GMB Mezzanine Capital (“GMB”) announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has selected GMB as the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) of the Year.

The SBIC of the Year award recognizes the overall superior performance of the funds managed by GMB. Selection criteria include demonstrated commitment to supporting growth and expansion of small businesses, job creation, penetration in underserved markets, community involvement, commitment to financial return on investment and the overall well-being of small businesses.

GMB was formed in 2004 and is investing out of its third SBIC mezzanine fund. Over the past 12 years GMB has invested over $589 million in 75 lower middle-market companies. Typical investment sizes range from $3 million to $25 million. About 58% of GMB’s investments qualify as “smaller enterprises” as defined by the SBA; GMB has invested in companies across the United States.

Dan Hemiadan, Partner of GMB Mezzanine Capital, said, “We are excited the SBA has recognized GMB Mezzanine Capital as the SBIC of the Year.” Mike McHugh, Partner of GMB Mezzanine Capital, commented, “This award represents our commitment to growing small businesses in the lower middle market.”

Carleton Olmanson, Michael McHugh and Daniel Hemiadan, Partners of GMB, accepted the SBIC of the Year Award on May 1, 2016 at a ceremony in Washington D.C. kicking off National Small Business Week (“NSBW”).

GMB Mezzanine Capital is a provider of mezzanine debt and equity co-investments to lower middle-market companies in the U.S. The transactions in which GMB Mezzanine invests include: leveraged acquisition, recapitalization, growth/expansion and buyout transactions, typically sponsored by private equity firms. GMB is based in Minneapolis, MN.

The U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Investment and Innovation SBIC Program is a multi-billion dollar, government-sponsored investment fund created in 1958 to bridge the gap between entrepreneurs’ need for capital and traditional sources of financing. The SBA invests long-term capital in privately owned and managed investment firms licensed as Small Business Investment Companies (“SBICs”). For every $1 an SBIC raises from a private investor, the SBA will typically provide $2 of debt capital, subject to a cap of $150 million. Once capitalized, SBICs make debt and equity investments in some of America’s most promising small businesses, helping them grow.