A device for the positioning of a bone plate against a bone comprises first and second arms pivotally connected at a first joint, distal ends of the first and second arms defining a gripping surface for gripping the bone therebetween and proximal portions of the first and second arms extending in a first plane. An extension member couples to the first and second arms at the first joint and includes a first section extending distally from the first joint parallel to the first plane and a second section extending distally from the first section angled relative to the first section so that when the first and second arms are in a desired configuration gripping the bone and the second section extends parallel to the bone. A compression mechanism couples to the second section and includes a compression member and a coupling member being movable toward and away from the second section.
