Middle Market Deals and how to buy, sell and raise capital from $5 to $500 million

Tomorrow is the second annual ACG Capital Connections conference here in Salt Lake City.  The event is drawing private equity groups from around the country, including several who arrived today and dropped by our offices at the Thorpe Capital Group for a visit.

The following private equity groups are all expected to be at the conference tomorrow:

• Allied Capital
• Apax Partners, L.P.
• ICV Capital Partners
• Blue Point Capital Partners
• Parthenon Capital
• H.I.G. Capital, LLC
• Thompson Street Capital Partners
• Linsalata Capital Partners
• DW Health Care Partners
• Thoma Cressey Equity Partners
• Sorenson Capital
• Ridgeview Capital
• Capital for Business, Inc.
• Friend Skoler & Co.
• Lineage Capital, LLC
• TSG Consumer Partners
• Golub Capital
• Century Park Capital Partners
• Weston Presidio Capital Partners
• Industrial Growth Partners
• Inverness Capital Partners
• EOS Partners
• The Compass Group
• Outlook Capital Partners LLC
• Peterson Partners
• Summit Investment Management
• Stripes Group
• Merit Capital Partners
• Boulder Capital, LLC
• Seaport Capital
• Summit Partners
• Silkroad Resources LLC

Matt Marsh, from our office, sits on the Board of the Utah Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and has been closely involved with the organization of this event.  Thanks Matt!

Today, Len Lillard from Merit Capital Partners called on us today.  We've known Len for years, but he's new to Merit and excited about his new role there.  Merit invests in mezzanine style positions, typically including both subordinated debt and preferred stock.

Len is so tall that he nearly hits his head walking through our office door.  Let's just say, I don't relate well to that problem.

Desmond Henry also dropped by to introduce himself to us.  He is a Principal at Black Canyon Capital in Los Angeles.  This private equity fund invests in a broad range of capital structures and prides itself on creative structures to help companies accomplish their objectives.

This evening, I had a quick supper with a Rick Barton and Zach Ager from Hunt Private Equity Group, Inc., a part of the old Hunt oil and real estate empire in Texas.  They focus on consumer products and are especially excited about the opportunities in crafting, quilting, scrapbooking and other businesses that thrive in Utah.  Who'dathunk?!