Code Hennessy & Simmons LLC (“CHS“) announced it has made an equity investment in Heartland Dental Care, Inc. (“Heartland“), a dental practice management company. The investment in Heartland represents a partnership among CHS, founder Dr. Richard Workman and the employees of Heartland. Funds for CHS’ investment in Heartland come from CHS Private Equity V LP, a 1.3 billion investment fund formed in 2005.

Headquartered in Effingham, Illinois, Heartland is one of the leading dental practice management companies in the Midwest with 235 affiliated dental offices across 12 states. Heartland provides business support for hometown dental offices including personnel staffing, office administration and financial, marketing and information support. For additional information about Heartland, please visit the company’s website at www.heartlanddentalcare.com.

Dr. Richard Workman, DMD, CEO and President of Heartland, said, “We look forward to the opportunity to partner with CHS to continue our growth strategy. Our business has significant momentum, both through acquisitions and opening new offices throughout the country.“

Edward Lhee, Partner at CHS, said, “We are excited to partner with Dr. Workman and one of the leading providers of practice management services to the dental industry. We look forward to continuing the company’s strong track record of growth and value-added services for its dental customers.“

The investment in Heartland complements CHS’ business and consumer services portfolio and adds to CHS’ growing focus on the healthcare industry which currently includes an investment in Suture Express, Inc., a distributor of suture and other wound closure products. Other business and consumer services investments include AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc., the largest operator of bowling centers worldwide; Acton Mobile Industries, a leading provider of modular space rental services; and Swank Audio Visuals, LLC, a provider of outsourced audio visual services. Prior business and consumer services investments have included American Reprographics Company, the largest provider of outsourced reprographics and related business services in the U.S.; Baker Tanks, Inc., the leading supplier of containment rental equipment in the U.S.; and Corporate Benefit Services of America, Inc., a healthcare services company that provides benefit administration.

CHS is a Chicago-based private equity firm specializing in private equity investments and recapitalizations of middle market companies in partnership with management. CHS targets well-managed companies focused on growth with enterprise values between $100 million and $1.0 billion. With particular expertise in the Business & Consumer Services; Consumer; Distribution; and Infrastructure & Industrial Products sectors, CHS has completed 72 platform investments and 173 add-on investments. Founded in 1988, CHS has formed five private equity funds and currently manages over $2.7 billion of capital. For additional information about CHS, please refer to the firm’s website at www.chsonline.com.