Sheridan Capital Bets on Biopharma's Backbone with CCG Investment

CHICAGO, IL – August 04, 2026 – In a move that underscores the strategic importance of the biopharmaceutical supply chain, private equity firm Sheridan Capital Partners has completed a significant investment in Carolina Components Group (CCG), a specialized supplier of custom-engineered systems for drug manufacturing. The deal, part of a multi-year investment thesis by Sheridan, not only injects capital into the rapidly growing CCG but also installs a new tier of veteran leadership poised to navigate the sector's next phase of evolution.

Concurrent with the investment, Maurice Phelan, a seasoned executive with leadership experience at industry giants like Sartorius and GE Lifesciences, has been appointed CEO. This transition sees CCG's founder, John Cooling, move to the Board of Directors, ensuring his foundational vision continues to guide the company's trajectory. The move signals a clear intent to scale a critical player in a market defined by intense innovation and increasing geopolitical fragility.

A Strategic Play on the Supply Chain

Sheridan Capital's investment is far from a speculative venture; it is the culmination of what the firm calls a “multi-year thesis in the pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chain.” The Chicago-based, healthcare-focused PE firm has a reputation for its thematic approach, identifying and nurturing middle-market companies in high-growth, fragmented sectors. For Sheridan, CCG represents a perfect fit at a critical moment.

“CCG is the result of our multi-year thesis in the pharmaceutical manufacturing supply chain, and we are very excited to be partnering with the Company at this inflection point,” said Michael Bernard, Partner at Sheridan. This inflection point is driven by the explosive growth in biologics, cell and gene therapies, and the corresponding demand for the highly specialized, ultra-pure components that CCG provides.

Founded in just 2020, the Durham, North Carolina-based company has quickly established a foothold, serving over 250 biopharmaceutical and contract manufacturing clients. Its specialization lies in custom-engineered, single-use assemblies—components that are fundamental to modern bioprocessing. These are not commodity products; they are mission-critical systems that prevent costly contamination and optimize production yields. Sheridan partners have described CCG as a “thought partner” for its clients, providing “low-cost but essential applications” that are vital for preventing system failures.

Sheridan’s strategy extends beyond a simple capital infusion. The firm plans to leverage its deep operational expertise to accelerate CCG’s growth, with a clear roadmap that includes strategic M&A. The goal is to expand CCG’s footprint into major biotech hubs like Boston and San Francisco and add new bioprocessing capabilities to its portfolio, transforming it into an even more indispensable partner for drug manufacturers. There is also talk of integrating AI and digital tools to streamline design and procurement, a nod to the technological advancement sweeping through every corner of global commerce.

New Leadership for a New Chapter

The appointment of Maurice Phelan as CEO is a cornerstone of the new strategy. His resume reads like a who's who of the bioprocessing sector. Having most recently served as President of Sartorius North America, Phelan also held executive roles at Repligen, GE Lifesciences (now Cytiva), and Merck Millipore. His career began in research chemistry after moving to the U.S. from Ireland, giving him a granular understanding of the scientific foundations of the industry he now helps lead.

This deep-seated expertise is precisely what a company like CCG needs to scale effectively. “I am thrilled to be joining CCG and I look forward to partnering with the existing team and Sheridan to continue the Company’s strong legacy of quality, expertise and deep customer focus,” Phelan stated. He emphasized that with Sheridan’s backing, CCG is “well-positioned to expand our offerings and deepen relationships across our diversified blue-chip customer base.”

Reinforcing this brain trust is the addition of another industry heavyweight, Maik Jornitz, to the CCG Board. Jornitz, a Sheridan Advisor, brings 25 years of experience from Sartorius and a decade at G-CON Manufacturing. This concentration of veteran talent from a market leader like Sartorius signals a deliberate effort to infuse CCG with the operational DNA required for market leadership. It’s a classic private equity playbook: identify a high-potential asset and surround it with the experience necessary to execute an ambitious growth plan.

Riding the Single-Use Technology Wave

The Sheridan-CCG deal is a microcosm of a much larger trend reshaping drug manufacturing: the pivot to single-use technologies (SUT). These disposable, pre-sterilized systems—ranging from tubing and connectors to complex bioreactor bags—have become the industry standard. Over 85% of biopharmaceutical manufacturers now use single-use systems in their production processes, drawn by the immense benefits: reduced risk of cross-contamination, increased flexibility for producing multiple drugs in one facility, and significant time and cost savings by eliminating the need for complex cleaning and sterilization protocols.

CCG is a key enabler of this paradigm shift. By providing custom-engineered single-use assemblies, it allows manufacturers to configure their processes with precision, speed, and reliability. As the industry grapples with increasingly complex biologic drugs, the ability to source tailored, high-quality components is not just a convenience but a competitive necessity.

This investment is also a direct response to one of the most pressing challenges of the 2026 landscape: supply chain vulnerability. The turbulence of recent years has exposed the risks of relying on geographically concentrated suppliers for critical materials. The push to “de-risk” or “near-shore” supply chains is a dominant strategic priority for biopharma companies. By bolstering a domestic supplier like CCG, Sheridan is not only investing in a company but also in the resilience of the entire North American biopharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem. This strengthening of a domestic link in the chain provides a crucial buffer against global disruptions, ensuring that the production of life-saving medicines can continue unabated.