Eric Willis
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Hey Eric — similar path (IB → PE). been thinking a lot about proprietary origination in industrial / manufacturing lately. would be good to connect.
Hey Eric, looks like we share a similar IB → PE path, though I was in London at Credit Suisse & Greenhill not at Ernst & Young in transaction advisory like you. origination was always the same story for me — clear thesis, decent relationships, but no proprietary system of record. the people, tools and ideas were never really connected. every deal virtually sourced from scratch, nothing compounding over time. curious if that's still how most funds operate or if I'm behind the times? — Russ
Hey Eric, looks like we share a similar IB → PE background, though I was in London doing growth equity at Treis not in Dallas doing lower-middle market buyouts and carve-outs like you. the pattern I keep seeing with most funds is weirdly consistent — strong thesis, solid network, but no proprietary system of record. the people, tools and ideas are never really connected, so every deal is virtually sourced from scratch. nothing compounds on itself. curious if that resonates or if you've built something different at Willis & Smith? — Russ
hey Eric — no worries if the timing's off. most funds I talk to have tried some version of building origination in-house — analyst pulling from Pitchbook or Grata, maybe using ChatGPT to help qualify, dumping it into a spreadsheet. each piece kind of works, but there's no system of record tying it together. the people, tools and ideas are all disconnected, so there's tonnes of wasted energy. been helping a fund like Mentmore work through that in niche industrial verticals. curious if you've hit the same thing at Willis & Smith? — Russ
totally get it if origination infrastructure isn't top of mind right now — most funds have 10 things ahead of it on the priority list. the funds I've seen crack it early just tend to compound deal flow in a way that's hard to replicate later. if it ever moves up the list, I'm easy to find. — Russ
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Prospect Research
## PROSPECT INFORMATION: Name: Eric Willis Title: Co-Founder & Managing Partner Fund: Willis & Smith Capital Background: PROSPECT OVERVIEW Eric Willis is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Willis & Smith Capital, a Dallas-based private equity firm. Based in Plano, Texas, he is a highly credentialed finance professional holding both CPA and CFA designations. His current focus is on middle-market private equity, specifically partnering with successful business owners to provide capital and operational expertise for growth, succession planning, and corporate carve-outs. He emphasizes a "fierce alignment of interests" by investing his own capital into every transaction. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND Prior to founding his own firm in 2019, Eric served as a Managing Partner at CounterPoint Capital Partners (2010–2019) and as a Vice President at Platinum Equity (2005–2010), where he completed 11 acquisitions totaling over $2 billion in revenue. He began his career at Ernst & Young in their Transaction Support Advisory Group, counseling clients on over 50 transactions. He holds a Bachelor’s in Accountancy from San Diego State University (Cum Laude). KEY SKILLS Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Financial & Operational Due Diligence, Leverage Procurement, Restructuring, Financial Structuring, and Middle-Market Investment Strategy. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS Recipient of the "Energy Deal of the Year (2021)" from M&A Advisor for the recapitalization of TPE Midstream, and "Consumer and Retail Products Deal of the Year (2011)" for the restructuring of Tomich Brothers Fish Co. RECENT ACTIVITY & POSTS August 9, 2023: Eric celebrated a new acquisition, stating, "We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: we’re pleased to help US manufacturing companies reach their potential! We welcome Performance Stamping to the Willis & Smith Capital family of companies." July 24, 2022: Eric announced a major expansion, noting, "Willis & Smith Capital, along with First Capital Partners, are excited to announce our acquisition of J&E Manufacturing based in Minnesota. Together with our acquisition of R&B Grinding in February 2022, the two companies operate from 7 facilities with an employee base of over 315. We see this as just the start of our growth." February 9, 2022: Regarding a precision machining acquisition, he posted, "We are proud to announce our latest acquisition. R&B Grinding has been making high quality precision machined parts for many of America's most coveted brands for over 60 years. It is an honor to be chosen to write the next chapter of its legacy." PERSONAL INTERESTS He is active in the local community as a youth sports coach, having served as an Assistant Lacrosse Coach for Frisco Lacrosse (2019–2024) and an Assistant Football Coach for the Frisco Football League. Fund details: - Description: Willis & Smith Capital was founded by Co-Founders Eric Willis and Terry Smith to create a private equity firm focused on partnering with successful business owners and management that can benefit from new capital and harnessing our operational expertise – whether to support rapid growth, execute an owner’s succession plan, stand up a corporate carve-out, or identify a needed restructure. We bring deep private equity expertise and uniquely, substantial experience outside of the traditional investment community. Most importantly, we value a fierce alignment of interests – we invest our own money in each transaction ensuring a true partnership and an owner's perspective. - Website: https://www.willis-smithcap.com - Location: Plano, Texas, United States - Lead qualification: Research: - Query: =Willis & Smith Capital Eric Willis recent investments fund thesis - Answer: Eric Willis co-founded Willis & Smith Capital, focusing on private equity investments in manufacturing, distribution, and logistics. The firm typically targets companies with $10M-$200M in revenue. Willis & Smith Capital invests its own capital to ensure alignment with business owners.