SANDLAPPER Companies – 2014 – A Year in Review
February 15, 2015
GREENVILLE, SC – The Sandlapper branded firms, led by Trevor Gordon and Jack Bixler and headquartered in Greenville, saw continued substantial growth in 2014.
As a recap, in May 2014 Sandlapper Wealth Management, LLC (“Sandlapper Wealth”), a registered investment advisory firm, successfully closed the acquisition of Colony Park Financial Services, LLC (“Colony Park”) of Dunwoody, GA. The expansion added several advisory and brokerage representatives and six additional offices to the firm’s current locations nationwide and approximately $250 million in assets under management between the two divisions of Colony Park. Mark Reinstein assumed the role of President at both Sandlapper Wealth and SANDLAPPER Securities, LLC (“SANDLAPPER Securities”).
SANDLAPPER Securities successfully raised more than $29 million to acquire more than $42.3 million in securitized real estate deals for investors nationwide. $21.7 million in equity was used to acquire four securitized land deals in offerings sponsored by Rome, GA-based Webb Creek Management Group, LLC and $7.6 million in equity secured approximately $13 million in financing for a student housing apartment complex in Florida on behalf of investors through Greenville-based affiliate Sandlapper Student Housing, LLC (“Sandlapper Student Housing”).
In addition, Sandlapper Capital Investments, LLC (“Sandlapper Capital”) expanded its product development capabilities through growth of their joint venture efforts and saw great successes in the salt water disposal development through its affiliate TSWR Development, LLC and management of sites acquired and developed for investors through affiliate TSWR Fund Management, LLC. “Despite what we are seeing in the news regarding the current fall in oil prices, there continues to be vibrant drilling and production in West Texas,” states Trevor Gordon, founder and CEO of the SANDLAPPER Companies and CEO of TSWR Development and TSWR Fund Management respectively. “There is some pull back and slowdown, but despite this, the industry is still projecting a 123% increase from 850,000 barrels a day in 2007 to approximately 1.9 million barrels a day on average by February 2015. Our developments and investments stand to benefit from this robust activity.”
The most recent JV for Sandlapper Capital, Sandlapper Student Housing launched in August and has now completed two acquisitions and is working on several more. It expects two more acquisitions completed in the first quarter of 2015, more than doubling the number of beds currently under management. “We are aggressively looking to complete these current acquisitions so we can turn our focus to new assets for the portfolio,” states Sandlapper Capital Chief Investment Officer Ray Sun. “We are seeing tremendous opportunities in the space and want to take advantage of these buys while interest rates remain at historically low levels.”
SANDLAPPER Securities ended the year earning numerous awards for the company’s growth and success, both locally and nationally. For a second consecutive year, SANDLAPPER Securities was named by Greenville Business Magazine as one of the top 5 fastest growing companies in SC. The company was also recently named number 861 on the Inc. 5,000 list for outstanding growth and business, moving up from their spot at 1,009 in 2013.
As Sandlapper saw its business continue to grow in 2014, the management and staff of all the Sandlapper companies did not lose sight of the importance of community in 2014. In March SANDLAPPER Securities continued its philanthropic efforts for the Center for Developmental Services (CDS) by hosting a benefit concert in May featuring John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band as part of its annual conference. They also partnered with the Greenville Road Warriors to raise funds through ticket sales at a game. CDS is dedicated to helping children in the Upstate with special developmental needs reach their full potential, and remains important to Sandlapper. Trevor Gordon was elected Vice Chair of the Board at CDS for 2015. He served on the Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009 and from 2012 to present and has been involved in some capacity with the center since 2004.
SANDLAPPER Securities was once again the title sponsor for the Loaves and Fishes 2014 Rock out Hunger benefit concert, fielded the number one corporate team for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s 2004 Upstate Light the Night Walk and hosted its first United Way campaign with 100% staff participation as well as a variety of additional charitable volunteer missions and sponsorships throughout the year. “We are very lucky to be able to do what we do and be successful at it, and this community has been tremendously warm and accepting of us as a company,” says Gordon. “We feel that it is important to never forget that we are a community, that there are those in need whom we have the ability to help, and to never forget about the hard times we have all had in our lives and careers and those who perhaps helped us turn a corner. Of all the things we have done and will do, our philanthropic efforts are among my greatest rewards.”
“We are thrilled with the growth, achievements and accomplishments we had in 2014,” said President and Co-Founder of Sandlapper Capital and Principal in all the SANDLAPPER companies, Jack Bixler. “This provides us with great momentum going into 2015, which marks the 10th anniversary for the first of the SANDLAPPER Companies, SANDLAPPER Securities. We look forward to sharing our continued endeavors with the community and thank everyone for their continued support.”
