General Partner’s, Jefferey Holmes and Clint Campbell are proud to announce that Cephas Capital celebrated its’ 25-year anniversary in July of 2022. Founded in July of 1997 and looking back on a successful history of supporting small business, Campbell notes that Cephas has filled a largely unmet capital need in our region with an ability to fund transactions above what is generally available from the “family and friends” network, but below the threshold typically required to entice investors into Upstate New York from outside of the area. To date, Cephas Capital has helped over 60 Upstate New York based businesses achieve their funding goals.

As the economy transitions over the coming years, Holmes believes that the current fund, Cephas Capital Partners III, LP, is well positioned to help keep strong Upstate NY businesses in the hands of local owners. As the “baby boom” generation decides to sell their operations, Cephas can assist the next line management teams with investment capital to strengthen the appeal of a management led buyout option. In fact, the first completed transaction in the “Cephas III” portfolio involved just such a scenario, keeping a thriving Rochester, NY based business in the hands of a new manager/owner. The General Partners believe that many such opportunities will arise over the next few years, and encourage all parties to reach out to Cephas Capital to discuss how these type of deals can be brought to fruition.

Cephas Capital Partners II, LP and Cephas Capital Partners III, LP are both licensed Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC’s), a private-sector led partnership with the U.S. Government. “Cephas III” is actively seeking opportunities to help finance transactions involving management-led changes in ownership, businesses contemplating an acquisition or major growth opportunity, or companies facing special financing circumstances. Since inception, the two funds have invested in excess of $100 million in over 60 businesses. We are located at 11 Schoen Place, Pittsford, NY. For additional information please call Clint Campbell or Jeffery Holmes at 585-383-1610.

PITTSFORD, NY – General Partners Clint Campbell and Jeffery Holmes are proud to announce the launch of their latest private equity fund, Cephas Capital Partners III, LP. The fund was established with just under $13 million of private capital with 100% of our Community Bank Limited Partners from “Cephas II”, agreeing to also invest in “Cephas III”.

“Cephas III” has also successfully completed the application process and has been awarded a license to operate as a Small Business Investment Company (“SBIC”). Started in 1958, the SBIC Program is a private-public partnership administered by the SBA’s Office of Investment & Innovation located in Washington, D.C. and was established to provide a source of capital for growth stage companies. Both “Cephas I” and “Cephas II” have operated as licensed SBIC’s and have invested over $100 million in Upstate NY businesses since 1997. “Cephas III” joins approximately 300 other SBIC’s across the country, and one of the primary benefits of the SBIC license is the access it provides to relatively low-cost additional leverage to augment its’ private capital.

Both Campbell and Holmes believe that the new fund will be ideally positioned to assist business owners presented with a variety of funding needs including buy-outs of established Upstate NY companies, keeping the majority equity stake in the hands of local operating management, or recapitalizations related to recovery from COVID related impacts.

Cephas Capital Partners announces the formation of Cephas Capital Partners II, LP, and the recent approval by the Small Business Administration, of a license for Cephas II to operate as a Small Business Investment Company. Cephas II is also pleased to have become the first licensee approved under SBA’s new “fast track” process.

The original Cephas Capital was formed in 1997 by Clint Campbell and Jeffery Holmes, two former commercial banking executives, in conjunction with six community bank limited partners and John Mooney. Through the end of 2009 the partnership had invested more than $64 million in 43 deserving small businesses located primarily in Upstate New York. Cephas seeks to put patient mezzanine capital in the hands of quality management teams to help them grow or recapitalize their businesses, and also has been instrumental over the last 13 years in providing long-term financing for management led buy-outs. Businesses funded by Cephas employ more than 5,000 people and contribute more than $700 million annually to the economic output of the region.

Cephas II is expected to build on this successful foundation, and will continue to focus on making investments ranging between $500,000 and $3 million in the Upstate New York region. The investor group is comprised of returning limited partners Canandaigua National Bank, Tompkins Trust Company, and Five Star Bank, along with new limited partners NBT Bancorp based in Norwich, NY and Arrow Financial headquartered in Glens Falls, NY. John Mooney continues to participate as a limited partner.

The SBIC program is a private-sector led partnership with the U.S. Government which has existed since 1958. Cephas II joins more than 300 licensees operating throughout the country. Cephas Capital is headquartered at 11 Schoen Place, Pittsford, NY. For additional information please call Clint Campbell or Jeffery Holmes at 585-383-1610.

Cephas Capital Partners II, LP announces the addition of three new limited partners to the fund as Evans Bank headquartered in Hamburg, NY, Genesee Regional Bank based in Rochester, NY, and Tioga State Bank, with its’ main office located in Owego, NY, have joined the existing group of limited partner investors. Also, John Mooney, an existing Limited Partner, has increased his capital commitment to the fund. Given this closing, the General Partners have now successfully completed their fundraising efforts, with the private capital committed for Cephas II now nearly 20% greater than the amount committed for Cephas I. Importantly, the new limited partners in Cephas II further broaden the geographic coverage in Upstate NY where these partner banks have corporate lending teams calling on customers and prospects in their respective communities, who now have a greater awareness of the capabilities that Cephas can bring to their markets.

Cephas Capital Partners and Cephas Capital Partners II are both licensed Small Business Investment Companies (SBIC’s), a private-sector led partnership with the U.S. Government. Cephas II is actively seeking opportunities to help finance transactions involving management-led changes in ownership, businesses contemplating an acquisition or major growth opportunity, or companies facing special financing circumstances. Since inception, the two funds have invested in excess of $70 million in 47 businesses matching these sorts of needs, with nearly all of these companies located in Upstate NY. Cephas Capital is headquartered at 11 Schoen Place, Pittsford, NY. For additional information please call Clint Campbell or Jeffery Holmes at 585-383-1610.