Who Owns Hart InterCivic And What That Means For Elections
- 01. Who owns Hart InterCivic?
- 02. Ownership timeline (concise)
- 03. Key public statements and dates
- 04. How this ownership affects operations
- 05. Context and historical background
- 06. Ownership details worth noting
- 07. Regulatory and public-interest implications
- 08. Practical facts for procurement officers
- 09. Common questions
- 10. Quick reference statistics
- 11. How to verify current ownership (practical steps)
- 12. Final practical note
Hart InterCivic is privately owned; since a strategic investment in July 2011 an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital has held a controlling stake alongside company management, with Gregg L. Burt retaining a significant minority position.
Who owns Hart InterCivic?
Hart InterCivic is a privately held corporation whose majority ownership was transferred to an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital in July 2011 through a strategic investment, while long-time executive Gregg L. Burt retained a measurable ownership stake and leadership role.
Ownership timeline (concise)
Public records and press releases show a clear change in the company's capital structure in mid-2011 when H.I.G.'s affiliate completed its investment, marking the transition from a founder/management-dominated private company to one with private equity backing.
- Founded and run for decades by company leadership and private owners, originally as a ballot-printer and election vendor in Austin, Texas.
- July 2011: Strategic investment by H.I.G. Capital affiliate, effective controlling interest.
- Post-investment: Gregg L. Burt remained as a minority owner and adviser; management continuity included new roles for internal executives.
Key public statements and dates
On July 5-6, 2011, both Hart InterCivic and H.I.G. Capital issued press announcements describing the transaction as a "strategic investment" and indicating H.I.G.'s partnership with Hart's owners and management to fund growth.
| Owner | Approximate stake | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| H.I.G. Capital (affiliate) | ~79.8% (affiliate/majority) | Private equity sponsor / controlling investor | |
| Gregg L. Burt | ~10.5% (minority) | Chairman / senior adviser; retained equity | |
| Other shareholders | Remaining ~9.7% (collective) | Former owners, management and minor investors |
How this ownership affects operations
Private equity ownership typically brings capital for product development, sales expansion, and compliance work; Hart's public statements at the time framed the H.I.G. investment as intended to accelerate growth in state and local election technology markets.
- Capital infusion enabled hiring and product development focused on election tabulation and audit features.
- Management continuity (senior executives retained or promoted) preserved institutional knowledge and vendor relationships.
- Private ownership retained confidentiality around full investor details, but regulatory filings and a June 2019 internal document show the stake split cited above.
Context and historical background
Hart InterCivic began over a century ago as a ballot printing business in Austin and evolved into one of the major U.S. election-technology vendors, selling voting machines, tabulation systems, and election software to counties and states.
The 2011 H.I.G. transaction followed a period when vendors consolidated, and the press release described the deal as a partnership with management rather than a hostile takeover; Hart named Phillip W. Braithwaite CEO at the time while Gregg Burt shifted to chairman and adviser.
Ownership details worth noting
Public summaries and a confidential ownership document indicate specific percentages for major holders: approximately 79.8% held by an H.I.G.-linked LLC and about 10.5% held by Gregg L. Burt, with no other single owner above 5%.
H.I.G. Capital's press materials and Hart's announcements emphasize that the deal's financial terms were not disclosed, which is common in private equity investments in privately held companies.
Regulatory and public-interest implications
Because Hart sells voting equipment, ownership by a private equity firm prompts transparency and security questions from election officials and advocacy groups; disclosures at the time emphasized continued management involvement to maintain trust with jurisdictions.
"We're proud to join with H.I.G. as co-investors as we continue the growth and success of Hart," said Gregg Burt in the company statement accompanying the 2011 announcement.
Practical facts for procurement officers
Jurisdictions evaluating Hart should treat the vendor as a private firm with private-equity backing, verify current ownership in contract reviews, and require standard vendor-security and conflict-of-interest disclosures because ownership and investor interests may affect corporate governance.
- Request current ownership and beneficial-owner disclosures during procurement.
- Verify software lifecycle, security patches, and audit trails as standard practice.
- Check for any asset sales or secondary transactions since 2011 if ownership confirmation is required.
Common questions
Quick reference statistics
Hart's reported annual revenue estimates in market profiles range (publicly aggregated) from roughly $18M to $50M and employee counts are commonly listed between 51-200, reflecting the vendor-size typical for national election-system suppliers.
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Austin, Texas | |
| Estimated revenue | $18-50M (market estimates) | |
| Employees | ~125 (public profiles) | |
| Primary products | Voting systems, election management software, tabulators |
How to verify current ownership (practical steps)
Because private-company ownership can change, the most reliable verification methods are: request a recent beneficial-ownership statement from the vendor, check state corporate filings, and review any recent press releases or SEC filings from associated private-equity sponsors if they carry public reports.
- Ask Hart InterCivic for a current beneficial-ownership attestation signed by an officer.
- Search state corporate and LLC filings for recent ownership amendments.
- Check private equity press releases or portfolio pages for acquisitions or exits.
Final practical note
If you need an up-to-the-minute confirmation of Hart InterCivic's current owners for contracting or oversight, request an official ownership statement from Hart and cross-check it against investor disclosures from H.I.G. or any successor investor; the 2011 H.I.G. investment and the Burt minority stake are the clearest historically documented positions.
Helpful tips and tricks for Who Owns Hart Intercivic And What That Means For Elections
Is Hart InterCivic owned by the government?
No. Hart InterCivic is a privately held company with private equity and management ownership, not government-owned or publicly traded on stock markets.
Who is Gregg Burt and what is his stake?
Gregg L. Burt is a long-time Hart executive and chairman who retained a minority ownership stake (reported around 10.5%) after the 2011 investment and served as a senior adviser following leadership changes.
Does H.I.G. still list Hart InterCivic as a portfolio company?
H.I.G. publicly announced the strategic investment in 2011; however, as of later public web snapshots, H.I.G. did not prominently list Hart InterCivic on its portfolio pages, which can indicate an ownership change, secondary sale, or a decision to omit older deals from current marketing materials.
Who owns Hart InterCivic?
An affiliate of private equity firm H.I.G. Capital completed a strategic investment in July 2011 and held the controlling stake, while Gregg L. Burt retained a minority ownership position; public filings and a confidential ownership summary specify approximately 79.8% for the H.I.G. LLC and 10.5% for Burt.
When did H.I.G. invest in Hart?
H.I.G.'s investment was publicly announced on July 5-6, 2011 in press releases from both Hart InterCivic and H.I.G. Capital.
Is Hart InterCivic publicly traded?
No; Hart InterCivic is privately held and is not listed on any public stock exchange.
Can ownership change again?
Yes; private equity-backed companies are frequently subject to secondary sales, recapitalizations, or management buyouts, so procurement teams should ask for up-to-date ownership verification when signing new contracts.
Where is Hart headquartered?
Hart InterCivic is headquartered in Austin, Texas, where it began as a ballot printer and expanded into election systems and software.