About Clavis Capital Partners

A different kind of investment firm

Founded in 2013 after a successful career as a C-level operations executive, the founding Partner of Clavis decided that there was a better model and approach to Private Equity and set out to build a different kind of investment firm – one that was more focused on the operators, on the longer term and on deploying capital in the most flexible manner possible.

Today, Clavis Capital Partners is a team of operating and investment professionals and a network of operations professionals who are experienced and passionate about building sustainable, competitive and successful industrial businesses. We focus on investments in under-resourced, lower middle-market businesses with enterprise values between $15 million and $100 million. Each of our principals and advisors have significant, direct experience in successfully running and managing businesses across a range of manufacturing and industrial service sectors. Since 1994, our principals have completed over 25 transactions representing over $1 billion of equity deployed.

Our financial investors share our vision for a new style of Private Equity investing. We are backed by a number of family investment offices of high net worth individuals and a few select institutional investors who share our vision and our values. To date, Clavis has deployed approximately $100 million across its investments.

Todd Dauphinais is the founding principal of Clavis, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm's investment, operational and fundraising activities. Over the course of his career, he has completed over 25 transactions representing more than $1 billion of capital deployed. He has also held senior operating and strategic roles in manufacturing and industrial companies throughout his career. Prior to starting Clavis, Todd was responsible for the North American operations of a large European-based corporate investment fund. Previously, Todd served as CEO of EFI Electronics, an industry-leading manufacturer of electrical protection and power quality products, where he led his firm to record revenues and profitability for four straight years and was awarded the prestigious Shingo Prize for manufacturing. Before EFI, Todd served in various strategic and operating roles at leading firms such as Schneider Electric and Rockwell Automation. He started his career as a strategy and M&A consultant with Deloitte Consulting, focusing on the electric and gas utility sector.

Todd oversees the firms’ investments in Solair Group, Alliance Tank Service and Azimuth Technology. He serves as the current CEO of Solair Group and was previously the CEO of Alliance Tank Service.

Todd received his MBA with honors from the University of Notre Dame and received his bachelor’s from Texas A&M University. He is an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization, the Association for Corporate Growth, the National Association of Corporate Directors, and various charity, faith and angel investing organizations in the Dallas area.

Patrick Hamner is an entrepreneur and director at Clavis, responsible for the firms’ due diligence, financial analysis, target screening and operational activities. He also oversees portfolio company management and financial reporting and is involved with deal origination and fundraising. Before joining Clavis, Patrick worked at TravisWolff, where he helped launch TravisWolff Corporate Finance, an investment banking division, and performed various other business and transaction advisory and audit roles.

Patrick holds a B.B.A. in accounting and finance from Baylor University, where he launched and successfully ran a food service business. He is an active member of the DFW Private Equity Forum, a program committee member for the Young Professionals group of the Dallas chapter of the Association of Corporate Growth, and sits on the corporate committee for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and various faith and charitable organizations. Patrick holds both CPA and CMA designations.

Jimmy Watson is a senior associate at Clavis, responsible for various business development and portfolio operations activities. Jimmy began his career at Raytheon and transitioned in to management consulting at EY and Riveron Consulting. While consulting, Jimmy’s experience included M&A integration, process improvement, and financial planning & analysis work in various manufacturing sectors, professional services, and in healthcare firms.

Jimmy is pursuing his MBA from Southern Methodist University, and he received his B.S. in international business from the University of Arkansas. He is an active supporter of The Salvation Army and is a member of several community organizations.