Private Equity · Profile from Private Equity Research Companion
Berkshire Partners (1984 – present)
Boston-based private equity firm known for a low-profile, partnership-driven culture, long-term partnerships with management teams, and deep sector work in consumer, industrials, business services, healthcare, and communications/infrastructure. Signature outcomes include Advanced Drainage Systems (22-year hold), Carter's, Amscan/Party City, Husky, Lightower (sold to Crown Castle for ~$7.1bn), and SRS Distribution (sold to Home Depot for ~$18.25bn). Berkshire's most recent flagship, Fund XI, closed at ~$7.8bn — its largest ever.
9 deals and moves analysed
Each one gets a full strategy file in the companion: context, the decision, the financing, what happened, and the lesson.
1988
Advanced Drainage Systems
Management Recapitalisation and 22-Year Partnership
1994
Crown Castle
Founding Investment in a Tower Company
2001
Carters
Secondary Buyout of a Children's Apparel Brand
2004
Amscan Party City
Vertically Integrated Party-Goods Roll-Up
2005
Electro Motive Diesel
Carve-Out from General Motors
2007
Lightower
Fiber Infrastructure Buy-and-Build
2011
Husky Injection Molding
Secondary Buyout with OMERS
2013
SRS Distribution
Roofing Distribution Roll-Up
2014
Portillos
Founder Sale of a Regional Restaurant Icon