Private-equity firm

Blackford Capital Named Private Equity Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor for Second Consecutive Year

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 21, 2022
Award, Growth, Private-equity firm, Trust, Small business, Acquisition, Consumer, Esprit de Corps (magazine), Private equity, Culture, Magic Circle (law firms), Corp, Deal, Financial adviser

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital, a leading lower middle market private equity firm, was named Private Equity Firm of the Year at the 21th Annual M&A Advisor Awards on Tuesday, November 15. This is the third time Blackford has received this distinguished honor; the first in back-to-back years.

Key Points: 
  • GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital , a leading lower middle market private equity firm, was named Private Equity Firm of the Year at the 21th Annual M&A Advisor Awards on Tuesday, November 15.
  • "We are extremely honored to be named The M&A Advisor Private Equity Firm of the Year once again.
  • This year's award marks the third time that Blackford has been recognized as Private Equity Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor, having previously won in 2018 and 2021.
  • Founded in 2010, Blackford Capital is a private equity investment firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Blackford Capital's Jeffrey Johnson Named a 2022 Notable Money Manager by Crain's Detroit Business

Retrieved on: 
Monday, November 7, 2022
Board, Magic Circle (law firms), Private-equity firm, QAP, Growth, Culture, Industry, Technology, Detroit Business Institute, Leadership, Organization, Crain Communications, Research, Ellison, Financial services, Management

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital , a leading lower middle market private equity firm, today announced its Managing Director Jeffrey Johnson has been selected by the editors of Crain's Detroit Business as one of the publication's Notable Money Managers for 2022.

Key Points: 
  • GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital , a leading lower middle market private equity firm, today announced its Managing Director Jeffrey Johnson has been selected by the editors of Crain's Detroit Business as one of the publication's Notable Money Managers for 2022.
  • "I am honored to be recognized as a 2022 Notable Money Manager by Crain's Detroit Business," said Jeff Johnson.
  • The winners of the Crain's Notable Money Manager Award were featured in a November 7 special section of Crain's Detroit Business.
  • For more information on this recognition and for a detailed list of all the recipients for 2022 Notable Money Manager, please visit www.crainsdetroit.com .

Valkyrie Funds announces ETF liquidation, de-listing

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
Bitcoin, World Bank Group, HERE, Risk, Growth, Review, CUSIP, Private-equity firm, Investment, World Bank, LLC, Guggenheim Partners, Research, Funding, Chicago Board of Trade, ETF, Company, Nasdaq, Technology, ALPS, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Board, Nature, FINRA, UBS, Environment, Board of directors, Prospectus, Forward-looking statement, Terminology, VBB, NAV, Exchange-traded product, Financial adviser, Bank, Insurance

The fund set to be closed is the Valkyrie Balance Sheet Opportunities FUND (Nasdaq: VBB), with a CUSIP of 91917A 306.

Key Points: 
  • The fund set to be closed is the Valkyrie Balance Sheet Opportunities FUND (Nasdaq: VBB), with a CUSIP of 91917A 306.
  • Valkyrie Funds LLC ("Valkyrie Funds") is a specialized alternative financial services firm at the intersection of traditional finance and the emerging digital asset sector whose affiliates aim to offer asset management, research and other services.
  • Valkyrie Funds is led by seasoned asset managers who have previously launched multiple ETFs, publicly traded funds and Exchange Traded Products, including digital asset funds with backgrounds across Guggenheim Partners, UBS, Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and The World Bank.
  • This and other information can be found in the full prospectus available HERE for the Bitcoin Strategy ETF, HERE for the Innovative Balance Sheet ETF and HERE for the Bitcoin Miners ETF.

Mainsail Partners Named in Inc.'s 2022 List of Founder Friendly Investors

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 6, 2022
SAN, LinkedIn, Inc. (magazine), Culture, Partner, Growth, Woman, Private-equity firm, Investor, Man, Research, Technology, Marketing, Industry, CEO, Idol Drama Operation Team, Record, Cryptocurrency, Security (finance), Risk management, Mainsail, Inc.

AUSTIN, Texas, and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Mainsail Partners, a growth equity firm that invests in bootstrapped software companies, was named in Inc.'s annual Founder-Friendly Investors list. According to Inc., the list recognizes private equity and venture capital firms that it believes have the best track records of success backing entrepreneurs.

Key Points: 
  • "This is a well-deserved recognition for Mainsail," said Mark Tipton, Founder and CEO of Aspire Software.
  • Mainsail Partners was founded with the goal of partnering with software company founders to help scale their business in the next phase of growth.
  • This is the third consecutive year that Mainsail has been included on Inc.'s list of Founder Friendly Investors.
  • Mainsail was ranked as a Top 25 Private Equity Firm in 2022 by GrowthCap and has appeared on Inc Magazine's list of Founder Friendly Private Equity Firms for multiple consecutive years.

Serent Capital Named to Inc.’s 2022 List of Founder-Friendly Investors

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 6, 2022
Other Professional Services, Software, Internet, Finance, Hardware, Professional Services, Technology, Business, Culture, Growth, Conference, Private-equity firm, Â, Partnership, Capital, Knowledge, Space Innovation and Growth Team, Social media, IMS Associates, Inc., Chief executive officer, Solution, Consultant, Security (finance), Management, Fine chemical

The list honors the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track record of success backing entrepreneurs.

Key Points: 
  • The list honors the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track record of success backing entrepreneurs.
  • From inception, Serent set out to build a distinctly different firm that prioritizes the founders and their companies.
  • Serent is a values-driven based firm and one of our core values is partnership, which means putting the portfolio first, stated Kevin Frick, Partner at Serent Capital.
  • To compile the list, Inc. went straight to the source: entrepreneurs who have sold to private equity and venture capital firms.

Blackford Capital Expands Deal Team Capabilities

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Avalon, Secondary research, Private equity, Research, Acquisition, AGR, Growth, Deal, Securities research, Magic Circle (law firms), Business, USD, Private-equity firm, LBO, University of Mumbai, Commerce, Corporate development, Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA, Security (finance), Financial services, Management

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital , a leading middle market private equity firm, today announced the expansion of its Deal Team and welcomed Rishabh Mukherjee, CFAto the firm.

Key Points: 
  • GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital , a leading middle market private equity firm, today announced the expansion of its Deal Team and welcomed Rishabh Mukherjee, CFAto the firm.
  • The addition of Mr. Mukherjee to the Blackford Capital team demonstrates the firm's continued focus on driving strategic organizational growth to deliver maximum value creation for investors.
  • He has demonstrated exceptional competence in deal content research, development and management and is also a great example of Blackford values," said Blackford Capital Founder and Managing Director Martin Stein.
  • "I'm delighted to join Martin and the dynamic Blackford Capital team at this time in the firm's growth cycle," said Mr. Mukherjee.

Blackford Capital Announced as Finalist for the 2022 M&A Advisor Awards

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Private-equity firm, Award, Private equity, Blackford, Acquisition, Growth, Deal, Magic Circle (law firms), Esprit de Corps (magazine), Small business, Corp, Financial services, Financial adviser

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital, a leading lower middle market private equity firm, today announced it has been named a finalist for four 2022 M&A Advisor Awards including Private Equity Firm of the Year.

Key Points: 
  • GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Sept. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital , a leading lower middle market private equity firm, today announced it has been named a finalist for four 2022 M&A Advisor Awards including Private Equity Firm of the Year.
  • The winners of the M&A Advisor awards will be announced during the 2022 Future of Dealmaking Summit on Tuesday, November 15, 2022, in New York City.
  • For more information, and for a detailed list of all the Award Finalists for the 21st Annual M&A Advisor awards, please visit www.maadvisor.com .
  • Founded in 2010, Blackford Capital is a private equity investment firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

BLACKFORD CAPITAL'S ANDREW HAKIM ANNOUNCED AS RECIPIENT OF THE 13TH ANNUAL EMERGING LEADERS AWARD

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, July 28, 2022
Deal, Blackford, Investment, University, Pleasure, Industry, Private equity, Magic Circle (law firms), Engineering, Leadership, Empowerment, Emergency Leaders for Climate Action, Private-equity firm, Growth, Financial services

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The M&A Advisor recently announced that Blackford Capital's Andrew Hakim has been recognized as a recipient of the 13thAnnual M&A Advisor Emerging Leaders Awards.

Key Points: 
  • GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., July 28, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The M&A Advisor recently announced that Blackford Capital's Andrew Hakim has been recognized as a recipient of the 13thAnnual M&A Advisor Emerging Leaders Awards.
  • Andrew leads the firm's Portfolio Company Operations team and is responsible for key aspects of analyzing, acquiring, capitalizing, growing, and exiting the firm's equity investments.
  • Raised in West Michigan, Mr. Hakim earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Engineering from the University of Michigan.
  • "I am honored to be acknowledged by The M&A Advisor as one of this year's Emerging Leaders," said Hakim.

Blackford Capital Completes Sale of Grand Equipment Company

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 16, 2022
COVID-19, Blackford, Magic Circle (law firms), Private-equity firm, LLC, Growth, USD, Investment, GEC, Capital, Deal, Construction, Original equipment manufacturer, Sale, Bank, Video game

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital ("Blackford"), a leading lower middle market private equity firm, today announced the successful exit from its investment in Grand Equipment Company , ("Grand Equipment" or "GEC") through a sale to Cognitive Capital Partners, LLC ("Cognitive"), a Chicago-based investment firm.

Key Points: 
  • GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., June 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Blackford Capital ("Blackford"), a leading lower middle market private equity firm, today announced the successful exit from its investment in Grand Equipment Company , ("Grand Equipment" or "GEC") through a sale to Cognitive Capital Partners, LLC ("Cognitive"), a Chicago-based investment firm.
  • During its time as a Blackford Capital portfolio company, Grand Equipment made investments in its management team, improved equipment mix and its rental fleet, strengthened relationships with customers and OEMs, and used the resulting growth to improve the balance sheet.
  • "Grand Equipment is excited to continue our growth trajectory in West Michigan with this transition from Blackford Capital to Cognitive Capital Partners," said Jeff Grasman, Grand Equipment CEO.
  • Founded in 2000, Grand Equipment Company is a full-service equipment distributor based in Hudsonville, Michigan.

Blackford Capital Hires Ken Wagner as Chief Financial Officer

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 31, 2022
Khilkhet Thana, Partner (business rank), Tier 1, Hope College, Financial management, Magic Circle (law firms), Richard Wagner, Efficiency, Deal, Private-equity firm, Magna International, Compliance, Electronics, Coastal Group, Coast, Blackford, Magna, CFO, Management, Accounting

Wagner will report to Blackford Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer Paul Doyle.

Key Points: 
  • Wagner will report to Blackford Managing Partner and Chief Operating Officer Paul Doyle.
  • He joins Blackford from Coastal Group ,where he served as Chief Financial Officer with Coastal's then-CEO Paul Doyle to create nearly $80M of equity value in four years.
  • The Wagner appointment comes as part of a strategic plan for organizational change within the Blackford Capital executive leadership team.
  • "I'm delighted to join Martin and the dynamic Blackford Capital team at this time in the firm's growth cycle," said Ken Wagner.