Michael Horn is a Managing Director with The Vant Group, where he advises founders, operators, and investors on acquisitions, exits, and succession transitions in the lower middle market.
Unlike many advisors, Michael approaches transactions as a former majority owner and CEO who has personally navigated growth, operational modernization, and a successful strategic sale. He understands firsthand that selling a privately held company is rarely just a financial event. These businesses represent decades of work, family legacy, employee relationships, and personal identity. While valuation, risk mitigation, and deal structure are critical, legacy and long-term outcomes matter just as much.
Michael Horn is a Managing Director with The Vant Group, where he advises founders, operators, and investors on acquisitions, exits, and succession transitions in the lower middle market.
He brings the perspective of a former majority owner and CEO who has personally negotiated and completed a successful exit to a multinational strategic buyer. That experience shapes how he advises clients today — with an operator’s mindset, disciplined deal execution, and a clear understanding of what is at stake both financially and personally.
Michael works closely with business owners to position their companies for market, structure transactions thoughtfully, manage risk, and guide negotiations from initial outreach through closing. He understands that selling a privately held company is rarely just a financial event. These businesses carry legacy, responsibility, and identity. While valuation and deal terms matter, long-term outcomes, reputation, and people matter just as much.
Prior to joining The Vant Group, Michael rebuilt, operated, and ultimately sold AC Horn Manufacturing, a fourth-generation, Dallas-based manufacturer of food processing machinery. He led the company through operational stabilization, revenue growth, and expansion of technical and manufacturing capabilities before executing its strategic sale. Over his career, he directed more than $200 million in cumulative global sales of complex industrial equipment.
Michael is a U.S. Army veteran who served on active duty from 2005 to 2009, including a deployment to Iraq in 2008 as an intelligence officer and tank platoon leader. He later served in the U.S. Army Reserve. The mission focus, preparation, and accountability instilled through military service continue to shape his professional approach.
