Case Studies
Moss Case Study
Riverside seizes opportunities in a difficult market
As the dot-com boom came to an end, Moss, a designer and producer of custom tension-fabric structures, faced a sharp decrease in spending on industry convention displays.
Rather than taking a loss on the investment, Riverside used the downturn as an opportunity. Riverside’s strong reputation and solid relationship with Moss’ lender gave the firm the leverage to acquire several competitors at bargain prices to strengthen Moss. Thanks to teamwork and perseverance, Moss emerged from the downturn a far stronger company. Proof of Riverside’s success is seen by simply listening to the industry lingo; many people refer to any tensioned-fabric structure as a “Moss structure.”
Riverside persistence pays off:
- Two add-on acquisitions, including:
- Nichols, lending expertise in printing and manufacturing to Moss’s existing proficiency in structural design
- Exhibit Architecture, a competitor based in Chicago that opened Midwestern markets for Moss
- Implementation of a user-friendly sales and operations management system
- Expansion into the retail and event markets, including a line of rental products
Gross IRR: 33%
Gross cash-on-cash: 4.2x
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