• Skip to main content

  • Home
  • News
    • New Funds
    • New Financings
    • People On the Move
    • Trends and Strategies
  • Transactions
    • New Platforms
    • New Add Ons
    • New Exits
  • Briefly
  • 2025 Salary Survey
  • Member Center
Please enter your username/email.
Please enter your password.
Login
Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.
PEP-logo-v9
Flag-small-6-28-24-120x73

February 12, 2026

Private equity's news leader since 2007

Chicago, Illinois

pep-superman-header-80x105-1

"There is a right and a wrong in the universe, and that distinction is not hard to make."

Superman

  • About Us
  • Membership
  • Webinars
  • Store
  • FAQs
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
Search

direct marketing services

Caymus and Centerfield Exit Direct Marketing Solutions

March 1, 2018 by John McNulty

Caymus Equity Partners and Centerfield Capital Partners have sold Direct Marketing Solutions (DMS) to Main Street Capital.

In September 2012, Caymus sourced and structured the acquisition of DMS from San Francisco-based Alpine Investors with Centerfield partnering with Caymus as a co-investor in the equity.

Direct Marketing Solutions is a provider of omni-channel direct marketing services to a range of clients that are active in the banking, alternative lending, technology and telecom sectors. DMS, founded in 1982, is led by CEO Mike Sherman and President Steve Sherman and is headquartered in Portland, OR (www.teamdms.com).

“Caymus Equity has been instrumental in supporting our growth and providing strategic guidance in support of our success,” said Mike Sherman. “The firm has been a true partner to DMS and provided the necessary support and resources to expand our platform. Caymus Equity’s guidance through strategy deployment and leading business practices proved invaluable in driving a shared vision for the company and we’re excited to continue building on a successful foundation.”

“During Caymus Equity’s five-year ownership of DMS, revenue grew by nearly 140 percent and EBITDA nearly doubled,” said Geoffrey Faux, Caymus Equity Managing Partner. “Investing alongside and partnering with an exceptional management team, led by Mike and Steve Sherman, we expanded DMS’ service offerings enabling the company to become increasingly important to their blue-chip customer base and solidified DMS as a leader in the direct marketing industry.”

Caymus invests from $3 million to $25 million in middle and lower-middle market companies that are valued from $10 million to $100 million and have revenues of $10 million to $100 million and EBITDA of $2 million to $12 million. Sectors of interest include business services, healthcare services, consumer, and niche manufacturing. The firm is based in Atlanta with an additional office in New York (www.caymuspartners.com).

The sale of DMS, which closed on February 13, 2018, marks the first full exit for Caymus Equity Partners. “After several recapitalizations, the DMS sale represents the first full realization for Caymus Equity. This was a milestone for Caymus and a terrific return for our limited partners,” said Ollie Maggard, Caymus Equity Managing Partner. “We thank Mike and Steve Sherman for their tremendous accomplishments and wish them continued success with Main Street Capital.”

Main Street Capital provides senior and subordinated debt and equity capital to lower middle market companies with revenues of $10 million to $150 million and EBITDA from $3 million to $20 million. Sectors of interest include consumer discretionary, energy, financials, healthcare, industrials, materials, technology, telecommunications and transportation. Main Street Capital is headquartered in Houston (www.mainstcapital.com).

Duff & Phelps (www.duffandphelps.com) was the financial advisor to DMS.

© 2018 Private Equity Professional | March 1, 2018

Filed Under: Exit, Transactions Tagged With: direct marketing services

PEP_mainlogo_White

Private Equity Professional
c/o Sun Business Media
PO Box 6610
Evanston, Illinois 60204
Office Direct (847) 920-8010

[email protected]

News

  • Platforms
  • Add Ons
  • Exits
  • Funds
  • Financings
  • People
  • Strategies

Customer Help

  • Why Advertise?
  • PEP Media Kit

Memberships

  • Individual

Advertising

  • Why Advertise?
  • PEP Media Kit

© 2026 Private Equity Professional. All Rights Reserved.