Direct Line Receives Investment

Guardian Capital Partners ("Guardian") announced that it invested in SMG Extol, LLC dba Direct Line ("Direct Line" or the "Company") on February 23, 2018. Guardian partnered with the executive management team who will continue to operate the Company.

Headquartered in Fremont, CA, Direct Line is a provider of network cabling, infrastructure and staffing services to data centers and other mission critical environments. Direct Line has unique expertise in managing the complexities of installing, designing, and maintaining customized data and fiber optic cabling for data centers across a wide variety of end markets. In addition to its Fremont headquarters, the Company has satellite facilities throughout the USA and a global reach, with presence in Asia and Europe.

The explosion of data usage continues to fuel the increasing demand for extensive data center infrastructure support from Direct Line's customer base. Guardian is excited to be a partner with a best-in-class management team that has decades of experience in satisfying customer needs. Guardian partnered with the existing management team led by John Friesen, Chief Executive Officer, and Ignacio del Rio, Chief Operating Officer.

For more information about the transaction, contact Scott Evans at Guardian Capital Partners at (610) 263-0107.

About Guardian Capital Partners (www.Guardiancp.com)
Guardian Capital Partners is a private equity firm based in suburban Philadelphia that invests in lower middle market consumer products, niche manufacturing and specialty service companies. Guardian partners with management teams to provide equity capital to fuel the growth of family-owned businesses. The private equity experience and complementary skill sets of the Guardian team provide a unique combination of operating and finance capabilities resulting in certainty of execution and meaningful long-term value creation for its portfolio companies.