The BPV Story

Ballast Point Ventures ("BPV") was founded in 2001 as a joint venture between Raymond James Financial (NYSE: RJF) and the principals of South Atlantic Venture Funds. This partnership brought together two of the Southeast's most longstanding and reputable investment firms serving the investment and advisory needs of leading private growth companies.

The partnership between Raymond James and South Atlantic that created Ballast Point Ventures was a natural outgrowth of the twenty year relationship between the two firms. Raymond James Financial was an investor in all four of the South Atlantic venture funds between 1983 and 2001 and became very familiar with South Atlantic's disciplined investment strategy. RJF also advised many of the South Atlantic portfolio companies on their initial public offerings or sales to strategic acquirers. Tom James, the Chairman and CEO of Raymond James Financial, approached the key principals at South Atlantic in 2001 to explore the idea of forming a partnership that would leverage the combined strengths and networks of each organization. Those conversations led to the formation of Ballast Point Ventures, and Raymond James became the lead investor in BPV's first fund in 2002 and later in BPV's second fund in 2008.

While BPV is independently owned and operated by its Partners, Raymond James remains BPV's largest investor, and the firm enjoys a unique and valuable relationship with RJF. Tom James and other key professionals, including the heads of both the capital markets and equity research divisions, serve as Advisors to BPV, and many of Raymond James Financial's senior executives, investment bankers and industry research analysts are investors in the Fund. The founders of Ballast Point Ventures believe they have created a unique investment platform, providing capital, expertise and key relationships to entrepreneurs building outstanding private growth companies in the Southeast and Texas. Initially built on the depth and breadth of both the Raymond James and South Atlantic networks, BPV has expanded its network of relationships to over 2,500 individuals and institutions, including successful entrepreneurs, industry experts and key service providers, who assist the principals in sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities. This network has enabled the Fund's principals to not only find attractive investment opportunities but also to share valuable expertise and relationships with the entrepreneurs who partner with BPV to build their companies to their full potential and provide, as we like to say, 'Capital for Growth, A Partner for Success'.