Uni-World Capital to Become Verus Investment Partners

Since its formation in 2009, Uni-World – now Verus Private Equity – has deployed over $50 million into five consumer products, business services and manufacturing platform companies.

Christopher P. Fuller, co-founder and managing partner of Verus Investment Partners, said, "Our core principals are to be true, honest and transparent in the investments we make and in our dealings with our partners. We chose the name 'Verus' over two years ago because of the root concept of 'veracity' in making investments and adhering to our established investment philosophy."

In August, Uni-World Capital sold its portfolio company CAPS Payroll, Culver City, CA, a leading provider of payroll services for the entertainment industry, to Cast & Crew, Burbank, CA, for an undisclosed price.

Erik S. Miller, Verus co-founder and partner, said, "We invested in CAPS in 2011, recapitalizing the business in partnership with the company's founding partners to provide capital for enhanced technology and accelerated growth that would take the company to a higher level of efficiency, productivity and profitability. This investment, which alone returned more than the size of our first fund, bears witness to the kind of success offered in the lower middle market where providing capital for growth – instead of just cost cutting – helps small and mid-size businesses flourish."

Verus Investment Partners' current portfolio includes the following companies from its debut fund, Uni-World Capital I:

• Pittsburgh Brewing Co., Pittsburgh, PA – maker of Iron City beer; acquired in 2011
• Preferred Fragrance, Newburgh, NY – developer of proprietary and licensed fragrances; recapitalized in 2011
• VanDeMark Chemical, Inc., Lockport, NY – producer of phosgene and phosgene derivatives; jointly acquired in 2012
• Drake Manufacturing Services Co., Warren, OH – manufacturer of precision machine tools; recapitalized in 2014

Fuller concluded, "We founded our firm with a tight focus on the lower middle market in the U.S. and Canada with a sub-concentration on consumer products, manufacturing and technology- enabled business services. Although our name has changed, we are not changing our investment discipline and, as Verus, we remain focused on buying and investing in those lower middle market companies where our team and Advisory Board can bring clear value to grow both the top and bottom lines."

About Verus Investment Partners
Verus Investment Partners, formerly Uni-World Capital, is a New York-based private equity firm focused on making leveraged buyout and growth equity investments in lower-middle market companies. The firm seeks to partner with management teams where it can leverage the Verus Private Equity team's collective business experience, corporate relationships and strategic and financial expertise in order to help enhance a company's strategic positioning and drive profitable growth. More information can be found at www.veruspartners.com.

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SOURCE Verus Investment Partners

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