Hyde Park Capital Research
Advisory Approach
Hyde Park Capital Partners is a boutique middle-market investment bank founded in 2000 with deep expertise in mergers and acquisitions advisory, capital raising, and strategic financial advisory services. The firm operates with a distinctive thesis-driven approach to M&A: success comes from combining senior-level attention with deep buyer relationships and disciplined process management. Their sweet spot is founder-owned and family-controlled middle-market businesses across healthcare, technology, industrials, and business services sectors, where operational complexity and growth potential create unique valuation dynamics.
The firm is known for its hands-on, confidential approach to sale processes, with senior bankers managing client relationships from initial engagement through closing. They emphasize transparent market insight, rigorous buyer outreach, and deal structuring that aligns with clients' long-term strategic goals—whether pursuing full liquidity, majority recapitalizations, or minority equity rollovers.
Sector Focus
Hyde Park Capital maintains active practices across six primary industry verticals. In healthcare, they advise physician practice management groups, ambulatory surgery centers, dental practices, and specialty healthcare service providers on M&A, recapitalizations, and platform roll-ups. The healthcare practice has been particularly active, with recent deals including Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (Evolve Orthopedic Partners partnership), New York Spine & Wellness Center, and Specialists' One-Day Surgery—demonstrating deep expertise in consolidation plays.
In technology and business services, the firm advises software companies, fintech platforms, IT services and MSP firms, and tech-enabled consulting groups. Recent activity includes the acquisition of CAVU Capital's technology banking business by Hyde Park Capital, bringing additional expertise in software and technology transactions. Within industrials, they serve manufacturers, industrial service providers, and distribution companies on buy-and-build strategies and strategic exits. The consumer and financial services practices cover food & beverage producers, retail brands, staffing firms, and financial advisory businesses.
Across all sectors, the firm brings operational insight and buyer network depth. Many senior bankers have held previous roles as CFOs, board members, or operational leaders, which informs their strategic advisory work. They maintain particularly strong relationships with lower-middle-market private equity firms (Incline Equity Partners, Clearlake Capital, Shoreline Equity Partners, Genstar Capital, Lindsay Goldberg) and strategic acquirers across all industries.
Process & Fee Structure
Hyde Park Capital's sell-side process emphasizes four core stages: strategic planning and positioning, targeted buyer outreach, rigorous due diligence management, and negotiation and closing support. The firm conducts simultaneous outreach to both strategic and financial buyers to maximize price and optionality. They prepare comprehensive positioning materials, data room documentation, and management presentations designed to surface outlier pricing. Deal timelines typically range from 6-12 months depending on client readiness and market conditions.
While specific fee structures are not published, the firm operates on market-standard modified Lehman/double Lehman fee models common in middle-market advisory, with typical retainers that are credited against success fees. Minimum engagement sizes generally start at $10M-$15M TEV. The firm also offers fairness opinions, capital raising advisory (debt and equity placements), and infrastructure finance services.
Buyer Network & Relationship Strength
Hyde Park Capital has built deep relationships across the private equity ecosystem. Their recent deal activity demonstrates consistent access to top-tier lower-middle-market PE sponsors. Notable PE buyers in recent transactions include Incline Equity Partners (CIMA Animal Health/Infiniti Medical acquisition), Clearlake Capital Group (PrimeSource Brands/Harney Hardware), Shoreline Equity Partners (St. Armands Baking/Engelman's acquisition), Genstar Capital, Lindsay Goldberg, and Sunstone Partners. Strategic acquirers in their deal flow include LSI Industries, CoachCare, and industry-specific platforms. The firm also executes deals with family offices and management-led groups.
Their deal track record shows approximately 300+ completed transactions totaling $11+ billion in aggregate enterprise value since 2000, with particularly strong activity over the past 18-24 months. The median deal size appears to be in the $15M-$75M TEV range, with some transactions exceeding $250M.
Competitive Positioning
Hyde Park Capital differentiates through three primary dimensions: senior banker engagement (not delegating to junior staff), deep operational and financial acumen (former CFOs and operators on the team), and extensive buyer relationships built through 26 years of market presence. They have earned multiple industry recognitions, including the 2025 Leading Investment Bank Award (Southeast USA), Deal of the Year awards at the M&A Advisor and M&A Atlas awards, and recognition by Axial as a Top 100 lower-middle-market advisor.
The firm is FINRA-registered (member of FINRA and SIPC via Hyde Park Capital Advisors, LLC, CRD# 104271), operates from three offices (Tampa HQ, Nashville, San Francisco), and maintains a team of approximately 50-60 professionals including eight Managing Directors, multiple Senior Vice Presidents, and specialized coverage and support functions.
Not a Fit If
Hyde Park Capital typically declines engagements below $10M-$15M TEV, distressed asset sales (they focus on going-concern enterprises with sustainable cash flows), situations requiring rapid liquidation timelines (their process requires 6-12 months), or clients seeking a passive advisory relationship (they require active engagement and collaboration with management).
Team
The firm is led by John H. Hill Jr., Managing Partner and Co-Founder, who brings over 30 years of M&A and investment banking experience, including leadership roles at Raymond James and Morgan Stanley. John previously established Raymond James' Technology Investment Banking Group and holds FINRA Series 7, 24, and 63 licenses. He has executed hundreds of transactions totaling $10B+.
Key Managing Directors include Michael Johnson (former co-founder of CAVU Capital), Craig Lawson, Chris Fieschko, Lew Thomas, T.J. Wallace, John Christmas, Matt Gladdish, and Henry Gonzalez III. Director-level bankers include Josh Paul, Senior Vice Presidents include Luke Horanski and Joe Pennington. The team also includes Director of Financial Sponsor Coverage Alexa Hill, supporting PE relationships.
Recognition & Awards
Recent honors include: Named 2025 Leading Investment Bank in the Southeast USA; M&A Deal of the Year awards at the 2025 M&A Atlas Awards; Winner of two awards at the 24th Annual M&A Advisor Awards including USA Healthcare Deal of the Year and USA Growth Investment Deal of the Year; Named 2025 Best Places to Work honoree; Recognized by Axial as Top 100 Lower-Middle-Market Advisors. Managing Partner John Hill Jr. was named Boutique Investment Banker of the Year (2023 M&A Atlas Awards).
Geographic Coverage
Primary market coverage across the United States with particular strength in the Southeast, Midwest, California, and Texas. Office locations in Tampa (HQ), Nashville, and San Francisco enable both regional depth and national reach. Member of Geneva Capital Group and GGI (Global Alliance of Independent Professional Firms), providing international M&A capability.