Prather Capital Partners is a Louisville, Kentucky-based private investment firm focused on acquiring middle market businesses within specialized manufacturing and business services segments.
We are passionate about investing alongside management teams and empowering them to build exceptional businesses. Prather takes a highly-collaborative approach: we work closely with founders and operators to build out a strategic roadmap and leverage our combined resources to execute on a shared vision.
Our mission is to be a value-added partner and create long term value for all stakeholders through hands-on initiatives such as enhanced technology and data utilization, salesforce optimization, process automation and tactical M&A.
We are highly seasoned deal makers and respond to opportunities quickly and thoughtfully. Our deep M&A experience gives us the ability to work efficiently and perform significant up-front due diligence to deliver well-informed offers with minimal breakage risk. We deeply appreciate the opportunity to evaluate any opportunities within our general focus areas.
UMA Precision Machining (“UMA”) is a leading provider of contract manufacturing services to companies across a range of industries in the United States. The company specializes in advanced, tight-tolerance machining services for medical device OEMs. Prather Capital acquired a majority stake in UMA in January 2020 and has partnered with management to support the next phase of growth for the business.
QDP Technologies (“QDP”) is a precision manufacturer of components and assemblies for customers in a variety of industries including aerospace, medical, and diversified industrials. Prather Capital acquired a majority stake in QDP in April 2022 and has partnered with management to support the continued growth of the business.
Fulcrum is a software company serving the manufacturing supply chain through a fully digital, paperless workflow. Leveraging machine learning, automation and predictive analytics, Fulcrum helps manufacturers drive throughput and profitability. Prather Capital invested in Fulcrum in June 2021 as part of its Series A.
John founded Prather Capital in 2018 to invest in small, specialized companies. He has a passion for collaborating with management teams and bringing new resources to build exceptional businesses. John leverages his financial and technical experience, as well as a network of operating advisors, to support and empower companies and drive value for all stakeholders.
Prior to starting Prather, John was an investment banker and served as an advisor on more than $5.0 billion of M&A transactions. Most recently at UBS Securities, he advised a range of software and technology companies through M&A and capital markets transactions. Previously, he spent several years at Mooreland Partners, a leading middle market M&A advisor, where he helped build the team’s practice around advanced manufacturing and executed several transactions in the space. John began his career at two Silicon Valley start-ups where he developed technology solutions as a software engineer and a data analyst. He graduated from Miami University with a degree in Chemistry.
John serves as the Chairman of the board of directors of Prather portfolio companies UMA Precision Machining and QDP Technologies.
