Atlanta has emerged as a hub for private equity activity, attracting top-tier firms that leverage the city’s strong economic foundation, diverse industries, and strategic Southeastern location. With a mix of established leaders and innovative newcomers, Atlanta’s private equity landscape continues to shape the future of investment in the region.
At Dakota, we empower investment professionals with a comprehensive, user-friendly platform designed to centralize critical investment data and intelligence called Dakota Research. By offering real-time insights, extensive manager coverage, and performance data, we help investors navigate the expanding private fund market with confidence.
In this article, we're giving an analysis on the top ten private equity firms in Atlanta to follow. By the end of this, you'll have a clear understanding of the these firms and their key areas of focus.
- Overview: Roark Capital Group specializes in acquiring and managing franchise and brand-based companies. Their portfolio includes well-known brands such as Inspire Brands (parent company of Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, and Sonic Drive-In) and Orangetheory Fitness. Roark provides strategic support to enhance brand value and operational efficiency.
- Focus: Franchise and multi-location businesses in restaurants, specialty retail, and health and wellness.
- Overview: MSouth Equity Partners provides equity capital and expertise to support management teams in acquisitions and recapitalizations. They focus on companies with enterprise values between $25 million and $200 million, aiming to foster growth through strategic planning and operational enhancements.
- Focus: Lower middle-market companies in business services, manufacturing, and healthcare.
- Overview: o15 Capital Partners is a mission-driven alternative investment firm. The firm, founded in 2022 by Colin Meadows, Kenneth Saffold, and Brian Morris, offers flexible capital solutions, investing in private credit and equity tranches to support companies led by and serving underrepresented entrepreneurs and communities.
- Investment Focus: Growth capital to lower middle-market businesses in the healthcare, education, and business.
- Overview: Fulcrum Equity Partners provides growth equity and mezzanine capital to rapidly growing companies. They focus on businesses with strong management teams and a clear path to profitability, offering both capital and strategic guidance to scale operations effectively.
- Focus: Healthcare services, software, and technology-enabled services.
- Overview: Eagle Merchant Partners invests in lower middle-market companies, partnering with management teams to drive growth and operational improvements. They emphasize investments in the Southeastern United States, leveraging regional expertise to identify and develop successful businesses.
- Investment Focus: Consumer, business services, and industrial sectors.
- Overview: AgVictus Capital Management specializes in investments within the agriculture and food industries. They focus on providing capital solutions that support growth and sustainability in agribusinesses, aiming to enhance value through strategic partnerships and industry expertise.
- Focus: Companies operating in the agriculture and food sectors.
- Overview: SRM Equity Partners is a private equity firm managing $350 million in committed capital. They specialize in building and growing middle-market companies by making control investments and working closely with operational leadership to develop strong platforms.
- Focus: Middle-market enterprises in healthcare, business and tech-enabled services, manufacturing, and distribution.
- Overview: Navigation Capital Partners focuses on investing in SPACs and middle-market companies across various industries. The firm provides strategic guidance and capital to help businesses achieve growth objectives, leveraging its extensive network and operational expertise.
- Focus: Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and middle-market companies.
- Overview: Altera Investments is an alternative investment firm dedicated to lower middle-market private investments. The firm offers investment solutions that span core asset classes, strategies, and geographies, aiming to build enduring private portfolios. Altera collaborates with ultra-high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and wealth management firms, providing access to institutional-quality private deals that have historically been difficult to identify and access.
- Focus: Lower middle-market private investments across asset classes such as private equity, real assets, and private credit.
- Overview: Caymus Equity Partners is a private equity firm dedicated to partnering with founders and management teams to drive growth. The firm emphasizes collaborative relationships, providing strategic guidance while allowing management to lead day-to-day operations. Their investment approach focuses on aligning interests with existing management, offering value-added support, and pursuing quality-focused investment strategies. The firm targets companies with enterprise values ranging from $10 million to $100 million and EBITDA between $2 million and $12 million.
- Investment Focus: Control investments in lower middle-market companies across North America in sectors including business services, healthcare services, consumer, and industrials.
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