Enlightenment Capital

Enlightenment Capital
Founded 2012
Founders Devin Talbott & Pierre Chao
Services Private Equity Investment Firm
Website www.enlightenment-cap.com

Enlightenment Capital is a private equity investment firm focused on middle market aerospace, defense, and government services.[1] The firm invests in senior debt, mezzanine debt, and minority equity.[2][3]

Enlightenment’s headquarters are located in Chevy Chase, Maryland.[4][5]

Founding

Devin Talbott and Pierre Chao founded Enlightenment Capital in 2012.[6] Talbott, the son of former deputy secretary of state and Time magazine journalist Strobe Talbott, grew up in Washington D.C., attended Amherst College, where he was a four-year varsity soccer player, and earned JD and MBA degrees from Georgetown University.[7] After graduation, Talbott began his investment banking career at Lazard, then worked for former Defense Secretary William Cohen's merchant bank. He later became vice president at investment firm D.E. Shaw, where he worked with Chao as an advisor. Chao previously worked as an aerospace and defense analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston, Morgan Stanley and Smith Barney. He was a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and he co-founded Renaissance Strategic Advisors.

Activities

In February 2014, Enlightenment closed its first fund at $80 million.[8][9] The money came from a range of institutional and high-net-worth investors, including Washington real estate mogul Ben Jacobs, who is the J in the JBG Cos and Ben Olsen, a former player for and current coach of DC United.[1] Enlightenment investments typically range from $5 million to $25 million per deal.

In October 2016, Enlightenment raised $147 million for its second fund.[10]

Enlightenment has invested in major cyber, data, IT and drone companies, including Alexandria-based Phase One Consulting Group and Aurora Flight Sciences.[11][10] Enlightenment was the first backer of Reston-based Vistronix, which was sold in August to the Beltsville-based federal business of Arctic Slope Regional Corp.

Enlightenment’s advisers include retired Marine Corps Gen. James Cartwright, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Matt Olsen, former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center; and Ken Krieg, former undersecretary of defense for acquisition, technology and logistics.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 Heathe, Thomas. Capital Buzz: Enlightenment Capital has big-name backers “Washington Post”. December 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ Beltran, Luisa. Enlightenment Capital Sells Vistronix Intelligence “PE Hub”. August 18th, 2016.
  3. ↑ Beltran, Luisa. Enlightenment Capital seeks $125 mln for Fund II “PE Hub”. April 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ Cohen, Deborah. Enlightenment Capital’s Influential Network “Middle Market Growth”. April 26, 2016.
  5. ↑ Mitchell, Billy. Capital Raises $80M in First Fund “Inside Defense”. February 6, 2014.
  6. ↑ Bing, Chris. United's Coach Is Backing This Defense-Focused Investment Firm “Inside Defense”. March 15, 2016.
  7. ↑ Beltran, Luisa. Enlightenment Capital Aims for $100M with First Fund “PE Hub”. November 27, 2012.
  8. ↑ Conner, Jennifer.Big Beltway names, investment activity drive Enlightenment Capital forward “Biz Journals”. December 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ Conner, Jennifer.Enlightenment Capital closes debut fund on $80m Big Beltway names, investment activity drive Enlightenment Capital forward “Biz Journals”. February 5, 2014.
  10. 1 2 Bach, James. Enlightenment Capital closes $147 million fund for aerospace and defense deals “Biz Journals” November 1st, 2016.
  11. ↑ Censor, Marjorie. Enlightenment Capital invests in Aurora “Inside Defense”. March 15, 2016.
  12. ↑ Enlightenment Capital Raising $125 Million for Second Fund “Final Alternatives”. April 26, 2015.

External links

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