Top Private Equity Firms in Chicago - Axial

Kinzie invests in lower middle market companies amidst transition in the manufactured products, consumer and business services industries. Whether a company is experiencing a generational shift, period of high growth or changes in business cycles, we seek opportunities to create lasting change in today’s disruptive environment by leveraging technology and a strong operational focus to eliminate inefficiencies and unlock new business opportunities.

McNally Capital is a private equity firm targeting thesis-driven investments in the U.S., specifically founder-, family-, and management-owned companies. The firm was founded in 2008 by Ward McNally, whose family owned and operated Rand McNally & Company for over 100 years. These roots provide a deep appreciation of building and scaling companies that shape industries and endure for generations. The firm seeks to apply its hands-on experience, institutional capabilities, and proprietary value creation framework to its portfolio companies to benefit management teams in their next phase of…

Lake Street Capital Partners is a private equity fund focused on making direct control, large minority, and co-investments in lower middle market companies across North America (with a primary focus on the U.S.). We specifically focus on identifying attractive founder and family-owned companies poised for growth. Our mission is to provide these underserved companies and their owners with access to differentiated capital in order to facilitate transactions of various types, such as control investments, recapitalizations, management buyouts, or strategic growth investments.

SecondGen's principals have four decades of experience partnering with and building businesses across many industries. Having grown up around successful blue collar family businesses, and worked alongside a number of skilled operators, our principals understand what it takes and bring world-class business experience and entrepreneurial passion to every partnership.

Frontenac Company was founded in 1971 with the belief that people are the driving factor behind successful businesses. Nearly 20 years ago we developed a “CEO1ST Investing” strategy to partner with outstanding business leaders and together identify, acquire and build leading businesses. Our CEO1ST partners are leaders in their fields and provide strategic and operational insight to our portfolio companies.Together with our CEO1ST partners, we provide the capital, network and resources to enable our portfolio companies to respond to opportunities, grow and succeed.We focus on lower…

We are business builders. We are dedicated to, and passionate about, finding differentiated companies and fundamentally improving them. We back this strategy with our own personal capital.Our approach starts with seeking opportunities to improve selected businesses within the lower middle market. It includes a willingness and ability to offer flexible and creative solutions to business owners looking for liquidity.Our process continues with due diligence focused on crafting tailored strategies to build winning businesses with strong growth prospects. We begin with an end in mind and exit when…

At New Harbor Capital, we forge lasting partnerships that transform businesses and unlock untapped potential.Specializing in lower middle-market private equity, our team works in close collaboration with founders of growth-oriented companies who see their potential but are hesitant to go it alone — providing the camaraderie, expertise and resources to tackle any challenge together.New Harbor Capital was founded on the premise that exceptional ideas are fostered through a culture of mutual respect, coupled with a methodical, research-driven approach. We seek to create a culture of…

Promus Equity Partners is a private equity investment firm affiliated with Promus Holdings, a multi-family asset management company with approximately $500 million under management among its affiliated entities.We target healthy, lower-middle market companies with EBITDA of $15 million or less. Members of our team are proven investors who bring wide-ranging experiences over numerous economic cycles in a variety of industries. As a family office with a flexible investment mandate, we can think creatively and allow each opportunity to guide our investment structure and duration absent the…

Founded in 2007, Origin Investments is a real estate investment firm that acquires office and multifamily properties in eight fast-growing markets: Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston and Raleigh. With offices in Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas and Denver, Origin has regional teams in and around each of its target markets, which gives the firm a competitive advantage in sourcing and managing portfolio investments. Origin has a half-billion dollars in assets under management and has outperformed pro forma on 96% of acquisitions, leading to a 90% investor retention rate.

SE Capital is a private investment and acquisition firm which operates as a strategic partner for quality management teams of small and mid-sized companies in select industries.As skilled business builders we know how to recognize compelling market and industry opportunities that others may overlook, and respond to them quickly and thoughtfully with a well-defined strategic vision.As hands-on investment professionals we help develop and arrange supportive, cost-efficient capital structures for improved organizational energy, operational flexibility and profitable growth.As relationship…

Overview: Wolf Point Growth Partners LLC is focused on investing in privately held businesses as platforms for growth. As a cornerstone of our investment strategy, we are committed to taking an active role in the management of the business. Ideal investment situations include: retiring business owners seeking liquidity, non-management shareholders seeking liquidity, corporate divestitures or growth equity. Wolf Point offers business owners a unique alternative to traditional liquidity options for their business. We have the capital available of a private equity firm, but the focus on managing…

Heico is the parent holding company for a diversified portfolio of over 35 businesses involved in manufacturing, construction and industrial services. Since its founding over 30 years ago, our company has been built by aggressively reinvesting its earnings into both internal growth and new acquisitions. As a privately held, long term investor, we provide our operations with the resources and stability they require to excel in today's competitive marketplace. Heico currently operates over 35 businesses. Our core operations are organized into four platforms: Ancra Group, Heico Metal Processing…

Hilco Global is an independent financial services company and the world's preeminent authority on helping businesses maximize the value of their assets. Hilco Global is considered a world class company, having earned this reputation after decades of providing creative solutions for both healthy and distressed businesses to yield the maximum value for every client. Hilco Global often provides investment capital, demonstrating an ability and willingness to share risk and reward. Today, Hilco Global has over 500 employees within a portfolio of twenty companies on 5 continents, all of which focus…

HKS Capital Advisors ("HKS") is a boutique investment advisory firm with offices in suburban Chicago, Illinois and Dallas, Texas. HKS was founded in 2011 by Christopher Hughes, Tim Keith and John Staab who collectively have over 70 years of fiduciary investment management, capital markets, and advisory experience serving institutional investors, family offices, and other individuals.Our clients and limited partners are successful entrepreneurs, sophisticated individuals, and family offices that understand the value of experienced judgment and the importance of a disciplined investment…

Red Arts Capital invests in promising small to middle market companies with a sustainable competitive advantage and talented organization. The firm consists of former entrepreneurs, seasoned investors and Fortune 100 executives who bring decades of financial, operational and strategic management expertise. Red Arts seeks to partner with like minded founders, entrepreneurs and management teams and work to help the business further develop and grow. We firmly believe that solid business execution and patient capital is a winning combination for long term success.

River Capital Partners is an experienced investment manager focused on providing swift, capable, discreet evaluations. We work enthusiatically with sell–side and buy–side intermediaries to provide rapid, thorough evaluations of all opportunities. Where appropriate, River Capital issues funded offers that anticipate closings within 90 days.

Burling Street Capital has been helping lower middle market companies achieve their financial objectives since 1997. With hundreds of closed transactions, Burling Street is one of the most successful middle market investment banking firms in the country. It takes experience, commitment, and unwavering focus to achieve such results and that is what we bring to every deal.The Burling Street team's track record reflects our commitment to our clients and our focus on results. We will not enter into an engagement without us being confident that we can drive it to a successful outcome, evidenced…

Blackmore Partners Inc., a private equity intermediary, provides business consulting and financial advisory services to middle market companies. The firm offers business valuation, fund raising, divestitures, financial analysis and cash management, and mergers and acquisitions advisory services. Additionally, it provides ideation and strategy development, turnaround and executive management, business process engineering, management buy-out, business strategy, fairness opinions, and market research services. The firm caters to logistics, manufacturing, technology, and retail industries.

Red Arts Capital is an operationally-driven private equity firm that is focused on bringing liquidity, relationships, and strategic growth expertise. Our primary objective is to create mutually beneficial relationships with prospective sellers, their employees and customers, and our investment partners.