Our Firm

Blackford Capital is a private investment firm that acquires, manages, and builds middle-market manufacturing, distribution, and service companies. We believe that the best opportunities to create significant value are found in companies in need of new capital and new ownership structures. Our goal is to provide attractive exit options for owners and operators of small to medium-sized privately held manufacturing enterprises and to provide divestiture opportunities for divisions of corporate parent companies that no longer reflect the company's strategic focus.

Our Vision

Blackford Capital believes that long-term value is created through operational effectiveness, business model innovation, and effective execution. Therefore, we look for companies that have the potential to grow rapidly through a combination of acquisitions and internal growth or have the potential to improve operational effectiveness through a combination of improved internal processes and a customer-centric approach. Accordingly, we are patient investors who understand that it takes time to build significant companies of lasting value to customers, employees, stockholders, and communities.

Our Contribution

Blackford Capital brings capital and management expertise to its portfolio companies. The firm's investor and management team includes some of the nation's most accomplished and respected executives, consultants, and academics. Our team has over three hundred and fifty years of combined experience and has made more than one hundred principal investments. These individuals have invested their personal assets and experience in Blackford Capital. In addition to helping screen investment candidates and assisting with due diligence, investment team members serve as active advisors and directors in portfolio companies.

Our Process

In searching for acquisition candidates, Blackford Capital relies heavily on investment bankers, business brokers, accountants, lenders, and attorneys to help us find good investment opportunities. We enjoy positive and mutually rewarding relationships with these intermediaries, and we work hard to be considerate, confidential, and responsive. Our staff is committed to providing immediate responses to calls and correspondence as well as fast, frank indications of interest. The firm pays finders fees on the Lehman Formula or other agreed upon arrangements.

After a preliminary conversation with management, we visit the company and view operations first hand. Next, we present prospective investments to our partners for consideration and discussion of critical issues. We endeavor to offer a preliminary expression of interest quickly. Our investment team then conducts a broad array of due diligence, including conducting market research; assessing business and market conditions, management, products, competition, customers and vendors; developing financial models; and benchmarking performance against industry peers. Blackford Capital's evaluation of an acquisition candidate is on a strictly confidential basis and takes into account issues such as employee welfare and an owner's tax planning.

We then negotiate investment terms, develop a financial and ownership structure, contact potential lenders (as needed), and submit a letter of intent. After mutually agreeing on the terms of the transaction, the final step is documentation and funding of the transaction.

After the transaction is complete, Blackford Capital works to smoothly transition the existing owner out of the business with minimal disruptions for customers, employees, and suppliers. Blackford Capital's management team oversees the day-to-day operations of the business, and members of the investor team actively participate on the Board of Directors or as formal advisors to the company.