rates, we are seeing an increase in opportunistic/special situations, which we expect will provide new opportunities at potentially attractive valuations.  We note that our businesses have modest or no leverage, and therefore are not impacted by the rate increases over the past year.  

At Mereo itself, we congratulate Adam Bowie on his promotion to Principal.  Adam joined Mereo at its inception.  He was previously at L2 Capital Partners, Citigroup Investment Banking and the US Marine Corps.  We also welcome Scottie Miller, who joined Mereo as an Associate this month.  Scottie was most recently at Jefferies Investment Banking. 

Below are brief descriptions of our portfolio companies:

Swish Dental LLC

Swish Dental LLC (Swish) is a leading dental services organization founded by a prominent female dental practitioner, Dr Viraj Desai in 2017.  Swish provides its patients with the highest-quality clinical care in a tech-enabled, spa-like experience which caters to the growing affluent demographic of the greater Austin, Texas MSA.  Since Mereo’s convertible preferred investment in October 2021, Swish has grown from nine to fifteen locations, including the recent opening of a location in Houston.  The Company’s strategy of de novo-driven growth is benefiting from a consistent, repeatable process, leading to strong returns on investment.  In 2023, Mereo worked with management to recruit and enhance its finance function, allowing for more robust reporting of financial results and operating metrics.  The Company finished 2023 with revenue growth of 25%, a strong cash balance and no debt, providing momentum and a good foundation to accelerate its growth in the Austin/ San Antonio/Houston corridors.

Luna Labs LLC

On March 8, 2022, Mereo made a convertible preferred stock investment to facilitate the corporate divestiture of Luna Labs USA (“Luna”), from Luna Innovations Incorporated (NASDAQ: LUNA).  Luna Labs conducts advanced technology research for government agencies such as the U.S. Department of Defense, National Institute of Health, Department of Energy, and for prime government contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Luna concluded 2023, its first full calendar year of operations, on a high note with a record backlog of contracts, strong free cash flow and debt paydown, and significant progress on its commercialization initiatives.  Of note, Luna is in active discussions with pharmaceutical companies regarding NanoVac, a novel mRNA delivery technology, which offers superior delivery and efficacy outcomes relative to current technologies. Luna is also in active dialogue with companies in the aerospace, marine and energy industries regarding GC Blockade, a new coating technology which significantly reduces repair costs and maintenance time associated with corrosion around fasteners and bushings. We believe the Company is well positioned to monetize some of its assets in 2024 given the advanced stages of its commercialization efforts. 

Integrated Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC

Mereo has partnered with Avonwood Capital Partners in a 50/50 joint venture to implement a consolidation strategy in the podiatry and foot and ankle surgery industry via a new company, Integrated Foot and Ankle Specialists, LLC (“IFAS”).   IFAS commenced operations in 2022 and has rapidly grown to become a leading group practice in the greater Philadelphia region.  Our goal is to create a super-regional platform focused on Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

IFAS ended 2023 with the successful acquisition of Quarryville Family Foot Care in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on December 29, 2023.  During 2023, IFAS also completed the acquisitions of Foot & Ankle Center of Chester County, Berkshire Podiatry, Bryn Mawr Foot & Ankle Center and Lancaster Podiatry. As of the close of 2023, IFAS operates 16 locations in eight counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, employing over 80 doctors and staff members.  Given its current pipeline, we expect the growth rate of IFAS to accelerate in the coming year.

Algus Packaging LLC

Algus produces plastic blister and clamshell packaging, and designs and assembles highly-automated factory-floor equipment that the company’s customers use to fill and seal their products.  Since acquiring Algus in November 2022, Mereo has (i) purchased Algus’ two facilities and related real estate at an attractive valuation, (ii) significantly augmented the company’s leadership team, and (iii) substantially improved Algus’ working capital efficiency.  Mereo’s ownership of the company’s real estate is held in a separate “Propco” entity and is financed with a mortgage at an attractive fixed rate.  Algus recruited a VP of Operations and a VP of Finance whose experience includes successful tenures at Rayovac and Caterpillar, respectively. Working closely with Mereo, the company’s management team has achieved net working capital reductions and implemented tight cost controls, allowing for substantial repayment of its credit facilities and development of a significant cash balance. 

Mereo’s priorities for Algus in 2024 include accelerating the company’s sales, improving gross margins through cost and pricing initiatives, and rationalizing the company’s real estate footprint including the potential divestiture of excess land and facilities.

SCOTTIE MILLER

ASSOCIATE

Prior to Mereo, Scottie was an Investment Banking Analyst in the Global Healthcare Group at Jefferies, where he executed on various mergers and acquisitions and capital raising initiatives. Notably, his deal experience includes the sale of Dental Care Alliance, a leading multi-specialty dental support organization, to Mubadala Investment Company.
Scottie graduated summa cum laude from Bucknell University with his BS in Accounting and Finance.

JOHN MATTHEWS

SENIOR ASSOCIATE

John worked most recently at Hamilton Lane as a Direct Investment Analyst, evaluating equity and credit co-investment opportunities. John previously interned for Susquehanna Private Capital and LMZ Partners. John received his BBA from Temple University.

ADAM BOWIE

PRINCIPAL

Prior to Mereo, Adam worked for L2 Capital Partners executing control investments across a variety of industries in the lower middle-market and supporting portfolio companies on high-impact strategic initiatives. Previously, Adam was an investment banker covering diversified industrial companies in Citigoup’s Global Industrials Group. Before transitioning to a career in finance, Adam served as a Ground Intelligence Officer in the United States Marine Corps. Adam earned his MBA in finance and management from NYU Stern and his BBA from Temple University.

GIORGIO BOERO

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Giorgio most recently served as CFO of Silver Star Opportunity Partners and as a consultant for Financial Advisers Partnership. Previously, he worked at Silvermine Capital Management as the firm’s CFO. Prior to Silvermine, Giorgio was the CFO of TCW Advisors, Inc. Private Equity Fund, specializing in Latin American middle-market companies. Giorgio received his Master’s in Professional Accountancy from the University of Buenos Aires.

JOHN O'HARE

CO-FOUNDER, PARTNER

Prior to Mereo, John was a senior professional at Tortola Advisors, where he provided operational turnaround services to middle-market companies. Previously, John was Co-Portfolio Manager at Saybrook Corporate Opportunity Funds. While at Saybrook, he served on the boards of directors of six portfolio companies. John received his BA from the University of Illinois and his MBA from Vanderbilt University.

RICH KURTH

CO-FOUNDER, MANAGING PARTNER

Rich most recently served as Co-Head of the Man Group’s Leveraged Credit strategy. Rich previously sold Silvermine Capital Management, a credit hedge fund he co-founded, to the Man Group. Prior to founding Silvermine, Rich was founding member, portfolio manager, and head trader of TCW’s Senior Loan and Bank Debt Group. Rich received his BS in Business Administration from The Citidel, The Military College of South Carolina.

LEO HELMERS

CO-FOUNDER, MANAGING PARTNER

Leo is the founder of three investment strategies: Susquehanna Private Capital, a middle-market buyout fund; LMZ Partners, a family office focused on lower middle-market control buyouts; and Carlyle Mezzanine Partners, the mezzanine funds of The Carlyle Group. Previously, he worked at Crescent Capital, the Mezzanine investment platform of TCW. Leo has recently served on the boards of several portfolio companies, including McNally Ind., SPC Dermatology, Sunrise Transportation, LeverPoint Management and Long Island Veterinary Specialists. Also, Leo was recruited to chair the board of Plews, Inc. in a successful turnaround.