Our Approach

We are Hands-on

At FortéOne Capital, we take a hands-on approach to private equity investment in the manufacturing sector. Our team of experienced professionals works closely with management teams to implement strategic initiatives, optimize operations, and capitalize on growth opportunities. By leveraging our industry expertise and network of resources, we aim to position our portfolio companies for success in today's competitive marketplace.

We aggressively seek:

Companies that we believe are well positioned for growth and achievement of scale.

High-caliber companies that provide differentiated, specialized products or services.

Operator or Entrepreneur centric organizations that have not fully developed the management team.

Corporate Divestitures, Founder or Family Owned Businesses, Private Transactions, Public-to-Private or Special Situations.

FortéOne Capital's structure and approach allows us to invest in Special Situations. The FortéOne Capital Team has a long and successful history of creating successful businesses out of assets or companies that were near shutdown or liquidation, had suffered from a history of operating losses, near default, and/or neglected by a parent company.

Our Approach

Deal Sourcing

We source our proprietary deals two ways.

Direct Relationships with Business Owners. We are frequently approached by owners who prefer a direct, discreet transaction rather than a formal investment banking process. These owners value a partner who will preserve their legacy, grow the business, and build leadership depth for the future.
Our Professional Networks. The networks we have developed with hundreds of C level executives as well as legal, investment banking and lending professionals provide us with a continuous flow of companies that in many cases have not been professionalized to the degree that makes them ready for the market. In most cases, the owners remain in what we call The Founders Trap. They have not built a solid leadership team and their companies will not thrive once they are gone. And given the large numbers of baby boomers who are “aging out” there is no shortage of potential companies like these for sale.

Deal Sourcing Criteria

At FortéOne Capital, we seek companies that leverage our strengths and offer the potential for superior, long-term returns. This requires that they meet four criteria:

Our Industry Expertise: An industry where we have hands-on Operators who have grown similar companies
High Growth: The potential for at least double-digit organic growth, or higher, over a long-time horizon. In most cases, these companies could also serve as platforms for accelerated growth through strategic acquisitions.
Operational Margin Improvements: Opportunities for operational improvements that will add several percent to gross margins
Go To Market Refinement: Opportunities for strategic refinement for their go-to-market processes to focus the company on higher growth, higher lifetime value clients

FortéOne Capital Advantages

When opportunities meet the above four requirements, we work with our network of patient capital providers to deliver:

Proprietary Deal Flow – that meet the above four criteria for FortéOne Capital
Extensive “Operational Diligence” – that employs our VAlue Acceleration Process, and allows us to quickly begin working on The Critical Few areas of the company that will accelerate performance
A Committed Leadership Team – that has 30+ years accelerating the growth of middle market companies
Control over investment decisions. Our investors judge each deal on its own merits.
No fees on uncommitted capital – also, our investors avoid the setup and management fees of committed funds
Lack of restrictions on time horizons. There is no hold time limit, but rather a focus on long term gains.
Aligned Economics – to ensure all financial interests are aligned