Speyside Equity

Speyside Equity is a private equity firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, founded in 2004. The firm specializes in control investments in middle-market businesses with histories of profitability but currently facing financial or operational challenges. Speyside focuses on creative transaction structures, including carve-outs of large multinational companies, industry consolidations, family-owned businesses, bankruptcies, and other special situations. Target investments typically have revenues up to $500 million, but the firm can exceed that range on a case-by-case basis.

The firm's investment strategy is centered on an operationally intensive approach, aiming to transform underperforming businesses into valuable investments. Speyside's senior investment team members have extensive transactional, operations, and turnaround experience from their roles at Speyside and prior positions. The firm has completed 37 investments, including 18 platform investments across various industries such as food ingredients, specialty chemicals, and industrial distribution. Speyside's portfolio companies often possess balance-sheet, legal, environmental, labor, or transactional complexity, and the firm focuses on creative transaction structures to address these challenges.

In October 2025, Speyside Equity closed its third institutional fund, Speyside Equity Fund II, with $300 million in capital commitments, significantly surpassing its original target. The fund was oversubscribed, reflecting strong support from existing limited partners and meaningful participation from a global group of new investors. Fund II has already invested in Reed Minerals and GSC Technologies as platform companies. The firm's investment capacity is further expanded by affiliated co-investment vehicles. Speyside's investment committee includes Eric Wiklendt, Nick Lardo, and Kevin Daugherty, who collaborate closely with operating partners and management teams to enhance EBITDA margins and drive growth in their portfolio companies.