Middle market private equity firm

Sterling Group

At a glance

Assets under management$9B (as of Oct 2026) S6
Latest fundSterling Group Partners VI, $3.5B (Apr 2024) S5
Check size$50M to $350M S2
Deal typesPlatform, Add-on, Growth S4
SectorsIndustrial & Manufacturing, Distribution, Construction Services, Landscaping, Transportation & Logistics, Environmental & Waste, Auto Services & Collision

What Sterling Group buys

The Sterling Group is a Houston firm, founded in 1982, that buys industrial businesses: manufacturers, distributors, and industrial and business services companies. It manages about $9 billion through two buyout strategies. The flagship middle market funds, most recently a $3.5 billion fund closed in April 2024, look at deals of $100 million to $1 billion and put in $50 million to $350 million of equity. The Foundation Fund, launched in 2023, uses the same approach on lower middle market companies, and its first four deals were all with founder-owned businesses.

Sterling takes majority stakes, works on operations through its own team of executives and a method it calls the Seven Levers, and shares equity with employees. Its platforms keep growing by acquisition. Foundation Fund platforms such as Russell Landscape Group, OGD Overhead Garage Door, AGS American Glass Services, Premier Tire & Service and Compost360 were built to buy smaller local companies, so a smaller owner is most likely to meet Sterling as an add-on to one of them.

Recent deals

Announced in the 24 months before October 19, 2026.

DateCompanyTypeSectorSource
Oct 2026United Window & Door ManufacturingGrowth investment in a New Jersey vinyl window and door maker; the two co-founders keep leading itGrowthIndustrial & ManufacturingSource
Oct 2026Slingmax GroupFoundation Fund buys a maker of lifting slings and rope from River AssociatesPlatformIndustrial & ManufacturingSource
Sep 2026Mark IndustriesChicago-area commercial glazing contractor added to AGS American Glass Services; the owner stays onAdd-onConstruction ServicesSource
Sep 2026Madisonville Garage Doors, Hall's Garage Doors and Compaan Garage DoorsThree founder-owned garage door companies added to OGD Overhead Garage Door in June and August 2026Add-onConstruction ServicesSource
Jul 2026Tangent TechnologiesSold to Platinum Equity; Sterling partnered with the founders in 2018ExitIndustrial & ManufacturingSource
May 2026Asphalt Paving SystemsPavement preservation contractor and asphalt products maker added to Pavement Preservation GroupAdd-onConstruction ServicesSource
May 2026Texas Textile ServicesHouston healthcare linen and laundry provider added to Healthcare Linen Services GroupAdd-onSource
Apr 2026The Scruggs CompaniesFoundation Fund buys a supplier of flow control products and repair services for municipal water systemsPlatformSource
Apr 2026Healthcare Linen Services GroupOutsourced linen services for healthcare facilities, bought from York Private EquityPlatformSource
Feb 2026GAT Airline Ground SupportGround handling, cargo and catering provider at nearly 70 airports added to PrimeFlight Aviation ServicesAdd-onTransportation & LogisticsSource
Jan 2026Holbrook Asphalt and Integrated Pavement SolutionsAdded to Pavement Preservation GroupAdd-onConstruction ServicesSource
Nov 2025Immaculate FlightAircraft appearance services added to PrimeFlightAdd-onTransportation & LogisticsSource
Nov 2025Utz Environmental ServicesAustin commercial landscaper added to Russell Landscape Group, its first Texas operation and fifth deal since 2024Add-onLandscapingSource
Nov 2025ComarRigid packaging maker combined with Precision Concepts InternationalAdd-onIndustrial & ManufacturingSource
Oct 2025Circle C PavingKansas chip and scrub sealing contractor added to Vance Brothers, part of Pavement Preservation GroupAdd-onConstruction ServicesSource
Aug 2025StratAir cargo handling operationsCargo handling at Miami, Richmond and San Juan airports added to PrimeFlightAdd-onTransportation & LogisticsSource
Jul 2025Precision Concepts InternationalMajority stake in a specialty rigid packaging maker bought from ONCAPPlatformIndustrial & ManufacturingSource
Jul 2025AGS American Glass ServicesFoundation Fund commercial glazing platform formed from Omni Glass & Paint and East Moline GlassPlatformConstruction ServicesSource
Jul 2025PowerGrid ServicesUtility repair and maintenance business sold to Apollo fundsExitSource
Jun 2025Artisan Design GroupFlooring and cabinet installer for homebuilders sold to Lowe'sExitSource
May 2025West Star AviationBusiness aviation maintenance provider sold to Greenbriar Equity GroupExitTransportation & LogisticsSource
May 2025Pavement Preservation Group and Vance BrothersTwo pavement preservation companies combined into a new national platformPlatformConstruction ServicesSource
Mar 2025Frontline Road SafetyPavement marking platform sold to Bain CapitalExitConstruction ServicesSource

Portfolio by sector

From the firm's portfolio page S3.

Flagship funds

  • Healthcare Linen Services Group
  • Precision Concepts International
  • United Window & Door Manufacturing
  • Bad Boy Mowers
  • B'laster Holdings
  • Ergotron
  • Fencing Supply Group
  • White Cap (Construction Supply Group)
  • Gulf Winds
  • PrimeFlight Aviation Services
  • L&S Mechanical
  • Pavement Preservation Group

Foundation Fund

  • AGS American Glass Services
  • Compost360
  • OGD Overhead Garage Door
  • Premier Tire & Service
  • Russell Landscape Group
  • Scruggs Company
  • Slingmax Group

Greymont’s take

How Sterling Group fits a seller

Sterling fits two kinds of sellers. Owners of large industrial companies, often family businesses or corporate divisions worth $100 million or more, can sell to its flagship funds. Tangent's founders did this in 2018, and the company more than tripled in size before Sterling sold it in 2026. Owners of smaller service and industrial businesses are more likely to sell into a Foundation Fund platform. OGD's three 2026 add-ons were all founder-owned, and their leaders joined the platform after closing.

Sterling is hands-on. It pairs management with its own operating executives, and at Tangent a Sterling partner spent a year working inside the company. It also gives employees equity or options. Owners should ask whether they are dealing with a flagship fund or the Foundation Fund, what role they will keep, and how employees will share in a later sale.

Questions owners ask

How big are the companies Sterling buys?

For its flagship funds, Sterling lists transaction sizes of $100 million to $1 billion and equity investments of $50 million to $350 million. Its Foundation Fund targets smaller, lower middle market companies but does not publish a size range.

Does Sterling buy auto service or waste businesses?

Yes, through its Foundation Fund. In 2023 it formed Premier Tire & Service to buy independent tire and auto service shops, and Compost360 to build an organic waste recycling and composting business, starting with Nature's Choice in New Jersey.

Does Sterling work with family-owned businesses?

Yes. Sterling says more than 75 percent of its past deals were with family businesses or corporate carve-outs, and its first four Foundation Fund deals were all with founder-owned companies.

Do employees share in the gains when Sterling sells?

Sterling has given equity or options to employees of its portfolio companies since 1982, a practice its founder wrote a book about, and it treats this as central to how it partners with management teams.

Sources

  1. S1The Sterling Group home page Accessed October 19, 2026
  2. S2The Sterling Group: Private Equity Accessed October 19, 2026
  3. S3The Sterling Group: Portfolio Accessed October 19, 2026
  4. S4The Sterling Group: News Accessed October 19, 2026
  5. S5The Sterling Group Raises $3.5 Billion in Oversubscribed Sixth Private Equity Fund (April 22, 2024) Accessed October 19, 2026
  6. S6United Window & Door Mfg. Partners with The Sterling Group (October 12, 2026) Accessed October 19, 2026
  7. S7Sterling Foundation Fund Completes Acquisition of OGD Overhead Garage Door (July 8, 2024) Accessed October 19, 2026
  8. S8The Sterling Group Foundation Fund Launches New Platform, Premier Tire & Service (May 18, 2023) Accessed October 19, 2026
  9. S9The Sterling Group Foundation Fund Launches New Platform, Compost360 (August 2, 2023) Accessed October 19, 2026
  10. S10The Sterling Group Agrees to Sell Tangent Technologies to Platinum Equity (June 23, 2026) Accessed October 19, 2026
  11. S11The Sterling Group's OGD Overhead Garage Door Completes Three Add-On Acquisitions (September 9, 2026) Accessed October 19, 2026

Compiled by Greymont Advisors from public sources, including the firm’s own website and press releases. Greymont is not affiliated with Sterling Group. Figures are as reported on the dates shown and may have changed. Request a correction

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