The Chickasaw Nation announced the establishment of Pennington Creek Capital – a wholly owned private capital investment subsidiary of Sovereign Native Holdco – with plans to set up an investment office in Dallas, Texas, led by long-time Hicks Equity Partners Managing Director Curt Crofford.
(Curt Crofford)
Dan Boren, chairman of the investment firm and Secretary of Commerce for the Chickasaw Nation, announced this leadership announcement. This newly established office – combined with the recent launch of Good Springs Capital in mid-2023 – furthers the continued expansion of the Chickasaw Nation’s diversification efforts.
Pennington Creek will oversee investments in middle market companies with strong cash flow characteristics led by ambitious founders and visionary entrepreneurs with high potential for growth and a strong market position.
After receiving an economics degree in 1995 from Vanderbilt University, Crofford started his career working in high-yield bond trading at Bankers Trust in New York before joining Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ) and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein (DKW) in New York and London, England, where he oversaw equity research on companies for potential investments and assisted in common stock offerings and high yield bond deals. And while in England with DLJ and DKW, Crofford traveled across Europe to meet with institutional investors before returning to the United States to earn his MBA at Duke University.
In the past 19 years, Crofford executed, managed, and oversaw a broad investment mandate in the private equity investing group of the Thomas O. Hicks family office. And at Hicks Equity Partners, Crofford identified selective investments ranging from $10 million to $100 million in middle market companies ranging in value from $30 million to $500 million, where he had a focus on specialty manufacturing, commercial aerospace and defense, food/beverage, software, and oil and gas.
KEY QUOTES:
“Through selective investments in established enterprises with solid leadership and strong values, Sovereign Native Holdco has driven economic expansion and growth for companies while generating returns we can use to deliver quality programs and services for the betterment and advancement of our citizens and the communities we serve.”
- Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby
“With Curt’s three decades of diverse investment experience globally and his extensive relationships nationally, we are confident he will be instrumental in executing our investment strategy and opening new opportunities.”
“Curt’s notable success in identifying and leading significant investments will bring a fresh perspective and energy to our firm. We are excited to have him on board and look forward to what lies ahead.”
- Dan Boren, chairman of the investment firm and Secretary of Commerce for the Chickasaw Nation
“I am thrilled to join Pennington Creek Capital and be part of a seasoned and respected organization focused on investing with greater purpose, namely, to enhance the overall quality of life of the Chickasaw people. Additionally, I have admired the Chickasaw Nation’s business acumen for many years, and I have profound respect for the leadership of Governor Anoatubby and Secretary Boren. I am looking forward to this next chapter of my career. I believe strongly that the patient, long-term capital of the Chickasaw Nation is a compelling alternative to the increasingly short hold periods of institutional private equity firms.”
- Curt Crofford
