Spell Capital Partners

Last updated
Spell Capital Partners
Company typePrivate Equity Firm
IndustryFinancial Services and Asset Management
Founded1988
Founder William Spell
Headquarters
Total assets $700 million AUM
Website spellcapital.com

Spell Capital Partners LLC is a private equity firm based in Edina, Minnesota. The firm was founded in 1988 by William "Bill" Spell to manage private equity and mezzanine capital. [1] The firm currently manages $700 million in capital. [2] The firm has closed 41 leveraged buyout (LBO) transactions since 1988. [3]

Contents

The firm historically has managed both private equity and mezzanine capital. The private equity group focuses on acquiring majority control interests in industrial manufacturing companies, [4] while Spell Capital Mezzanine provides subordinated debt and non-control equity ownership to businesses in a variety of industries. [5] [3] In the summer of 2022, the mezzanine group was sold to the partners and employees who managed that group [5] as part of Mr. Spell's succession planning strategy.

The firm manages seven portfolio companies owned by the Spell Family Office and three on behalf of Spell Capital Partners Fund V (a 2016 vintage fund). [6]

Investments

Spell Capital Partners LLC is a private investment firm that buys and manages industrial manufacturing companies on behalf of the Spell Family Office. [7] The firm focuses on established manufacturing businesses, particularly in plastics, capital equipment, packaging, and other specialized manufacturing areas. Spell Capital Partners invests in companies in North America, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, [8] and South America. [9]

It typically invests between $5 million and $25 million in profitable companies with annual earnings of at least $5 million. [10] In 2006, the firm reported an estimated $720 million in sales and more than $100 million in earnings. [11]

In 2022, the firm’s lending and secondary-investment business was renamed NorthCoast Mezzanine. [12]

History

Bill Spell, a former investment banker, founded the company in 1988, [13] drawing upon his prior experience as vice president and director of corporate finance at a Midwest-based investment bank. [14] Since 1988, Spell Capital has raised five equity funds and two mezzanine funds. From 1993 to 2006, the principals of Spell Capital held a controlling interest in a publicly traded company, PW Eagle, [15] which was the second largest plastic pipe manufacturer in the United States. [16] During that year, Spell exited the investment.

Recognition

Spell Capital Partner's portfolio companies received three nominations for Deal of the Year from Buyouts Magazine, [17] one for Turnaround Deal of the Year, and another for Small Market Deal of the Year. During 2020, Spell's mezzanine group was named "SBIC Firm of the Year" by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). [18] Spell Capital was named to the "Top 50 PE Firms in the Middle Market" each year between 2018 and 2023. [19] In 2019, Inc Magazine included Spell Capital in its top 50 Private Equity firms. [20]

References

  1. on, Published (2020-09-16). "Minnesota Investment Firm Named Small Business Investment Company of the Year | U.S. Small Business Administration". www.sba.gov. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  2. "About Us". Spell Capital. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  3. 1 2 "'Opportunistic' Spell Capital sees deal flow surge in early 2007 - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal". www.bizjournals.com. 2007-05-14. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  4. "Byline Sponsor Finance Group supports Spell Capital Partners in its acquisition of Viking Engineering & Development, Inc". Byline Bank. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  5. 1 2 "About Us". NorthCoastMezzanine.com.
  6. Witkowsky, Chris (2016-09-06). "Spell Capital raises largest fund yet focusing on smallest side of market". Buyouts. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  7. Ruiz Switzky, Bryant (May 13, 2007). "'Opportunistic' Spell Capital sees deal flow surge in early 2007". www.bizjournals.com.
  8. Rikkers, Jim (2021-09-15). "Spell Capital Partners Announces Acquisition of Duromer Products Australia and DuroColour Vietnam". Spell Capital. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  9. "Injequaly Opens Plastic Injection Molding Plant in Joinville to Serve Whirlpool | Viking Plastics". 2021-11-11. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  10. "Investment Criteria". Spell Capital. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  11. "PW Eagle's Third Quarter Net Income Increases on Eight Percent Revenue Growth". www.sec.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  12. Mezzanine, NorthCoast (2022-07-01). "Spell Capital Mezzanine Closes Fund III and Rebrands as NorthCoast Mezzanine". NorthCoast Mezzanine. Retrieved 2025-12-08.
  13. "Spell Capital Partners". GCI Publishing. 2019-12-29. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  14. "Company Overview of Peerless Industrial Group, Inc". BusinessWeek. Archived from the original on October 8, 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  15. "William H. Spell". PlasticsNews.com. January 9, 2004.
  16. "PW Eagle, Inc. | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  17. Primack, Dan (2008-02-26). "Buyouts Awards 2008". PE Hub. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  18. "Minnesota Investment Firm Named Small Business Investment Company of the Year". GlobeNewswire News Room. 2020-09-16.
  19. "Spell Capital Partners". GCI Publishing. 2019-12-29.
  20. "Grey Post News USA". Thegreypost.com. June 17, 2025.