HGGC
HGGC (Huntsman Gay Global Capital,) is a leading middle-market private equity firm with $4.3 billion in cumulative capital commitments.[1]
History
Based in Palo Alto, Calif[2], HGGC is distinguished by a unique investing approach that enables the firm to source and acquire scalable businesses at attractive multiples through partnerships with management teams, founders and sponsors who reinvest alongside HGGC, creating a strong alignment of interests.
Since 2007, HGGC has completed more than 100 platform investments with a total transaction value of more than $17 billion. The Silicon Valley firm is led by Rich Lawson[3], CEO, and Steve Young, managing director and former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. The firm was co-founded by Rich Lawson, Bob Gay and Greg Benson. HGGC invests across a range of industry sectors, including tech and tech-enabled services, business services, and financial services. HGGC's investing focus is typically on middle-market companies that have $100 million to $1 billion in annual revenues.
Investment Highlights
Investment transactions to date include AutoAlert, which provides cloud-based data and analytics services to the automotive market; Pearl Holding Group, an insurance-services company; Serena Software, an information technology business; Survey Sampling International, which provides data and technology services for consumer and business-to-business research; MyWebGrocer; Citadel Plastics Holdings; Hollander Sleep Products; hybris, an e-commerce business; and Sunquest Information Systems. Recent Team Additions and Promotions
In April of 2018, HGGC added new team members to the firm including Dan Stanko, formerly a principal at Bain Capital Private Equity; Chad Clawson, former principal in the Operations Group at American Capital; Bennett Nussbaum, former Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi-Cola International; Scott St. Clair, who recently served as the Chief Executive Officer of Atrium, a Golden Gate Capital portfolio company. At that time, HGGC also promoted former KPS Capital Partners’ Bill Conrad to HGGC’s investment team Principal and promoted Matt Roesch (formerly of Credit Suisse Securities) to investment team Vice President. HGGC also added business development professionals Stephen Young, a co-founder and manager of Lowe’s Ventures and Junior Bryant from Pacific Global Investment Management Company and the Pacific Advisors Funds.
Neil White and Les Brown are current Managing Directors of HGGC; Current principals include Farouk Hussein, John Block, Colin Phinisey[4], Harv Barenz, Bill Conrad and Steven Leistner. For a full list of all HGGC team members, visit HGGC.com.
Company Milestones
In June 2018, the firm announced that it had completed the acquisition of RPX Corporation[5], a leading provider of patent risk and discovery management solutions. The RPX deal followed the acquisition of Nutraceutical International Corporation, a manufacturer and distributor of natural vitamins, minerals, supplements and personal care products, which closed in August 2017[6]. In October of 2018, HGGC announced the company had signed a definitive agreement to lead the merger of Mi9 Retail, a prominent provider of omni-channel retail solutions, and HGGC portfolio company MyWebGrocer, a top software and digital media company. The combined company is expected to power retail operations for more than 500 retailers and consumer brands around the world including Abercrombie & Fitch, BevMo!, Cole Haan, Giant Eagle, Levi’s, Nike, Shopko, ShopRite and Tommy Bahama. The firm was named 2014 M&A Mid-Market Private Equity Firm of the Year by Mergers & Acquisitions magazine.
