Flexible capital solutions exclusively
for the lower middle market
Flexible capital solutions exclusively
for the lower middle market
Amerigo Capital (“Amerigo”) is a private equity firm focused on investing in established lower middle market companies across the U.S with EBITDA from $2MM to $40MM. We seek market-leading niche businesses with identifiable growth opportunities in a wide-range of industries. Specifically, we are seeking shareholders of family/operator-owned companies that desire liquidity, but also have a drive to create a partnership that takes the legacy business to the next level of growth and success.
Amerigo’s extensive network of investors and industry experts allows us to quickly and thoroughly assess new opportunities and construct capital solutions that match each company’s unique set of dynamics. Post-transaction, we augment a core business with a set of financial, operating and strategic resources customized for its distinctive needs.
The majority of mainstream private equity firms chase larger deals, creating a dislocation between the number of exceptional lower middle market companies and the amount of capital/resources dedicated to them. Amerigo’s sole focus on these smaller businesses coupled with the flexible mandate from our investors allows us to capitalize on opportunities and efficiently unlock shareholder value. In addition, our team has direct experience with all stakeholder positions at lower middle market companies, providing a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within these businesses.
Because no two companies are alike, we take the time to understand the entirety of each company and its stakeholders’ needs. Through this in-depth evaluation a true partnership is formed and we are able to produce an optimal transaction structure and outcome for all parties. Specifically, we are uniquely open to both minority and majority transactions and also offer equity participation to management in order to ensure all interests are aligned and there is meaningful financial upside associated with a company’s future success.
The majority of value creation is not generated from a well-structured transaction, but from the sum of successfully executed post-transaction tasks such as improving inventory management systems, conducting an all-hands brainstorming session before a new customer pitch or utilizing a new board member’s network to lower supplier costs. We will foster this type of collaborative effort between all stakeholders to ensure the core business and its heritage continue to thrive.
Amerigo and its investor network are committed to generating shareholder value through implementing resources and strategies that produce improved efficiencies and growth. Some of these efforts may include:
In general, we prefer opportunities that satisfy the following criteria:
Security 101 is a national provider of integrated security solutions to a diversified set of commercial customers across multiple end markets, including healthcare, education, financial, and government, among others. The Company delivers a full-service offering of security services and products including the design, installation, and maintenance of access control, video surveillance, intrusion detection, visitor management, and managed service solutions. Founded in 2005 and based in West Palm Beach, FL, Security 101 has over 50 locations in the U.S.
Chris has spent his entire career working with lower middle market companies in various facets, including sourcing and executing acquisitions, capital raising and operational advisory. He currently serves on the board of Security 101.
Prior to founding Amerigo Capital, he was an advisor for a number of family offices, private equity firms and operating companies. Chris began his career as an investment banker at B. Riley & Co.
Chris earned a B.A. in Finance from the University of St. Thomas. He is also a mentor in Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and guest lecturer at the University of California, Irvine.
Amerigo’s advisory board members have extensive experience founding, building, acquiring and exiting companies. The group’s diverse skill-sets as family office principals, private equity investors, entrepreneurs and operators provide a unique perspective to the firm. This wealth of experience allows Amerigo to draw upon proprietary knowledge when assessing new acquisition opportunities as well as growing businesses post-acquisition.
Adam is President of the Horowitz Group, a single-family office based in Orange County, California. The family’s roots are in the ready-mix concrete business, but today the family office invests opportunistically across a variety of industries and asset classes. In the direct private equity arena, Adam oversees several investments, including a founding interest in Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ: SFM). He serves on the Board of Directors of Lemonade Restaurant Group (KKR portfolio company), a chef-driven fast-casual restaurant chain with 20 units in Southern California and Asian Box, another fast-casual restaurant concept focused on healthy Vietnamese cuisine. Adam is a Board Observer of MiniLuxe, an enlightened nail and waxing concept. Adam also oversees a portfolio of stabilized retail, medical office and industrial properties and has led the acquisition of over 1,000 multi-family units in Los Angeles and the Pacific Northwest since 2012. The Horowitz Group also invests with a stable of alternative investment managers and actively looks to partner with emerging sponsors.
Adam earned a B.A. in Political Science from Stanford University and M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Dr. Zeineh brings 25 years of technology development, entrepreneurialism, operating and investing experience to Amerigo. He currently focuses his time on various early-stage and private equity investment opportunities as well as advisory engagements. Dr. Zeineh is currently providing intellectual property strategy development to Acorns, a VC-backed investment software company. He is also advising a med-tech incubation group at a prominent New York City-based healthcare system. Dr. Zeineh has spent the majority of his career as an entrepreneur and operator, namely as the founder of Trestle, the largest digital pathology solution provider in the industry prior to its acquisition by Clarient (subsidiary of General Electric). He also served as the Chief Scientific Officer at Clarient and Chief Scientific Officer and Chief Technology Officer for Carl Zeiss Microimaging AIS. In addition, Dr. Zeineh was an early investor in the Southern California apparel company RVCA (acquired by Billabong).
Dr. Zeineh earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences at the University of California, Irvine and M.D. at the University of California, San Diego.
Ryan spent the majority of his career in private equity, investing in 15 companies across many industries prior to transitioning to an operating role. He is currently the CFO of Cohealo, a SaaS solution that brings the benefits of the sharing economy to increase medical equipment utilization across hospital systems. Ryan joined Cohealo from H.I.G. Capital, a leading global private equity firm where he acquired middle market companies and helped grow their enterprise value as a member of their Board of Directors. During his decade-long career at H.I.G., the investment firm grew from less than $2 billion to more than $17 billion in assets under management as a result of the capital he and his colleagues successfully invested and realized. Before H.I.G., Ryan started his career executing mergers and acquisitions for Peter J. Solomon Company, an investment bank headquartered in New York City.
Ryan earned a B.B.A. from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
As both an investor and operator, Ryan has extensive experience with lower middle market companies in a broad spectrum of industries. Currently he is the COO at Shoutpoint, a cloud-based, telephony platform provider. Prior to joining Shoutpoint, Ryan was a partner at TGV Partners for 10 years, where he focused on branded consumer products and manufacturing businesses. Ryan was previously with the Carlyle Group, where he helped form and build the firm’s telecom real estate investment subsidiary, CRG West. During his time at CRG West, he played an integral role in the firm’s real estate acquisitions as well as negotiating and executing strategic telecom partnerships. Ryan began his career in investment banking at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette where, he directly advised middle market clients in over $1 billion of M&A transactions.
Ryan earned a B.A. in Business Economics and Accounting from UCLA.
Ned has built a rich career as an operating executive, private equity investor, entrepreneur, consultant and banker. He is currently the CEO of EZ Shipper Racks, a reverse logistics company. He is also the founder of Toma Capital Management, a private equity firm dedicated to the lower middle market. Prior to founding Toma Capital Management, Ned was a Director with Buxbaum Holdings, a single-family office, where he led the firm’s private equity efforts. He constructed the underwriting for new acquisitions and held various interim operational positions at existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining Buxbaum, Ned was a consultant within the Corporate Finance and Restructuring Group at FTI Consulting and began his career as an Associate in the Leveraged Finance Group at U.S. Bancorp.
Ned earned a B.A. and B.S. in Business Administration and Psychology, respectively, from the University of Minnesota. He also earned an M.B.A. and M.A in Foreign Policy from the University of Michigan.
Rishi is a product and technology executive and angel investor. Rishi has expertise in Blockchain, Machine Learning, Big Data, Cloud Computing and SaaS Solutions for Healthcare Integration, Healthcare Payers, PBMs Specialty Pharmacies, Pharmacies, and Retailers. Having served in leadership roles at Fortune 20, and startup companies, Rishi has a very diverse background, which includes hands on innovation (multiple patents granted) as well as product and technology leadership at scale.
He currently leads Unusual Insights Inc, a boutique product development and strategic consulting firm advising early-stage startups, healthcare tech, firms, venture capital and private equity clients.
Most recently, Rishi partnered with PSG to launch and grow Artemetrx Monitor™ (a Big Data / AI based, SaaS Drug Spend Management solution) to 25 million members and scale 340B Link (a SaaS Drug Procurement solution) from MVP to 80 plus hospitals and 20M+ revenue in 3 yrs.
Previously, as the Chief Architect and VP of Tech. Products at UHG/Optum, Rishi’s team developed “Optum Sync™” (Integrated Medical + Pharmacy Care & Patient Engagement Platform) and supported OptumRx’s growth from a $19B captive a $ 48B commercial PBM.
Other products developed include Walgreens “ReadyDose™”, a precursor to PillPack and PharmacyOS (acquired by Amazon for $753M) and CVS “Specialty Connect™” (winner of 2014 2014 Rx Benefit Innovation Award)
Rishi earned a B.S. in Computer Sciences & Engineering at the National Institute of Technology, India.
He actively supports efforts to provide underprivileged kids access to quality education at the Khullar Charitable Trust