Opus Bank (“Opus”) (NASDAQ: OPB) announced today that its bank-sponsored SBIC Fund, Opus Equity Partners, has made a growth equity investment in both Simplex Supplies, Inc. (“Simplex”), and Lightcap Industries, Inc., doing business as JC Supply & Manufacturing (“JC”). The combination of Simplex and JC establishes a leading vertically integrated manufacturer and supplier of infrastructure products and solutions to bridge and paving contractors throughout America. Opus Financial Partners, LLC, Opus’ registered broker-dealer subsidiary, raised senior and subordinated debt financing to support the transaction, demonstrating the capabilities of Opus’ merchant banking platform and one-stop principal investing and advisory solution.

Opus Equity Partners will partner with Sarah Bazey, the founder, owner and CEO of Simplex, to integrate Simplex’s robust distribution business with JC’s industry leading manufacturing operations, benefiting from a combined footprint of 260,000 square feet under roof, and 20 acres of capacity across three locations in Ontario, CA, Carlyle, IL, and Minneapolis, MN.

Dale Cheney, Managing Partner of Opus Equity Partners stated, “JC has built an incredible business on a foundation of strong organic growth and excellent manufacturing execution under the leadership of Jerry and Connie Lightcap. The company’s product innovation and quality is unparalleled in the industry.” Cheney continued, “We are enthusiastic to partner with such a highly accomplished CEO in Sarah Bazey, who brings over 30 years of infrastructure experience with a focus on bridges and highways. Sarah brings a wealth of industry knowledge and professional relationships that should enable the successful expansion into additional geographic areas and product offerings.”

Sarah Bazey, CEO of Simplex, commented, “We are excited about the partnership with Opus’ SBIC Fund and the future of our industry. From the top down, the organization is committed to working with our customers to reinforce America.” Bazey added, “The FAST Act authorized $305 billion in highway spending through 2020. The combination of JC and Simplex, and the competitive advantage of a vertically integrated organization with superior product quality and customer service, positions us well to play a leadership role in shaping the new infrastructure investment across the country."

Jerry and Connie Lightcap, Co-Founders of JC, commented, “Our employees have helped us build an outstanding company, and we look forward to a successful partnership with Simplex who shares our values and commitment to becoming one of the leading infrastructure companies in the country.”

About Opus Bank’s Merchant Banking Division

Opus Bank’s Merchant Banking Division is an integrated principal investing and financial advisory platform that provides a broad range of direct investment and advisory solutions to lower middle-market companies. The Merchant Banking Division includes Opus Equity Partners, LLC, the advisor to the Opus Bank-sponsored private equity SBIC Fund that provides growth capital to successful and dynamic companies in need of a capital solution beyond what is customarily available from traditional bank sources. The Merchant Banking Division also includes both Opus Financial Partners, LLC, Opus Bank’s wholly-owned registered broker-dealer, and an investment banking group that provide advisory solutions to lower middle-market companies for mergers & acquisitions, leveraged buy-outs, growth equity capital, junior and senior debt, recapitalizations, and other broad transactional support to assist companies in their business development efforts.

About Opus Bank

Opus Bank is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with $7.9 billion of total assets, $5.7 billion of total loans, and $6.7 billion in total deposits as of December 31, 2016. Opus Bank provides superior ideas and solutions, and banking products to its clients through its Retail Bank, Commercial Bank, Merchant Bank and Correspondent Bank. Opus Bank offers a suite of treasury and cash management and depository solutions and a wide range of loan products, including commercial, healthcare, media and entertainment, corporate finance, multifamily residential, commercial real estate and structured finance, and is an SBA preferred lender. Opus Bank offers commercial escrow services and facilitates 1031 Exchange transactions through its Escrow and Exchange divisions. Opus Bank provides clients with financial and advisory services related to raising equity capital, targeted acquisition and divestiture strategies, general mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, balance sheet restructuring, valuation, strategy and performance improvement through its Merchant Banking Division and its broker-dealer subsidiary, Opus Financial Partners, LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Opus Bank’s alternative asset IRA custodian subsidiary has over $12 billion of custodial assets and approximately 48,000 client accounts, which are comprised of self-directed investors, financial institutions, capital raisers and financial advisors. Opus Bank operates 56 banking offices, including 32 in California, 21 in the Seattle/Puget Sound region in Washington, two in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona and one in Portland, Oregon. Opus Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. For additional information about Opus Bank, please visit our website at: www.opusbank.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release may include forward-looking statements related to Opus’ plans, beliefs and goals, which involve certain risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events, and actual events may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “intend” or “expect” or variations thereon or similar terminology. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and Opus undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.