Svoboda Capital Partners LLC Announces Investment in Strategic Marketing, Inc.; Capital to Support Growth of Leading, Direct Marketing Firm
12/18/2012
Svoboda Capital Press Release
CHICAGO, IL – December 18, 2012 – A fund affiliated with Svoboda Capital Partners LLC (“SC”) has made an equity investment in Strategic Marketing, Inc. (“Strategic” or the “Company”). SC partnered with Strategic’s Founder & CEO, Todd Strause, who will continue to own a significant interest in the Company. BMO Harris Bank, N.A. provided senior debt and Merion Investment Partners provided subordinated debt to complete the transaction.
Founded in 1995 and located in Louisville, Kentucky, Strategic is a technology-driven, direct marketing lead generation firm that provides multi-channel marketing campaigns for automotive dealerships in the United States. Strategic’s innovative products and customer centric approach have resulted in significant growth over the past 17 years.
“Strategic is the market leader in a niche category and SC is excited to partner with Todd and his talented management team to leverage our collective direct marketing experience to expand the Company’s service offering and geographic footprint,” said Rick Harpster, Principal at Svoboda Capital Partners. Todd Strause stated, “We chose SC based on their experience in the space and enthusiasm for our business and we are excited to work together to achieve our growth objectives and take our company to the next level.”
For more information, please visit http://www.strategicmarketing.com/.
About Svoboda Capital Partners
Svoboda Capital Partners LLC is a Chicago-based private equity firm with over $300 million of capital under management. Founded in 1998, SC identifies, invests in and helps build excellent value-added distribution and business services companies. SC typically makes investments of $10 to $20 million per company as the sole investor or in partnership with other private equity firms. For more information, please visit http://www.svoco.com/.
About Merion Investment Partners
Merion Investment Partners is a lower middle-market mezzanine capital fund licensed as a Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”). With over $200 million under management, Merion invests mezzanine debt and equity in companies to support organic growth, acquisitions, buyouts and generational transfers of ownership. Merion provides junior capital to private equity led buyouts as well as to entrepreneurs for growth capital and acquisitions. Preferred industries include healthcare, technology-enabled business services, information technology, and specialty manufacturing. For more information, please visit https://www.merionpartners.com/.
We are pleased to announce a successful exit from MetaSource LLC through a recapitalization by a senior lender.
Merion Investment Partners provided subordinated debt and equity to support the purchase of Nelbud Services Group, Inc. (“Nelbud”).
We are pleased to announce a successful exit from I.D. Images through a recapitalization by a Senior Lender.
Merion Investment Partners issued subordinated debt to support an acquisition and provide growth capital for ITelagen, Inc.(“ITelagen”). 
We are pleased to announce a successful exit from AFS Technologies through a sale to an affiliate of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Merion Investment Partners provided subordinated debt for the purchase of SL NEWCO, LLC, doing business as Shades of Light.