HC Private Investments

HC Private Investments is a Chicago-based private equity firm that specializes in making direct investments into private, lower middle-market niche manufacturing businesses. Operating as a family office, the firm distinguishes itself from traditional private equity models by offering flexible and patient capital, prioritizing long-term growth over rigid timelines. They focus on identifying growth opportunities and actively engaging executive advisors from the outset to develop and implement value creation plans, often aligned with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). HC Private Investments seeks to partner with owner-operators or family businesses, providing resources to unlock value potential through various transaction structures, including recapitalizations and generational ownership transitions.

The firm was founded in 2016 by Managing Partners John P. Kelly and Matthew J. Moran. Prior to establishing HC Private Investments, Mr. Kelly held an investment professional role at The Tokarz Group Advisers, while Mr. Moran was a senior investment professional at Wind Point Partners. Their combined experience in lower and middle-market private equity laid the groundwork for HC Private Investments' focused investment strategy and operational engagement. Joseph Niciforo, a founding member, serves as the Chairman of the Investment Committee, bringing extensive experience from the financial sector, including his role as Chairman and CEO of HC Technologies.

HC Private Investments has built a diverse portfolio of manufacturing companies across consumer and industrial markets. Notable investments and portfolio companies include Artisan Bakery, created through the acquisitions of Snackwerks and Speciality Bakers, and Prince Industries, which expanded its aerospace and defense capabilities with the acquisition of Keystone Precision & Engineering. Other investments have included QEI and Epicurean Butter. The firm also successfully exited its investment in Springboard Manufacturing through a sale to Currier Plastics.

The team at HC Private Investments emphasizes a collaborative approach with portfolio company management. John P. Kelly and Matthew J. Moran, as Managing Partners, are actively involved and serve on the boards of several portfolio companies. Kelsey Lawrie, as Managing Director of Talent, leads the Executive Advisor Partners program, connecting portfolio companies with leading executives. Ryan Sullivan, Managing Director of Operations, works directly with companies to implement value creation initiatives. This operational expertise, combined with the financial acumen of the founding partners and the strategic oversight of the investment committee, underpins the firm's approach to fostering growth and maximizing value.