Frontenac Company

Frontenac Company is a Chicago-based private equity firm specializing in lower middle-market buyouts across the consumer, industrial, and services sectors. Founded in 1971, the firm has a history of partnering with established operating leaders through its CEO1ST® approach, aiming to identify, acquire, and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and operational excellence. Over the past five decades, Frontenac has worked with over 325 owners of mid-sized businesses, addressing complex transition issues such as liquidity, management enhancement, and growth planning.

The firm's investment strategy focuses on well-positioned, growing, and profitable privately held businesses. By combining capital with experienced operating talent and repeatable value creation playbooks, Frontenac seeks to drive growth, professionalization, and value creation at entrepreneurial companies. This approach is supported by an in-house Portfolio Resources Group, which brings specialized skill sets across strategy, finance, talent, operations, and technology to support post-closing value creation throughout the deal lifecycle.

Frontenac's commitment to excellence is reflected in its recognition in the HEC Paris-Dow Jones Small Cap Buyout Performance Ranking, where it has been ranked among the top private equity firms for four consecutive years. Additionally, the firm was named to Private Equity CXO's 2025 list of Top 50 Private Equity Firms for Executives, highlighting its supportive governance and team engagement. These accolades underscore Frontenac's dedication to building long-term, sustainable value at its portfolio companies and achieving outstanding results for its investors.