Frontenac Company

Frontenac Company is a long-standing private equity firm based in Chicago, Illinois, with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1971. Unlike traditional venture capital firms, Frontenac specializes in making control equity investments in lower middle-market services businesses. Their investment philosophy centers on partnering with strong management teams, often leveraging their proprietary "CEO1ST" strategy, which involves identifying and partnering with experienced executives to acquire and grow companies within their target sectors. This approach emphasizes operational excellence and strategic growth initiatives to build value.

TheThe firm primarily targets companies operating within three core services industries: industrial services, business services, and consumer services. Frontenac seeks out businesses with enterprise values typically ranging from $50 million to $500 million. Their investment strategy is characterized by a disciplined approach to identifying market leaders or companies with significant growth potential within fragmented industries, where they can apply their operational expertise and strategic guidance to drive expansion and profitability.

Frontenac is currently deploying capital from its tenth equity fund, Frontenac X, which successfully closed in 2021 with total commitments of $400 million. This fund continues the firm's tradition of focusing on control investments, with typical equity checks ranging from $20 million to $100 million per transaction. Over its five-decade history, Frontenac has built a reputation for its consistent performance and its ability to execute complex transactions, demonstrating a deep commitment to the long-term success of its portfolio companies.