Profile

Founded in 1994, American Securities is a leading U.S. private equity firm that invests in North American companies, primarily in the industrial and services sectors. With $23 billion under management, we partner with businesses generating $200 million to $2 billion in annual revenues. We combine deep sector expertise, differentiated insights and proven internal capabilities to serve as transformational partners that drive growth and build enduring value. Our investment philosophy emphasizes capital preservation through disciplined investing and hands-on engagement, paired with repeatable value creation processes and operational excellence. American Securities is based in New York with an office in Shanghai.

For more information, please visit www.american-securities.com

Awards

2025 Top Private Equity Firms

2024 Top Private Equity Firms

2023 Top Private Equity Firms

2019 Top Business Services Investors

Features

Delivering Long-Term Value in Private Equity: American Securities’ Michael Fisch

GrowthCap’s RJ Lumba spoke with Michael Fisch on July 5, 2023. As a founder of American Securities, Michael has been CEO since its inception in 1994. Before founding the firm, Michael was a partner in two private equity funds, a consultant in the Paris office of Bain & Company, and a professional in the mergers and acquisitions department of Goldman Sachs.

Key People

Michael Fisch, Founder & CEO

Michael is the founder of American Securities and has been CEO since its inception in 1994. He is also a Managing Member of the general partners of the American Securities Partners’ series of private equity funds and a member of the Investment Committee.

Scott Wolff, President & Partner

Scott joined American Securities in 2002. He is a member of the Investment Committee and leads the Operating Committee. He is currently Chairman of the Board of Hexion, Meridian, and Vibrantz Technologies.

David Horing, Senior Partner

David joined American Securities in 1995 and is Co-Chair of the Investment Committee. David is currently Chairman of the Board of FullBloom and OnTrac, as well as a Director of BELFOR, CPM, and United FP. David is a Managing Member of the active American Securities Partners funds.

Kevin Penn, Senior Partner

Kevin joined American Securities in 2009 and is Co-Chair of the Investment Committee. Kevin is currently Chairman of the Board of Conair, Learning Care Group, NWN, and SOLV Energy, as well as a Director of Blue Bird and Trace3.

Ben Dickson, Partner

Ben Dickson joined American Securities in 2011. He is a member of the Investment Committee and the Operating Committee. Ben is currently Chairman of the Board of NAPA and SimonMed, and a Director of Amentum and The Aspen Group.

Michael Sand, Partner

Michael Sand joined American Securities in 2005 and is a member of the Investment Committee. Michael is currently Chairman of the Board of CPM, Integrated Global Services, and ViaPath Technologies, as well as a Director of SOLV Energy.

Christopher DiSantis, Partner

Chris joined American Securities in 2019. He leads the Resources Group, which assists portfolio companies with value creation by providing them with world-class talent in strategy, operations, human capital, IT, data science, financial performance, commercial excellence, and ESG. He is also a member of the Operating Committee.

Key Investments

CPM: Signed definitive agreement to sell CPM in March 2026
Sector: Industrials

CPM is a leader in the design and manufacture of highly engineered process equipment and automation systems primarily serving the animal feed, oilseed processing, renewable energy, food, and other industrial markets. The company operates 35 facilities globally and maintains a commercial presence in more than 100 countries, with approximately 1,700 employees.

MW Industries: Signed definitive agreement to sell MW Components in March 2026
Sector: Industrials

MW Industries consisted of Paragon Medical, which was sold for $1.9 billion in December 2023, and MW Components. MW Industries is a manufacturer of highly engineered, bespoke fasteners, springs and precision metal components. The company serves original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and aftermarket customers through multiple channels across aerospace, medical, electronics, energy, agriculture, construction, and other diversified industrial sectors. The company operates 24 manufacturing facilities across the United States and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.

SOLV Energy: Invested May 2021, IPO February 2026
Sector: Industrials 

SOLV Energy is a leading provider of infrastructure services to the power industry, including engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, operations, maintenance and repowering. SOLV Energy has constructed more than 500 power plants representing 20 GWdc of generating capacity since being founded in 2008, and currently provides O&M services under long-term agreements to 146 operating power plants representing over 18 GWdc of generating capacity. 

Foundation Building Materials: Exited October 2025 for $8.8bn
Sector: Industrials

Foundation Building Materials, Inc. is a specialty building products distributor of wallboard, suspended ceiling systems, metal framing, commercial doors, and complementary and other products throughout North America. Based in Santa Ana, California, the company employs more than 6,000 employees and operates more than 300 branches across the United States and Canada.

Trace3: Invested October 2021, Majority stake sale in October 2025
Sector: Services

Trace3 is a leading provider of technology hardware, software, and services to over 4,000 enterprise and mid-market customers in the United States, with core expertise in hybrid cloud, security & networking, and data intelligence applications. Trace3 was founded in Southern California in 2002 and has since expanded across the United States with regional hubs in Colorado, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, New Jersey, and California. The company has approximately 1,250 employees, including more than 500 engineers.

Integrated Global Services: Invested March 2025
Sector: Industrials

IGS is a leading provider of surface enhancement solutions for a diversified global customer base. The company develops, manufactures, and applies a portfolio of proprietary industrial surface enhancement solutions that promote asset integrity, reliability, efficiency, and environmental sustainability of mission-critical equipment across the industrial, power generation, and energy sectors.

Acuren: Exited July 2024
Sector: Industrials

During the partnership with American Securities, Acuren was the leading provider of non-destructive testing and related rope access industrial services to energy and industrial end markets in North America. Acuren served over 8,650 individual customer sites through its 5,300+ employees across more than 90 field offices in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

NWN: Invested February 2024
Sector: Services

NWN is a leading provider of cloud communications and technology hardware, software, and services for commercial, enterprise, and public sector organizations. The company serves over 3,000 customers throughout the United States across numerous application areas, including networking, unified communications, security, contact center, managed devices, and visual collaboration and workspaces.  Headquartered in Boston, MA, the company has more than 1,000 employees and 14 locations across the United States.

Meridian: Invested September 2022
Sector: Industrials

Meridian is a leading manufacturer of high-value adhesive technologies. With a broad portfolio of specialty formulated products and a solutions-based approach, Meridian serves customers across the electronics, infrastructure, flooring, packaging, and product assembly markets. The company has 25 facilities and serves over 5,000 customers in North America, Asia, and Europe. Meridian is headquartered in Charlotte, NC.

Hexion: Invested March 2022
Sector: Industrials

Hexion is a leading global producer of adhesives and performance materials that enable the production of engineered wood products and other specialty materials used in high performance coatings for industrial applications. Key end markets include residential and non-residential construction, repair / remodel, furniture, energy, agriculture and automotive. Hexion serves more than 1,200 companies across approximately 60 countries through a manufacturing network of 27 production facilities. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio.

Capital Responsibility

Since inception, being a responsible global citizen has been an explicit part of American Securities’ culture. The firm’s intent is to foster the growth of the companies with which it partners, aiming for long-term sustainability and enhanced financial performance, while minimizing any adverse environmental or societal impacts on individuals, communities, or the planet. American Securities believes that ESG considerations may impact investment outcomes. As a result, the firm strives to focus on ESG throughout the investment lifecycle, including during diligence, value creation efforts during ownership, and exit considerations.

The firm is a General Partner member of the ESG Data Convergence Initiative and a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment. Additionally, American Securities has partnered with its companies on several targeted ESG projects designed to drive EBITDA improvements for its portfolio companies. Together, these initiatives have enhanced company performance across the portfolio and have informed key efforts to drive operational efficiency and support responsible growth, working closely with portfolio companies to improve supply chains, enhance pricing and procurement efforts, execute transformative M&A, and strengthen underlying earnings growth.