Current Investment Portfolio
We are interested in working with outstanding management teams at our portfolio companies to help them build successful businesses and long-term value. We enjoy working with our companies to develop and implement strategies that yield growth and superior returns. The Cognitive team has both operating and investment experience to come side-by-side with management to help them realize their goals. We are honored to work with management teams in our portfolio.
Qal-Tek Associates, LLC
Qal-Tek Associates (“Qal-Tek”) provides products and services to the CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives) market. Services include radiological response consulting and scenario training to CBRNE detection device calibration and sales. Qal-Tek is in partnership to develop the next generation radiological detection device for the United States Armed Forces, initially providing the device to the U.S. Army. Additionally, Qal-Tek provides radiological disposal services and holds one of the only licenses in the country to transport radiological sources internationally.
Headquarters: Idaho Falls, ID
Industry: Technical Services/CBRNE Product and Services
Investment: 2019
Website: www.qaltek.com
Thaler Machine Company, LLC
Thaler Machine Company (“Thaler”) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of complex, mission- and flight-critical components to the missile defense and aerospace markets. Thaler’s manufacturing capabilities and decades of unmatched performance enable the company to deliver complex components that meet military and aircraft OEM’s high-quality and strict tolerance guidelines. Thaler has long-standing and contractual relationships with several of the largest aerospace and defense prime contractors and OEM’s. It is entrenched as a sole source, and is one of only a few suppliers on next generation and high-growth missile, rocket and aircraft engine platforms.
Headquarters: Springboro, OH
Industry: Aerospace and Defense
Investment: 2020
Website: www.thalermachine.com
Gillette Generators, LLC
Gillette Generators (“Gillette”) is a Midwest-based manufacturer and supplier of premium standby backup and prime power generators for agricultural, commercial, industrial and critical infrastructure end users. Gillette’s products include both natural gas and diesel powered gensets with power output ratings from 7.5kW to 1MW. Gillette focuses on sourcing and integrating the highest quality engines and components with open-source controllers, providing the highest level of reliability and serviceability in the field.
Headquarters: Elkhart, IN
Industry: Power Generator Manufacturing
Investment: 2021
Website: www.gillettegenerators.com
Grand Equipment Company / Maverick Environmental Equipment
Grand Equipment Company (“Grand”) is a full-service equipment dealer and rental company based in Hudsonville, Michigan. Grand has grown to one of the largest multi-line construction equipment, parts, service, sales and rental dealers in Michigan, offering excavators, loaders, telehandlers, road brooms and trailers. In June 2023, Grand completed a merger with Maverick Environmental Equipment (“Maverick”), a full-service equipment dealer serving the aggregate mining, environmental and vegetation management industries with locations in Michigan, Ohio and California.
Headquarters: Hudsonville, MI
Industry: Heavy Equipment
Investment: 2022
Website: www.grandequipment.com
Website: www.maverickenvironmentalequipment.com
Realized Investments
Tooling Technology Group I
Tooling Technology Group (“TTG”) provides unique tooling design, manufacturing, and engineering capabilities to a wide variety of original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s), Tier I and Tier II automotive suppliers and contract molders. TTG was acquired in 2006. In February 2012, Cognitive fully recapitalized TTG and reinvested with management to buyout the original financial investors.
Tooling Technology Group II
In February 2012, Cognitive and management recapitalized TTG, buying out the investors who invested in the 2006 acquisition of TTG. Cognitive worked closely with management to facilitate two strategic acquisitions adding critical capabilities in compression molding, blow molding and automation solutions. In July 2014, TTG was sold to a private equity firm, with Cognitive exiting TTG.
VSA Partners Holdings, LLC
VSA Partners Holdings, LLC (“VSA”) is one of the premier integrated marketing services firms in the country, providing a complement of digital and brand strategy, design and consumer activation strategy. In August 2007, Cognitive partnered with senior management to invest in VSA. During Cognitive’s investment period, VSA made an acquisition to expand its presence in New York, built its consumer activation group and opened an office in San Francisco. In September 2020, VSA was sold to a private equity firm, with Cognitive exiting VSA.
Prospect Mold Holdings, LLC
Prospect Mold Holdings, LLC (“Prospect Mold”) designs and manufactures tooling primarily for the automotive and aerospace industries, as well as manufactures carbon fiber and metal production parts for the aerospace industry. In July 2014, Cognitive acquired a majority interest of Prospect Mold. During Cognitive’s investment, Prospect Mold successfully expanded its aerospace and defense business from 20% of revenue to over 80% of revenue. In July 2020, Prospect Mold was sold to a private equity fund, with Cognitive exiting Prospect Mold.
Tower Engineering Professionals, LLC
Tower Engineering Professionals (“TEP”) is a full-service, multi-discipline, turn-key engineering and consulting organization focused on the wireless telecommunication industry. In December 2014, Cognitive led an investment group that acquired a majority interest of TEP. Over the next eight and a half years, we worked with the management team and our investment partners to transform TEP from a small regional firm with six offices to a geographically diverse company with a broad line of service offerings and revenue which increased over 3.5x during our investment. In April 2023, TEP was sold to a private equity fund with Cognitive exiting TEP. At the time of our exit, TEP had over 900 professionals and provided coverage of U.S. and Canada from 35 office locations.