06/16/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/16/2026 08:42
Demand Across Complementary Strategies Highlights Align's Leadership in the Lower-Middle Market
CLEVELAND and DALLAS, June 16, 2026 - Align Capital Partners ("Align" or the "Firm") is pleased to announce the simultaneous closings of its fourth private equity fund, Align Capital Partners Fund IV, LP ("ACP IV") and second independent sponsor focused fund, Align Collaborate Fund II, LP ("Collaborate II"). Align began fundraising in April 2026 and had a final close on June 15, reaching $770 million in commitments for ACP IV and $375 million in commitments for Collaborate II. The Align team is collectively the largest investor in ACP IV and Collaborate II, reinforcing alignment across all the Firm's stakeholders.
Since the Firm's founding in 2016, Align has invested in 40 platform companies, completed 145 add-on acquisitions and exited 13 investments. We believe Align remains one of the most active buy-and-build specialists in the lower-middle market, averaging more than three closed add-ons per platform.
"As we reflect on our Firm's ten-year milestone, our private equity strategy has remained consistent and tailored to the lower-middle market," said Co-Founder and Managing Partner Chris Jones. "We continue to target high-quality platforms and drive value creation through investing in impactful growth resources and employing an active add-on acquisition strategy across the portfolio."
Align Collaborate launched in late 2023 to complement Align's private equity fund strategy and the Firm's collective commitment to helping lower-middle market companies achieve their ambitious growth targets. Through its inaugural $233 million Fund I, Collaborate has co-invested in seven platform investments to date, each with a different sponsor-demonstrating the breadth of its independent sponsor relationships.
"Align Collaborate II reflects the continued momentum of our independent sponsor strategy and the strong market demand for a dedicated, solutions-oriented equity investor," said Co-Founder and Managing Partner Rob Langley. "We are grateful for our investors' partnership and confidence in our approach, which combines differentiated strategies designed to unlock the breadth of opportunity across the lower-middle market."
Align's private equity funds have steadily grown over time from a $325 million Fund I in September 2016, followed by a $450 million Fund II in February 2020 and most recently a $620 million Fund III closed in 2022. Alongside the continued support of many institutional investors, Align has raised approximately $3.2 billion of committed capital since the Firm's founding in 2016. Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as fund formation counsel for both strategies.
Disclosures: This press release is not an offer to sell securities or interests in any fund managed by ACP.