Client Spotlight- KCN Companies

How KCN Companies builds lasting value with acquisition financing from Country Club Bank

Building businesses isn’t about quick exits or financial engineering for Chris Jones. It’s about finding strong companies, growing them thoughtfully, and holding them for the long term.

That philosophy is at the core of KCN Companies, a Kansas City-based firm that acquires and operates small to mid-sized businesses with a focus on durability and growth.

“We wanted to do it our own way,” said Jones, a founder and principal of the firm. “The question for us is simple: what are the businesses we want to own for 15, 20 years or more?”

Jones, a Kansas City native and attorney by training, spent a decade in private practice before joining Tallgrass Energy, where he helped guide the company through rapid growth, public offerings, and a successful acquisition by Blackstone. That experience shaped how he thinks about scale, capital, and long-term value creation.

In 2023, Jones, along with his partners Nate Lien and Kalen Smith, launched KCN with a different private equity model in mind, one often referred to as “permanent capital.” Instead of buying companies with the plan to sell them in a few years, KCN focuses on building enduring businesses that it can grow over decades.

Instead of buying companies with the plan to sell them in a few years, KCN focuses on building enduring businesses that it can grow over decades.

“We don’t think of these as portfolio companies,” Jones said. “We think of them as platforms we can build around.”

Each industry platform begins with an initial acquisition, typically a business generating $2 million to $6 million in EBITDA. From there, KCN grows both organically and through additional acquisitions, expanding its capabilities, customer base, and geographic reach.

One example is their newly established packaging platform, the centerpiece of which is Sprosty Bag, an operation currently focused on agricultural products such as feed, fertilizer, and seed bags. Sprosty has historically been centered in Ohio and the surrounding states; KCN's goal is to grow Sprosty into a broader regional and eventually national business.

“We want to grow in a disciplined way,” Jones said. “We’re not putting companies at risk for growth at all costs. We’re trying to build something that lasts.”

That long-term mindset also shapes how KCN partners with its businesses. The firm takes an active role, stepping in as operators when needed, while also building leadership teams that can scale independently over time.

A banking relationship built for growth
As KCN began acquiring companies, finding the right financial partner was a priority.

“We knew when we started KCN that we wanted our lenders to be Kansas City institutions,” Jones said. “Country Club Bank quickly rose to the top of that list.”

The bank supported KCN’s acquisition financing and continues to provide lending and operating account support. But for Jones, the relationship goes beyond capital.

“The terms have to be competitive, and they were,” he said. “But more importantly, they understood what we were trying to do and were willing to grow with us.”

Equally important were the team's responsiveness and experience.

“It’s all about the people and the relationships,” Jones said. “Country Club Bank is sophisticated enough to handle complex deals, but still local and personal.”

That balance of having “capability with connections” is critical for a firm like KCN, as Jones says, and crucial for community and long-term business success.

Looking ahead, KCN will be focused on finding the right blend of more acquisitions and organic growth at its current platforms, while keeping a keen eye out for additional companies that could serve as the foundation for future platforms. 

“The goal is to find good companies and help make them better,” Jones said. “And over time, create long-term value for everyone involved.”