Founded as the one of the country's first private equity firms in 1946 by John Hay "Jock" Whitney, J.H. Whitney & Co. was formed with the objective of providing capital and professional assistance to entrepreneurs creating new companies and industries.

J.H. Whitney's rich history started immediately after opening its doors when the Firm completed the first post-World War II leveraged buyout, Spencer Chemicals, by converting a munitions plant into a fertilizer facility. Shortly thereafter, J.H. Whitney introduced the world to Minute Maid Orange Juice, a product in part developed in our original office kitchen.

By writing a $5 million dollar check in 1946 to capitalize J.H. Whitney & Co., Jock Whitney forever changed the face of American entrepreneurialism.

The Firm's successes led other prominent families to fund private equity activities in the 1950's and 1960's. Over the succeeding decades, new and existing private equity firms received significant amounts of investment capital from leading foundations and universities. Today, J.H. Whitney Capital Partners is investing its sixth outside private equity fund, J.H. Whitney VI, L.P. - a $750 million fund raised in 2005. In addition, J.H. Whitney has raised three mezzanine debt funds which primarily support the Firm's buyout activity.