Corinthian Capital
Corinthian Capital Group is a middle-market private equity firm founded in 2005 that invests as a control equity investor in founder or family-owned businesses with $5MM-$30MM EBITDA, across manufacturing, services, and distribution sectors, managing two funds (CEF I and CEF II) with seven current portfolio companies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Corinthian Capital does
Corinthian Capital Group, LLC is a middle-market private equity firm founded in 2005 and headquartered at 366 Madison Avenue in New York, with a second office in Hingham, Massachusetts. The firm operates as a control equity investor that targets founder or family-owned businesses in the lower middle market, focused on companies with $5MM to $30MM in EBITDA or $50MM to $300MM in sales across manufacturing, services, and distribution verticals. Corinthian manages two private equity funds — Corinthian Equity Fund I (CEF I) and Corinthian Equity Fund II (CEF II) — and currently holds seven portfolio companies spanning exterior lighting (Trimlight), emergency and exit lighting (Best Lighting), motion control (Control Solutions), oil and gas wellhead services (Renegade), home healthcare (Excelin Home Health), apparel screen-printing equipment (M&R), and luxury Class B recreational vehicles (Ultimate Toys).
The firm's core "platform" is its disciplined, replicable investment methodology, executed by a six-person investment team with more than 100 years of aggregate experience in financial services and private company management. Co-founders C. Kenneth Clay (now Managing Partner) and Peter Van Raalte have worked together for more than 15 years, supported by three administrative staff and multiple executive advisors providing sourcing, diligence, and operational expertise. Active portfolio management includes tailored capital structures, add-on acquisitions, dividend recapitalizations, and operational improvements; Best Lighting Products, for example, completed an add-on acquisition of CABATech in 2021 and a second dividend recapitalization in December 2020. Deal sourcing combines direct outreach to business owners, intermediary relationships with investment bankers and M&A advisors, and an inbound opportunities channel.
Corinthian earns revenue through traditional private equity economics: recurring management fees on committed capital across its two funds, plus carried interest (performance fees) from successful portfolio company exits. Historical exits include AVL Digital Group, Sabre Industries, Wolf-Gordon, Sierra Hamilton, Eastern Wholesale Fence (sold to Center Rock Capital and Leelanau Private Capital in 2020), and Metaltec Steel Abrasive Company (sold in 2022), evidencing capital recycling across multiple economic cycles. The value proposition targets founder-operators seeking liquidity or growth capital who require a control-investor partner that preserves management autonomy while unlocking the next growth phase.
Corinthian Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Corinthian Capital
- Legal name
- Corinthian Capital Group, LLC
- Website
- https://corinthiancap.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Corinthian Capital Group is a middle-market private equity firm founded in 2005 that invests as a control equity investor in founder or family-owned businesses with $5MM-$30MM EBITDA, across manufacturing, services, and distribution sectors, managing two funds (CEF I and CEF II) with seven current portfolio companies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Corinthian Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Equity Buyout Fund-of-Funds (FSANAGAD)
Keywords
Where Corinthian Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Corinthian Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Fund Management Fees: Corinthian Capital manages private equity funds (Corinthian Equity Fund I and II) and earns management fees on committed capital. As a control equity investor, they generate returns through portfolio company value creation and eventual exits.
- Carried Interest (Performance Fees): The firm earns carried interest from successful portfolio company exits. Deal supported by advisory services from Latham & Watkins, CohnReznick, and Livingstone indicates typical private equity transaction structure with exit-focused returns.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Corinthian Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Corinthian Capital Group, LLC is a middle-market private equity firm that conducts control equity investments in founder or family-owned businesses with $5MM–$30MM in EBITDA or $50MM–$300MM in sales across manufacturing, services, and distribution verticals. The firm manages two private equity funds (Corinthian Equity Fund I and Corinthian Equity Fund II), actively manages each portfolio company to drive value creation, and generates returns through management fees and carried interest from exits.
Product overview
Corinthian Capital Group is a middle-market private equity firm (not a product/technology company) that operates as a control equity investor targeting founder or family-owned businesses. The firm manages two private equity funds (CEF I and CEF II) and a current investment portfolio of seven portfolio companies spanning diverse industries: Trimlight (permanent exterior lighting), Best Lighting (emergency and exit lighting), Control Solutions (motion control products), Renegade (oil and gas services), Excelin Home Health (healthcare services), M&R (screen-printing equipment), and Ultimate Toys (luxury RV vehicles).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Corinthian Equity Fund I (CEF I): First private equity fund managed by Corinthian Capital Group.
- Corinthian Equity Fund II (CEF II)
Products and services
- Corinthian Capital Group Private Equity Services Middle-market private equity investment services conducting disciplined, replicable control equity investments in founder or family-owned businesses with $5MM to $30MM in EBITDA or $50MM to $300MM in sales across manufacturing, services, and distribution verticals. Available to business owners, management teams, and intermediaries.
- Corinthian Equity Fund I (CEF I) First private equity fund managed by Corinthian Capital Group, deploying capital into control equity investments in lower middle-market companies.
- Corinthian Equity Fund II (CEF II) Second private equity fund managed by Corinthian Capital Group, continuing the firm's control equity investment strategy in lower middle-market companies.
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple successful exits including AVL Digital Group, Sabre Industries, Wolf-Gordon, Sierra Hamilton, Eastern Wholesale Fence, Metaltec, and others across various economic cycles.
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Corinthian Capital
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Corinthian Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Corinthian Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.
- Latham & Watkins LLPsupportingLatham & Watkins LLP provided legal advisory services for Corinthian Capital's acquisition of Ultimate Toys Inc.
- CohnReznick LLPsupportingCohnReznick LLP provided advisory services for Corinthian Capital's acquisition of Ultimate Toys Inc.
- LivingstonesupportingLivingstone provided advisory services for Corinthian Capital's acquisition of Ultimate Toys Inc.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Corinthian Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wynnchurch Capital: Middle-market private equity firm pursuing control equity investments in businesses with EBITDA typically in the range Corinthian targets, with comparable manufacturing/services orientation and active operational involvement.
- Sterling Group: Houston-based middle-market private equity firm focused on control investments in industrial, distribution, and services businesses, operating in a similar lower-middle-market segment with comparable founder/family-owned sourcing approach.
- Pfingsten Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm investing in founder/family-led manufacturing, distribution, and business services companies, with a similar control equity strategy and EBITDA band.
- Blair Equity Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm focused on control equity investments in founder- and family-owned businesses across manufacturing and services, comparable in size and strategy to Corinthian.
- Ironbridge Equity Partners: Lower middle-market PE firm targeting control investments in North American founder-led businesses, often in manufacturing and industrial services — directly comparable to Corinthian's stated criteria.
- Tonka Bay Equity Partners: Minneapolis-based lower middle-market private equity firm investing in niche manufacturing, value-added distribution, and business services, with a similar buy-and-build playbook.
- CAI Capital Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm investing in North American founder-owned industrial, consumer, and services businesses, with similar fund size and control-equity approach.
- Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners: Stamford-based lower middle-market PE firm focused on founder- and family-owned businesses with EBITDA in the $5-30MM range, mirroring Corinthian's core deal profile.
- Center Rock Capital Partners: Lower middle-market PE firm that acquired Corinthian's prior portfolio company Eastern Wholesale Fence; pursues similar control investments in industrial and business services with comparable EBITDA targets.
Broad incumbents
- Madison Dearborn Partners: Larger, established private equity firm investing across business and financial services with broader fund sizes; overlaps with Corinthian in lower middle-market industrial/services deals but at materially larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Corinthian Capital social profiles
Digital presenceCorinthian Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Corinthian Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Corinthian Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Corinthian Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A4 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Corinthian Capital
What does Corinthian Capital do?
Corinthian Capital Group, LLC is a middle-market private equity firm that conducts control equity investments in founder or family-owned businesses with $5MM–$30MM in EBITDA or $50MM–$300MM in sales across manufacturing, services, and distribution verticals. The firm manages two private equity funds (Corinthian Equity Fund I and Corinthian Equity Fund II), actively manages each portfolio company to drive value creation, and generates returns through management fees and carried interest from exits.
Is Corinthian Capital a public or private company?
Corinthian Capital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Corinthian Capital founded?
Corinthian Capital was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Corinthian Capital based?
Corinthian Capital is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Corinthian Capital make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fund Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are carried Interest (Performance Fees).
Who are Corinthian Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wynnchurch Capital, Sterling Group, Pfingsten Partners, Blair Equity Partners, Ironbridge Equity Partners, Tonka Bay Equity Partners, CAI Capital Partners, Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners and Center Rock Capital Partners. Madison Dearborn Partners is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Corinthian Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Corinthian Capital.
What industry is Corinthian Capital in?
Corinthian Capital's product category is Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAGAD, Private Equity Buyout Fund-of-Funds. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.