Concentric Equity Partners
Concentric Equity Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm and the direct investing arm of Financial Investments Corporation, providing flexible long-term capital and strategic support to profitable middle-market companies across business services, consumer, environmental services, and niche manufacturing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Concentric Equity Partners does
Concentric Equity Partners (CEP) is a Chicago-based private equity firm founded in 2003 by Ken Hooten that operates as the direct investing arm of Financial Investments Corporation (FIC), a private asset management firm originally formed in 1967 by Harrison Steans and currently managing over $2 billion in investment commitments under the Steans family. The firm targets profitable middle-market companies with revenues typically between $20 million and $200 million, backing accomplished, entrepreneurial management teams across business services, consumer services, environmental services, niche manufacturing, and financial services via management buyouts, leveraged buyouts, and both majority and minority structures. CEP explicitly avoids turnarounds, startups, and businesses with substantial technological risk, instead emphasizing flexible timing, alignment with all stakeholders, and a long-term approach funded primarily from FIC's own capital.
Concentric Equity Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Concentric Equity Partners
- Legal name
- Concentric Equity Partners
- Website
- https://ficcep.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Concentric Equity Partners is a Chicago-based private equity firm and the direct investing arm of Financial Investments Corporation, providing flexible long-term capital and strategic support to profitable middle-market companies across business services, consumer, environmental services, and niche manufacturing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Concentric Equity Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity Investment Management
- NAICS
- All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
Keywords
Where Concentric Equity Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Concentric Equity Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Investment Returns: Concentric Equity Partners generates returns through equity investments in middle market companies. The firm provides capital and strategic support to exceptional companies pursuing rapid growth, with the goal of creating value through operational expertise and industry knowledge. Returns are realized through exits via sales to strategic buyers or other private equity firms.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Concentric Equity Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Concentric Equity Partners is a private equity investment firm that provides long-term capital and strategic support to middle market companies, typically with revenues between $20 million and $200 million. The firm partners with entrepreneurial management teams through management buyouts, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and majority or minority equity investments, supplementing capital with operational expertise and industry knowledge. It operates as the direct private investing arm of Financial Investments Corporation (FIC), a Chicago-based private asset management firm managing over $2 billion in investment commitments.
Product overview
Concentric Equity Partners is a private equity investment firm, not a technology product company. It does not offer a unified product platform or software modules. Instead, it operates as a relationship-oriented, opportunistic investment team that backs entrepreneurial management teams. The firm is the direct investing arm of Financial Investments Corporation (FIC), a private asset management firm with over $2 billion in investment commitments under management. The firm's investment activities span multiple industries including business services, consumer services, financial services, niche manufacturing, and environmental services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Private Equity Capital and Strategic Support
- Management and Leveraged Buyout Investments
- Recapitalization Partnerships
Quantifiable outcome
- Successful exit of Frontier Waste Solutions to GFL Environmental for approximately $900 million in April 2026
Companies that use Concentric Equity Partners
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Concentric Equity Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Concentric Equity Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Concentric Equity Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Summer Street Capital Partners: Buffalo, NY-based lower middle-market PE firm that co-invests with CEP on transactions like Frontier Waste. Highly comparable in size, geographic focus, and investment strategy targeting founder-led businesses.
- Pritzker Private Capital: Chicago-based family office-backed PE firm making control investments in middle-market operating companies. Highly comparable in structure (family office capital), geography (Chicago/Midwest), and target profile (industrial and business services).
- Edgewater Funds: Chicago-based middle-market PE firm focused on business services and healthcare services. Ian Ross joined CEP from Edgewater, validating direct comparability in investment approach and target sector mix.
- Arbor Investments: Chicago-based middle-market PE firm with deep food, beverage, and consumer focus. Directly comparable given CEP's Burgerville and SIP Manufacturing holdings and Adam Lucas's prior Arbor background.
- Stonelake Capital Partners: Middle-market private equity firm investing in business services and consumer companies. Comparable in size, stage, and operationally-focused approach to value creation.
- Sterling Investment Partners: Middle-market PE firm focused on diversified services, consumer, and industrial businesses. Directly comparable in lower middle-market focus and operating-partner model.
- HKW: Indianapolis-based middle-market PE firm investing in business services, consumer, and industrial sectors. Comparable in company size targets and relationship-driven sourcing model.
- Shore Capital Partners: Chicago-based private equity firm focused on lower middle-market healthcare and business services companies. Comparable in geography, sector mix, and partnership-driven investment approach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Concentric Equity Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Concentric Equity Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Concentric Equity Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Concentric Equity Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A4 records
Investments14 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Concentric Equity Partners
What does Concentric Equity Partners do?
Concentric Equity Partners is a private equity investment firm that provides long-term capital and strategic support to middle market companies, typically with revenues between $20 million and $200 million. The firm partners with entrepreneurial management teams through management buyouts, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, and majority or minority equity investments, supplementing capital with operational expertise and industry knowledge. It operates as the direct private investing arm of Financial Investments Corporation (FIC), a Chicago-based private asset management firm managing over $2 billion in investment commitments.
Is Concentric Equity Partners a public or private company?
Concentric Equity Partners is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Concentric Equity Partners founded?
Concentric Equity Partners was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Concentric Equity Partners based?
Concentric Equity Partners is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Concentric Equity Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Equity Investment Returns.
Who are Concentric Equity Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Summer Street Capital Partners, Pritzker Private Capital, Edgewater Funds, Arbor Investments, Stonelake Capital Partners, Sterling Investment Partners, HKW and Shore Capital Partners.
Does Concentric Equity Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Concentric Equity Partners.
What industry is Concentric Equity Partners in?
Concentric Equity Partners's product category is Private Equity Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists). Its NAICS code is 52399 and its SIC code is 6282.