Wind Point Partners

{{Short description|American private equity firm}} {{Infobox company | name = Wind Point Partners | logo = Wind_Point_Partners_Logo.svg | type = [[Privately held company|Private]] | foundation = {{start date and age|1984}} | founder = | location = [[Chicago, Illinois]], United States | industry = [[Private equity]] | products = [[Leveraged buyout]], [[Growth capital]] | assets = $4 billion | homepage = {{URL|http://www.wppartners.com|wppartners.com}} | num_employees = 30+ }}

'''Wind Point Partners''' is an American [[private equity firm]] focused on [[growth capital]] investments and [[leveraged buyouts]] in [[middle-market companies]]. The firm focuses on the following industry sectors: Consumer Products, Industrial Products, and Business Services.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wppartners.com/strategy/strategy|title = Our Strategy | Strategy | Wind Point Partners}}</ref> Wind Point's strategy involves partnering with executives who typically have run a P&L of $1 billion or greater to acquire businesses with enterprise values between $100 million and $500 million.

The firm, which is based in [[Chicago, Illinois]], was founded in 1984. It was founded and funded by S. Curtis Johnson of [[Racine, Wisconsin]], heir to the [[SC Johnson]] fortune.

==History== Since its founding, Wind Point has raised approximately $4 billion of investor commitments and completed more than 100 investments and 300 add-on acquisitions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wppartners.com/overview/who-we-are|title = Maximizing Growth Potential, Creating Value in the Middle Market | Overview | Wind Point Partners}}</ref> across its nine private equity funds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchbook.com/newsletter/wind-point-backs-tropicale-foods|title = Wind Point backs Tropicale Foods | PitchBook}}</ref> The firm began raising their ninth fund in 2019 with a $1.2 billion target.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peprofessional.com/2020/02/stir-foods-acquires-celtrade/|title = Stir Foods Acquires Celtrade}}</ref> The firm completed fundraising for its eighth fund in 2017 with $985 million of investor commitments.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://peprofessional.com/2019/09/wind-point-acquires-u-s-nonwovens/|title=Wind Point Buys U.S. Nonwovens}}</ref> Wind Point's prior funds were raised in 2009 with $915 million of investor commitments and 2005 with $715 million of investor commitments.

Since inception, Wind Point acquisitions have included [[Pacific Cycle]] (also maker of [[Schwinn Bicycle Company|Schwinn bicycles]]),<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07E2DF1030F937A25752C0A9629C8B63 CANADIAN COMPANY BUYS MAKER OF SCHWINN BIKES]. [[New York Times]], January 14, 2004</ref> [[Bushnell Corporation]],<ref>[http://marketing.bushnell.com/press/pdf/Bushnell%20Acquisition.pdf Press release: MidOcean Partners and Management Announce Acquisition Of Bushnell Outdoor Products, Inc. from Wind Point Partners]</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/31/obituaries/31bushnell.html David Bushnell, 92, Importer of Affordable Binoculars, Dies], [[New York Times]], March 31, 2005</ref> Bakery Chef,<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9505E2DE1438F930A25752C1A9659C8B63 RALCORP IS BUYING BAKERY CHEF FOR $287.5 MILLION]. [[New York Times]], November 13, 2003</ref> Gehl Foods, Radienz Living (formerly named US Nonwovens),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Winzelberg |first=David |date=2021-03-03 |title=Melville-based manufacturer rebrands as Radienz Living {{!}} Long Island Business News |url=https://libn.com/2021/03/03/melville-based-manufacturer-rebrands-as-radienz-living/ |access-date=2025-08-19 |language=en-US}}</ref> and Ames True Temper.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E6D81531F936A15751C1A9679C8B63 U.S. INDUSTRIES SELLS ITS LAWN AND GARDEN TOOLS UNIT]. [[New York Times]], December 25, 2001</ref><ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903E6D61630F93AA35755C0A9629C8B63 CASTLE HARLAN TO BUY GARDEN-EQUIPMENT MAKER]. [[New York Times]], June 9, 2004</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official|http://www.wppartners.com}}

[[Category:Financial services companies established in 1984]] [[Category:Private equity firms of the United States]] [[Category:Companies based in Chicago]]