American Securities

Our mission is to generate superior returns by making investments in great businesses and helping management better them.

Family Origins

Our origins are a family office founded in 1947. In 1994, we opened our private equity investment activities to outside investors seeking attractive risk-adjusted rates of return.

Values-Based Investing 

Our investment philosophy is rooted in partnership with great companies and their existing management teams.

Our Affiliates

AS Birch Grove is an alternative credit manager focused on corporate credit opportunities in North America and Europe managing approximately $7 billion of credit assets across an opportunistic hedge fund, private credit vehicles, par credit vehicles, and a CLO platform.

Meet our team.

Michael Fisch, Founder & CEO

Michael Fisch is a founder of American Securities and has been CEO since inception in 1994. He is also a Managing Member of the general partners of the American Securities Partners' series of private equity funds and a member of the Investment Committee of AS Birch Grove, an affiliate of American Securities. Before founding American Securities, he was a partner in two private equity funds, a consultant in the Paris office of Bain & Company, and a professional in the mergers and acquisitions department of Goldman Sachs.

Michael received a BA in Economics and Policy Studies from Dartmouth College, where he is a Member of the President’s Leadership Council, and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, where he has been a guest lecturer since 2006. Michael serves as a Director of the 1162 Foundation, a Member of the Atlantic Council’s Executive Committee of the Board of Directors and Chairman of the Advisory Council of its Freedom and Prosperity Center, a Member of the Board of Trustees of Northwell Health, and Chair of the Board of Trustees of Princeton Theological Seminary.

He has authored a number of articles and appeared as a guest on national television programs, all on private equity and investing.

Ben Dickson, Managing Director

Ben Dickson joined American Securities in 2011. He is currently Chairman of the Board of NAPA and SimonMed, and a Director of Amentum and The Aspen Group. Previously, Ben was Chairman of the Board of Air Methods and a Director of General Chemical, Emerald Performance Materials, Presidio, Robertson Fuel Systems, and SeaStar Solutions.

Prior to joining American Securities, Ben worked at Active Interest Media as its director of corporate development and was responsible for designing and leading the company’s growth strategy. He has also worked as an investment professional with the private equity firms GTCR and Wind Point Partners, and as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. While in business school, Ben founded, built, and sold a technology company that assisted publishers with building their internet traffic.

Ben received a BS in Accounting and Finance from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

David Horing, Managing Director

David Horing joined American Securities in 1995. He is currently Chairman of the Board of FullBloom, as well as a Director of BELFOR, CPM, OnTrac, and United FP. David is a Managing Member of the active American Securities Partners funds. In addition, David has previously served on numerous corporate boards throughout his career, including as Chairman of the Board of Anthony International, El Pollo Loco, Milk Specialties Global, Miltex Instrument Company, and Tekni-Plex, as well as a Director of Advanced Drainage Systems, Caribbean Restaurants, CTB International, Healthy Directions, Mortgage Contracting Services, NEP Broadcasting, Press Ganey, and Prince.

Prior to joining American Securities, David spent seven years at The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation, a middle-market private equity investment firm. He previously worked in Salomon Brothers' Investment Banking division and at The Boston Consulting Group.

David received a BS in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, a BS in Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering & Applied Science, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He serves as a Member of the Board of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America (NYC) and the Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Medicine, as well as Industry Advisory Board Representative of the University of Michigan’s Tauber Institute for Global Operations.

Natasha Kingshott, Principal

Natasha Kingshott joined American Securities in 2019. Natasha is currently a Director of Hexion, r-pac, and Vibrantz Technologies. Previously, Natasha was a Director of Prince.

Prior to joining American Securities, she was an Associate in private equity at The Blackstone Group. She began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs in the Consumer Retail Group.

Natasha received an AB in Government from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

David Portnoy, Principal

David Portnoy joined American Securities in 2013. He is currently a Director of CS Energy, and SOLV Energy. Previously, David was a Director of Acuren, Conair, Ulterra, and ViaPath Technologies.

Prior to joining American Securities, he was an investment banking analyst at J.P. Morgan in the Leveraged Finance Group.

David received a BS in Economics as well as an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.

Noah Scherz, Principal

Noah Scherz joined American Securities in 2013. He is currently a Director of MW Industries, NAPA, NWN Carousel, Trace3, and United FP.

Prior to joining American Securities, he was an analyst at Rothschild in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group.

Noah received a BS in Commerce from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce and an MBA from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Business.

Address: 590 Madison Avenue, 38th Floor, New York, NY 10022, USA

Phone: +1 212 476 8000