2025 was a year of team growth and portfolio expansion for Shorehill Capital LLC (“Shorehill”). We added three professionals across business development and the investment team, completed three strategic acquisitions at Ascent Lifting, and were recognized by Inc. magazine for the seventh consecutive year. As Business Builders, we prioritize helping businesses prosper by assembling strong management teams, instilling a culture of continuous improvement, and developing paths to above market growth.

 

Building Out The Shorehill Team

 

Ascent Lifting: The Acquiror Of Choice In Rigging Solutions

Ascent Lifting completed three strategic acquisitions that significantly expand its geographic reach and capabilities in the lifting and rigging distribution market.

 

• In February, Ascent welcomed Charleston’s Rigging & Marine Hardware, establishing a full-service presence in South Carolina.
• Growth accelerated in October with the additions of Brevard Rigging Supply in Florida and Hoisting Wire Rope and Sling in Texas.

These investments successfully extend Ascent’s geographic reach and technical expertise, reinforcing its position as a premier, nationwide provider of lifting and rigging solutions.

 

Seven Years Of Trusted Partnerships

Shorehill Capital is very pleased to announce our seventh consecutive inclusion in Inc. magazine’s list of top Founder-Friendly Investors¹. This recognition celebrates private equity firms that consistently support founder-led businesses. Shorehill is especially honored to be the only firm in Chicago to have earned a place on Inc’s list every year since its inception.

 

Colin Winchester Is Shorehill’s 2025 Salmon Bear Winner

The 2025 Salmon Bear Award was given to Colin Winchester. Unlike a circus bear, an Alaskan Brown Bear must hunt salmon to survive. Success requires focus, innovation, and relentlessness. This is also true in private equity.

 

Once Colin joined Shorehill in March, he immediately added value to the firm. For example, he spent over three weeks at the Estex headquarters assisting the team in completing several key projects.

 

Selected Portfolio Company Highlights

Ascent Lifting

• Hired three senior leaders in operations, finance, and wholesale.
• Implemented a new ERP system for the wholesale division.
• Secured several high-profile wins, including the construction of an MLB stadium.

Estex Manufacturing

• Added three key leaders across the business and enhanced sales staff.
• Launched a new website.

Flexpak

• Surpassed $100 million of revenues in the Utah market.
• Transitioned all acquired divisions to the Flexpak brand.
• Hired new leadership for the Colorado division.

Triad Technologies

• Promoted Jeff Knaus to VP of Sales.
• Enhanced its go-to-market strategy by establishing a product management group to support sales.
• Expanded its presence in Chicagoland, opening a new facility.

 

Our Investment Criteria

• Sector focus: engineered industrial products, industrial services, and value-added distribution.
• Size: platforms with enterprise values of $20 million to $150 million, and add-ons of any size.
• Target attributes: growing, fragmented markets; critical components and services; complex customer relationships; margins that reflect value-add.
• Strategies: buy and build, revitalize growth, and operational improvement.

Please reach out to Rob Hogan with any investment opportunities you believe fit with our strategy and approach. You can also read more on our investment criteria page.

 

About Shorehill Capital LLC

Shorehill Capital LLC is a Chicago-based private equity firm with a passion for creating superior companies. Shorehill is focused on making control equity investments in North American engineered industrial products, industrial services, and value-added distribution companies with enterprise values ranging from $20 million to $150 million, and add-ons of any size. Shorehill seeks opportunities with differentiated business models where its experience, network and investment management approach can have a significant impact on the performance of the business. For more than 30 years Shorehill’s partners have worked with middle market business leaders to accelerate growth and improve operational performance through structured investment management plans.

¹ Shorehill was recognized by Inc. Media as a founder-friendly investor over multiple years. As part of the qualification process, Inc. Media contacted past and present founders from Shorehill’s investment portfolio to ask them about their experience partnering with Shorehill. Shorehill was one of multiple firms to receive this recognition. This rating may not be representative of any investor’s experience and is not indicative of any future performance. In 2025, Shorehill paid Inc. Media $2,590 for its application and $2,495 to use Inc’s Founder Friendly logo. Since investment advisers pay Inc. Media to apply for the recognition and to use the logo each year, Inc. Media has an incentive to offer recognition to investment advisers, creating a material conflict of interest. Inc. Media is not an investor in any Shorehill funds.