Jim Bloom

Jim Bloom is the Founder and Managing Partner of Vopne Capital, an operationally focused private investment firm founded in 2013. Vopne invests in lower middle-market manufacturing and industrial services businesses, emphasizing growth and operational improvement rather than financial engineering.

Before founding Vopne, Bloom was a Principal at Tinicum Capital Partners, described by Vopne as a $1.5 billion private investment fund. At Tinicum, he invested in manufacturing, industrial, aerospace, and business services companies, and also worked directly inside portfolio companies in operating roles including CFO of Plano Molding, COO of Enesco, and senior advisor to Hallmark Data Systems.

Earlier in his career, Bloom held senior executive roles including VP of Sales, Strategy & Business Development at FEI Women’s Health, which was acquired by Barr Laboratories; VP of Sales & Marketing at ShareBuilder, which was acquired by ING Direct; and Director of Operations at ADAC Laboratories RTP division, which was acquired by Philips. He also worked as a strategy consultant at Bain & Company and as an investment banking analyst.

Bloom earned an MBA from Stanford University and a BA from Colorado College, where Vopne reports he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He currently serves on the boards of Vopne portfolio companies ColorCoat, Coronado Manufacturing, Dolphin Machine, and RatPac Controls.

• Vopne’s stated focus is “acquisitions, recapitalizations, and growth equity investments in lower middle market businesses.”
• The firm targets manufacturing, industrial, and related services businesses where it has operating experience, especially engineered proprietary products and differentiated services.
• Vopne looks for companies with $10 million to $60 million of revenue and $2 million to $8 million of EBITDA.
• Platform equity investments are typically $5 million to $35 million; for larger equity needs, Vopne says it uses co-investors.
• Vopne’s stated investment types are acquisitions, recapitalizations, and growth equity, with a primary focus on majority-control investments.
• Vopne says it creates value through top-line growth and operational improvement, “not through financial engineering.”
• The firm prefers to retain management and share upside with them, but will also invest where management is seeking to exit.
• Vopne emphasizes conservative leverage and says it has completed investments with 100% equity at closing.