10/28/2009
Acorn Growth Companies Wins Venture of the Year
Acorn Growth Companies was awarded Oklahoma Business Roundtable’s Venture of the Year award by the Oklahoma Venture Forum Monday night.
Acorn Growth Companies, a private equity firm focused exclusively on aerospace and defense opportunities, was evaluated not only on their success regarding capital raised and profitability, but also on other criteria such as innovation, growth potential, and economic impact. The company has been successful in identifying promising new companies and partnerships and in developing an operating brand, AGC Aerospace & Defense.
Partners Jeff Davis, Rick Nagel, and Warren Thomas accepted the award.
“Our success has been built on a combination of factors: support from the community, trust of our customers and investors, and hard work from our employees. We are both humbled and honored to be recognized with the most prestigious award in Oklahoma’s investment community,” said Davis.
“By adhering to an excellent strategy for identifying, sourcing, and executing opportunities, along with implementing a strong operational strategy, we’ve been able to increase shareholder value and contribute to the Oklahoma’s economic development,” said Nagel.
The Venture of the Year award is widely recognized as the pinnacle of achievement within Oklahoma’s equity investment community.
Members of The Oklahoma Venture Forum (OVF), a non-profit organization that promotes economic growth in Oklahoma, selected Acorn Growth Companies from a number of nominees.
“We had a large number of high-quality applicants this year. Acorn Growth Companies’ efforts to partner with other investors, especially in the aerospace and defense industry, elevated the company above its peers,” said Mike LaBrie, OVF Chairman and attorney with McAfee & Taft. “This award has gone to other notable recipients in the past including, the Chesapeake Energy Corporation, StairMaster, and IMTEC which was recently acquired by 3M.”
Acorn Growth Companies oversees management and control of AGC Aerospace & Defense. Today, the firm has over $100 million under management and operating companies.
AGC Aerospace & Defense is a leader in supplying technologies, systems and services that support key commercial and military programs. Operating in multiple locations across the United States and abroad, AGC Aerospace & Defense finances, engineers, manufactures, procures, repairs, modifies and overhauls aircraft components, subassemblies and systems.