Chicago-based business services firm Sikich has secured a minority stake worth $250 million from Bain Capital. The investment, which is structured as preferred equity, will be used to fund the company’s expansion plans and marks the first outside investment in the company since its founding in 1982. Sikich’s Chief Executive, Christopher Geier, stated that the company has reached an “inflection point” in its growth and that Bain’s involvement will help take the next steps in its development.
With more than 2,000 employees operating across the U.S. and internationally, Sikich offers services such as auditing, managing employee programs, and succession planning. The valuation of Sikich following the investment was not disclosed.
Bain Capital Special Situations’ partner, Cristian Jitianu, highlighted Sikich’s success in gaining market share in a fragmented market. Despite a decrease in large leveraged buyout volumes in recent years, growth equity investments by private equity firms have remained at healthy levels, according to a report from data provider PitchBook. This trend suggests that businesses like Sikich, with strong growth potential, continue to attract investment interest.