Acuity Capital Group

Background

Acuity Capital Group, founded in 2019, is an independent private investment firm headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. The firm is dedicated to the sustained success of small, family-owned businesses across North America, recognizing these enterprises as the backbone of the economy and a foundation of American ingenuity. Acuity provides businesses and their management teams with time, resources, and steadfast operational support to achieve their goals, without imposing an investment time horizon. This approach ensures consistent brand sustainability and empowers management and employees to succeed well into the future.

Key Strategic Focus

Acuity Capital Group focuses on control investments in industrial services, niche manufacturing, and value-added distribution sectors. The firm partners with motivated management teams, leveraging extensive operational networks to build long-lasting, successful companies while achieving exceptional investment returns. Acuity offers both controlling and non-controlling investment options, tailoring each transaction to the specific goals of the target business and its leadership. The firm's unique approach includes long-term investment options, creative structuring, authentic relationship-based deal sourcing, and leveraging a network of operators and investors.

Financials and Funding

Acuity Capital Group's investment parameters include:

EBITDA up to $10 million

Enterprise value up to approximately $50 million

Controlling equity investments up to $10 million

Non-controlling equity investments with a minimum of $1 million

Other customized investment structures

Headquartered in North America

The firm targets various transaction types, including family-owned businesses, legacy planning, management buyouts, unique and tailored capital solutions, and recapitalizations.

Pipeline Development

Acuity Capital Group has made several strategic investments, including:

Sparta Metal Processing: Acquired in December 2022, operating in the environmental services sector.

Sumco (Indianapolis): Acquired in April 2020, operating in the commercial services sector.

ABC Metals Group: Operating in the distributors/wholesale sector.

Ameriplate: Operating in the commercial services sector.

These investments reflect Acuity's focus on industrial services, niche manufacturing, and value-added distribution sectors.

Technological Platform and Innovation

Acuity Capital Group leverages a network of industry specialists to strengthen core operations, drive efficiency improvements, and foster long-term value creation. The firm combines its capital resources with operational expertise to optimize and add sustained value to its portfolio companies.

Leadership Team

Acuity Capital Group is led by an energetic team of seasoned professionals with a well-defined strategy and proven track record of execution:

William J. Hurrle: Managing Partner, responsible for overseeing all facets of the group's investment activities and operations of all portfolio companies. Prior to establishing Acuity Capital Group in 2019, Will was President and CEO of Versatile Processing Group (VPG), growing it to one of the largest niche nonferrous metal processors in North America.

Shane A. Willis: Operating Partner, currently serving as the President of the finishing vertical, including Sumco and Ameriplate. Shane has over 20 years of experience in leading and establishing corporate vision and developing functional plans to increase enterprise value across multiple business segments and industries.

Austin R. Stickley: Operating Partner, serving as Vice President and General Manager of Industrial Management Group. Austin has nearly 15 years of experience in commercial banking, focusing on business development, deal execution, and client risk profile monitoring.

Zach T. Matthews: Operating Partner, overseeing ACG’s precision metal entity, ABC Metals Group, as Vice President and General Manager. Zach has over 8 years of experience in metals and manufacturing, with roles in sales, marketing, and operations.

John A. Dury: Operating Partner, overseeing ACG’s industrial metal processing entity, Sparta Metal Processing, as Vice President and General Manager. John has over a decade of commercial experience in industrial manufacturing.

Matthew T. Hurrle: Vice President of Corporate Development, responsible for all aspects of investment sourcing, evaluation, and execution, as well as portfolio company management and oversight. Prior to joining Acuity, Matt was an interim CFO at Sumco Group and worked at Deloitte in audit, advisory, corporate finance, and consulting services.

Kyle J. Adams: Analyst, supporting the firm’s investment activities through financial analysis, due diligence, and business development initiatives. Kyle earned both his Bachelors in Finance and Masters in Accounting from Purdue University.

Will B. Gibbons: Director of Finance, responsible for all aspects of the accounting department functions. Prior to joining Acuity, Will was a Global Financial Controller at Faction Collective and worked at Deloitte Audit in New Zealand.

Leadership Changes

As of the latest available information, there have been no recent significant changes or appointments within Acuity Capital Group's leadership team.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The private equity industry focusing on lower-middle-market companies in North America is characterized by a competitive landscape with numerous firms targeting similar sectors. The market is driven by the need for operational expertise, patient capital, and strategic partnerships to foster growth in family-owned and mid-market businesses.

Competitor Analysis

Key competitors in this space include:

Acuity Capital Partners: A private investment firm focused on acquiring lower middle-market Midwest US-based companies with revenues of at least $5 million. The firm targets low to mid-technology manufacturing, value-added distribution, and select service companies.

Crescent Capital Group: A global alternative investment firm focused on below investment grade credit markets, including leveraged loans, high-yield bonds, mezzanine debt, special situations, and distressed securities.

Rede Partners: An independent private equity fundraising advisory firm focused on primary fundraising, secondaries, strategic advisory projects, and investor relations advisory.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

Acuity Capital Group leverages a network of industry specialists, operators, and investors to strengthen core operations, drive efficiency improvements, and foster long-term value creation in its portfolio companies. This collaborative approach enables the firm to provide tailored capital solutions and strategic guidance to its investments.

Operational Insights

Acuity Capital Group's strategic considerations include:

Long-Term Investment Perspective: Providing patient capital without imposing fixed hold periods, allowing for sustained growth and value creation.

Customized Investment Structures: Offering both controlling and non-controlling investment options tailored to the specific goals of target businesses and their leadership.

Operational Expertise: Combining capital resources with a network of industry specialists to optimize and add sustained value to portfolio companies.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Acuity Capital Group's strategic roadmap includes:

Expansion of Investment Portfolio: Continuing to identify and invest in lower-middle-market companies within industrial services, niche manufacturing, and value-added distribution sectors.

Strengthening Operational Support: Enhancing the firm's network of industry specialists to provide deeper operational expertise and strategic guidance to portfolio companies.

Tailored Capital Solutions: Developing unique and customized investment structures to meet the evolving needs of family-owned and mid-market businesses.