Bertram Capital Elevates Chris Brown to Partner
Bertram Capital, a prominent middle-market private equity firm, has announced the promotion of Chris Brown to the position of Partner. This strategic move is effective immediately and underscores Mr. Brown's significant contributions to the firm since his return in 2019, after an earlier tenure from 2010 to 2015. In his new role, he will continue to focus on investments within the firm's Industrials vertical.
Contribution to Bertram Capital
Throughout his career at Bertram, Mr. Brown has played a critical role in various investments, participating in 15 platform investments and over 60 add-on acquisitions. His expertise spans sourcing, execution, and portfolio management, making him a valuable asset to the firm. He currently holds positions on the Boards of Directors for:
- AFC Industries
- Applied Adhesives
- Burke
- MSE Supplies, LLC
- NEFCO
Additionally, he actively contributes to Safety Products Global, another current Bertram investment, and has played a pivotal role in managing investments in Flow Control Group and Solo Stove.
Leadership Perspectives
Jeff Drazan, Managing Partner at Bertram Capital, remarked, "Chris's promotion reflects the impact he has had over many years at Bertram. He brings strong judgment, deep transaction experience, and a collaborative mindset to every investment. We are pleased to welcome him to the partnership." This sentiment was echoed by Kevin Yamashita, Partner at Bertram Capital, who praised Mr. Brown's consistent contributions and commitment: "His depth of experience, thoughtful approach, and long-standing commitment to the firm make him well suited for this next step."
Chris Brown's Background
Prior to rejoining Bertram, Mr. Brown gained valuable experience in corporate development at Micron Technology (NASDAQ: MU), where he was involved in M&A transactions, startup and venture investments, and overall corporate strategy. Earlier in his career, he worked at J.P. Morgan within the Syndicated and Leveraged Finance group, focusing on structuring and marketing leveraged loans and high-yield bonds across various industries.
Mr. Brown holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and History from Washington and Lee University and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa as well as the Williams Investment Society.
About Bertram Capital
Founded in 2006, Bertram Capital targets investments in lower middle-market companies and has raised over $4.0 billion in capital commitments. The firm emphasizes strategic growth capital and leverages proprietary processes and services, including Bertram High-5 and Bertram Labs, to help portfolio companies realize their full potential. The High-5 strategy involves:
- Management augmentation
- Operational initiatives
- Complementary acquisitions
- Sales and marketing improvements
- Technology integration
Bertram Labs, an in-house technology team, drives growth through digital marketing, e-commerce, big data analytics, application development, and platform optimization. Bertram Capital V focuses on control investments in business services, consumer, and industrial sectors with EBITDA exceeding $7.5 million, while Bertram Ignite I targets both control and non-control investments with a minimum EBITDA of $3 million.