Nevada Capital Investment Corporation (NCIC) Makes Commitment To Huntington Capital
Carson City – June 6, 2013 – State Treasurer Kate Marshall, Chair of the Nevada Capital Investment Corporation (NCIC) Board of Directors, today joined with leading global private equity asset management firm Hamilton Lane in announcing a $5 million commitment from the Silver State Opportunities Fund (SSOF) to Huntington Capital Fund III, a mezzanine fund providing debt and equity financing to established, small and medium sized companies in the Southwestern United States. This is the first fund commitment by the SSOF, the state’s first in-state private equity program. Earlier this year, the SSOF completed a $2 million investment in Miller Heiman Inc., a global sales performance company located in Reno.
Huntington’s mission is to provide later-stage growth companies with capital and value added resources (financial, industry, and strategic) to help optimize performance, to increase enterprise value, and to provide above-market returns to its limited partners. The Fund targets investments in companies that have a positive impact on their communities, particularly with the potential for job growth and economic development.
“In the course of structuring its third fund and through discussions with Hamilton Lane, Huntington Capital informed us that they had performed a great deal of research into potential investment opportunities in Nevada and were impressed with the quality of small and mid-sized companies in the state that require capital to expand, “ Marshall said. “Huntington Capital is already currently evaluating several companies that are located in Nevada or looking to relocate to our state for potential investments.”
This is the third private equity fund launched by Huntington Capital, which has attracted a number of institutional investors for its previous two funds. As a result of the commitment, Huntington Capital will open a local Nevada office within the next 6 months.
As the fund-of-funds manager for the new Silver State Opportunities Fund, Hamilton Lane is responsible for evaluating and selecting venture capital and private equity funds and co-investments to invest in Nevada, as required by the passage of Senate Bill 75 during the 2011 Legislative Session. Hamilton Lane has complete discretionary authority to make investments based on sound investment criteria.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Huntington Capital in the State of Nevada,” said Miguel Luiña, Vice President at Hamilton Lane. “Huntington will target an underserved segment within the Nevada private capital ecosystem, and attracting them to the state is a positive step towards increasing the availability of capital for growing businesses overlooked in today’s banking market.”
Hamilton Lane is responsible for ensuring that Silver State Opportunities Fund investments are in accordance with Senate Bill 75; that a minimum of 70% of investments must be made in businesses located in Nevada, looking to expand in Nevada, or in businesses wishing to relocate in Nevada.
Sponsored by Treasurer Marshall during the 2011 Legislative Session, Senate Bill 75 created the state’s first in-state private equity investment fund. The goal of the Silver State Opportunities Fund is to capitalize on investment opportunities in Nevada in order to increase funding for Nevada’s K-12 schools. SB 75 created the NCIC, a nonprofit corporation overseen by a seven member Board, including appointees by the Governor and the Legislature. Under
SB 75, up to $50 million from the state’s Permanent School Fund may be invested in private equity in Nevada. The Permanent School Fund is comprised of non-tax dollars.
For more information about the NCIC, go to NevadaTreasurer.gov, and then click on the NCIC link in the top navigation bar.
About Huntington Capital
Huntington is a lower middle market mezzanine fund that provides debt and equity financing to small and medium sized companies in the western United States. Huntington focuses on helping its portfolio companies maximize their performance while generating a positive impact on communities.
About Hamilton Lane
Hamilton Lane is an independent financial institution that provides discretionary and non-discretionary private equity asset management services to sophisticated investors worldwide. With offices throughout the U.S., London, Hong Kong, Rio de Janeiro, Tel Aviv and Tokyo, Hamilton Lane offers a full range of investment products and services that enable clients to participate in the private equity asset class on a global and customized basis. Founded in 1991, Hamilton Lane has more than 190 employees and approximately $160 billion in total assets under management and supervision. For more information please visit www.hamiltonlane.com.