ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Compass Group Equity Partners, a St. Louis-based private equity firm, has successfully closed Compass Group Fund III, hitting a hard cap of $408 million. This marks the firm’s second fundraising effort in the past two years and was achieved through a ‘first and final’ closing this week after launching fundraising efforts late last year.
Compass Group’s background as an independent sponsor led to robust representation in Fund II, closed in April 2022, from fund-of-funds and family offices among a diverse set of limited partners. In addition to strong carryover from existing Fund II limited partners, the firm intentionally curated new investors for Fund III, bolstering representation from insurance companies, endowments, registered investment advisors, and foundations.
"We are very proud of the firm we’ve built over the last decade. Hard work and dedication from the team has helped us deliver on our strategy of thematic research, proprietary deal sourcing, partnering in value creation, and ultimately successful outcomes,” said Managing Partner John Huhn. “The support from our limited partners validates our investment strategy, our people, and the strength of our portfolio. We are appreciative of both new and existing investor support that enables us to continue our mission to grow great companies.”
Since their first investment in 2015, Compass Group has invested in 14 portfolio companies and more than 230 bolt-ons and has completed four exits at returns exceeding expectations.
Compass Group follows a thematic investment strategy in the lower middle market by analyzing and researching subsectors that exhibit strong macroeconomic trends within niche manufacturing & distribution and business & consumer services industries. They aim to collaborate with target companies that possess the following characteristics:
- Historically successful entrepreneur and family-owned companies that have reached an inflection point for growth, want continued participation and partnership in the business and where the Fund would represent the first institutional capital;
- Mid-America “Between the Mountain Ranges” geographic focus, which aligns well with Compass Group’s Midwestern presence and values; and
- Financial characteristics including EBITDA between $2 million and $15 million, enterprise values of $20 million to $200 million and strong margin and cash flow generation.
McGuireWoods served as legal counsel for the Fund and Aqueduct Capital Group provided placement agent services.
Visit cgep.com to learn more.
About Compass Group Equity Partners
Compass Group Equity Partners is a St. Louis-based private equity firm with a record of success in partnering with and building lower middle-market companies. Founded in 2014, Compass Group brings a thesis-driven approach and decades of operational, financial, and strategic expertise to aid management teams in accelerating growth for long-term value creation. For more information, please visit www.cgep.com.
