LYN INDUSTRIES FASTIDIOUS ENDEAVORS LLC
Enduring Enterprises, Built to Last
Enduring Enterprises, Built to Last
We’re in the game of owning businesses that stand the test of time—solid, unexciting outfits that spit out cash like a well-oiled machine. Our philosophy’s straightforward: find companies with a competitive edge so wide you could drive a truck through it, run by people who don’t need babysitting, and let them compound value for decades. We don’t mess with flashy trends or overpriced nonsense; we stick to what’s simple, profitable, and lasts.
Our approach is decentralized—let the operators run the show while we handle the big-picture capital decisions. We’ve got no interest in reinventing the wheel every year; we’d rather own a wheel factory that’s been turning a profit since Eisenhower was in office. It’s about discipline, patience, and betting on human nature staying predictable—people will always need what we provide, and we’ll keep providing it better than the next guy.
Across manufacturing, services, and a few other corners, we’ve built a collection of businesses that don’t need a genius to run—just common sense and a focus on the long haul. Cash flow’s our lifeblood, and we’re obsessive about keeping costs lean and returns fat. That’s how you build something that outlives the noise.
First up, we’ve got a Midwest outfit making industrial fasteners—nuts, bolts, screws, the works. Been at it for 60 years, and they’ve got 65% of the market locked up because the setup costs scare off anyone dumb enough to try competing. Last year, they cleared $35 million in cash after spending just $4 million to keep the plants humming. It’s not sexy, but it’s a money printer with a moat deeper than most tech startups’ dreams.
Then there’s our regional insurance operation. Dull as dishwater, but beautiful if you understand it. They take in premiums today, pay claims tomorrow, and sit on the float like a pile of free money. With tight underwriting, they’ve averaged 14% returns on equity for 15 years straight—no heroics, just sticking to the knitting. Competitors can’t match the scale or the discipline, and that’s fine by us.
We also own a meat packing company out on the plains. It’s a grind—literally—but it’s got contracts with every big grocer from Kansas to California. They process 10,000 head a week, keep the margins steady at 8%, and kicked out $28 million in free cash last year. Efficiency’s their edge; they’ve got plants so streamlined the competition’s still playing catch-up from the ‘90s.
Don’t sleep on our little chain of hardware stores either—50 locations, all in towns under 50,000 people. No one’s building new stores there, and the big box chains don’t bother. They sell hammers, paint, and plumbing parts at a 12% net margin, pulling in $15 million in cash annually. It’s a quiet monopoly, and we like it that way.
Last, there’s a textile mill we picked up cheap a decade ago. They churn out work uniforms—think factory coveralls and hospital scrubs. Demand’s steady as a heartbeat, and they’ve got long-term deals with half the state governments east of the Mississippi. Profits aren’t huge—$10 million last year—but it takes next to no capital to keep running, and the barriers to entry are a nightmare for anyone else.
Send us a message with your details. We’ll get back to you if it’s worth our time—keep it clear, concise, and include a real purpose. No fluff, no nonsense.
Office hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday.