Non-traded private equity company for individual investors
CNL Strategic Capital
- HeadquartersOrlando, FL S5
- Founded2018 S7
- Websitecnlstrategiccapital.com
- Last verifiedOctober 20, 2026
At a glance
| Assets under management | $1.6B (as of Jun 2026) S4 |
|---|---|
| Revenue range | $15M to $250M S2 |
| Deal types | Platform, Add-on S2 |
| Sectors | Industrial & Manufacturing, Accounting & Professional Services, Landscaping |
What CNL Strategic Capital buys
CNL Strategic Capital is a company sold to individual investors through financial advisors. It buys and holds stakes in established US middle market businesses. It is managed by an affiliate of CNL Financial Group of Orlando, and an affiliate of private equity firm Levine Leichtman Capital Partners finds and oversees the deals as sub-manager. When it buys directly it usually takes control and pairs its equity with a loan to the company. The businesses it owns tend to have $15 million to $250 million of annual revenue, and it stays away from startups, turnarounds and distressed companies.
At June 30, 2026 it held 18 companies and about $1.6 billion of total assets, in fields such as lawn care franchising, retirement plan administration, legal and economic consulting, visual safety products and engineered parts. Its companies average 44 years in business. Its most recent direct deal was IFPG in 2025, a $113.5 million purchase. It also takes small stakes alongside Levine Leichtman funds, and its companies have made more than 55 add-ons, which is the likeliest route for a smaller business.
Recent deals
Announced in the 24 months before October 20, 2026.
| Date | Company | Type | Sector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | USA Industries$5 million co-investment alongside Levine Leichtman Capital Partners VII in a Houston maker of industrial flow control and testing products | Minority | Industrial & Manufacturing | Source |
| Jul 2025 | International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG)17th portfolio company, a New Jersey member network for franchise consultants, bought for about $113.5 million | Platform | Accounting & Professional Services | Source |
Portfolio by sector
From the firm's portfolio page S3.
Commercial and Professional Services
- Lawn Doctor
- USA Water Active (co-investment)
Engineered Products
- Milton Industries Active (co-investment)
- Vektek
- USA Industries Active (co-investment)
Franchise Consulting Services
- International Franchise Professionals Group (IFPG)
Healthcare Supplies
- Healthcare Safety Holdings (Ultimed)
- TacMed Solutions
Hobby Goods and Supplies
- Polyform
Information Services and Advisory Solutions
- Auriemma U.S. Roundtables
Insurance Services
- Sill Public Adjusters
Legal Services
- Resolution Economics Active (co-investment)
Real Estate Services
- ATA National Title Group
Retirement Plan Services
- Blue Ridge ESOP Associates Active (co-investment)
- Madison Retirement (MAP)
Visual Safety Solutions
- Clarion Safety Systems
Greymont’s take
How CNL Strategic Capital fits a seller
CNL Strategic Capital suits owners of long-established, steady businesses who want to sell control but keep a real stake and keep running the company. It says owners usually sell to it because they want to retire or take money off the table, or because a parent company wants to spin off a division. Management teams in its portfolio own about 18% of their companies on average, so a sale here usually means rolling part of the proceeds back in.
It has owned Lawn Doctor and Polyform since its first day of operations in February 2018, which points to a patient holder. Owners should ask whether their deal would be a direct CNL purchase or a co-investment led by a Levine Leichtman fund, since Levine Leichtman sources and runs the deals either way, and what the loan that usually comes with CNL's equity will cost the business each year.
Questions owners ask
What size companies does CNL Strategic Capital buy?
Its portfolio page says the companies it owns tend to have annual revenue between $15 million and $250 million. Initial investments listed in its June 2026 portfolio overview range from $5 million to $113.5 million.
Who runs CNL Strategic Capital's deals?
It is managed by CNL Strategic Capital Management, an affiliate of CNL Financial Group, and sub-managed by Levine Leichtman Strategic Capital, an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, which sources and screens the investment opportunities.
Does CNL Strategic Capital buy controlling stakes?
Yes, in its direct deals. It seeks controlling ownership alongside management, such as its 91% stake in IFPG bought in 2025. It also takes small co-investment stakes, from 3% to 15%, in companies that Levine Leichtman funds acquire.
Sources
- S1CNL Strategic Capital home page Accessed October 20, 2026
- S2CNL Strategic Capital: Portfolio (criteria and portfolio FAQs) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S3CNL Strategic Capital Portfolio Overview Q2 2026 (data as of June 30, 2026) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S4CNL Strategic Capital Announces Operating Results for Second Quarter 2026 (August 7, 2026) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S5CNL Strategic Capital Grows its Portfolio with Investment in Seventeenth Company (July 7, 2025) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S6CNL Strategic Capital case study: USA Industries (acquisition date December 11, 2025) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S7CNL Strategic Capital Announces Year-End 2018 Operating Results (March 21, 2019) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S8CNL Strategic Capital News (acquisition releases 2019 to 2025) Accessed October 20, 2026
- S9CNL Strategic Capital: Strategy 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 CNL Strategic Capital. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction