Northern Lakes Capital

Northern Lakes Capital is a Minneapolis-based private equity firm specializing in control investments in lower middle-market companies across North America. The firm focuses on partnering with leading family-owned private businesses, aiming to enhance their growth through strategic initiatives such as product and service expansion, capital investment in management and facilities, and strategic add-on acquisitions. With a team that collectively brings over 50 years of experience, Northern Lakes Capital leverages its expertise to build value for all stakeholders, including owners, employees, customers, suppliers, and the community.

The firm's investment approach is centered on two primary strategies: Buy and Build and Stand Alone, Platform Investments. In its Buy and Build strategy, Northern Lakes Capital seeks to create industry-dominant companies by acquiring and combining leading regional businesses within a sector, recruiting experienced management talent to integrate and foster ongoing growth. This strategy targets industries with large addressable markets, a high number of geographically diverse North American targets, multiple established buyers at exit, and typically provides outsourced services. For Stand Alone, Platform Investments, the firm focuses on acquiring leading private companies with a long history of operations, consistent profitability, high cash flow, and strong management willing to stay with the business, with an opportunity for enhanced growth. The firm is generally industry agnostic but avoids investments in restaurant and retail, high tech, medical device, oil and gas, and basic commodities.

Northern Lakes Capital prides itself on being honest and transparent throughout all stages of the investment process. The firm partners with management teams to develop tailored strategies that create long-term value throughout the partnership. It works diligently with management to identify and address areas for improvement and growth opportunities, offering a broad range of resources and experience to support financial structuring, identification and execution of add-on acquisitions, strategic planning, product line and service expansion, personnel additions and succession planning, facility and geographic expansion, system improvements, and enhanced financial reporting and analysis. The firm relates well to private company entrepreneurs and management teams because it is accessible and knowledgeable about their local markets and understands the importance of maintaining the culture and legacy of their businesses.