About
Get to know us
Imperial Capital has been successfully building better businesses since 1989. Based in Toronto, we are a unique mid-market private equity firm with a focus on partnership opportunities in U.S. and Canadian Healthcare, Business and Consumer Service industries. We have developed a highly effective investment strategy that begins with identifying attractive industry niches in which high quality businesses are built or acquired. With assets under management of approximately US$3.6 billion (CDN$4.8 billion), Imperial is currently investing from its US$800 million Fund VIII.
Imperial at a Glance
Founded in 1989
Our goal is to grow businesses with our partners by applying a well-crafted strategy, assembling effective teams, instilling best practices and committing significant capital to drive and execute on organic and acquisitive growth. We have a deep understanding of our industry verticals, significant expertise in fragmented sector consolidation and passion for our work. We believe in the importance of economic alignment with our management partners, which enables us to consistently generate favourable economic outcomes for all stakeholders.
A high proportion of our fund capital comes from our unique investor base of over 800 high-net-worth entrepreneurs, CEOs and professionals with whom we have long-standing relationships and from specific value-added institutional partners. Our sources of capital are as entrepreneurial as the partners with whom we invest.
Top Quartile Returns for Fund IV, Fund V and Fund VI
Focus on Healthcare, Business and Consumer Services
Focus on Multi-site Service Consolidation Investments
Fund VIII launched 2021
Assets Under Management(CDN$4.9B)
Target Investment Size
(excluding co-investors)
Current Platform Investments
Platform Investments since inception
Gross Multiple of Capital1Fund IV, Fund V and Fund VI
1 - 3.2x Net Multiple of Capital for Fund IV, Fund V and Fund VI
Unique Investment Strategy,
Developed over 30 Years
New investments begin with an industry thesis. We utilize a proprietary industry screening process to determine if an industry is attractive, and assemble a network of professionals with deep industry experience to develop a strategy for building a successful company. This process helps to ensure that we are highly knowledgeable and discerning of any industry that we pursue.
Once an industry initiative is approved, our Investment Team works to identify the best opportunity to build a platform within it. If no such company exists, we will embark on a Back, Buy and Build ("BBB") strategy wherein we assemble a team of proven executives to launch a new company. In cases where there is an existing business with strong leadership, we will partner with that company and pursue an aggressive growth plan together.
Back, Buy and Build
Over the last five years, we have built 12 companies from inception through our proprietary BBB strategy – an approach we deploy when we find an attractive industry but are unable to find the right company with which to partner. In these instances, we assemble an experienced team of executives and together launch a new company, commit significant capital and pursue our joint vision for growth. Through this process, we have gained invaluable experience and developed a step-by-step approach that has formed the backbone of our proprietary BBB playbook.
See our partnershipsAcquisitions
While our more recent partnerships have employed our BBB strategy, we continue to review opportunities to partner with more established businesses, with EBITDA of up to $30 million, in which the firm’s capital and operational expertise can be utilized to accelerate the target company’s growth. Since 1989, we have partnered with 19 companies using this approach. Imperial Capital does not pursue operational turnaround situations.
See our partnershipsCriteria for Partnership
We are always interested in pursuing new opportunities - from launching new businesses in attractive sectors to partnering with entrepreneurs and helping them to grow. The following are some criteria that we look for.
Industry Criteria
Fragmented, recession-resistant, service-based sectors in growing and established industries
Company Criteria
U.S. or Canada based with EBITDA of $0 to $30M
Partner Criteria
Proven entrepreneur or executive with significant industry expertise and network
Ask Our CEOs
“I partnered with Imperial because they offered the best combination of value for shareholders and certainty of close.”
Steve Hynes
MRO Corporation
Ask Our CEOs
“Imperial lets their leadership teams run the business. They don’t micromanage their teams, which many PE firms claim, but is rarely the case.”
Tom Thill
AmeriVet
Ask Our CEOs
“We partnered with Imperial for a number of reasons, chief among them was the team's transparency and no-nonsense approach.”
Tim Gillis
STI Technologies
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“Partnering with the Imperial team has provided the support and vision necessary to navigate a rapidly consolidating and ever-changing industry. Together, we're establishing a multi-regional platform built on a commitment to our partners and customer experience.”
Dan Reed
Skyline Roofing Partners
Ask Our CEOs
"I am very excited to join Integral Consulting, an organization with a very proud culture and reputation for solving the world’s toughest environmental challenges. These strengths allow us to meet the growing demands of our clients while attracting the most talented staff, who thrive on innovation, collaboration and teamwork."
Ryan Brain
Integral Consulting
Ask Our CEOs
"Imperial is willing to provide value-added support whenever and wherever needed while allowing the CEO and Management Teams to run the business and create the culture and strategic priorities necessary to drive long-term growth and success."
Brent Arnold
Cultivate Behavioral
Ask Our CEOs
"I originally worked with Imperial Capital as a Board member of a portfolio company. Imperial is focused on building world-class companies and provides both the investment and support necessary to do so. Given the opportunity to start my own platform, Imperial Capital was the only place considered."
Rich Ennis
Fortis Fire & Safety
Ask Our CEOs
“Imperial is a true partner. They are much more than access to growth capital, the Imperial team provide support to our executives, all the while challenging us to be our best.”
Dave Bradford
Certus Pest
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“My biggest surprise in partnering with Imperial is that there haven’t been a lot of surprises. From the start, they have challenged me and supported the business in the same way.”
Rob Wiebe
Matrix Sciences
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“The level of partnership and support that Imperial offers were deciding factors in my joining Infinity. Their willingness to contribute in any way necessary is a huge benefit to achieving our aggressive growth strategy.”
Joe Troxell
Infinity Laboratories
Ask Our CEOs
“I met Imperial Capital when I was fundraising as a CFO for another company, connecting with over 100 private equity firms. I was so impressed by Imperial's business aptitude and willingness to jump in and problem solve, that they were my first call when I decided to start my own venture."
Brent Westhoven
Hera Women's Health
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“Imperial knows that they are building a platform. They have been willing to invest in the team and systems ahead of the business scale. This allows me to think for the long term and attract world class talent to GO Car Wash.”
Bill Derwin
GO Car Wash
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“We partnered with Imperial because they were the only firm that told us how they could work with the company we were building, rather than how we could work with them.”
Orin Litman
VetStrategy
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“One of the best decisions I have made in my career has been partnering with Imperial.”
Scott Hunter
Gateway
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“Their word is their bond. Integrity is what I value most in a partner.”
Graham Rosenberg
Dentalcorp
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"Imperial understands the importance of getting the playbook right - they value investing in people and systems capabilities early on which is critical to success. It's exciting to know that Imperial and my leadership team are aligned in our approach to reshape the future of the medical spa industry.”
Stephanie Hu
Birch Medical Spas
Ask Our CEOs
"The partnership with Imperial has provided the financial flexibility and operating playbook to expedite our industry disruption in pool service and quickly become the largest, most admired company in the market."
Hal Denbar
National Pool Partners
Ask Our CEOs
“Imperial is incredibly supportive of Frontier and is in complete alignment with our goals and vision. The Frontier team has the flexibility to execute readily while knowing that, if we need resources, capital or strategic brainstorming, we can depend on a great partner to assist.”
Daniel Hamm
Frontier Service Partners