This article is about the middle-market private equity firm founded in 1987 by Jerome Kohlberg. For the large buyout firm founded in 1976, see Kohlberg Kravis Roberts.
Kohlberg, formerly known as Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C, is an American private equity firm that focuses on leveraged buyout transactions. Founded by investor Jerome Kohlberg, Jr., the firm invests in a variety of transactions including leveraged carveout, take-private transactions, and acquisitions of privately held companies.
The firm was founded in 1987,[1] when American businessman and investor Jerome Kohlberg Jr. resigned from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. over differences in strategy. Kohlberg did not favor the larger buyouts, including Beatrice Companies in 1985 and Safeway in 1986, highly leveraged transactions or hostile takeovers being pursued increasingly by KKR.[2][3] Instead, Kohlberg chose to return to his roots, acquiring smaller, middle-market companies, and in 1987 he formed Kohlberg & Company along with his son James, who at that time was a KKR executive. Their intent was to concentrate on transactions that could generate returns through revenue growth and operating improvements using only moderate leverage.[2] Jerome Kohlberg retired from Kohlberg & Company in 1994.[4]
In 2023, Kohlberg acquired majority stake in Engage PEO, an human resource outsourcing company.[5] In 2024, the firm acquired majority stake in CLEAResult, an energy service provider.[6] In 2025, the firm acquired RESA Power from Investcorp.[7][8]
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