NEW CANAAN, CT, March 13, 2025 – Gridiron Capital, LLC (“Gridiron Capital”), an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, is proud to announce that it has been ranked the #1 Mid-Market Buyout firm on the 2024 HEC Paris-Dow Jones Performance Ranking. Since the inception of this ranking, Gridiron has consistently been recognized as one of the top two firms globally for four consecutive years.
The ranking evaluates mid-market private equity firms globally based on the aggregate performance of their buyout funds raised between 2011 and 2020. This year’s data analyzed performance from 649 private equity firms and the 2,662 funds raised between 2011 and 2020 with an aggregate equity volume of $2.29 trillion. This analysis conducted by HEC Paris Professor Oliver Gottschalg employs a unique methodology to calculate each firm’s overall performance, factoring in both relative and absolute returns, as well as aggregate performance across vintage years.
“We are deeply honored to once again be recognized as the #1 mid-market buyout fund globally,” said Tom Burger, Managing Partner. “This prestigious achievement is a testament to the relentless dedication and exceptional efforts of the entire Gridiron team and our portfolio companies. While we take pride in our past accomplishments, our focus remains on getting better every day and delivering outstanding performance for our Limited Partners and their constituents.”
Kevin Jackson, Managing Partner at Gridiron Capital, added, “Gridiron’s 20-year history has been defined by innovation, resilience, and a steadfast commitment to a shared strategic vision with our portfolio company management teams. This recognition by HEC Paris-Dow Jones underscores the strength of our team and the enduring partnerships we’ve built with our investors and portfolio companies. We remain focused on continuing Gridiron’s legacy of excellence and pushing new boundaries in the industry.”
About Gridiron Capital
Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in consumer products & services, industrial growth, and business services segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firm’s website: www.gridironcapital.com.
About HEC Paris
Founded in 1881, HEC Paris is a leading European Business School. Its ambition is to positively impact both businesses and society thanks to its three-pronged approach “Think, Teach, Act” and thus to contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous world. With 178 research professors from all around the world producing and teaching unique knowledge to more than 4,500 students from 135 different countries, the HEC Paris campus serves as a real laboratory for innovation and exchange which is open to the world’s diversity and challenges. Inspired by its 5 core values – Excellence, Curiosity, Entrepreneurial spirit, Diversity and Responsibility – HEC Paris offers a complete range of training courses for the leaders of tomorrow: the Bachelor, the Pre-Experience Program, specialized masters, MSc, the Summer School, the MBA, the Executive MBA, the TRIUM Global Executive MBA, the PhD, as well as a wide variety of programs targeted to leaders and managers.
Click here to read the full press release on the 2024 Rankings from HEC Paris-Dow Jones.
Disclaimer
The 2024 Mid-Market HEC-Dow Jones Private Equity Performance Ranking, published on March 6, 2025, ranks private equity funds in terms of aggregate performance based on buyout funds raised between 2011 and 2020. Gridiron did not pay to promote this recognition and provided information to HEC-Dow Jones upon request to inform the HEC-Dow Jones Ranking. In total, HEC Paris Professor Oliver Gottschalg analyzed performance data from 649 PE firms and the 2,662 funds they raised between 2011 and 2020 with an aggregate equity volume of $2.29 trillion. The HEC-Dow Jones Ranking should not be considered an endorsement of Gridiron Capital or its funds by the authors or distributors of the ranking.