Firm Description
Founded as predecessor entity Keystone Capital Inc. in 1994, Keystone Capital Management, LP is a
Chicago-based private equity firm that invests in lower middle market companies with a primary focus
on partnering with privately held businesses with between approximately $5 million and $20 million
in EBITDA and operating in markets that Keystone believes offer compelling organic and inorganic
growth and diversification potential. Keystone Capital Management, LP (the registrant, “Keystone”)
was formed in 2020.
Keystone serves as the investment adviser for the following private funds: Keystone Capital Fund II,
LP and Keystone Capital Fund II-A, LP (together, “Fund II”); and Keystone Capital Fund III, LP
and Keystone Capital Fund III-A, LP (together, “Fund III” and collectively with Fund II, the
“Funds”). Keystone also acts as the investment manager to several pre-fund investments (the “Pre-
Fund Investments”) which are comprised primarily of proprietary capital vehicles and are not clients
of Keystone (and not generally included in this Brochure unless specifically noted). In addition, in
certain circumstances, as more fully described in Item 7 below, the Firm permits certain limited
partners and third parties to co-invest alongside a Fund directly in a portfolio company. Such direct
co-investments are not managed by Keystone and are not considered Funds or clients of Keystone.
Each Fund is affiliated with a general partner (“General Partner”) with authority to make investment
decisions on behalf of the Funds. The General Partners are deemed registered under the Investment
Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (“Advisers
Act”), pursuant to Keystone’s registration in accordance with SEC guidance. The applicable General
Partner of each Fund retains investment discretion and limited partners in the Funds do not participate
in the control or management of the Funds. While the General Partners maintain ultimate authority
over the Funds, Keystone has been designated the role of investment adviser. For more information
about the Funds and General Partners, please see Keystone’s Form ADV Part 1, Schedule D, Section
7.A. and Section 7.B.(1)
Keystone provides investment advisory services as a private equity fund manager to its Funds. The
Funds invest through privately negotiated transactions in operating companies, generally referred to
as “portfolio companies”, in the target sectors (as described in more detail in Item 8, below). Each
portfolio company has its own independent management team responsible for managing its day-to-
day operations, although (i) members of Keystone or representatives appointed by the Firm are
expected to serve on the boards of, or otherwise act to influence control of the management of, such
portfolio companies and will therefore have a significant impact on the long-term direction of the
company, including the selection of management team members and (ii) in some cases, Keystone will
more directly influence the day-to-day management of a portfolio company by recruiting and installing
certain individuals in various leadership roles, such as chief executive officer, chief operating officer,
chief financial officer or in other roles. Keystone’s investment advisory services to the Funds consist
of identifying and evaluating investment opportunities, negotiating the terms of investments,
managing
and monitoring investments and achieving dispositions of such investments. Investments
are made predominantly in non-public companies, although investments in public companies are
permitted in certain instances.
Keystone’s investment advice and authority for each Fund is tailored to the investment objectives of
that Fund; Keystone does not tailor its advisory services to the individual needs of limited partners in
its Funds. The Fund investment objectives are described in and governed by, as applicable, the private
placement memorandum, limited partnership agreement, subscription agreements, investment
advisory agreements, side letter agreements and other governing documents of the relevant Fund
(collectively, “Governing Documents”) and limited partners determine the suitability of an investment
in a Fund based on, among other things, the Governing Documents. The Firm does not seek or
require limited partner approval regarding each investment decision.
Fund limited partners generally cannot impose restrictions on investing in certain securities or types
of securities, other than through side letter agreements. Limited partners in the Funds participate in
the overall investment program for the applicable Fund and generally cannot be excused from a
particular investment except in certain circumstances pursuant to the terms of the applicable
Governing Documents. In accordance with industry common practice, Keystone has entered into
side letter or other similar agreements with certain limited partners including those who make
substantial commitments of capital or were early-stage limited partners in the Funds, or for other
reasons in the sole discretion of Keystone, in each case that have the effect of establishing rights under,
or altering or supplementing, a Fund’s Governing Documents. Examples of side letter and other
similar agreements entered into include provisions whereby limited partners have expressed an interest
in participating in co-investment opportunities, advisory board representation, certain fee
arrangements, notification provisions, reporting requirements and “most favored nations” provisions,
among others. These rights, benefits or privileges are not always made available to all limited partners,
consistent with the Governing Documents and general market practice. Commencing in March 2025,
Keystone will make required disclosure of certain side letters to all limited partners (and in certain
cases, to prospective limited partners) in accordance with the new Private Fund Rule. Side letters are
negotiated at the time of the relevant limited partner’s capital commitment, and once invested in a
Fund, limited partners generally cannot impose additional investment guidelines or restrictions on
such Fund. There can be no assurance that the side letter rights granted to one or more limited
partners will not in certain cases disadvantage other limited partners.
Keystone does not participate in wrap fee programs.
Principal Owners
Keystone is ultimately owned by Kent Dauten and Scott Gwilliam. For more information about the
owners and executive officers of Keystone, please see Keystone’s Form ADV Part 1, Schedules A and
B.
Regulatory Assets Under Management
As of the February 12, 2024, Keystone managed approximately $1,163,588,749 in regulatory assets
under management, all managed on a discretionary basis.