Independent sponsor
CHIEF Capital (Chartwell Investments)
- HeadquartersNew York, NY S4
- Founded1992 S5
- Websitechartwellinvestments.com
- Last verifiedNovember 2, 2026
At a glance
| EBITDA range | $3M to $20M S2 |
|---|---|
| Revenue range | $10M to $100M S2 |
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on, Minority, Growth S2 |
| Geography | United States, Canada S2 |
| Sectors | Auto Services & Collision, Transportation & Logistics, Industrial & Manufacturing, Software & SaaS |
What CHIEF Capital (Chartwell Investments) buys
CHIEF Capital is the trading name of Chartwell Investments Entrepreneur & Founder Capital, a New York independent sponsor that Michael Shein co-founded in 1992. It has no committed fund. It raises the money for each company separately, often with junior capital partners such as Backcast Partners, and says it can hold for 10 years or more. Its main strategy looks for niche US and Canadian companies with $10 million to $100 million or more of revenue, $3 million to $20 million or more of EBITDA and margins of at least 10 percent.
It will do a recapitalization, a control buyout, a growth investment, a carve-out or a significant minority stake. A second strategy, CHIEF Micro Cap, targets founder-owned businesses with $1 million to $3 million of EBITDA. Its busiest holding is Guardian Fleet Services, a towing and recovery group that has added more than ten local towing companies since late 2024, so a small towing operator is most likely to meet CHIEF as a Guardian affiliate.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before November 2, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | Guardian Fleet ServicesBackcast Partners made a follow-on debt and equity investment to fund Guardian's new towing affiliations, alongside CHIEF as lead investor | Investment | Auto Services & Collision | Source |
| Apr 2026 | Suburban Towing, Mosby's Towing & Transport, Pro-Tow, Chub's Towing, B&W Tire and Towing, Talon TowingSix towing companies in the Columbus, Dallas, Sarasota and Louisville markets joined Guardian Fleet Services as affiliates and kept their local brands | Add-on | Auto Services & Collision | Source |
| Jun 2025 | Howard's Wrecker ServiceFamily-owned Smyrna, Georgia towing company founded in 1971 merged into Guardian Fleet Services; the owner stays on as president | Add-on | Auto Services & Collision | Source |
| Apr 2025 | West Nashville Wrecker Service and Dad's Towing ServiceSister towing companies that gave Guardian Fleet Services its first Tennessee market | Add-on | Auto Services & Collision | Source |
| Jan 2025 | Texas Auto CarriersSan Antonio towing, heavy hauling and auto transport company founded in 1984, bought with affiliates Ironcat and Wheelcat Logistics; the owners move to advisory roles | Add-on | Auto Services & Collision | Source |
| Dec 2024 | Isaacs Wrecker ServiceTyler, Texas towing and specialized transport company added to Guardian Fleet Services; the founder stays as Texas vice president | Add-on | Auto Services & Collision | Source |
| Dec 2024 | World Water WorksGrowth investment in the Oklahoma City maker of water and wastewater treatment systems, with Backcast Partners and Source Capital | Growth | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S3.
Medical Technology & Equipment
- Rohrer Aesthetics (Blue Ocean Aesthetics Holdings)
Niche Industrial Manufacturing
- Pinnacle Processes (Effox-Flextor-Mader and General Rubber)
- PPC Industries
Retail Software
- Datascan (Contract Datascan Holdings)
Sports & Entertainment
- Richard Childress Racing
Transportation & Logistics
- Guardian Fleet Services
Water Infrastructure
- World Water Works
Past investments: RQM+, TTG Imaging Solutions, Idaho Timber, Petro Stopping Centers, SunPark, Keen Energy
Greymont’s take
How CHIEF Capital (Chartwell Investments) fits a seller
CHIEF suits a founder who wants a partner without a fund deadline. It can take a minority or majority stake, and it says a hold can run past 10 years because each company is financed on its own. For towing and recovery owners it is an active buyer through Guardian Fleet Services, which lets affiliates keep their local names, staff and culture, and has kept sellers in leadership jobs: Keith Isaacs became Guardian's Texas vice president and Phil Howard stayed as president of Howard's.
Because CHIEF raises money deal by deal, part of the capital behind an offer may come from lenders and preferred equity partners such as Backcast Partners. An owner should ask who is funding the purchase, how much debt the company will carry afterwards, and what a long hold really means if a co-investor wants its money back sooner.
Questions owners ask
What size company does CHIEF Capital look for?
Its main strategy targets companies with $10 million to $100 million or more of revenue, $3 million to $20 million or more of EBITDA and margins of 10 percent or more. Its CHIEF Micro Cap strategy looks at businesses with $1 million to $3 million of EBITDA and $5 million to $30 million of revenue.
Does CHIEF Capital buy towing companies?
Yes, through Guardian Fleet Services, a West Palm Beach towing, recovery and specialized transportation group it has backed since February 2023. Guardian added Isaacs Wrecker, Texas Auto Carriers, West Nashville Wrecker, Dad's Towing, Howard's Wrecker and six more towing affiliates between December 2024 and April 2026.
Does CHIEF Capital invest from a fund?
Its site does not describe a committed fund. It finances each company on a stand-alone basis with outside partners: Backcast Partners provided senior debt and preferred equity for the Guardian investment, and Source Capital joined the World Water Works deal.
Will CHIEF Capital take a minority stake?
Yes. Its listed transaction types include significant minority investments and growth investments, alongside recapitalizations, control acquisitions, generational liquidity deals and corporate carve-outs, with each structure set to fit the owner's goals.
Sources
- S1CHIEF Capital home page Accessed November 2, 2026
- S2CHIEF Capital: Approach Accessed November 2, 2026
- S3CHIEF Capital: Portfolio Accessed November 2, 2026
- S4CHIEF Capital: News & Updates Accessed November 2, 2026
- S5CHIEF Capital: Team Accessed November 2, 2026
- S6CHIEF Capital: CHIEF Micro Cap strategy Accessed November 2, 2026
- S7World Water Works Secures Growth Investment From CHIEF Capital (December 3, 2024) Accessed November 2, 2026
- S8Backcast Partners Makes Follow-On Investment in Guardian Fleet Services (PR Newswire, June 3, 2026) Accessed November 2, 2026
- S9Guardian Fleet Services Expands Towing and Transportation Network With Six Strategic Affiliations (April 9, 2026) Accessed November 2, 2026
Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with CHIEF Capital (Chartwell Investments). Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction