Gryphon Investors is on the hunt for hidden treasures among middle market companies. The private equity firm pursues investments in middle-market companies in the business services, consumer goods, general industry, education, and health care with annual sales of $50 million to $250 million. Seeking to take a controlling interest in its target firms, it typically invests between $35 million and $150 million per transaction and holds on to its investments for three to five years. Its current portfolio includes stakes in western wear retailer Shepler's, financial consulting firm DLC, Envision EMI, trail mix and dried fruit maker Flagstone Foods, and Delta Education. Gryphon Investors was founded in 1995.