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Hilco Global
Hilco Global was founded in 1982 by Jeffrey Hecktman, who remains CEO and majority owner.
Hilco Global
Hilco Global was founded in 1982 by Jeffrey Hecktman, who remains CEO and majority owner. The firm originated in the appraisal and liquidation of retail inventory and equipment, then expanded organically and through acquisitions into a global platform with over 800 professionals across 25 offices in 14 countries. Hecktman's personal wealth is tied to the firm's retained earnings; it operates as a private, family-controlled enterprise. The firm's core activity is providing liquidity through asset appraisals, loan-monitoring services, structured finance, and asset disposition. It serves clients in retail, manufacturing, energy, and intellectual property — running operations in special-situations lending, debtor-in-possession financing, invoice discounting, and secured term loans. Hilco's redeployment includes direct principal investments via its merchant-banking arm, Hilco Opportunity Partners, and debt positions in middle-market companies. Confirmed portfolio involvement includes the wind-down of Toys R Us (2018), disposition of Blockbuster assets (2011), and structured finance for Hertz (2020). Geographic footprint spans North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Australia. Hilco Global encompasses more than 20 operating subsidiaries — including Hilco IP Services, Hilco Real Estate, Hilco Receivables, and Hilco Environmental — each addressing a distinct asset class. The firm's total deployment is not publicly disclosed; industry estimates place its annual transaction volume in the billions. Recent activity: in 2024, Hilco acquired a portfolio of franchised automotive dealerships in the UK through Hilco Capital, expanding its European asset-based lending platform (per The Business Desk, October 2024). Hilco's structural differentiator is its integration of valuation, finance, and disposition under one roof — rare among family-controlled shops — allowing it to provide single-provider liquidity solutions that most independent asset managers and family offices cannot. The firm also invests capital directly alongside third-party lenders and funds, blending principal investing with advisory services.
General information
Firm type
Single Family Office
Year founded
1982
AUM
$1B–$10B (Altss estimate)
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Northbrook
Corporate office
Northbrook, IL, United States
Additional offices
London · Toronto · Sydney · Paris · Los Angeles · Boston · Dallas
Principals
Jeffrey Hecktman
CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Hilco Global?
Jeffrey Hecktman, founder and CEO, retains final authority on principal investment decisions. The firm operates through subsidiary heads — Hilco Capital, Hilco Real Estate, Hilco IP Services — each with their own investment committees. Hecktman's son, Mitchell Hecktman, serves as President of Hilco Capital, indicating a succession structure.
Is Hilco Global structured as a single family office or does it operate more like a merchant bank?
Hilco Global is legally a private holding company that functions as a hybrid: it operates a family office for the Hecktman family while also deploying third-party capital through funds and co-investments. Its merchant-banking arm, Hilco Opportunity Partners, makes principal investments alongside external partners, but the core is proprietary capital.
What investment stages does Hilco generally target?
Hilco's focus is special-situations and distressed — it provides debtor-in-possession financing, asset-based loans, and structured finance to middle-market companies. It also participates in liquidation, real estate repositioning, and intellectual property monetization across the full lifecycle of a company's distress, from operational restructuring to asset disposition.
Does Hilco Global participate in fund commitments or only direct investments?
Hilco primarily makes direct principal investments through its own balance sheet and through Hilco Opportunity Partners, a private equity vehicle that invests in structured credit and special situations. The firm also provides asset-based lending and real estate bridge financing, but it does not operate as a diversified fund-of-funds or commingled manager for external LPs.
How does Hilco source proprietary deal flow?
Hilco sources deals through its extensive operational network of turnaround consultants, law firms, and corporate restructuring advisors. The firm's appraisal and loan-monitoring businesses expose it to distressed situations before public auctions or broad marketing. Its global office network also helps identify cross-border liquidity opportunities, particularly in retail and industrial assets.
What sectors does Hilco explicitly avoid?
Hilco has not publicly stated specific avoidance sectors, but its historical activity centers on tangible and intangible assets where asset-based lending or disposition is viable. By nature of its model, it avoids early-stage venture investments, biotech R&D, and pure technology startups without collateral value.
How is Hilco Global related to the Hecktman family's personal wealth?
Jeffrey Hecktman's personal wealth is substantially derived from Hilco Global's retained earnings. The firm does not publicly disclose its balance sheet, but Hecktman is reported to have reinvested profits to fund growth. The firm is family-controlled but does not function as a dedicated single-family office managing an external fortune — it is an operating company with a family-office overlay.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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