AUSTIN, TX--(Marketwire - February 7, 2011) - Austin Ventures ("AV"), a venture capital and growth equity firm, announced today the addition of Venture Partner, Vernon Bryant. Bryant will co-lead the development of AV's Texas Middle Market strategy with AV Principal Scott Donaldson.
"Vernon joins AV from TGF Management Corp. ("TGF"), our co-investment partner on four management-led middle market buyout transactions, dating back to 2003. The results of our investment partnership with TGF have been outstanding, and Vernon has played an important role in the success of those investments," said Joe Aragona, Founder and General Partner of AV. "In recent years, through our partnership with TGF, the common investments made between the firms have greatly expanded AV's Texas Middle Market strategy. Under Vernon and Scott's leadership, the Texas Middle Market practice will be focused on providing capital for management-led buyouts, recapitalizations, and leveraged consolidations in traditional industries."
Most recently, Vernon was a Partner with TGF, one of the most active middle market buyout firms in the Southwest, where he invested in a diverse group of companies across a broad range of industries. He currently serves as a director of San Antonio-based Sterling Foods and Dallas-based ENTACT Environmental Services, and previously served as a director of Dallas-based Southern Star Concrete (Acquired by Compania de Cementos Argos SA CLB: MINEROS) and Houston-based Orion Marine Group (ORN), all of which have been common investments between AV and TGF. Prior to TGF, Vernon was a Director at the Beacon Group, LLC, a New York-based private equity and investment banking firm. He was also an Associate with Sandefer Capital Partners, an energy focused private equity firm in Austin, TX and was a CPA with Deliotte & Touche and Ernst & Young. Vernon received an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a BBA in accounting from Texas Christian University.
"Vernon made significant contributions to TGF's success over his ten plus year career with us, and we wish him well as he transitions to AV," said Jim Kozlowski, co-founder of TGF. "AV has been a great co-investment partner to TGF and we look forward to continuing our relationship with AV and Vernon in the years to come."
About Austin Ventures
Austin Ventures ("AV") has worked with talented entrepreneurs to build valuable companies for over twenty-five years. With $3.9 billion under management, AV is the most active venture capital and growth equity firm in Texas and one of the most established in the nation. With an investment focus on business services and supply chain, financial services, new media, Internet and information services, software, and Texas special situations, AV invests at all stages of company development, from $100,000 in "planned experiments" in early stage ideas to $100+ million investments in expansion rounds, minority recapitalizations, and buyouts of lower middle market growth companies. AV's strategy is to partner with talented executives and entrepreneurs through its CEO-in-Residence and Entrepreneur-in-Residence programs. Visit www.austinventures.com for more information.
Contact Information:
For more information contact:
Kim Hughes, Director of Communications
Austin Ventures
512.657.7222