News

News

July 27, 2023

The Sterling Group Joins Ownership Works to Continue Long History of Sharing Economics with Portfolio Companies

The Sterling Group (“Sterling”), a Houston-based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that the Firm is partnering with Ownership Works to continue its long history of sharing economics with portfolio companies. Ownership Works is a nonprofit organization that partners with companies and investors to implement broadbased employee ownership programs.

Sterling believes the pace of progress dramatically increases when Sterling and employees are economically aligned and when employees can participate in a successful investment outcome. Since 1982, Sterling has been widely sharing equity and/or options with employees of portfolio companies. Sterling’s founder, Gordon Cain, wrote a book called “Everyone Wins” detailing his and Sterling’s philosophy on sharing economics, and these principles are still carried by the firm today.

“Over four decades investing in the industrial sector, we have learned that employees are more engaged and more impactful when they have ownership. This “Everybody Wins” philosophy of partnering with our portfolio company employees to create long term value is a founding principle of our firm. We are thrilled to continue sharing economics with portfolio company employees in partnership with Ownership Works to drive better investment outcomes and generate wealth for employees and their families,” said Brad Staller, a Partner at The Sterling Group.

Ownership Works, a new nonprofit organization with a mission to create $20 billion in wealth for workers by 2030, announced 15 new Founding Partners. Building on an unprecedented initial cohort of partners in 2022, this new cohort brings the organization’s groundbreaking consortium to a total of over 75 leaders from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Collectively, these firms and individuals are committed to improving financial outcomes for businesses and workers through broad-based employee ownership.

Ownership Works’ Founding Partners include investors, banks, professional services firms, pension funds, labor advocates, nonprofits, and public companies. These partners support the nonprofit’s mission in various ways, including pro bono subject matter expertise and charitable contributions. Of Ownership Works’ investor partners, 23 private equity firms have made industry-leading commitments to provide all full-time employees within at least three of their portfolio companies with a pathway to participate in broad-based employee ownership programs.

“We’re thrilled to see the business community continuing to rally behind broad-based employee ownership. Since our public launch in 2022, 66 companies have implemented shared ownership programs, reaching over 95,000 employees, and over $350 million has been paid out to workers,” said Anna-Lisa Miller, Executive Director of Ownership Works. “With this second cohort of Founding Partners, Ownership Works takes another considerable step forward in our mission to make shared ownership the new norm within corporate America, allowing all workers to benefit from the value they help create.”

As part of Ownership Works’ second cohort of Founding Partners, four leaders and advisors have joined Ownership Works’ Pension Fund Leadership Council, lending their time and expertise to help establish shared ownership as a leading investment strategy that generates both strong financial returns and significant social benefit.

Ownership Works’ new Founding Partners and Pension Fund Leadership Council members include:

Institutional Partners

· Advent International

· Aksia

· AlixPartners

· Ardian

· Building Industry Partners

· Frontenac

· KPMG

· Neuberger Berman

· Prudential Foundation

· The Riverside Company

· The Sterling Group

Pension Fund Leadership Councilmembers

· Scott Hart, Partner & CEO, StepStone Group

· Mike Krems, Partner, Private Equity Portfolio Strategies, Aksia

· Polina Sims, Managing Director, Head of Investment Strategy, Sustainability and Asset Management, Investment Management Corporation of Ontario

· Elizabeth Traxler, Managing Director, Neuberger Berman

Recent Impact¹

Ownership Works has made significant progress since its founding in 2021, recently releasing its first Impact Report. The report includes an overview of the number of shared ownership programs implemented, and the amount of wealth shared, to date. Progress includes:

Programmatic Progress

· 66 companies with board-approved shared ownership plans

· 95K+ employees impacted by shared ownership

Wealth Shared

· $359M – Wealth shared through broad-based employee ownership programs²

· $127M – Wealth shared with low- and moderate-income workers³

· $153M – Wealth shared with workers of color⁴

· $101,710 – Average payout to low- and moderate-income workers⁵

To learn more about the partners that have joined Ownership Works in the movement to establish broad-based employee ownership as the new norm at work, please visit ownershipworks.org/partners/.

About Ownership Works

Ownership Works is a nonprofit organization on a mission to increase prosperity through shared ownership at work. The organization partners with business leaders and investors to provide all employees with the opportunity to become owners at work and participate in the success they help create. To learn more, please visit ownershipworks.org.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 65 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $14.0 billion. Sterling currently has over $5.9 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss. In connection with Sterling’s collaboration with Ownership Works, Sterling has made and will continue to make financial contributions to Ownership Works to support the organization’s  charitable activities.


¹ This information was provided by Ownership Works as of July 21, 2023 and has not been independently verified by Sterling.

² Sum of total payouts (dividends and exits) to all employees excluding the top five highest payout recipients at companies where data has been provided.

³ Sum of total payouts (dividends and exits) to all employees with incomes less than or equal to $113,675 (i.e., 250% of 2021 U.S. median individual earnings, as based on U.S. Census data: “Earnings Summary Measures by Selected Characteristics: 2020 and 2021.”)

⁴ From companies where employee-level data has been provided and based on total payout data with no exclusions or thresholds.

⁵ Based on available employee-level data for U.S. workers for exit payouts, and assuming employee-level income data shared with O.W. is total annual compensation.



News

March 29, 2023

The Sterling Group Ranked Number 8 in 2022 HEC-Dow Jones Middle Market Buyout Private Equity Performance Ranking

The Sterling Group (“Sterling”), a Houston-based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that the Firm has been ranked #8 out of over 563 middle market private equity firms globally in the 2022 HEC-DowJones Middle Market Buyout Performance ranking.

Sterling has been partnering with management teams to grow and build winning businesses in the industrial sector for over forty years. “The Sterling team shares a passion for building great industrial businesses through investments in the Seven Levers, and we believe this passion has driven strong results,” said Brian Henry, Partner at The Sterling Group. “We are grateful to our investors for their continued support, and to our management teams for driving initiatives and growth at our portfolio companies.” For more information, including the full ranking, criteria and methodology, please view the full report here.

The 2022 HEC Paris – DowJones Middle Market Buyout Performance Ranking seeks to answer the question: “Which firm(s) in the Middle Market Buyout segment generated the best performance for their investors over the past years?” The ranking analyzed performance data from 563 PE firms and the 2021 funds they raised between 2009 and 2018 with an aggregate equity volume of $1.51 trillion. The HEC-DowJones Ranking draws on private equity fund performance data provided by Preqin and data reported directly to HEC-DowJones.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 64 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $14.0 billion. Sterling currently has over $5.1 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

HEC Paris and Dow Jones (“HEC-Dow Jones”) released the 2022 HEC Paris-DowJones Middle Market Buyout Performance Ranking (the “Report”) on March 5, 2023. The Report is based on information sourced from Preqin and data reported directly by certain participants in the rankings described in the Report. The Sterling Group provided certain information to HEC-Dow Jones in connection with the preparation of the Report, which addresses certain middle-market buyout fund sponsors and fund vintage years of 2009-2018. The Report ultimately represents the opinion of HEC-Dow Jones and not of The Sterling Group. Neither HEC-Dow Jones nor The Sterling Group has independently verified or assessed the information provided by other parties in connection with the preparation of the Report. In addition, the methodology used by HEC-Dow Jones is subject to inherent limitations due to the confidential nature of the private equity industry, different vintage years, strategies or investment objectives of private equity firms and different performance measures used by such firms. The Sterling Group pays an annual subscription fee to Preqin for access to certain data but did not compensate Preqin or HEC-Dow Jones to be considered for, or ultimately receive, any ranking described in the Report. There can be no assurance that other providers or surveys would reach the same conclusion as the foregoing. The Sterling Group makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness or reliability of information contained in the Report. Information relating to the Report and its methodology is available here.



News

November 28, 2022

The Sterling Group Named to Inc.’s 2022 List of Founder-Friendly Investors

The Sterling Group (“Sterling”), a Houston-based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, is delighted to announce that it has been named to Inc.’s fourth annual Founder-Friendly Investors list. Inc.’s list honors the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track record of success backing entrepreneurs, and this is the fourth consecutive year Sterling has been included on the list.

“We are committed to building long-term partnerships with entrepreneurs and founders to support their business goals and help accelerate their growth plans,” said Jim Apple, a Managing Director at The Sterling Group. “Our recognition on this list speaks to the level of trust we have built with families and founders in the industrial sector over the past four decades.”

Approximately 75% of Sterling platform investments in the last six years have involved partnerships with family or entrepreneur owned or operated businesses. Over the past forty years, Sterling has collaborated with numerous entrepreneur owners, working closely with management to drive fundamental improvement at each platform company.

Inc.’s 2022 List of Founder-Friendly Investors recognizes 184 firms that entrepreneurs can trust and collaborate with while receiving the financial support they need to help accelerate growth. All 184 have a successful track record of remaining actively involved in the businesses after their investment. To see the complete list, go to: https://www.inc.com/founder-friendly-investors/2022.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 63 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $14.0 billion. Sterling currently has over $5.7 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss.

Any subjective views or opinions expressed herein should not be construed as absolute statements and are subject to change without notice to you. No representation, express or implied, is given regarding the accuracy of the information contained herein. Any forward-looking statements included herein are based on The Sterling Group’s current opinions, assumptions, expectations, beliefs, intentions, regarding future events, are subject to risks and uncertainties, and are provided for informational purposes only.

The Sterling Group paid a fee to be considered for this list, which was issued on October 4th, 2022 and covers the period of April 2021 to April 2022. This list is based on an analysis of information gathered by Inc. Magazine using its own methodologies and criteria, which analysis relies in part on certain subjective determinations and is subject to inherent limitations.



News

November 11, 2021

The Sterling Group Named in Inc.’s 2021 List of Founder-Friendly Investors

The Sterling Group (“Sterling”), a Houston-based, operationally focused middle market private equity firm, has been named to Inc.’s third annual Founder-Friendly Investors list. This list honors the private equity and venture capital firms with the best track record of success backing entrepreneurs.

“Sterling appreciates the magnitude of the decision a family-led or entrepreneur-led business undertakes when forming a partnership with private equity. Across the industrial sector, we bring a unique approach helping families navigate a once-in-a-lifetime event,” said Jim Apple, a Managing Director at The Sterling Group.  “Our inclusion on this list points to forty years of crafting the right solution for each situation.”

Approximately 75% of Sterling platform investments in the last five years have involved partnerships with family or entrepreneur owned or operated businesses. Over the past forty years, Sterling has collaborated with numerous entrepreneur owners, working closely with management to drive fundamental improvement at each platform company.

Inc.’s 2021 List of Founder-Friendly Investors recognizes 146 firms that entrepreneurs can trust and collaborate with while receiving the financial support they need to help accelerate growth. All 146 have a successful track record of remaining actively involved in the businesses after their investment. To see the complete list, go to: http://www.inc.com/private-equity.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity and private credit investment firm that targets investments in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies at initial formation range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 61 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $14.0 billion. Sterling currently has over $5.0 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss.



News

October 19, 2020

White Cap and Construction Supply Group Combine to Create $4 Billion Market-Leading Distributor of Concrete Accessories and Specialty Construction Products

Transaction Will Enhance Capabilities to Serve Professional Contractors with Broader Product & Service Offerings and Expanded Reach

White Cap Supply Holdings, LLC (“White Cap”) and Construction Supply Group (“CSG”) announce today the successful separation of White Cap from HD Supply and its combination with CSG. The combined transaction, valued at approximately $4 billion and including investments by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (“CD&R”) and The Sterling Group funds, creates the leading North American distributor of a diverse mix of concrete accessories and specialty construction and safety products by revenues with more than $4 billion annually.

Following the transaction, CD&R funds hold a 65 percent ownership interest in the combined company, and the prior shareholders of CSG, led by The Sterling Group, hold a 35 percent interest.

CSG and White Cap have highly complementary product offerings and geographic footprints, aligned cultures and strong talent focused on providing exceptional customer service to professional contractors. John Stegeman, CEO of White Cap, and Alan Sollenberger, President of White Cap, will lead the combined business.

“Both White Cap and CSG share the same vision of continuous growth with the goal to relentlessly improve customer service,” said John Stegeman. “By joining together, our platform allows expansion of our product and service offerings across more than 400 locations in 46 U.S. States and 8 Canadian Provinces. Our goal is to provide even greater value for our customers and enhance our ability to serve with excellence. This is an incredibly exciting time for our associates, customers, and suppliers.”

The combined strength of White Cap and CSG will include:

An outside sales force of over 850 associates with significant industry experience

More than 1,000 inside and counter sales associates to deliver on our promise of two-hour ready will call at our locations

Nearly 2,000 delivery vehicles to enable our same day or next day service to job sites

A comprehensive offering of 400,000+ products from more than 4,500 suppliers

“Both businesses have incredible histories of exceptional customer service,” said Alan Sollenberger. “As we join together, we will continue to build on our vast experiences and stronger future by investing in focused local growth initiatives with the support of our national platform.”

“Our goal with this transformational combination is to bring to life the many benefits of our combination for our customers,” said John Stegeman.

About White Cap

White Cap serves as a one-stop shop providing concrete accessories and chemicals, tools and equipment, building materials and fasteners, erosion and waterproofing and safety products to professional contractors by meeting their distinct and customized supply needs in non-residential, residential and infrastructure end markets. White Cap operates 268 branches with approximately 5,300 employees and offers more than 400,000 SKUs to 200,000 customers. For more information, visit www.whitecap.com.

About Construction Supply Group

CSG is a leader in the distribution of specialty construction materials, accessories and tools, primarily for professional concrete and masonry contractors in the United States and Canada. With over 132 branches and approximately 2,000 employees, CSG offers over 60,000 SKUs to over 65,000 customers. For more information, visit www.constructionsupplygroup.com.

About Clayton, Dubilier & Rice

Founded in 1978, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice is a private investment firm. Since inception, CD&R has managed the investment of more than $30 billion in 95 companies with an aggregate transaction value of more than $150 billion. The Firm has offices in New York and London. For more information, visit www.cdr-inc.com.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity investment firm that targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 57 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $14.0 billion. Currently, Sterling has over $4.0 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.



News

June 15, 2020

The Sterling Group, an operationally focused middle market private equity firm, announced the closing of Sterling Group Partners V, LP (together with its parallel fund, “Fund V”). Fund V was oversubscribed and closed at its $2.0 billion hard cap in approximately four months.

The majority of Fund V’s capital was committed by returning investors. Sterling welcomes several new investors that expand the firm’s Limited Partner base in the United States, the Middle East and Asia. “The Sterling team is grateful for the continued support of our long term investing partners, particularly in the midst of an extremely difficult market environment,” said Franny Jones, Managing Director, Investor Relations. “The demand for Fund V is a result of Sterling’s hands-on, operational approach to transforming industrial businesses and our firm-wide commitment to continuous improvement in all aspects of our business.”

Consistent with Sterling’s successful history over four decades, Fund V will primarily target corporate carve-outs and family businesses. The firm emphasizes its operational approach in partnership with management teams to grow and improve its portfolio companies. Sterling’s partner group, including Greg Elliott, John Hawkins, Brian Henry, Scott MacLaren, Gary Rosenthal, Brad Staller, and Kent Wallace, have a collective 100-plus years working at Sterling.

Sterling’s previous fund closed in 2015 with $1.25 billion of investor commitments. Kirkland and Ellis served as legal counsel for Fund V. Sterling did not utilize a placement agent.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of its initial platform companies range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 56 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $14 billion. Currently, Sterling has over $4 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss.



News

December 19, 2019

The Sterling Group Announces Scott MacLaren has been Named Partner

The Sterling Group, a Houston-based middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that Scott MacLaren has been named Partner.

Scott joined The Sterling Group in 2014 from The Boston Consulting Group where he focused on operational improvement initiatives for industrial and energy companies. Prior to entering the private sector, Scott was a Ranger qualified officer in the United States Army where he led a scout platoon during the troop surge in Iraq, and later served as a company commander in charge of 120 personnel. Scott received a B.S. in Economics from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from the Wharton School.

Scott’s first investment at Sterling was American Bath Group, a turnaround effort and industry consolidation in the bathware manufacturing industry. Scott spent a year embedded at the company, using his experience leading teams and driving operational change to completely transform the company’s transportation and logistics program, as well as executing four strategic acquisitions. During his time at ABG, the Company experienced over 200% EBITDA growth. Since then, he has been instrumental in Sterling Group investments such as Highline, Evergreen, Lynx FBO, and Polychem.

“We are excited to have Scott join our partnership. His operational, commercial, and transactional capabilities underlie Scott’s strong contribution to Sterling, our portfolio companies, and our investors,” said Gary Rosenthal, a Partner at The Sterling Group.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity investment firm that targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 56 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $10.0 billion. Currently, Sterling has over $2.0 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss.

 



News

July 16, 2019

The Sterling Group Named in Inc’s List of The 50 Best Private Equity Firms for Entrepreneurs

Sterling was recently named on the Inc list of Top 50 Founder Friendly Private Equity firms. Sterling has been partnering with founders and entrepreneurs for 37 years.

Link to article: https://lnkd.in/gfA2QMp



News

February 05, 2019

The Sterling Group Announces Promotions

The Sterling Group, an operationally focused private equity firm based in Houston, Texas, announced the promotions of Scott MacLaren, Franny Jones, Max Klupchak, and Claudine Lussier.

Scott MacLaren has been promoted to Managing Director. Scott joined Sterling in 2014 from The Boston Consulting Group and has played an integral role on the deal teams of American Bath Group, Highline Aftermarket, Lynx FBO Network, and Evergreen North America. Scott spent a year embedded at American Bath Group where he successfully drove major transformation at the company.

Franny Jones has been promoted to Managing Director. Franny joined Sterling in 2010 to focus on the firm’s fundraising and investor relations efforts. With Franny’s leadership in this area, Sterling has further enhanced its fundraising capabilities and transparent communications with investors.

Max Klupchak has been promoted to General Counsel. Max joined Sterling in 2015 from Kirkland &Ellis LLP to oversee legal matters at the firm. Max has built out Sterling’s internal legal processes and has also had a meaningful impact advising Sterling’s portfolio companies.

Claudine Lussier has been promoted to Principal. Claudine joined Sterling in 2017 from Jacobs Engineering. In a short period of time, Claudine has driven improvements in all areas of Sterling’s talent development activities, both internally and at Sterling portfolio companies.

“We are thrilled to recognize these four outstanding contributors to The Sterling Group. Each shares a passion for building winning industrial businesses and a focus on continuous improvement,” said Brad Staller, a Partner at Sterling.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity investment firm that targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 54 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $10.0 billion. Currently, Sterling has over $1.9 billion of assets under management. For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss.



News

April 12, 2017

Lynx FBO Network Appoints Scott Kelly and Dan Bucaro to the Board of Directors

Lynx FBO Network, a buy-and-build effort in the FBO (fixed base operator) industry, today announced the appointment of Scott Kelly, retired astronaut and US Navy captain, and Dan Bucaro, former CEO of Landmark Aviation, to its Board of Directors. In September 2016,The Sterling Group, a middle market private equity firm focused on industrial businesses, began executing a plan to build a leading FBO network providing general aviation services.  Lynx completed four acquisitions in the first four months of operations.

Scott Kelly is an astronaut and retired US Navy Captain who is a veteran of four space flights and commanded the International Space Station on three different expeditions. Dan Bucaro has been involved in the FBO industry for over 15 years, having built the Trajen, Encore and Landmark businesses. Dan was most recently CEO of Landmark Aviation, an FBO network with 70 locations that was sold by The Carlyle Group to BBA Aviation in February 2016.

“Scott will bring invaluable strategic and operational direction to the Board, and Dan brings unparalleled experience and success in the FBO industry,” said Greg Elliott, a Partner at The Sterling Group.“We are thrilled to be adding strength to the already deep team at Lynx.”

In addition, the company announced that Matt DeLellis joined as Chief Financial Officer and Leslie McIntyre joined as Executive Vice President of Human Resources. DeLellis was formerly the Senior Vice President for Strategy and Corporate Development and McIntyre was the Vice President of Human Resources, both at Landmark Aviation.

Sterling has assembled a strong and experienced team to build the new network. Greg Elliott, has been involved in building several FBO networks in the past fifteen years, including roles as the Chairman of Encore and Trajen, and Board member of Landmark Aviation.  Chad Farischon and Tyson Goetz are former members of the Trajen, Atlantic Aviation, and Landmark Aviation management teams and have been involved with the purchase and integration of over 50 FBOs over the course of their careers. Lynx is the sole service provider at air fields near Destin, Florida; Portland, Oregon; and Minneapolis, Minnesota and is actively pursuing further acquisitions.

About The Sterling Group

Founded in 1982, The Sterling Group is a private equity investment firm that targets controlling interests in basic manufacturing, distribution and industrial services companies. Typical enterprise values of these companies range from $100 million to $750 million. Sterling has sponsored the buyout of 50 platform companies and numerous add-on acquisitions for a total transaction value of over $10.0 billion. Currently, Sterling has over $2.2 billion of assets under management.  For further information, please visit www.sterling-group.com.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results and all investments are subject to loss.