Kirtland Capital

What Kirtland Capital does

Kirtland Capital Partners is a Cleveland-area (Orange Village, Ohio) private equity firm founded in 1977 that invests in lower middle market companies, with a current team of 11-50 professionals across investment, finance, and operating roles. The firm targets founder and family-owned businesses generating more than $10 million in revenue and $1 million in EBITDA, primarily in three verticals: precision machining and engineered products (notably aerospace and defense), business services, and branded food and beverage. Kirtland structures investments flexibly as common equity, preferred equity, or debt, supporting management buyouts, family succession, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, and buy-and-build strategies. The firm is currently investing through Kirtland Capital Partners VI and holds five active platform companies: Actron Engineering, Galati Cheese, Chamber Media, PEScience, and Authentico Foods.

Kirtland sources deals through relationships with independent sponsors, intermediaries including investment banks and business brokers, and direct outreach to business owners, paying buy-side fees. Beyond capital, the firm offers operating resources, including limited partners and operating board members who provide board service, CEO/CFO mentoring, strategic planning assistance, and introductions to customers, suppliers, and acquisition targets. Recent activity includes the August 2023 acquisition of Canadian artisan cheese maker Galati Cheese and the June 2025 add-on acquisition of Crabil Manufacturing by portfolio company Actron Engineering, alongside successful exits of EnviroScience (2021) and Form Tech Concrete Forms (2023). Revenue and fund economics are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Kirtland Capital

Legal name

Kirtland Capital Partners

Website

http://www.kirtlandcapital.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kirtland Capital Partners is a Cleveland-based private equity firm founded in 1977 that invests in lower middle market founder and family-owned businesses across precision machining, business services, and branded food and beverage, structuring deals as equity or debt.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lower Middle Market Private Equity

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities (523)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Small-Cap / Micro-Buyout (FSANABAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Geography-Specialist Buyout (Regional/Country-Focused) (FSANABAF)

Keywords

• Lower middle market private equity
• Management buyout investing
• Family business succession
• Recapitalization and divestiture
• Portfolio investment management

Headquarters

HQ city

Beachwood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Private Equity Fund Management: Kirtland Capital generates returns through investment management fees and carried interest from successful portfolio company exits. They have a flexible approach to investments, structuring deals as common or preferred equity, and can invest capital as debt.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Kirtland Capital Partners is a Cleveland-based private equity firm that invests equity and debt capital in lower middle market companies, primarily in three verticals: precision machining and engineered products, business services, and branded food and beverage. The firm supports management buyouts, family succession transitions, traditional recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, independent sponsor-led transactions, and executive buy-and-build strategies, with flexible deal structuring through common or preferred equity and debt investments.

Product overview

Kirtland Capital Partners is a Cleveland-based private equity firm (founded 1977) offering private equity investment services to family and founder-owned businesses. The firm's current portfolio consists of five portfolio companies: Actron Engineering (precision parts for aerospace/defense), Galati Cheese (artisan cheese manufacturer), Chamber Media (digital marketing agency), PEScience (nutritional supplements), and Authentico Foods (Hispanic food manufacturer). The firm focuses on three investment verticals: precision machining and engineered products, business services, and branded food and beverage companies. Kirtland offers flexible capital structures including common equity, preferred equity, and debt investments, supporting management buyouts, family succession, recapitalizations, corporate divestitures, and executive buy-and-build strategies. The firm also provides operational support through an experienced network of limited partners and operating board members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Private Equity Investment Services Private equity capital and investment services for family and founder-owned businesses in three verticals: precision machining and engineered products, business services, and branded food and beverage companies. Services include management buyouts, family succession support, recapitalizations, and executive buy-and-build strategies with flexible capital structures (common/preferred equity and debt). Target companies have revenue greater than $10 million and EBITDA greater than $1 million, headquartered in the U.S. or Canada.
• Operating Resources Value-add operating support provided to portfolio companies through an experienced network of limited partners and operating board members, delivering board service, CEO/CFO mentoring, strategic planning assistance, industry expertise, customer/supplier/management talent introductions, and acquisition opportunity identification. Expertise spans sales and marketing, pricing optimization, lean manufacturing, sourcing, and management team training.

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Baker Tilly Corporate FinanceminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 31 August 2023Baker Tilly acted as the exclusive sell-side advisor for Galati Cheese in its acquisition by Kirtland Capital Partners VI. This was a transaction-specific engagement rather than an ongoing partnership.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• RoundTable Healthcare Partners: Lake Forest, Illinois-based lower middle market PE firm focused exclusively on healthcare. Comparable to Kirtland by fund size profile, lower middle market orientation, and operationally engaged model.
• Linsalata Capital Partners: Cleveland, Ohio-based middle market private equity firm. Directly comparable to Kirtland by geography (Northeast Ohio), lower middle market focus, and focus on family/founder-owned businesses.
• Huron Capital Partners: Detroit-based lower middle market PE firm with multi-sector focus including food/consumer and business services. Closely comparable to Kirtland in target EBITDA range, family/founder orientation, and add-on platform strategy.
• Wynnchurch Capital: Chicago-based middle market PE firm with deep industrial and business services focus. Comparable to Kirtland by lower middle market size, multi-sector industrial strategy, and operationally driven value creation.
• Centre Partners: New York-based middle market private equity firm investing across consumer, industrial, and business services. Comparable to Kirtland by target deal size, sector mix, and operationally focused investment approach.
• GenNx360 Capital Partners: New York-based middle market PE firm focused on industrial and business services companies. Comparable to Kirtland's engineered products and business services verticals and buy-and-build approach.
• Mason Wells: Milwaukee-based lower middle market private equity firm investing across consumer products, industrial, and business services. Directly comparable to Kirtland by deal size, multi-sector approach, and Midwest operating presence.
• Sterling Group: Houston-based middle market PE firm focused on industrial, manufacturing, and distribution businesses. Comparable to Kirtland's precision machining and engineered products vertical, including aerospace/defense exposure and buy-and-build execution.
• PNC Riverarch Capital: Pittsburgh-based middle market PE firm affiliated with PNC Financial Services Group. Comparable to Kirtland by lower middle market deal size, multi-sector focus, and strong regional Mid-Atlantic/Midwest deal sourcing.
• CIC Partners: Dallas-based middle market PE firm focused on consumer, food, and business services. Comparable to Kirtland's branded food and beverage vertical and lower middle market orientation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirtland-capital-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A3 records

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about Kirtland Capital