Willis Stein & Partners

Willis Stein & Partners is a private equity firm based in Chicago, established in 1989, that focuses on mid-market investments in the consumer services, education, and specialized business services sectors. The firm seeks to create value for its investors by leveraging its industry knowledge, disciplined investment approach, and strong reputation for integrity. Since its inception, Willis Stein & Partners has invested nearly $3 billion across 50 portfolio companies, completing over 200 add-on acquisitions and raising more than $4 billion in debt capital to support growth. The firm targets various investment strategies, including buy-outs, build-ups, carve-outs from larger companies, public-to-private transactions, and family-owned business acquisitions. By collaborating closely with management teams, Willis Stein & Partners aims to accelerate growth through capital infusion and ongoing strategic and financial support.

Christopher Boehm

Managing Director

David T. Mills

CFO

6 past transactions

CompuPay

Venture Round in 2009
BenefitMall (formerly CompuPay) is a payroll, tax filing and human resource-related service. Utilizing internet and PC-based tools it allows for customers to preform the needed taks with ease.

Jays Foods

Acquisition in 2004
The history of the modern day potato chip started in a very simple way. Leonard Japp, Sr. and a friend bought a rickety truck in 1927 for $50 - $5 down and the rest in payments. They picked up their first load of pretzels for $22.50. By 1929 the pair had a fleet of delivery trucks on the road, shiny new frying vats and fair reason to believe the best was yet to come. Then the stock market crashed. Japp proved resilient, however, bouncing back by the mid-1930’s with a new partner and a second go-round at snacks. The pair’s business flourished under their house brand, Mrs. Japp’s Potato Chips, until Pearl Harbor nearly drove them out of business because of the name’s negative connotation. "We had to rename our company fast. The name Jays was available so we made it Jays Foods," Japp, Sr. said. With the potato chips back on the shelves under the Jays name they became Chicago’s premier potato chip. Jays bolstered its position in the market by including recipes on its bags of chips created by Japp’s wife, Eugenia. With his successful business Japp ventured into other snack territories and began manufacturing popcorn, pretzels and tortilla chips. Jays Foods remained under family control until a decision to sell the company was made in 1986. At a 90th birthday party for Japp, Sr. the rumor was that Jays was on the selling block. Leonard Japp, Jr. turned to his father and asked "Do you want to go back to work?" To which the elder replied "Yeah, why not." So the Japp family reacquired the company in 1994. Jays Foods was born again with the same commitment for quality snacks that has made them the Midwest’s premier snack manufacturer. Today Jays manufactures and distributes a full line of quality snacks including its signature Jays Potato Chips, O-KE-DOKE popcorns, Krunchers! Potato Chips, and a line of Hot Stuff snacks.

Lincoln Snacks

Acquisition in 2004
Lincoln Snacks Company is the manufacturers of premium caramelized pre-popped popcorn. Their primary product lines are sold under the brand names POPPYCOCK®, FIDDLE FADDLE®, and Screaming Yellow ZONKERS®.

Baker & Taylor

Acquisition in 2003
Baker & Taylor Corporation distributes books, digital content, and entertainment products to publishers, libraries, schools, and retailers worldwide. It also offers Axis 360, a digital media library system for circulating digital content; Blio, an ereading solution; collectionHQ, a collection performance improvement solution revolutionizing the way libraries select, manage, and promote their collections by providing a hosted Web application accessible through Web browser; and TS 360, a collection development, selection, and acquisition tool that supports workflows. Baker & Taylor Corporation was formerly known as Baker & Taylor Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Baker & Taylor Corporation in 1999. The company was founded in 1828 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina with additional offices in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Lewisville, Texas. It also has service centers in Bridgewater, New Jersey; Commerce, Georgia; Momence, Illinois; and Reno, Nevada, as well as subsidiary locations in Brookvale, Australia; Oxfordshire, United Kingdom; and de Mexico, Mexico. As of April 18, 2016, Baker & Taylor Corporation operates as a subsidiary of Follett Corporation.

Protocol Communications

Acquisition in 1999
Protocol Communications, Incorporated has designed and implemented telecommunications networks and structured cabling systems.

Ziff Davis Publishing

Acquisition in 1999
Ziff Davis Publishing Inc., is the largest technology and Internet magazine publisher and the sixth largest magazine publisher in the United States. In the U.S., Ziff Davis publishes PC Magazine, eWEEK/PC WEEK, Ziff Davis SMART BUSINESS for the New Economy, Yahoo! Internet Life, eShopper, FamilyPC, Inter@ctive Week, Sm@rt Reseller, Computer Gaming World, Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine, Expert Gamer, Electronic Gaming Monthly and Macworld through a joint-venture with International Data Group (IDG).