Pacific Avenue Capital Partners

What Pacific Avenue Capital Partners does

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity firm founded in 2018 by Chris Sznewajs, headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, with a European office in Paris, France. The firm specializes in corporate divestitures, carve-outs, and other complex transactions, targeting platform investments with revenues up to $2 billion and EBITDA of $25 million or more across North America and select European geographies. As of March 31, 2026, Pacific Avenue reports $3.9 billion+ in assets under management and $3.1 billion+ in combined trailing-twelve-month revenue across active portfolio companies, with the firm's team having closed 120+ transactions and 50+ corporate carve-outs across their combined careers.

Pacific Avenue generates revenue through three streams: management fees calculated as a percentage of assets under management across its investment funds, carried interest (typically 20% of profits above an 8% hurdle) on successful portfolio exits, and transaction/advisory fees on acquisitions and dispositions. The firm manages Pacific Avenue Fund I (2018) and Pacific Avenue Fund II with a dedicated European sidecar vehicle, which closed in Q3 2025 with over $3.8 billion in committed capital. Active portfolio companies span industrial manufacturing (Stuart Rush, KiddeFenwal), building products (Therm-All, Cameron Ashley, AMICO, GardenCore), specialty chemicals (Resin Solutions, Purflux Group), healthcare services (Emerald Textiles, Care.com), food (Sunrich), and capital equipment (Fuller Technologies), reflecting the firm's strategy of acquiring market-leading non-core businesses divested by larger corporations and driving operational improvement and growth.

The firm's go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, sourcing deals through direct outreach to corporate sellers and via relationships with top-tier investment banking intermediaries including Moelis, Jefferies, KeyBanc Capital Markets, BofA Securities, and JPMorgan. Limited partner fundraising is conducted through private placement memoranda targeting pension funds, endowments, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds. Operating geographies include the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, India, and the UAE, with recent deal activity concentrated in the United States and Western Europe.

Name

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners

Legal name

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners

Website

https://pacificavenuecapital.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity firm that specializes in corporate carve-outs and complex transactions, targeting businesses with up to $2 billion in revenue and $25 million+ EBITDA. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Manhattan Beach, California, the firm manages $3.9B+ in AUM and serves institutional LPs and corporate sellers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Middle-Market Private Equity

NAICS

Other Financial Investment Activities (5239), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Miscellaneous Intermediation (52391)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Capital Introducers (PE/VC/Private Credit) (FSAEAMAE)

Keywords

• Middle market private equity
• Corporate carve-outs
• Divestiture investments
• Complex transactions
• Special situations investing

Headquarters

HQ city

El Segundo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Management Fees: Pacific Avenue Capital Partners earns management fees from its investment funds, calculated as a percentage of assets under management. These fees provide steady recurring revenue to support firm operations.
2. Carried Interest/Performance Fees: The firm earns carried interest (performance fees) from successful exits of portfolio companies, typically 20% of profits above an 8% hurdle rate. This aligns GP and LP interests and provides upside participation in successful investments.
3. Transaction/Advisory Fees: The firm may receive transaction fees in connection with acquisition and disposition of portfolio companies, typically paid by the seller or buyer in M&A transactions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity firm that invests in corporate carve-outs, divestitures, and other complex situations with platform revenues up to $2B and EBITDA of $25M+. The firm acquires non-core business units from larger corporations, partners with incumbent management teams, and drives operational improvement, capital investment, and growth before exiting through sale or recapitalization. Pacific Avenue also raises capital from institutional limited partners to fund these investments across North America and certain European geographies.

Product overview

Pacific Avenue Capital Partners is a private equity firm specializing in corporate carve-outs and complex situations in the middle market. The firm's portfolio comprises platform investments in diverse industries including industrial manufacturing (Stuart Rush, KiddeFenwal), building products (Therm-All, Cameron Ashley, AMICO, GardenCore), specialty chemicals (Resin Solutions, Purflux Group), healthcare services (Emerald Textiles, Care.com), food (Sunrich), and capital equipment (Fuller Technologies). The portfolio companies operate as independent standalone businesses following divestitures from parent corporations, with Pacific Avenue providing operational expertise and capital investment to drive growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pacific Avenue Fund I First private equity fund raised by Pacific Avenue Capital Partners in 2018, deployed for initial corporate carve-out investments in the middle market. Available to qualified institutional investors through private placement.
• Pacific Avenue Fund II Second flagship private equity fund of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners, closed in Q3 2025 with over $3.8 billion in committed capital. Invests in corporate carve-outs and complex middle-market situations across North America and Europe. Available to qualified institutional investors through private placement.
• Pacific Avenue European Sidecar Vehicle Dedicated European investment vehicle closed alongside Pacific Avenue Fund II in Q3 2025, enabling the firm to execute European-led carve-out transactions including Purflux Group, Fuller Technologies, and ESE World.
• PACP Ops Mgmt Co, LLC Wholly-owned consulting subsidiary providing portfolio company operations support and consulting services to Pacific Avenue and its active portfolio companies.

Quantifiable outcome

• 101.5% average EBITDA improvement across portfolio companies (excluding Pick Your Part and Fuller Technologies)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 March 2026Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal advisor to Pacific Avenue in the Care.com acquisition. Also served as legal advisor for Oldcastle Lawn & Garden acquisition.
• KPMG LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 March 2026KPMG LLP provided accounting and tax advisory services to Pacific Avenue for the Care.com transaction.
• Latham and Watkins LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 March 2026Latham and Watkins LLP served as legal counsel to IAC in the Care.com sale transaction.
• Raines Feldman Littrell LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 March 2026Raines Feldman Littrell LLP served as legal advisor to Pacific Avenue in the KiddeFenwal acquisition.
• Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 2 March 2026Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP served as legal advisor to Pacific Avenue for the ESE World acquisition from Amcor.
• O'Melveny & Myers LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 14 January 2026O'Melveny & Myers LLP served as legal advisor to Pacific Avenue for the Columbus McKinnon hoist business acquisition.
• Cameron Ashley Building ProductscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2026Pacific Avenue partnered with Cameron Ashley Building Products for the Therm-All acquisition. Cameron Ashley is a leading omni-channel distributor of building products with over 70 stocking distribution centers. The partnership allows joint investment in building products sector carve-outs.
• Kirkland & Ellis LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 August 2025Kirkland & Ellis served as legal advisor to Pacific Avenue for the acquisition of Pick Your Part from LKQ Corporation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• H.I.G. Capital: Large global alternative asset manager with significant middle-market PE activity focused on carve-outs, special situations, and complex transactions. Comparable in transatlantic reach and ability to underwrite complex divestitures at larger equity check sizes than Pacific Avenue.
• Platinum Equity: Large, established PE firm with a deep specialization in corporate carve-outs and complex transactions globally. Several Pacific Avenue senior team members came from Platinum Equity; both firms compete in larger carve-out opportunities where Platinum's greater scale and Fund VI capital give it an edge.

Direct peers

• Transom Capital Group: Middle-market PE firm focused on operational carve-outs and complex situations in North America. Multiple Pacific Avenue partners and senior staff previously held roles at Transom, and both firms pursue industrial and consumer carve-outs at similar check sizes.
• Sun Capital Partners: Middle-market PE firm focused on operationally intensive carve-outs and special situations. Pacific Avenue's capital markets head and partners previously worked at Sun Capital, and both target similar EBITDA $25M+ platforms across industrials and consumer.
• KPS Capital Partners: Middle-market PE firm dedicated exclusively to industrial carve-outs and special situations. Direct peer on industrial verticals such as Stuart Rush and Fuller Technologies; competes for the same complex divestitures from large corporate sellers.
• Comvest Partners: Middle-market PE firm that invests in corporate carve-outs, founder transitions, and special situations. Senior Pacific Avenue business development staff previously worked at Comvest, and both target similar platform sizes in North America.
• Wynnchurch Capital: Middle-market PE firm focused on complex carve-outs, special situations, and restructurings. Comparable in fund size, sector agnosticism, and operational improvement playbook; one Pacific Avenue principal joined from Wynnchurch.
• Atlas Holdings: Middle-market holding company that builds industrial and distribution platforms often sourced through corporate divestitures. Multiple Pacific Avenue operations leaders previously worked at Atlas Holdings on the operations and value creation side.
• Tenex Capital Management: Middle-market PE firm that invests in corporate carve-outs and operational improvement situations. Both firms focus on complex transactions with operating-led value creation; a Pacific Avenue operations principal previously served as Operating Advisor at Tenex.
• OpenGate Capital: Middle-market private equity firm specializing in corporate carve-outs and complex transactions across North America and Europe. Closest direct competitor to Pacific Avenue given near-identical strategy, fund size, and transatlantic footprint; multiple alumni moved between the two firms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A12 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pacific Avenue Capital Partners