AUA Private Equity Partners
AUA Private Equity Partners is an operationally-focused lower-middle-market private equity firm investing $40–$75M+ in U.S. consumer products and services. The firm targets family-owned businesses and Hispanic-oriented companies, deploying approximately $850M of committed capital across 12+ platform investments since 2012.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
AUA Private Equity Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AUA Private Equity Partners
- Legal name
- AUA Private Equity Partners, LLC
- Website
- http://www.auaequity.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- AUA Private Equity Partners is an operationally-focused lower-middle-market private equity firm investing $40–$75M+ in U.S. consumer products and services. The firm targets family-owned businesses and Hispanic-oriented companies, deploying approximately $850M of committed capital across 12+ platform investments since 2012.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AUA Private Equity Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Equity Investment Management
- NAICS
- Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure) (FSAAALAG)
Keywords
Where AUA Private Equity Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
AUA Private Equity Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Private Equity Investment Returns: AUA Private Equity generates returns through capital appreciation of portfolio companies, operating improvements at family-owned businesses, and eventual exits via strategic sales. The firm closed its oversubscribed Fund II at $310 million in April 2021 and has committed capital of approximately $850 million as of January 1, 2025 including co-investment capital and recent realizations.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
AUA Private Equity Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AUA Private Equity Partners is a private equity firm that makes control or significant minority equity investments of $40-75+ million in U.S. lower middle-market companies in the consumer products and consumer services sectors. The firm targets companies with EBITDA greater than $10 million, with a particular focus on family-owned businesses seeking liquidity or transition and Hispanic-oriented companies benefiting from demographic tailwinds. AUA's transaction types include leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, buy-and-build/roll-up strategies, growth equity, and recapitalizations, with Fund II closed at $310 million in April 2021.
Product overview
AUA Private Equity Partners is an operationally-focused lower middle-market investment firm. The firm is not a technology product company; it is a private equity firm that provides strategic capital investments of $20 to $125 million in companies generating in excess of $5-10 million in EBITDA. The firm's investment strategy focuses on consumer products and consumer services sectors, with particular emphasis on family-owned businesses and companies poised to benefit from the growth of the U.S. Hispanic population. AUA partners with portfolio companies to provide operational support, growth capital, and resources to help transform family businesses into leading institutional companies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AUA Private Equity Fund II, LP Private equity fund vehicle providing equity investments of $40-75+ million in U.S. lower middle-market consumer products and services companies with EBITDA over $10 million. Used by limited partners (pension funds, foundations, family offices) seeking exposure to family-owned and Hispanic-oriented consumer businesses.
- Leveraged Buyout Investments Control investments in established U.S. consumer products and services companies, typically with EBITDA over $10 million and equity investments of $40-75+ million. Used by family-owned business owners and management teams seeking liquidity or transition.
- Management Buyout Investments Partnerships with existing management teams to acquire ownership stakes in the companies they operate, enabling leadership transition alongside institutional capital. Used by management teams seeking ownership opportunities in consumer products and services businesses.
- Buy-and-Build / Roll-Up Strategy Platform investments combined with multiple add-on acquisitions to build scaled consumer products businesses. Demonstrated through 12 platform investments and numerous add-on acquisitions since inception. Used by fragmented industry players seeking consolidation partners.
- Growth Equity Investments
Quantifiable outcome
- EBITDA grew organically in excess of 3.0x for Water Lilies Food during AUA's approximately 5-year ownership
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AUA Private Equity Partners
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AUA Private Equity Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AUA Private Equity Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Western Smokehouse PartnerscoreWestern Smokehouse Partners was AUA's portfolio company — a leading manufacturer of premium, better-for-you meat snacks operating out of four to five facilities across the Midwest and Idaho. During AUA's ownership (March 2023 – July 2025), Western expanded production capacity, opened a new facility, completed three expansion projects, and acquired Golden Valley Natural. The business more than doubled in size.
- Water Lilies Food, LLCminorWater Lilies Food was a portfolio company of AUA Private Equity, acquired and subsequently sold to Blue Point Capital Partners in August 2022. The company is a manufacturer of frozen Asian food products including egg rolls, spring rolls, potstickers, and noodles sold through retail and restaurant channels. AUA helped triple its facility footprint and grow EBITDA by over 3x.
- First Generation Investors (FGI)minorAUA formalized a partnership with First Generation Investors, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides high school students in underserved communities with financial literacy and investment skills. AUA is a sponsor and active partner of the University of Miami chapter. FGI has volunteer-led chapters at 40 college campuses nationwide.
- J.E.D.I. CollaborativeminorAUA is a committed partner and supporter of the J.E.D.I. Collaborative, an organization focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the business community.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AUA Private Equity Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Avance Investment Management: Hispanic-led lower middle-market private equity firm focused on partnering with family- and founder-owned businesses; AUA's co-investment partner on Tropical Cheese Industries and Cibao Meat Products. Most directly comparable peer given shared Hispanic-led thesis and family-owned target market.
- Monogram Capital Partners: Consumer-focused lower middle-market private equity firm specializing in branded consumer products; co-invested with and transacted alongside AUA on Western Smokehouse Partners. Directly comparable on consumer focus, check size, and operating partnership model.
- Trimaran Capital Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm focused on control investments in consumer, business services, and industrial companies; founded by AUA Partners Steven Flyer and David Benyaminy. Highly comparable given shared DNA, lower middle-market focus, and consumer orientation.
- Sun Capital Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm focused on operationally intensive investments in consumer, industrial, and business services companies; AUA VP Brian Krouskos is a former Sun Capital VP. Directly comparable on consumer focus, operationally driven model, and lower middle-market check size.
- Platinum Equity: Operationally focused private equity firm investing across consumer, industrial, and services; AUA VP Charles DeVries is a former Platinum Equity VP. Comparable on operating-partner model and lower middle-market consumer/industrial focus, though Platinum operates at larger scale.
- KPS Capital Partners: Operationally focused lower middle-market private equity firm with industrial and consumer exposure; AUA VP Charles DeVries previously worked at KPS. Comparable operating-driven approach to investing in manufacturing/consumer businesses.
- Blue Point Capital Partners: Lower middle-market private equity firm investing in consumer, industrial, and business services; acquired Water Lilies Food from AUA in 2022. Comparable on consumer focus, lower middle-market check size, and cross-fund partnership dynamics.
Broad incumbents
- L Catterton: Large consumer-focused private equity firm with broad reach across branded consumer products; significantly larger than AUA but addresses the same consumer-investing opportunity set, including Hispanic-oriented and family-owned consumer brands.
- Mubadala Capital: Large global alternative asset manager; acquired TruFood Manufacturing from AUA in 2022 alongside management. Comparable only as a counterparty in AUA's lower middle-market consumer deals; operates at much broader scale and scope.
Others
- CapVest Partners: European private equity firm whose portfolio company Lakeview Farms acquired Raymundos Food Group from AUA in 2024; comparable in lower middle-market consumer investing but primarily European-focused, making it an adjacent rather than directly competing peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AUA Private Equity Partners social profiles
Digital presenceAUA Private Equity Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AUA Private Equity Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
AUA Private Equity Partners subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries14 records
AUA Private Equity Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AUA Private Equity Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A14 records
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AUA Private Equity Partners
What does AUA Private Equity Partners do?
AUA Private Equity Partners is a private equity firm that makes control or significant minority equity investments of $40-75+ million in U.S. lower middle-market companies in the consumer products and consumer services sectors. The firm targets companies with EBITDA greater than $10 million, with a particular focus on family-owned businesses seeking liquidity or transition and Hispanic-oriented companies benefiting from demographic tailwinds. AUA's transaction types include leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, buy-and-build/roll-up strategies, growth equity, and recapitalizations, with Fund II closed at $310 million in April 2021.
Is AUA Private Equity Partners a public or private company?
AUA Private Equity Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was AUA Private Equity Partners founded?
AUA Private Equity Partners was founded in 2012. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is AUA Private Equity Partners based?
AUA Private Equity Partners is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does AUA Private Equity Partners make money?
One revenue line is on record: private Equity Investment Returns.
Who are AUA Private Equity Partners's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Avance Investment Management, Monogram Capital Partners, Trimaran Capital Partners, Sun Capital Partners, Platinum Equity, KPS Capital Partners and Blue Point Capital Partners. Broad incumbents are L Catterton and Mubadala Capital. CapVest Partners is listed as an others.
Does AUA Private Equity Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for AUA Private Equity Partners.
What industry is AUA Private Equity Partners in?
AUA Private Equity Partners's product category is Private Equity Investment Management. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAALAG, Sustainable Private Markets (Impact PE/VC, Private Credit, Infrastructure). Its NAICS code is 5259 and its SIC code is 6282.