Private equity firm (United States, Latin America and Europe)
ACON Investments
- HeadquartersWashington, DC S2
- Founded1996 S2
- Websiteaconinvestments.com
- Last verifiedOctober 20, 2026
At a glance
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on S1 |
|---|---|
| Geography | United States, Latin America, Europe S2 |
| Sectors | Consumer & Food, Industrial & Manufacturing, Construction Services |
What ACON Investments buys
ACON Investments is a Washington, D.C. private equity firm founded in 1996. It runs separate teams and funds for the United States, Latin America and Southern Europe, and says it has managed about $7.3 billion since it began, across 88 platform investments and 142 add-on acquisitions. Its core industries are consumer, industrials and business services. It looks for companies at a turning point: brands that need repositioning, fragmented industries that can be consolidated, divisions being carved out of larger companies, and family-owned businesses taking outside capital for the first time.
In the US, ACON usually buys a controlling stake and often brings in co-investors or an industry partner, such as the candy maker Fini in the June 2026 YumEarth deal and SB360 Capital Partners in the January 2025 True Religion deal. YumEarth was the first deal for the new ACON Evolution Fund, which targets consumer and industrial companies. ACON does not publish revenue or EBITDA ranges. A smaller company might meet ACON as an add-on to a platform such as Diverzify, its commercial flooring and facility services business.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before October 20, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | YumEarthControlling stake in an organic, allergy-friendly candy brand; first deal for the ACON Evolution Fund, with Fini as industry partner | Platform | Consumer & Food | Source |
| Aug 2025 | Amfora PackagingAgreed sale of the Colombian cosmetics packaging maker, formed by ACON in 2015, to Albéa | Exit | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Apr 2025 | Kept CompaniesMobile power washing, fleet washing and facility maintenance company sold to DFW Capital Partners after more than 30 add-ons | Exit | Source | |
| Feb 2025 | VitalisColombian injectable drug maker sold to Laboratorios Sanfer | Exit | Source | |
| Jan 2025 | KiSaborAgreement to invest in a Brazilian maker of branded sauces, spices and other packaged foods | Platform | Consumer & Food | Source |
| Jan 2025 | True ReligionControlling stake in the denim and apparel brand, alongside SB360 Capital Partners; the CEO keeps a significant minority stake | Platform | Consumer & Food | Source |
| Nov 2024 | CommandoInvestment in a Mexican boutique fitness studio chain | Investment | Consumer & Food | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S4.
Business Services
- Diverzify
- Spectra Contract Flooring
- Pine Environmental Services
Consumer
- YumEarth
- True Religion
- FTI
- Atlantic Sustainable Catch
- New Era
- Beauty by Imagination
- Goody
- WetBrush
- BioIonic
- Ouidad
Industrials
- NOVIPAX
- SUZOHAPP
Other
- Dignity & Wellness Patient Solutions
Greymont’s take
How ACON Investments fits a seller
ACON fits the owner of a consumer brand, a commercial services company or a niche manufacturer who is ready to sell control and wants a buyer that is comfortable with complicated situations, such as a family business taking outside money for the first time or a division being carved out of a larger company. It usually backs the existing management team. In the True Religion deal, the CEO stayed on and kept a significant minority stake.
ACON is also patient with add-on strategies. Kept Companies, its fleet washing and facility maintenance business, made more than 30 add-on acquisitions before ACON sold it to DFW Capital Partners in April 2025. Owners should ask which ACON fund would make the investment, how much of the price would come as cash and how much as rolled equity, and whether a co-investor or industry partner would also own part of the company.
Questions owners ask
Does ACON only invest in the United States?
No. ACON runs separate teams and funds for the United States, Latin America and Southern Europe. Its Latin American funds have invested in 44 companies across 10 countries, while its US team focuses on consumer, industrial and business services companies.
What kinds of situations does ACON look for?
It looks for companies at a turning point: brands that can be repositioned, industries that can be consolidated, corporate carve-outs, and family-owned businesses raising institutional capital for the first time. YumEarth in 2026 and True Religion in 2025 are recent US consumer brand examples.
Does ACON make add-on acquisitions?
Yes. It reports 142 add-on acquisitions since 1996. Kept Companies, a mobile power washing and facility maintenance business, completed more than 30 add-ons under ACON before it was sold in April 2025.
Sources
- S1ACON Investments home page Accessed October 20, 2026
- S2ACON Investments: About Accessed October 20, 2026
- S3ACON Investments: Platforms Accessed October 20, 2026
- S4ACON Investments: Portfolio Accessed October 20, 2026
- S5ACON Investments: News Accessed October 20, 2026
- S6ACON Investments Acquires Better-For-You Confectionery Company, YumEarth (June 30, 2026) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S7ACON Investments Exits Kept Companies to DFW Capital Partners (April 2025) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S8ACON Investments Acquires True Religion (January 7, 2025) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S9ACON Investments Announces Sale of Amfora (August 1, 2025) Accessed October 20, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with ACON Investments. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction