Charter Oak Equity
Charter Oak Equity, LP is a Westport, Connecticut-based private equity firm making control-oriented buyouts of small- to middle-market industrial, packaging, medical, chemicals, and consumer companies valued at $25M-$150M in enterprise value.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersWestport, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Charter Oak Equity does
Charter Oak Equity, LP is a Westport, Connecticut-based private equity firm that makes control-oriented investments in small- to middle-market companies with enterprise values of $25 million to $150 million. Founded on predecessor-fund activity dating to 1992 and formally established in 2006 by Managing Partner Paul Roughan, the firm invests across niche manufacturing, packaging, medical products and services, specialty chemicals, consumer products, and financial services. Since inception, Charter Oak and its predecessor funds have deployed over $500 million of control-oriented capital into 30 portfolio companies through more than 50 acquisitions. The general partners — Paul Roughan, Zubin Avari, Mark Ullman, and Doni Perl — average nearly twenty years of private equity experience and personally co-invest in every transaction, with deep prior operating, consulting, and accounting backgrounds (McKinsey, GE, Crowe Chizek, Quadrangle Group).
The firm follows a control-buyout model, taking majority stakes in privately-held, often family-owned businesses or non-core divisions of larger companies and partnering with incumbent management teams. Returns are realized through sales to other private equity firms, strategic acquirers, and management recapitalizations. Deal sourcing is relationship-driven through the firm's advisor network of senior industrial executives and consulting relationships, rather than through competitive auctions. Charter Oak frequently co-invests with peer lower-middle-market sponsors, including Fonds de solidarité FTQ, Lyrical Partners, Stephens Capital Partners, RFE Investment Partners, High Road Capital Partners, Century Park Capital Partners, Webster Capital, and Great Hill Partners.
Charter Oak's current portfolio includes CGA Holdings (home health services platform launched October 2022 in Southern Florida) and LicaFlex Packaging (flexible packaging, since 2018). Notable recent exits include Cirtec Medical (2017), The Crown Group (2017), EiKO Global (2018), ShelterLogic (2018), Smartcare (2021), and ChemRes (2021). The firm has no disclosed AI, software platform, or technology infrastructure; its competitive differentiation rests on partner experience, sector relationships, and disciplined deal sourcing rather than proprietary technology.
Charter Oak Equity firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Charter Oak Equity
- Legal name
- Charter Oak Equity, LP
- Website
- https://charteroak-equity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Charter Oak Equity, LP is a Westport, Connecticut-based private equity firm making control-oriented buyouts of small- to middle-market industrial, packaging, medical, chemicals, and consumer companies valued at $25M-$150M in enterprise value.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Charter Oak Equity industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Other Financial Vehicles (525990)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital) (BPAHAOAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked) (FSAEAGAC)
Keywords
Where Charter Oak Equity is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Westport
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Charter Oak Equity business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Returns: Charter Oak Equity generates returns through control-oriented private equity investments in portfolio companies. The firm invests capital in exchange for equity stakes, targeting small to middle market companies with enterprise values up to $150 million. Returns are realized through strategic exits including sales to other private equity firms, strategic acquirers, and management recapitalizations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Charter Oak Equity product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Charter Oak Equity is a private equity firm that makes control-oriented investments in small- to middle-market companies with enterprise values between $25 million and $150 million. Since 1992, the firm and its predecessor funds have invested over $500 million in control-oriented capital across 30 portfolio companies through more than 50 acquisitions, focusing on niche manufacturing, packaging, medical products & services, specialty chemicals, consumer products, and financial services sectors. The firm partners with management teams, providing operational and financial expertise to drive growth and profitability, with returns realized through strategic exits including sales to other private equity firms, strategic acquirers, and management recapitalizations.
Product overview
Charter Oak Equity is a private equity firm offering control-oriented investment services through its fund and predecessor funds since 1992. The firm targets small- to middle-market companies in niche manufacturing, packaging, medical products & services, specialty chemicals, consumer products, and financial services sectors with enterprise values ranging from $25 million to $150 million. Their investment approach involves partnering with management teams, providing operational and financial expertise, and making control-oriented investments in portfolio companies. The firm's portfolio includes companies such as CGA Holdings (home health services), LicaFlex Packaging (flexible packaging), ChemRes (specialty polymers), Smartcare (SaaS for childcare management), ShelterLogic (outdoor canopies), and other manufacturing and industrial companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $500 million in control-oriented capital invested in 30 portfolio companies through over 50 acquisitions
Companies that use Charter Oak Equity
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments9 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Charter Oak Equity technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Charter Oak Equity partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Charter Oak Equity competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- High Road Capital Partners: Lower-middle-market control-oriented PE firm focused on niche manufacturing, industrial, and business services companies with $25M-$150M EV — directly comparable in check size, sector focus, and deal model to Charter Oak (co-invested on The Crown Group exit).
- Century Park Capital Partners: Lower-middle-market PE firm investing in growth-oriented companies across industrial, consumer, and business services — co-investor with Charter Oak on the Cirtec Medical exit and similar in mandate and ticket size.
- RFE Investment Partners: Control-oriented PE firm focused on lower-middle-market companies with growth theses — direct peer in check size and sector mix, with multiple co-investments alongside Charter Oak (ShelterLogic, Brook & Whittle).
- Webster Capital: Lower-middle-market PE firm investing in business services and healthcare services — comparable in mandate and acquired ShelterLogic from Charter Oak, demonstrating a similar operating-thesis-driven model.
- Lyrical Partners: Lower-middle-market PE firm focused on consumer, business services, and tech-enabled companies — co-investor with Charter Oak across Smartcare and Smart Tuition, similar fund size and deal profile.
- Peninsula Capital Partners: Lower-middle-market PE firm investing in middle-market companies — co-investor with Charter Oak on Seaboard Folding Box, similar control-oriented mandate and operational orientation.
- Stephens Capital Partners: Middle-market PE arm focused on growth and recapitalizations — co-investor with Charter Oak on EiKO Global, comparable in check size and active-investor approach.
- Great Hill Partners: Growth-oriented PE firm investing in technology-enabled business services — acquired Smartcare from Charter Oak, demonstrating overlapping interest in similar lower-middle-market assets with operational scaling theses.
- Inverness Graham: Lower-middle-market PE firm focused on technology-enabled industrial companies — acquired EiKO Global from Charter Oak, with directly comparable thesis around industrial value-added distribution.
- Fonds de solidarité FTQ: Quebec-based labor-sponsored investment fund with PE activities — co-invested with Charter Oak on Licaplast, comparable in mandate to provide control capital to lower-middle-market operating companies in similar end markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Charter Oak Equity financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Charter Oak Equity leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Charter Oak Equity funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Charter Oak Equity M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Charter Oak Equity
What does Charter Oak Equity do?
Charter Oak Equity is a private equity firm that makes control-oriented investments in small- to middle-market companies with enterprise values between $25 million and $150 million. Since 1992, the firm and its predecessor funds have invested over $500 million in control-oriented capital across 30 portfolio companies through more than 50 acquisitions, focusing on niche manufacturing, packaging, medical products & services, specialty chemicals, consumer products, and financial services sectors. The firm partners with management teams, providing operational and financial expertise to drive growth and profitability, with returns realized through strategic exits including sales to other private equity firms, strategic acquirers, and management recapitalizations.
Is Charter Oak Equity a public or private company?
Charter Oak Equity is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Charter Oak Equity founded?
Charter Oak Equity was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Charter Oak Equity based?
Charter Oak Equity is headquartered in Westport, United States, in the North America region.
How does Charter Oak Equity make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Equity Returns.
Who are Charter Oak Equity's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are High Road Capital Partners, Century Park Capital Partners, RFE Investment Partners, Webster Capital, Lyrical Partners, Peninsula Capital Partners, Stephens Capital Partners, Great Hill Partners, Inverness Graham and Fonds de solidarité FTQ.
Does Charter Oak Equity have an API?
No public API is recorded for Charter Oak Equity.
What industry is Charter Oak Equity in?
Charter Oak Equity's product category is Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAOAE, Equity Capital Advisory (Private Equity Placements, Growth Capital), with a secondary code of FSAEAGAC, Capital Raising Advisory (Equity & Equity-Linked). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.