Lori A. Hess

Provides brokerage services

Charterhouse Group focuses on actively acquiring and managing middle-market companies in the business services, healthcare services and consumer products and services sectors. The firm seeks to invest in established, middle-market businesses with enterprise values of $50 million to $300 million through a variety of private equity transactions. While their concentration is on buyouts and build-ups, they also pursue growth capital financing opportunities. In addition, Charterhouse always considers prospective platform investments where the enterprise value is initially less than $50 million if the company is well-positioned for rapid growth through a build-up strategy in which add-on acquisitions are identifiable and achievable within the specific industry. In addition, in select instances the firm participates in larger transactions through co-investments with their limited partners, strategic corporate partners or with other financial investors where they are able to utilize one of their 'Charterhouse Entrepreneurs' to play a significant management or board director role. Currently, Charterhouse also sources a significant number of opportunities to make minority preferred stock investments in entrepreneur-owned, closely-held and sponsor-controlled deals, as well as in public entities. The firm is interested in exploring these types of non-control situations, with emphasis on situations in which high-quality companies are unable to tap the strained financial markets. Charterhouse generally seeks to invest at least $20 million in such opportunities. When considering investment opportunities, Charterhouse typically looks for the following: (1) superior, highly motivated management teams with proven track records of success in the same or within a related industry (2) favorable industry dynamics that will support revenue and earnings growth (3) leading positions in a sizable or rapidly growing and/or shifting market (4) sustainable competitive advantages such as brand recognition or proprietary products, services, processes or customer relationships (5) scalable business models and (6) the ability to exert significant board influence or control. The firm seeks to invest in middle-market businesses through a variety of private equity transactions including buyouts, buildups and growth capital. They look for companies with enterprise value between $75 million and $300 billion. They always consider smaller investments and they participate in larger transactions through co-investments with their limited partner base or through other strategic relationships.