Private equity firms with ‘Fox’ in their name have become major players in the investment landscape. Companies like Fox Paine, Fox Capital, and Fox Equity Partners manage billions in assets and have completed numerous high-profile deals. Understanding these influential Fox investment firms provides useful insight into private equity industry trends. Fox partnerships focus on traditional buyout strategies but have expanded into growth equity, credit, infrastructure, and other alternative assets. Firms like Fox Paine got their start decades ago pursing traditional leveraged buyouts but now pursue diverse investment strategies spanning multiple industries and geographies. Though they share a common name, Fox private equity firms operate independently and have distinct investment philosophies and partner profiles. Yet taken together, their ascent demonstrates the growing influence of private capital in reshaping companies and economies.
Fox Paine & Company Focuses on Consumer, Industrial, and Services Investments
Fox Paine & Company, founded in 1984, pursues leveraged buyouts and growth capital investments. The firm targets the consumer, industrial, and service industries in North America. Fox Paine has raised over $3.5 billion in capital across seven funds. Notable deals include Arrowhead Engineered Products, FleetPride, and Liqui-Box. The firm has offices in California and Minnesota and is led by co-founder Tom Patterson. Fox Paine’s typical investment size is $75-300 million for control or influential minority positions. The firm’s portfolio reflects its sector focus on industrial manufacturing, automotive aftermarket, food & beverage, and specialty retail.
Fox Capital Focuses on Tech and Healthcare Investments
Fox Capital, founded in 1995, focuses primarily on growth equity and buyout investments in technology and healthcare companies. Based in Michigan, the firm has completed over 90 investments and raised approximately $500 million in capital. Notable deals include Accuri Cytometers, sold to Becton Dickinson for $300 million, and Molecular Imaging, sold to Danaher for $730 million. Fox Capital typically invests $5-25 million and looks for rapidly growing companies in niches like cybersecurity, FinTech, and medical devices. The firm was founded by Dan Gilbert, who also founded Quicken Loans and Rock Ventures.
Fox Equity Partners Targets Lower Middle Market Buyouts
Fox Equity Partners, founded in 2021, focuses on leveraged buyouts of niche manufacturing, distribution, and business services firms. Based in Kentucky, the firm targets the lower middle market with typical equity investments of $5-15 million. The partners have over 60 years of collective experience investing in the region. Fox Equity looks for niche market leaders with EBITDA between $3-10 million and partners with management teams to grow the business. The firm closed its first fund with $85 million in 2022.
Other Notable Firms Include Fox Run Capital and Foxhaven Asset Management
In addition to the firms above, other private equity and investment managers with ‘Fox’ in their name have gained traction. Fox Run Capital, founded in 2013, targets control buyouts of lower middle market manufacturing, distribution, and business services firms in the Southern U.S. Foxhaven Asset Management, founded in 2016, focuses on public and private credit investments. Foxhaven manages over $1 billion in assets across collateralized loan obligations, specialty finance, and private credit. The firm is based in New York.
Major private equity firms with ‘Fox’ in their name have grown to manage billions in capital across diverse strategies. While focusing on different sectors, geographies, and niches, they showcase the expansive nature of modern private equity.