NextGen Capital Research
Advisory Approach
NextGen Capital is a privately held investment bank, multi-family office, and private capital investment firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with regional offices in Los Angeles, California and Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 2012 by John Cary, the firm operates with a clear thesis: that entrepreneurs and majority shareholders require independent, unbiased financial counsel that addresses their unique needs across transactions, wealth accumulation, transfers, and preservation.
The firm's professionals average over 20 years of investment banking and capital markets experience, bringing senior-level attention throughout every project. NextGen's investment banking professionals have closed over 200 transactions and financings—both domestic and cross-border—leveraging an extensive network of relationships to find, assess, and evaluate new opportunities whether buying, selling, or forming strategic partnerships.
Sector Focus
NextGen Capital maintains broad sector expertise with particular depth in manufacturing, industrial services, building products, and consumer goods. The manufacturing practice encompasses both discrete and process manufacturing, with demonstrated experience in forest products, paper and packaging, metal fabrication, precision machining, and building materials. Within industrial services, the firm has advised on numerous transactions in distribution and logistics, construction and engineering, and environmental services.
The consumer products practice includes food processing, particularly confectionery manufacturing, as evidenced by the landmark sale of Elmer Chocolate to Hoffmann Family of Companies in 2025. The healthcare services practice covers physician practice management groups and behavioral health platforms, while the technology practice focuses on software and information services.
Deal Track Record
NextGen Capital has completed over 200 transactions since its founding, with 8 closed deals specifically documented on Axial spanning 2013-2025. Recent transactions include:
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Elmer Candy Corporation (consumer_products): Sale to Hoffmann Family of Companies, a family equity firm (July 2025). Elmer is one of the nation's leading seasonal chocolatiers and the largest manufacturer of small heart-shaped chocolate boxes in the United States, producing over 40 million Valentine's chocolates annually.
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Statewide Roofing, Inc. (construction_engineering): Sale to Point 41 Capital Partners LLC (January 2025).
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Brake Supply, Inc. (distribution_logistics): Sale to H-E Parts International (December 2024). Brake Supply is a construction and mining machinery equipment distributor.
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The Wonder Project, Inc. (software_saas): Secured investment from anonymous investors (December 2023). The Wonder Project is an independent film and TV production studio focused on values-based programming.
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Eden-Valders Stone (construction_engineering): Sale to Tricor Pacific Capital, Inc. (June 2023).
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US Floors, Inc. (construction_engineering): Sale to Shaw Industries Group, Inc. (December 2016).
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WinDoor, Inc. (construction_engineering): Sale to PGT, Inc. (February 2016).
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Stinger Medical (healthcare_products): Sale to Riverside Partners (July 2013).
The firm's self-reported transaction count of 200+ engagements indicates significant deal activity beyond these publicly documented transactions, suggesting a robust practice particularly in manufacturing, industrial services, and building products sectors.
Process & Fee Structure
NextGen Capital runs institutional-quality sell-side processes with senior banker involvement throughout. The firm's approach emphasizes exhaustive buyer outreach combined with institutional-quality process management. While specific fee structure details are not publicly disclosed on their website, the firm likely employs market-standard success fee arrangements typical of lower middle market investment banks, which commonly use modified Lehman or similar percentage-based structures on total enterprise value.
The firm requires exclusivity and typically engages with businesses in the $15M-$250M enterprise value range. Their process includes comprehensive buyer outreach, quality of earnings support, and structured transaction management.
Buyer Network
NextGen Capital maintains relationships with private equity firms, strategic buyers, and family offices across multiple sectors. The firm's deal history demonstrates successful closings with:
Private Equity Buyers: Hoffmann Family of Companies, Point 41 Capital Partners, H-E Parts International, Tricor Pacific Capital, Riverside Partners, Avem Partners
Strategic Buyers: Shaw Industries Group, PGT Industries, True West Capital Partners
The firm shows particular strength in private equity transactions, with 7 documented PE deals versus 1 strategic deal. The buyer network spans family offices, lower middle market private equity firms, and strategic acquirers in manufacturing, building products, healthcare, and industrial services.
Competitive Positioning
NextGen Capital differentiates through several key attributes:
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Multi-family office capability: Unlike pure investment banks, NextGen combines M&A advisory with family office services, allowing for integrated wealth management and transaction advisory.
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Senior banker attention: All professionals average 20+ years of experience, with senior-level involvement throughout every project rather than junior associate-led execution.
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Cross-border expertise: The firm has completed both domestic and cross-border transactions, providing access to international buyers.
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Industry operational experience: Several senior bankers, including Bruce Manchester and Michael Richards, have deep sector-specific expertise in industrials, real estate, and financial restructuring.
Not a Fit If
Based on the firm's positioning and transaction history, NextGen Capital typically declines:
- Businesses below $10M-$15M TEV
- Pure asset sales without going-concern operations
- Founders seeking limited buyer outreach (the firm's value is in comprehensive processes)
Team
The firm is led by six senior professionals:
John Cary – Senior Managing Director, CEO and Chief Compliance Officer of NextGen Capital Markets LLC. Founded NextGen Capital in 2012. Previously served as Managing Director at McGladrey Capital Markets LLC. Holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 24 licenses. Over 20 years of experience advising on transactions for ultra-high net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.
Tyler Miller – Executive Director and co-founder. Brings 30 years of corporate finance, capital markets, and private wealth management experience. Previously at Kinetic Advisors and McGladrey Capital Markets. Earlier career at Wells Fargo Bank (structured debt capital for leveraged buyouts) and Fidelity Investments. Holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses.
Bruce Manchester – Managing Director. Joined in 2014 with 20+ years of investment banking and cross-border M&A experience. Previously Managing Director at D.A. Davidson & Co. in the Basic Industries Group and Managing Director at McGladrey Capital Markets. Also served as Managing Director in the Natural Resources Group at Banc of America Securities. Holds FINRA Series 7, 63, and 24 licenses.
Adrian West – Managing Director. Joined in 2014 from D.A. Davidson & Co.'s Basic Materials & Industrials Investment Banking Group. Previously at McGladrey Capital Markets providing buy-side and sell-side M&A advisory services. Began career at Lehman Brothers in 1997. Holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses.
Michael Richards – Managing Director. Spent career specializing in real estate, hospitality, and food and beverage industries with 20+ years in investment banking. Executed over $3 billion in transactions at Oppenheimer & Co., The Seaport Group, Cappello Global LLC, and JD Merit & Company. Previously at Deutsche Bank, Bear Stearns, and JP Morgan Chase in debt capital markets. Holds FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses.
Michael Pollard – Advisor.
Geographic Coverage
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia with regional offices in Los Angeles, California and Boston, Massachusetts. The firm is registered to conduct business in California, Colorado, Georgia, Louisiana, New York, Tennessee, and Texas. NextGen Capital Markets LLC is a registered SEC broker-dealer and member of FINRA (CRD# 170421) and SIPC, established in 2014 with zero disclosures.