Platte River Adds Business Development Pro

Platte River Equity has hired Brian Klaban as the firm’s new Director of Business Development and Debt Capital Markets. Mr. Klaban will lead Platte River’s sourcing, marketing and business development efforts and support the firm’s debt financing activities.

Mr. Klaban has more than fifteen years of business development and leveraged finance experience. Prior to joining Platte River, he was a director at Madison Capital Funding where he was active in credit and portfolio management, business development, distressed assets and underwriting. Mr. Klaban has his undergraduate degree in finance and economics from Eastern Michigan University.

“I’m excited to join the Platte River team and contribute to their continued success investing in and building market-leading businesses,” said Mr. Klaban. “The firm’s unique background provides a compelling value proposition to investors, founders and management teams, and I look forward to helping build successful future partnerships.”

Platte River makes equity investments of $20 million to $100 million in lower middle-market companies with enterprise values between $40 million and $250 million. Sectors of interest include aerospace and transportation; energy products and services; industrial products and services; and agriculture and chemicals.

Last December, Platte River acquired GME Supply, a Columbia, Missouri-headquartered distributor of fall protection, safety equipment and related gear for at-height workers in the telecommunications, wind, solar, industrial and construction markets. The company’s products include harnesses, lanyards, carabiners and hardware, rope and lifelines, rigging, tools and lighting, and safety signage.

Equity for the investment in GME was from the firm’s fourth fund, Platte River Equity IV LP, which closed in June 2017 at its hard cap of $625 million.

© 2020 Private Equity Professional | April 7, 2020