Norwest Equity Partners Sells IT Solutions Leader Bailiwick to ePlus

  • Bailiwick designs, integrates, and implements custom IT solutions for Fortune 500 companies, often managing all elements of complex, large-scale IT infrastructures
  • Bailiwick offers a combination of unparalleled technical expertise, best-in-class solutions, and exceptional customer service
  • Bailiwick has been named a Top Workplace Employer by Star Tribune for nine years running, and is a two-time winner of The Business Journal “Fast 50” award for fastest-growing companies in the Twin Cities metro area

MINNEAPOLIS--()--Norwest Equity Partners (“NEP”), a leading middle market investment platform focused on building industry leaders, has sold Bailiwick (“the Company”), a provider of professionally managed technology integration and support for complex, large-scale IT infrastructures, to ePlus Technology, inc., a leading provider of technology and financing solutions. The transaction closed on August 19, 2024.

Founded in 1995 and led by CEO Bob Marko and a highly experienced management team, Bailiwick has a strong customer base primarily of Fortune 500 companies. As a provider of industry leading technology integration, implementation and support services across North America, Bailiwick offers a winning combination of unparalleled technical expertise, best-in-class solutions, and exceptional customer service. Bailiwick professionally manages every aspect of sophisticated IT operations, encompassing engineering, design, staging, configuration, project management, field deployment, installation, maintenance, help desk, and ongoing support services.

Marko stated, I am thankful to NEP for its partnership and commitment over the years. At the time of its initial investment, Bailiwick had built a solid foundation with future opportunities to evolve our product offerings, grow through new customer acquisition, and expand wallet share through high-quality services. NEP was a great and supportive investment partner that collaborated with our entire team to further our pursuit of service excellence and expansion. From the very beginning, NEP understood and shared our vision and care for our employees while we embarked on our growth ambitions.”

NEP invested in Bailiwick in 2017, marking the Company’s first partnership with an institutional investor. In addition to making investments in human capital, with NEP’s support, the Company created an outdoor digital menu board offering, built a state-of-the-art 165,000 square foot integration center, created a help desk offering to shift its revenue model toward more recurring revenue sources, and more.

On behalf of the NEP team, we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with Bailiwick and be part of their growth story. Together, we worked in lockstep to achieve important goals and milestones, and we wish them well in their next chapter with ePlus,” said Tim Kuehl, partner at NEP.

Danny Fox, principal at NEP, added, “Bailiwick’s entrepreneurial culture was one of the highlights of our partnership, as it made working together both rewarding and fun. The sale of Bailiwick marks another great investment for NEP in the broader technology services category, which also includes Marco, Coretelligent and Welocalize today, and previous exits with Avtex, Focal Point Data Risk, GoHealth, and Surgical Information Systems, among others.”

Winston & Strawn was legal advisor to NEP, and Lazard advised Bailiwick on the transaction.

About Norwest Equity Partners

Norwest Equity Partners (NEP), a Norwest Capital strategy, seeks to invest in growing and profitable middle-market companies. NEP helps create opportunities, jobs, and value by finding and fueling what’s working in successful companies to help build them into industry leaders. Investing nationally from offices in Minneapolis and West Palm Beach, NEP takes a respectful, collaborative approach that sets it apart from other capital sources.

About Bailiwick

Bailiwick is a managed IT services provider that specializes in the implementation and support of complex, large-scale technology infrastructures. As a partner with some the best-known brands in North America, Bailiwick is highly regarded for creative problem solving and developing solutions that accelerate growth and profitability for our clients. It’s 29+ year, Fortune 500 client relationships are founded on consistent care, quality, and urgency.

Contacts

Norwest Equity Partners
Jordan Niezelski, Edelman Smithfield
jordan.niezelski@edelmansmithfield.com

Contacts

Norwest Equity Partners
Jordan Niezelski, Edelman Smithfield
jordan.niezelski@edelmansmithfield.com