What The Anderson Group does

The Anderson Group, LLC is a St. Petersburg, Florida-based private equity investment firm founded in 1985 by Barry Shapiro and Tom Gaffney. The firm acquires control positions in lower middle market companies (target platform revenues of $10M-$100M and EBITDA of $1M-$5M), with an emphasis on niche manufacturing, distribution, food & beverage, and industrial services. It invests its own committed pool of capital rather than operating an institutional fund with limited partners, enabling flexible transaction structures (51% minimum voting control), faster approvals (30-45 days from LOI to close), and indefinite hold periods that are not constrained by fund vintage cycles.

Anderson's investment strategy spans three core approaches: performing businesses that require operational acceleration, turnaround situations involving restructurings or 363 sales, and special situation investments in corporate orphans, customer-concentrated businesses, and out-of-favor industries. Management teams typically retain significant equity stakes on identical terms alongside the firm. Over its 35+ year history, Anderson has completed more than 80 investments and currently maintains 11 active portfolio companies spanning aerospace distribution, food & beverage manufacturing and distribution, cold storage logistics, commercial HVAC, precision instruments, marine propulsion, refractory services, closed-door pharmacy, gaming cabinet manufacturing, electronic storage, and oil & gas services. Recent exits include Parkview Health Services (sold 2023 to ArtesRx/Flexpoint Ford at 25x ROI), Thayer Power (sold 2020 to Calera Capital), and F.K. Instrument (sold December 2025 to Castik Capital's Andra Tech Group), with new platform acquisitions in 2024-2025 including Double B Foods, Schwenn Services & Contracting, and the OMI Specialty Products aerospace platform formed via combination with MetalMart International.

Name

The Anderson Group

Legal name

The Anderson Group, LLC

Website

https://andersongroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Anderson Group is a St. Petersburg, Florida-based private equity firm founded in 1985 that invests its own capital to acquire control positions in lower middle market manufacturing, distribution, food & beverage, and industrial services companies, partnering with management teams for long-term operational improvement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Equity

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Buy-Side Search & Acquisition Advisory (FSAEAIAD)

Keywords

• Middle market private equity
• Control buyout investments
• Special situation investing
• Turnaround private equity
• Manufacturing acquisitions

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Petersburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Portfolio Company Value Creation and Exit: The Anderson Group generates returns through operational improvements and value creation in portfolio companies, ultimately exiting through sales to strategic or financial acquirers. Their revenue is derived from the appreciation and eventual sale of portfolio companies. They invest their own committed pool of capital and do not operate as an institutional fund with limited partners.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Anderson Group is a private equity investment firm that acquires control positions in lower middle market companies (revenues $10M–$100M, EBITDA $1M–$5M). It invests its own committed pool of capital in niche manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services businesses, executing performing business investments, turnarounds, special situation investments, recapitalizations, generational sales, and long-term cash flow transactions alongside incumbent management teams.

Product overview

The Anderson Group is an operationally-oriented private equity investment firm that offers a unified platform of investment services targeting the lower middle market. The core offering encompasses private equity investment services across three primary investment strategies: Performing Businesses investments (requiring significant management equity retention), Turnaround Investments (restructuring underperforming companies), and Special Situation Investments (corporate orphans, out-of-favor industries, unique problem situations). These strategies are executed through various transaction structures including Recapitalizations, Generational Sales, and Cash Flow Transactions. The firm actively manages a portfolio of 14+ companies spanning industries including manufacturing, distribution, industrial services, food & beverage, aerospace, healthcare services, and energy services. The Anderson Group does not operate as a technology product company but rather as a financial investment firm deploying its own capital in long-term partnerships with management teams.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Equity Investment Services
• Performing Businesses Investment
• Turnaround Investments
• Special Situation Investments
• Recapitalizations
• Generational Sales
• Cash Flow Transactions
• Portfolio Companies Management

Quantifiable outcome

• Parkview Health Services achieved greater than 10x sales and profit growth and was sold for 25x return on investment
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Lincoln InternationalminorOthersInvestment bank serving as financial advisor to The Anderson Group on portfolio company exits including Parkview Health Services and F.K. Instrument transactions.
• Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLPminorOthersLaw firm serving as legal advisor to The Anderson Group on portfolio company exits including Parkview Health Services and F.K. Instrument transactions.
• Cherry BekaertminorOthersAccounting and advisory firm providing transaction accounting and tax support to The Anderson Group on acquisitions and exits.
• BB&T Capital MarketsminorOthersInvestment bank serving as exclusive sell-side advisor to The Anderson Group and Thayer Power on exit transaction.
• City Capital AdvisorsminorOthersServed as exclusive financial advisor to Double B Foods on its acquisition by The Anderson Group.
• Finnea GroupminorOthersProvided transaction advisory and diligence support for The Anderson Group's acquisition of Schwenn Services & Contracting, Inc.
• Close Reach ConsultingminorOthersServed as advisor to Schwenn Services & Contracting on its acquisition by The Anderson Group.
• ZKS LawminorOthersServed as legal advisor to Schwenn Services & Contracting on its acquisition by The Anderson Group.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Direct peers

• Wynnchurch Capital: Lower middle market private equity firm focused on operationally intensive investments in U.S. and Canadian companies. Highly comparable to Anderson in deal size, operational orientation, and partnership model; previous employer of Anderson Managing Partner Cory Gaffney.
• Huron Capital: Lower middle market PE firm executing control investments in manufacturing, industrial services, and distribution. Closely comparable to Anderson on sector focus, deal size, and operationally driven value creation thesis.
• Shore Capital Partners: Lower middle market PE firm focused on micro-cap companies in healthcare, food & beverage, and business services. Comparable in fund size, lower middle market focus, and operationally intensive partnership model.
• Renovo Capital: Operationally focused lower middle market PE firm investing in niche manufacturing, distribution, and industrial services. Closely aligned with Anderson on sector, deal size, and operational thesis.
• Hammond, Kennedy, Whitney & Company: Lower middle market PE firm focused on control investments in niche manufacturing, industrial, and value-added distribution. Highly comparable deal size, hold period, and operational orientation.
• Tower Three Partners: Lower middle market PE firm executing operationally focused investments in industrial, manufacturing, and business services. Comparable on size, sector concentration, and operationally intensive approach.
• Odyssey Investment Partners: Middle market PE firm focused on industrial, manufacturing, and business services companies. Comparable sector focus and operational orientation, though typically larger deal sizes than Anderson's sweet spot.
• BBH Capital Partners: Lower middle market PE arm of Brown Brothers Harriman investing in industrial, business services, and consumer. Comparable deal size, sector focus, and long-term partnership orientation.
• Calera Capital: Lower middle market PE firm focused on operationally intensive investments in industrial, business services, and consumer. Identified as a recent acquirer of Anderson's Thayer Power portfolio company, indicating direct buyer-side comparability.

Broad incumbents

• Bain Capital: Large global private equity firm with broader sector and deal size exposure but overlapping interest in industrial, manufacturing, and consumer. Serves as a broader incumbent comparable for institutional capital and exit competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A3 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Anderson Group