KPS Capital Partners
Private equityNew York · 11 people tracked
Investment thesis
KPS focuses on making controlling investments in manufacturing and industrial businesses, driving value through operational improvement rather than financial engineering. Its fully integrated Operations Group partners with management teams on safety, productivity, manufacturing footprint, procurement, supply chain, and process improvement to build a culture of continuous improvement. KPS grows portfolio companies both organically and through strategic follow-on acquisitions, investing in capacity expansion, equipment upgrades, facility modernization, R&D, and new product introductions. The firm takes a long-term perspective, expanding manufacturing footprints globally and reducing supply-chain risk. Its partnership model gives senior leaders direct access to a KPS Partner, enabling accountability and speed of decision-making across economic and industrial cycles.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 25, 2026.
Team · 11 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 13 of 30 portfolio companiesAdvanced Manufacturing ×9New Materials ×7Energy ×3Hardware ×3Circular Economy ×2Construction Tech ×2AgTech ×1AI & Machine Learning ×1
HQs:United States×3Germany×1Italy×1
Investments · 30 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathLeading global manufacturer of unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins and gelcoats used in plastic composites.
A company presenting itself around the JLTV A2 (Joint Light Tactical Vehicle), a military tactical vehicle platform.
Defense Tech
KPS-created platform pursuing investments in the global automotive supply industry; acquired L&W, Inc., a leading Tier 1 supplier.
Briggs & Stratton manufactures small gas engines and outdoor power equipment, including lawn mower engines, power generation, electrification solutions, and turf care and job site products.
Advanced ManufacturingEnergyHardware
Leading global technology company manufacturing systems for the conversion and storage of electrical power.
Agawam, Massachusetts-based designer and manufacturer of engineered acoustical, seismic and vibration solutions.
Catalyst Acoustics Group is the parent company of a portfolio of acoustic, seismic, vibration, and noise control brands that manufacture products for industrial, architectural, and medical applications.
Advanced ManufacturingConstruction TechHardware
Leading global supplier of mission-critical electric motor and large drive systems.
InvestorFlow provides a CRM and investor portal with AI-assisted workflows for fundraising, deal execution, and investor relations.
AI & Machine LearningFintechSaaS
Co-investorsAmbina PartnersGrandBanks CapitalHatteras Venture PartnersMerit Capital PartnersSteelSky Ventures
JENNMAR manufactures ground control and support products for demanding above- and below-ground industries, including coal and hard rock mining, tunneling, and civil construction.
Advanced ManufacturingConstruction TechNew Materials
Co-investorsACE & Company
Ketjen provides advanced catalyst solutions and technical support for the oil refining industry, including fluidized catalytic cracking, hydrotreating, and hydrocracking catalysts.
Circular EconomyEnergyNew Materials
Global leader in commercial fitness equipment and game tables.
Missouri City, Texas-based global provider of rod lift products, technologies, services and solutions.
LUFKIN manufactures artificial lift equipment for the energy and oil production industry, including surface pumping units, automation, software, and related services.
Advanced ManufacturingEnergyHardwareLufkin, US
John F. Glick(Executive Officer, Director)John H. Lollar(Director)Mark E. Crews(Executive Officer)Scott H. Semlinger(Executive Officer)Brian J. Gifford(Executive Officer)Christopher L. Boone(Executive Officer)
Global, vertically integrated manufacturer of extruded aluminum profiles and related value-added services.
Novacel develops surface protection solutions used to preserve the value of materials during handling, processing, and transport.
Advanced ManufacturingNew Materials
Dallas-based, North America's leading vertically-integrated manufacturer, fabricator and distributor of architectural hardware, glass and glazing systems.
Leading global manufacturer of porcelain enamels and specialized glass coatings and colorants.
Primient produces food and industrial products derived from plant-based, renewable sources, including ingredients and plant-based polymers.
AgTechFoodTechNew Materials
Plymouth-based leading builder of luxury motor yachts.
Siderforgerossi Group SpA is an Italian metal forging manufacturer producing hot-rolled rings, open-die forgings, and closed-die products in various steel types, ranging from 10 kg to 30,000 kg.
Advanced ManufacturingNew Materials
Speira is a European aluminium rolling and recycling company operating eleven production and recycling sites in Germany and Norway, recycling up to 970,000 tons of aluminium and producing around one million tons of rolled products annually.
Advanced ManufacturingCircular EconomyNew Materials
Leading designer, manufacturer and installer of artificial surfaces for sports flooring, leisure, landscaping and industrial markets.
Leading designer and manufacturer of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) composite products (formerly Crane Composites).
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companiesInvestorFlow · investorflow.com · Jun 22, 2026
Fund performance · per public LP disclosures · 11
as of Sep 2025| Fund | Vintage | Committed | Net IRR | TVPI | DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KPS Special Situations Fund VILPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System +3 more | 2023 | — | — | 1.07x | 0.09x |
| KPS Special Situations Mid-Cap Fund IILPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System, South Carolina Retirement System Investment Commission | 2023 | — | — | 0.00x | — |
| KPS Special Situations Fund VLPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System, Oregon Public Employees Retirement System +4 more | 2020 | — | 11.7% | 1.31x | 0.44x |
| KPS Special Situations Mid-Cap FundLPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System, Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System +1 more | 2019 | — | 16.0% | 1.49x | 0.36x |
| KPS IVLPs: Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma | 2014 | — | 21.9% | 2.09x | 1.62x |
| KPS Special Situations Fund IVLPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Los Angeles City Employees' Retirement System, Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System +1 more | 2014 | — | 22.0% | 2.07x | 1.60x |
| KPS Special Situations Fund III-Supplemental LPLPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Pension Reserves Investment Management Board | 2009 | — | 22.7% | 2.67x | 2.67x |
| KPS Special Situations Fund III, L.P.LPs: California Public Employees' Retirement System, Santa Barbara County Employees' Retirement System | 2007 | — | 23.5% | 2.07x | 2.07x |
| KPS Special Situations Fund V (A), LPLPs: Florida State Board of Administration | 2007 | — | 48.8% | 1.44x | 0.08x |
| KPS Special Situations Supplemental Fund III, L.P.LPs: Florida State Board of Administration | 2006 | — | 22.6% | 2.67x | 2.66x |
| KPS Special Situations Fund II, L.P.LPs: Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds | 2004 | — | 63.4% | 3.50x | 3.50x |
Source: public limited-partner disclosures (CalPERS, CalSTRS). Net IRR / TVPI / DPI as reported by the limited partner; a fund's early-year IRR is an interim estimate (J-curve).
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has KPS Capital Partners made?
- KPS Capital Partners has 30 tracked investments.
- What is KPS Capital Partners's typical check size?
- KPS Capital Partners typically writes checks of $1.6B.
- What sectors does KPS Capital Partners focus on?
- KPS Capital Partners focuses on Advanced Manufacturing.
- Where is KPS Capital Partners located?
- KPS Capital Partners is headquartered in New York, US.
- Who does KPS Capital Partners co-invest with?
- KPS Capital Partners most often shares deals with Ambina Partners, GrandBanks Capital, Hatteras Venture Partners, among 5 tracked co-investors.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamBuilding Lasting Value with KPS Capital Partners’ Michael Psaros - YouTube
Proskauer · Michael Psaros
Introductory Remarks by Michael Psaros, Co-founder and Managing Partner, KPS Capital Partners - YouTube
Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy · Michael Psaros
Images
Similar investors
8VC is a venture capital firm investing across logistics, life sciences, healthcare, IT infrastructure, and government/defense, guided by its Smart Enterprise thesis focused on data integration and platform network effects.
AirTree Ventures runs Pathfinders, a free four-week in-person program in Sydney for young builders (high-school graduates up to age 23) to work on a real product, access the AirTree team and founders, and build a peer network.
.jpeg){kind=logo}
B Capital is a global investment firm backing early to late-stage technology innovators across technology, healthcare, and energy & resilience sectors.
Battery Ventures is a global investment firm that has backed more than 450 companies over its 40-year history, operating its investment staff as a single global unit.
Blume Ventures is a seed and pre-Series A investment firm headquartered in Mumbai that focuses on early-stage companies in India.