J. H. Whitney & Company History and Fund Performance

J. H. Whitney & Company has a rich history dating back to 1946, when it was founded by John Hay Whitney. The company started as a merchant bank, but over the years, it has evolved into a leading private equity and venture capital firm.

The firm's early years were marked by a focus on investing in small businesses and startups, with a particular emphasis on the technology and media sectors. This focus helped the company grow and establish a strong reputation in the industry.

One notable aspect of the company's history is its involvement in some of the most significant deals of the 20th century, including the investment in the New York Herald Tribune. This investment was a key factor in the company's growth and helped establish its reputation as a savvy and forward-thinking investor.

J. H. Whitney & Company is a private investment firm with a rich history dating back to 1946. The company was founded by John Hay "Jock" Whitney, a member of the prominent Whitney family.

Jock Whitney had a strong background in finance and politics, serving as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1957. His experience in these fields helped shape the company's investment approach.

The company's early years were marked by a focus on investing in small companies and startups, often with a strong emphasis on research and due diligence. This approach allowed J. H. Whitney & Company to identify and capitalize on promising opportunities.

One notable investment made by the company was in the early days of television, where they invested in companies like CBS and NBC.

J. H. Whitney & Company has a long history of making investments in leveraged buyout transactions, and has continued to do so even after its name change to Whitney & Co. and J. H. Whitney Capital Partners, LLC.

The firm raised $800 million for its sixth institutional private equity fund in 2005, a significant decrease from its previous funds, which raised $1.1 billion in 2001 and $975 million in 2000.

J.H. Whitney has made a total of 202 investments, with their latest investment being in Precision Medicine Group as part of their Private Equity - III on December 19, 2017.

Here are some key statistics about J.H. Whitney's investments:

J.H. Whitney Capital Partners holds 1 position in its portfolio as reported in the September 2016 quarterly 13F filing, which is a significant decrease from their previous holdings.

J. H. Whitney & Company was founded by John Hay Whitney after World War II, with an initial investment of $10 million to finance entrepreneurs with business plans.

Whitney brought in Benno Schmidt as his partner to run the company, and they wanted a team of young experts to be their deputies. They went to the deans of Harvard Business School, Yale Law School, and the MIT Graduate School of Engineering to find the best students.

Whitney had been investing since the 1930s, founding Pioneer Pictures in 1933 and acquiring a 15% interest in Technicolor Corporation with his cousin Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney.

J.H. Whitney & Company was founded by John Hay Whitney after World War II with a $10 million investment to finance entrepreneurs with business plans.

The company was a game-changer in the venture capital industry, marking the beginning of what's considered true private equity investments.

Whitney had been investing since the 1930s, founding Pioneer Pictures in 1933 and acquiring a 15% interest in Technicolor Corporation with his cousin Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney.

Benno Schmidt, Whitney's partner, is credited with coining the term "venture capital", originally known as "development capital".

The company was originally described as a lender of "private adventure capital" and Schmidt shortened the term to "venture capital".

Whitney's most famous investment during this period was in Florida Foods Corporation, which developed an innovative method for delivering nutrition to American soldiers.

The 23 fund histories of J.H. Whitney are a testament to the company's long history of investing in various industries.

J.H. Whitney has a total of 23 funds, including J.H. Whitney VII LP, which is still open and has a closing date of 12/31/2010.

One of the notable funds is J.H. Whitney VI LP, which closed on 12/31/2005 with an amount of $800M.

JHW Greentree Capital LP, another fund, closed on 1/1/2004 with an amount of $175M.

The company has also invested in late-stage venture capital, as seen in JHW Greentree Capital LP.

Here is a table summarizing some of the key information about J.H. Whitney's funds:

Some funds, like J.H. Whitney V LP and Whitney Private Debt Fund LP, have not provided their status or amount due to subscription requirements.

J.H. Whitney has been active in acquiring and selling companies, with one notable example being the sale of Alphia to PAI Partners. Alphia is a leading pet food co-manufacturer in North America, producing over one billion pounds of dry pet food and treats annually.

PAI Partners acquired Alphia from J.H. Whitney Capital Partners for an enterprise value of $1 billion, a significant transaction that highlights J.H. Whitney's ability to create value in its portfolio companies.

J.H. Whitney has sold Alphia to PAI Partners, a private equity firm that invests in companies based in the United States and Europe.

Alphia is a leading pet food co-manufacturer in North America, producing over one billion pounds of dry pet food and treats annually. It had FY2022 revenues of $875 million and an enterprise value of $1 billion.

PAI Partners acquired Alphia from J.H. Whitney at an enterprise value of $1 billion. This is a significant deal, considering Alphia's strong performance in the pet food industry.

Alphia has 800 employees and operates 6 manufacturing facilities across the US. It also provides research and development, warehousing, transportation, and distribution services.

PAI Partners is committed to growing and scaling Alphia, with a focus on innovation, food safety, and industry leadership.

If you're looking to get a sense of a company's past transactions, one place to start is by examining their past filings.

J.H. Whitney Capital Partners has a history of filing their 13F forms with the SEC, which provides a snapshot of their holdings at the end of each quarter.

One notable aspect of J.H. Whitney Capital Partners' filing history is that they have been consistently filing their 13F forms every quarter since 2012.

You can view their past filings for J.H. Whitney Capital Partners going back to 2012 by checking the SEC's website.

Here's a list of some of their past filings:

J. H. Whitney & Company offers a range of services, including private equity investments and corporate finance advisory services. Their team of experienced professionals provides guidance on mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt financings, and other strategic transactions.

Their expertise spans various industries, including technology, healthcare, and consumer products. They have a strong track record of success, with numerous investments and exits over the years.

One notable feature of J. H. Whitney & Company is their commitment to creating long-term value for their clients and investors. They take a collaborative approach to investing and advisory services, working closely with their clients to understand their unique needs and goals.

Prairie Capital and Salt Creek Capital are two private equity firms that offer distinct services, but they share some similarities.

Prairie Capital focuses on scaling growth-oriented, lower middle market companies, primarily serving sectors within business services, consumer, education, healthcare, industrial, and technology.

Salt Creek Capital, on the other hand, specializes in ownership transitions and offers private equity investments to entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses across various industries.

Both firms primarily focus on the lower-middle market, but Prairie Capital has a slightly longer history, founded in 1997 compared to Salt Creek Capital's 2009 founding.

Prairie Capital is based in Chicago, Illinois, while Salt Creek Capital is based in Redwood City, California.

In the 1980s, J. H. Whitney & Company shifted its focus from venture capital to leveraged buyouts and growth capital investments.

This transition was driven by changing market conditions in the venture-capital industry.

Whitney's most notable leveraged buyout was the acquisition of Prime Computer in 1989.

The company was acquired after a hostile takeover attempt by Bennett S. LeBow's MAI Basic Four was thwarted.

Whitney acted as a white knight, completing the $1.3 billion leveraged buyout.

Unfortunately, owning Prime Computer proved to be a nearly total loss for Whitney.

The bulk of the proceeds from the company's liquidation went to its creditors.

Whitney completed other buyouts in the 1980s, including the acquisition of retailer Filene's Basement.

These investments marked a significant departure from the company's earlier focus on venture capital.