Sterling Group
Private equityHouston Β· Growth Β· 4 people tracked
Also known as Sterling Capital Management Llc Β· THE STERLING GROUP, L.P.
Investment thesis
The Sterling Group focuses on private equity buyouts in basic industries, including manufacturing, distribution, industrial services, and business services. It targets corporate carve-outs and family/entrepreneur-owned or sponsor-owned businesses, pursuing transactions between $100 million and $1 billion with equity investments of $50 million to $350 million. The firm applies its proprietary Seven Levers methodology β an operations-improvement framework built on continuous-improvement principles and drawn from nearly four decades of experience β to materially improve the companies it acquires.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 18, 2026.
Team Β· 4 people
from the firm's website
What they invest in
from 16 of 46 portfolio companiesConstruction Tech Γ6Advanced Manufacturing Γ5Hardware Γ4Energy Γ3Logistics & Supply Chain Γ3B2B Marketplaces Γ1Cleantech Γ1Consumer Γ1
HQs:United StatesΓ11
Investments Β· 46 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathHealthcare Linen Services Group (HLSG) provides outsourced healthcare linen products and commercial laundry services to healthcare facilities.
Healthtech
Joseph LaPorta(CEO)
Co-investorsSeaport CapitalThompson Street Capital Partners
Time Manufacturing Company designs and builds vehicle-mounted aerial lifts, digger derricks, bridge inspection equipment, and related utility truck bodies for the telecommunications, electric utility, forestry, and infrastructure markets.
Advanced ManufacturingEnergyHardwareWaco, US
Co-investorsH.I.G. CapitalStellus Capital Management
Vernon Hills, US
Jonathan Stevens(Executive Officer)Thomas Richards(Executive Officer, Director)Christine Leahy(Executive Officer)Dennis Berger(Executive Officer)Neal Campbell(Executive Officer)Christina Rother(Executive Officer)
Co-investorsBain Capital Double Impact Fund LPBain Capital Life SciencesBain Capital Tech OpportunitiesBlue Sea CapitalBootstrap EuropeClayton Dubilier & Rice+12 more
Dealer of flooring products and services for homebuilders; headquartered in Southlake, Texas.
Multi-regional provider of custom glass and coatings solutions across the Midwest; held in Foundation Fund.
Combination of five manufacturers to create the second largest bathtub company in the US.
Family-owned manufacturer and distributor of branded aerosol maintenance and refrigerant automotive aftermarket products; held in Fund V.
Expanded the family crane business into the new Texas geography.
Bad Boy manufactures mowers, tractors, UTVs, light construction equipment, and gas and electric handheld tools, sold through a dealer network.
Advanced ManufacturingHardware
Consolidation of multiple leading regional and local construction supply distributors.
Improved operating practices and completed 10 acquisitions with management.
Among the nation's largest plastic (PET) recyclers, processing over one billion post-consumer PET bottles annually into food grade rPET.
Provider of industrial and specialty cleaning services to diverse end markets; formed from North American Industrial Services and Evergreen Industrial Services in 2016.
Fencing Supply Group is a wholesale distributor of fencing and outdoor living products and supplies across the United States.
B2B MarketplacesConstruction TechLogistics & Supply ChainHouston, US
Andrea Hogan(Executive Officer)
Frontline Road Safety Group is a national provider of pavement marking and related road safety services for roads, highways, and airports, operating through a portfolio of local operating companies.
Construction Tech
Manufacturer of PET and polypropylene strapping in the North American securement packaging industry; headquartered in Mentor, Ohio.
Family-owned provider of intermodal transportation solutions including container drayage, transloading, and container storage; held in Fund V.
Gulf Winds is a drayage, transloading, and domestic freight provider serving importers and exporters, focused on intermodal container trucking.
Logistics & Supply ChainHouston, US
National aftermarket leader created by concurrently acquiring and merging two companies.
Co-investorsAea Investors
Regional provider of outsourced linen laundry and management services to healthcare institutions across the US; held in Fund VI.
Carve-out acquisition from DuPont, the fourth business Sterling acquired from the company.
Co-investorsOlympus Partners
Best-in-class platform built through strategic acquisitions to strengthen the collective network.
Provider of fuel, ramp and other services to the general aviation industry with locations across the US.
Co-investorsStellus Capital Management
Provider of site preparation, mining and other services in the Alberta Oil Sands and Western Canada.
Pavement Preservation Group is a national platform that unites asphalt and pavement preservation companies, providing pavement maintenance and repair services through a network of local operators.
Construction Tech
Provider of specialty rigid packaging solutions; held in Fund VI.
Precision Concepts is a plastic manufacturer offering custom packaging and product manufacturing for consumer goods and other industries.
Advanced ManufacturingNew Materials
PowerGrid Services is a utility industry contractor with over 35 years of experience, focused on protecting and strengthening the U.S. electrical grid.
Energy
Platform building a one-stop tire and auto service solutions provider; held in Foundation Fund.
Premier Tire & Service acquires and operates individual and multi-location tire and automotive service shops across the United States, building a portfolio of local tire brands.
ConsumerMobility & Transportation
PrimeFlight Aviation Services provides aircraft, passenger, and security services to air carriers and airports, including fueling, cabin cleaning, wheelchair assistance, baggage handling, and ramp agent services.
Logistics & Supply ChainTravel & Hospitality
Co-investorsCapitol Meridian Partners
Global aviation services provider for commercial, general and business aviation, and cargo end markets; held in Fund V.
ProcessBarron designs and manufactures custom-engineered equipment and parts and provides field services for industrial markets including pulp and paper, power generation, cement, biomass, and steel.
Advanced ManufacturingEnergyHardware
Co-investorsCarousel
Wholesale distributor of roofing supplies and related materials in the United States.
Russell Landscape Group is a commercial landscape contractor providing design, installation, maintenance, irrigation, and enhancement services for properties such as corporate campuses, HOA communities, healthcare facilities, municipalities, and retail centers.
Construction TechSugar Hill, US
William "Bill" E. Russell(Founder)Teddy Russell(Owner & CEO)
Co-investorsStellus Capital Management
Value-added distributor of rigid packaging products for the wine, spirits and craft beer markets in North America; headquartered in Horsham, PA.
Provider of products and services to the municipal water and wastewater industry across the Southern and Midwestern US; held in Foundation Fund.
Specified Air Solutions is a family of brands that makes custom and semi-custom HVAC and "make up air" equipment for specialty industrial markets, including manufacturing, warehousing, logistics, aviation, government and military facilities.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechHardware
Manufacturer of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lumber for outdoor furniture, site amenities, structural applications, and marine decking; held in Fund IV.
Provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services to the business aviation industry; headquartered in East Alton, Illinois.
Fund performance Β· per public LP disclosures Β· 2
as of Jun 2024| Fund | Vintage | Committed | Net IRR | TVPI | DPI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Group Partners V, L.P.LPs: Santa Barbara County Employees' Retirement System | 2021 | β | 20.7% | 1.33x | 0.02x |
| Sterling Group Partners IVLPs: Pennsylvania Public School Employees' Retirement System | 2016 | β | 19.6% | 2.30x | 1.84x |
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 Sterling Group made?
- Sterling Group has 46 tracked investments.
- What stage does Sterling Group invest at?
- Sterling Group invests at the Growth stage.
- What is Sterling Group's typical check size?
- Sterling Group typically writes checks of $50M β $350M.
- What sectors does Sterling Group focus on?
- Sterling Group focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, Enterprise Software, Logistics & Supply Chain.
- Where is Sterling Group located?
- Sterling Group is headquartered in Houston, US.
- Who does Sterling Group co-invest with?
- Sterling Group most often shares deals with Stellus Capital Management, Core Venture Capital, Frazier Life Sciences, among 22 tracked co-investors.
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